‘The Lowdown’ Finale: Creator Sterlin Harjo Reflects on Lee’s Choices and Inspiration from Robert Plant
The FX drama The Lowdown, filmed in Tulsa, concluded its first season in November with an emotionally charged finale titled “The Sensitive Kind.” The story’s final chapter, filled with mystery and redemption, showcased the darker corners of Oklahoma life through the eyes of its conflicted protagonist, Lee Raybon.
Violence and Consequences
Across the season, Harjo painted a grim picture of moral decay and hidden brutality: multiple murders, an instance of a man being tarred and feathered by a white supremacist group, and the death of an elderly Native man, portrayed by Graham Greene, indirectly caused by Lee’s actions. These events reinforced the show’s noir roots while testing the limits of justice and guilt.
Breaking the Noir Tradition
The climactic episode deviated from the bleak conclusions typical of noir fiction. Rather than ending in total despair, the finale offered moments of hard-earned triumph for the protagonists, balanced with personal sacrifice and moral compromise.
Lee’s Final Gamble
After persistently pursuing the truth behind the suspicious dealings of Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate Donald Washberg, played by Kyle MacLachlan, and the mysterious death of his brother Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), Lee prepares one last exposé revealing the true nature of Dale’s demise.
In a surprising turn, Lee chooses not to publicly destroy Washberg. Instead, he strikes an unlikely bargain: Washberg agrees to return a piece of Washberg family land—scheduled to be sold to the white supremacist faction known as One Well—to an Indigenous nation in Oklahoma.
Sterlin Harjo noted that the ending’s tone, and even its pacing, drew inspiration from the emotional honesty found in Robert Plant’s music.
Harjo’s Intent and Vision
By incorporating an element inspired by Robert Plant’s themes of renewal and regret, Harjo aimed to highlight the human capacity for both failure and redemption. The result is a finale that preserves the authenticity of noir storytelling while letting a sliver of light break through its shadowed world.
Author’s Summary
The Lowdown’s finale turns a dark noir tragedy into a quiet redemption, blending realism, Native identity, and music-fueled emotion into Harjo’s signature storytelling.