‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale and Lessons from Tulsa
Sterlin Harjo, the creator of the FX series “The Lowdown,” discusses the emotional conclusion of Season 1, what America could learn from Tulsa’s past, and the experience of working with Ethan Hawke.
Truth and the Power of Storytelling
In the season finale titled “The Sensitive Kind,” journalist and bookstore owner Lee Raybon, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, continues his pursuit of truth. Lee, who calls himself a "truthstorian," sees his mission of uncovering Tulsa’s hidden histories as almost sacred.
“Lee Raybon likes to call himself a ‘truthstorian,’ a made-up title that nonetheless speaks to how he views unearthing the buried secrets of Tulsa, Oklahoma as a higher calling.”
Uncovering a Web of Corruption
The final episode reveals Lee’s investigation into a white supremacist church that used a land deal to secretly bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg, played by Kyle MacLachlan. The story deepens when it’s revealed that Donald’s late brother, Dale, had intended to transfer the disputed land to his Native friend Arthur.
Arthur, portrayed by the late Graham Greene, becomes a tragic figure whose death—alongside Dale’s—exposes a chain of deceit and violence carried out by Donald’s associate Frank. Despite uncovering these explosive truths, Lee decides not to publish them in his final article.
A Moral Choice and Redemption
Rather than exposing the scandal, Lee confronts Donald with his findings and persuades him to donate the land to the Osage Nation. This quiet moral stand closes the season on a hopeful yet bittersweet note, reflecting Harjo’s recurring themes of justice, memory, and reconciliation.
About Ethan Hawke’s Performance
“Ethan Hawke can break your heart while making you laugh.”
Harjo praises Hawke for embodying both the humor and quiet sorrow of Lee Raybon, bringing depth to a role that bridges historical guilt and human empathy.
Author’s Summary
The season finale of “The Lowdown” marries moral complexity with hope, showing that truth, compassion, and redemption still shape Tulsa’s unfinished stories.