‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale
Sterlin Harjo, creator of The Lowdown, reflects on the Season 1 finale, what Tulsa’s history can teach America, and his experience working with Ethan Hawke.
Plot Highlights from the Season 1 Finale
Spoiler alert: The following discusses key plot points from “The Sensitive Kind,” the final episode of the first season of The Lowdown on FX, now streaming on Hulu.
The protagonist Lee Raybon, a journalist and bookstore owner played by Ethan Hawke, refers to himself as a “truthstorian,” a term he uses to express his commitment to uncovering Tulsa’s hidden truths.
The Uncovered Conspiracy
In the finale, Lee discovers evidence that a white supremacist church used a land transaction to bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg (Kyle Maclachlan). Donald’s late brother Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), who died under suspicious circumstances, had intended to leave the land to his Native friend Arthur (Graham Greene, in one of his last roles before passing in September 2023).
However, Donald’s associate Frank (Tracy Letts), unaware of Donald’s intentions, arranged violence that led to Dale’s death and ultimately killed Arthur.
Lee’s Choice and Impact
Despite uncovering this dark truth, Lee chooses not to expose these events publicly in his final article about the prominent Washburg family. Instead, he persuades a guilt-ridden Donald to return the land to the Osage Nation, using his knowledge to create meaningful change.
“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.”
“Lee opts not to put any of it in print in his final piece on the wealthy, storied Washburg family for a local magazine. Instead, he leverages a grieving, guilt-stricken Donald into giving the land to the Osage Nation, using his knowledge to achieve tangible results.”
Author’s Summary
Sterlin Harjo’s The Lowdown finale blends complex history and personal tragedy, showing how truth can lead to healing and justice beyond mere exposure.
Would you like the summary to be more analytical or more emotional?