Luis Medina
Character Overview
Luis Medina (Emilio Rivera) runs the workover crew that Cooper Norris joins on his first day. He is the uncle of Armando and Elvio, and all three die in the blowout that ends the pilot. Tommy's first job afterward is to tell Luis's wife.
Biography
Luis Medina is played by Emilio Rivera, and like his nephews he is on screen alive only in the pilot. He is the crew's boss. On Cooper Norris's first day, Luis's line to him is "Your father said to make you into a roughneck. May as well start now." When Cooper gets down from the derrick he tells him "Welcome to the patch" and "You did good, son." At supper, when Cooper coughs his way through a taco, Luis is the one who says "You got a way to go, son."
His nephews, Armando and Elvio, are on the crew with him. The pilot ends when Cooper is sent to the truck for the 24-inch pipe wrench and the well blows.
In episode 2 Tommy Norris works out what has to happen next. He is going to "drive over to Luis's house and tell his wife she's lost a husband and two nephews." M-Tex offers each family $250,000, and in the settlement talks in episode 5 the lawyers argue about whether Luis's 401(k) counts toward that. "In the case of Luis, it's more like a $600,000 offer," one says, and the other answers that the family is entitled to the 401(k) regardless of a settlement. His crew's work is still on the books. In episode 5, when a well starts dropping off and someone asks which crew maintains the field, the answer is "Luis." "Oh. These haven't been reassigned yet." Tommy then asks Boss to take them on.
Personality
Luis gives a greenhorn a full day of work and a laugh in the same breath. He is a crew boss with two nephews on his payroll, and the pilot's last scene makes that the most expensive fact about him.
Emilio Rivera, who played Marcus Alvarez in Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C., has only the one day of screen time here.
Key Relationships
- Armando Medina (nephew)
- Elvio Medina (nephew)
- Ariana Medina (nephew's widow)
- Cooper Norris (greenhorn on his crew)
Character Analysis
Luis Medina represents a crucial element in Taylor Sheridan's exploration of the modern American oil industry. Through Emilio Rivera's nuanced performance, the character embodies the complexities and contradictions inherent in this high-stakes world.
The character's role as medina crew boss provides insight into the various layers of the oil business, from the personal relationships that drive decision-making to the broader economic and environmental implications of the industry.
🎬 Behind the Scenes
- Emilio Rivera played Marcus Alvarez in Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C.
- Luis is Armando's and Elvio's uncle. In S1E2 Tommy says his wife has lost "a husband and two nephews"
- Luis, Armando and Elvio all die in the blowout that ends S1E1. In S1E2, Tommy says of the crew "They all died"
- In S1E5 the settlement lawyers argue about whether Luis's 401(k) counts toward the $250,000 offer
Series Information
Luis Medina appears as a guest character throughout the series, playing a vital role in the unfolding drama of the Texas oil industry.