‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale
The Season 1 finale of The Lowdown, titled “The Sensitive Kind,” is now streaming on Hulu. The show follows Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), a journalist and bookstore owner who calls himself a “truthstorian.” This invented title reflects how Lee views uncovering Tulsa, Oklahoma’s hidden truths as a vital mission.
Plot Highlights from the Season Finale
In the Nov. 4 finale of the FX series, Lee discovers evidence revealing a white supremacist church used a land deal to bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg (Kyle MacLachlan). Donald’s late brother Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), a closeted eccentric who died under suspicious circumstances, had tried to bequeath the land to his Native friend Arthur (Graham Greene).
Unaware to Donald, his associate Frank (Tracy Letts) hired henchmen to intimidate Dale, resulting in his fatal “suicide” and later murdered Arthur as well. These findings uncover deep corruption and violence within the Washburg family.
Lee's Choice and Impact
Despite the explosive revelations, Lee decides not to print these scandals in his final article about the wealthy Washburg family for a local magazine. Instead, he uses his leverage over a guilt-ridden Donald to convince him to return the land to the Osage Nation, yielding a tangible, positive outcome.
“Lee Raybon, the crusading hero of ‘The Lowdown,’ likes to call himself a ‘truthstorian,’ a made-up title that nonetheless speaks to how Lee views unearthing the buried secrets of Tulsa as a higher calling.”
“Lee opts not to put any of it in print in his final piece ... Instead, he leverages a grieving, guilt-stricken Donald into giving the land to the Osage Nation, using his knowledge to achieve tangible results.”
The Lowdown explores the complex history of Tulsa, blending mystery and social commentary through Lee's investigative journey.
Author’s summary: Sterlin Harjo’s finale of The Lowdown highlights powerful truths about Tulsa’s past and the importance of justice beyond mere exposure of corruption.