Cooper Norris (Jacob Lofland) is often called a "worm" in Taylor Sheridan's best shows. Having such a realistic story about such an unknown community as oil workers, however, means that some things aren't well known by most viewers.

Landman offers a very deep dive into the perils of working on an oil rig, as well as some of the intricacies of roughneck culture. Through Cooper, Landman has shown everything from how long a typical shift is to how easily a roughneck can die on the job. One aspect of the job that hasn't been explained, however, is why the entire cast of Landman calls Cooper a worm. The term actually has a fairly simple meaning in roughneck culture, and it's a very creative way to describe the start of an oil worker's career.

What A "Worm" Is In An Oil Drilling Crew

Worms Are The Newest, Least Experienced Roughnecks

Among roughnecks, or oil drill workers, a "worm" is the newest, least experienced member of a crew. Worms are usually given the most physically demanding, and dirty jobs of the entire crew, and their name comes from the fact that they usually end up wriggling in the dirt. It's also likely meant as an insult, as worms aren't a very well-respected animal, and new of oil crews have to earn respect from their crewmates. Despite being somewhat derrogatory, most roughnecks seem to look back on their time as worms fondly, and there's even merchandise about the title.

What Are The Other Roles On An Oil Crew?

Cooper's New Crew Has A Driller, A Derrickhand, & A Chainhand

Luckily for roughnecks, there are far more positions on an oil crew than just being a worm. Worms who survive long enough to gain experience and be replaced by a newer worker usually move up to the position of chainhand. In Landman, Manuel (J.R. Villarreal) was the chainhand on Cooper's current crew, as he worked the tongs on the floor alongside Cooper. Boss (Mustafa Speaks) is the crew's driller, since he leads the group and operates the machinery. Antonio (Octavio Rodriguez) seems to be the derrickhand, which would mean he sits on top of the derrick, guides the driller, and puts the pipe into position for a new well.

While those are, usually, the main roles in an oil crew, there are several other positions that help a crew drill. Some sites have a motorhand who maintains the machinery and engines to keep them in working order. Some crews also have a ginzel, which is a term for a worm's helper who is even further down the rung, though Cooper's crew didn't include that position. There's a very long list of slang and names used by roughnecks, and just about anybody on a drill site has a specialized job to do.

Being The "Worm" Isn't Cooper's Biggest Concern In Landman

Manuel & Antonio's Threats Are Much More Concerning Than Cooper Being A Worm

Being a worm often puts a roughneck into dangerous and physically demanding situations, but Cooper's situation in Landman is even worse than that. By the end of Landman episode 3, Manuel and Antonio had outright attacked and tried to kill Cooper for surviving when Armando, Luis, and Elvio died in the blowout. They also repeatedly threatened Cooper, and his budding relationship with Ariana (Paulina Chávez) won't do much to calm Manuel and Antonio down. If Cooper isn't injured or killed on the oil rig, there's a very high chance that one of his crew will do it themselves.

If Cooper isn't injured or killed on the oil rig, there's a very high chance that one of his crew will do it themselves.

There is, however, a chance that Cooper, Manuel, and Antonio will be able to set aside their differences and become friends, or at least colleagues. Working on an oil site is a high-stress environment, and people often form bonds with the people they survive stressful situations with. If Cooper can prove that he's worth keeping around, he may be able to earn Manuel and Antonio's respect. In the meantime, however, Cooper will have to watch his back in the coming episodes of Landman.