Landman fully embraced its Breaking Bad side in the season 1 finale, and it makes the show’s future all the more exciting. Landman season 1’s ending was action-packed, with the Cartel plotline that began with episode 1 finally coming to its climax. Midway through the episode, Tommy Norris gets abducted by the low-level Cartel boss, Jiminez, turning up the show’s violence with an oil well explosion, a torture sequence, and the massacre of several Cartel drug runners.
The most exciting element of the season 1 finale Cartel scenes is the addition of Andy Garcia to Landman’s cast, playing the drug lord Gallino. Gallino was announced as being part of the series almost a year ago, but he didn’t show up until the closing moments of episode 10, setting up yet another movie star actor for the show’s upcoming seasons. Landman hasn’t been renewed for season 2 just yet, but with the show’s popularity and the volume of content Taylor Sheridan provides Paramount+, it’s only a matter of time before it does.
Landman’s Cartel Story In The Finale Is Like Breaking Bad
Episode 10’s Stakes Felt Like A Breaking Bad Episode
Of course, one could say that any show involving the Cartel feels like Breaking Bad, but there’s a specific aspect of Landman that feels just like Vince Gilligan’s AMC masterpiece. Tommy is a competent, imposing man, likely even more so than Walter White in certain ways, but they’re both powerless when a bag is placed on their head and forced to their knees with a gun pointed at their head. Taylor Sheridan prepared the season 1 finale with similar stakes to a Breaking Bad showdown between Walt and Gustavo Fring, and it works perfectly.
Audiences who have seen Breaking Bad know how quickly events can spiral when organized crime is involved.
Tommy arriving back home covered in bruises but refusing to share any of what happened with Angela also feels reminiscent of Walter White. Tommy isn’t even close to being as malicious or manipulative as Walter White, but his having to lie to Angela about work, with audiences knowing the situation is only going to get more dangerous, feels just like the early seasons of Breaking Bad, before things really started to get out of hand for Walter. Audiences who have seen Breaking Bad know how quickly events can spiral when organized crime is involved.
Landman’s Cartel Story Is Exciting For Season 2
Gallino Should Be An Exciting New Character
Considering the aspect of Tommy’s relationship with the Cartel spiraling out of control, Landman will likely dive deeper into how the oil and drug industries connect (at least in fiction). With Gallino’s arrival as a Gus Fring-like character who’s far more wise and imposing than Jiminez, the stakes are higher than ever. Billy Bob Thornton told Variety, “Since he is so smart, who knows what Tommy is going to get tricked into?” He’s referring to Gallino finding a way to manipulate Tommy’s position using M-Tex to his advantage.
Related
What Tommy Seeing Another Coyote In Landman’s Season 1 Finale Means
Landman’s season 1 finale ended with yet another coyote appearing. Here’s what it means for Tommy’s story, especially after what happened.
Gallino referred to the notion that his drug industry is on its deathbed in Landman’s finale, and the character is interested in playing a role in oil. Like how Walter White ended up in an inescapable relationship with Gus Fring, Tommy could easily end up making a deal with the devil in season 2 by going to Gallino in a time of desperation, only to end up locked in an agreement for him where Tommy is forced to return favors he can’t afford to offer.
Landman Has To Get The Balance Of Its Stories Right
Landman Isn’t Doing Justice To Its Subplots Yet
An essential part of what made Breaking Bad such an excellent show is that it balanced all its narratives exceptionally. The Walter White Cartel conflicts are the meat of the story, but there are also important supporting characters, and the family drama manages to tie it all together. Landman does a fantastic job at making Tommy Norris and his various adventures highly entertaining, but the show has yet to find the key to synergizing that storyline with everything happening to Angela and Ainsley.
Related
Landman Season 2: What Happens To M-Tex Oil Now (Oil Fracking Plans Explained)
Landman’s season 1 finale sets up its stakes for the future. Season 2 will determine the fate of M-Tex, so here’s what we know about the plan.
Given that the Cartel member spying on Tommy saw him with Ainsley in episode 6, it would’ve been interesting to have the Cartel go after his family, forcing him into an even more difficult situation and connecting the women to the central story. Perhaps Taylor Sheridan intends to do more of this going forward, but right now, they seem rather disconnected from what Tommy is doing, making their independent narratives some of the least enjoyable parts of Landman. Both characters have potential, but balancing the show’s stories is crucial.
Sources: Variety
Set in West Texas, this series explores the world of oil rigs and the fortunes they create. It portrays a modern upstairs/downstairs narrative of roughnecks and billionaires, highlighting the profound impact on the climate, economy, and geopolitics in these boomtowns.
- Release Date
-
November 17, 2024
- Cast
-
Billy Bob Thornton
, Ali Larter
, Jacob Lofland
, Kayla Wallace
, Mark Collie
, James Jordan
, Demi Moore
, Jon Hamm
, Colm Feore
, Robyn Lively
, Drake Rodger
, Brook Sill
, K.C. Clyde
, Rosemary Dominguez
, Mustafa Speaks
, J.R. Villarreal
, Octavio Rodriguez
, Michael Pena
, Emilio Rivera
, Alex Meraz
, Alejandro Akara - Seasons
-
1
