Lee Raybon, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, literally wears his struggles for all to see. In the initial five episodes of FX’s compelling series “The Lowdown,” Lee, an investigative writer and “truthstorian” from Tulsa, specializing in exposing local corruption, endures a relentless barrage of physical abuse. We witness him being beaten, burned, wrestled, and abducted on multiple occasions, each encounter adding to his growing collection of black eyes, bandages, and bruises. A friend aptly observes that with every meeting, Lee seems to look progressively worse.
However, this deterioration strangely suits Lee, and it perfectly complements the feisty, engaging style of this journalistic noir. Creator Sterlin Harjo, known for his comedic series “Reservation Dogs,” crafted an intimate portrait of community and adolescence on an Oklahoma reservation. With “The Lowdown,” an eight-episode season premiering on FX, Harjo remains within Oklahoma’s borders but expands his scope. He delivers a gritty narrative exploring corruption, unchecked power, and the harsh reality that pursuing truth often demands enduring significant punishment.
For Lee, the fight is waged primarily through words. He operates a rare-books store in downtown Tulsa, the meager profits of which fund his deep-seated investigative passion. He even finds time to quote literary figures like David Foster Wallace. It’s a subtle but significant detail that our first glimpse of Lee is centered on the pen in his hand.
Lee’s latest investigative article delves into the corrupt past of the influential Washberg family. Soon after its publication, Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), the family’s estranged member, is found dead in what is ruled a “suicide.” Yet, Lee is convinced it was murder. He pursues his suspicion, following a literal paper trail of cryptic clues Dale deliberately embedded within his collection of pulp-crime paperbacks.
Thus unfolds a nuanced yet thrilling conspiracy, presented with a stellar ensemble cast. Lee’s investigation quickly draws him into the orbit of Donald (Kyle MacLachlan), Dale’s ambitious brother who is running for governor, and Dale’s widow, Betty Jo (Jeanne Tripplehorn), whose relationship with Donald seems unusually close. He also encounters Frank Martin (Tracy Letts), a powerful businessman acquiring numerous Black-owned properties in North Tulsa under questionable circumstances.
It’s not long before Lee’s relentless probing catches the eye of Marty (Keith David), Donald’s private investigator, along with a diverse array of enforcers and unsavory characters. (Notably, Scott Shepherd delivers a chilling performance as a developer whose stare is cold enough to freeze solid anything in its path.) Though Lee lacks power and wealth, he possesses a roguish charisma and valuable connections among society’s fringes. “The Lowdown” masterfully constructs a world populated by hustlers, con artists, skinheads, and even seemingly innocuous antique dealers, who prove to be surprisingly formidable.
Ethan Hawke, whose memorable guest appearance in “Reservation Dogs” was widely praised, finds a character in Lee that perfectly aligns with his evolved acting style. Lee is a seasoned, unconventional local figure, fiercely principled, occasionally to the point of being tiresome. Much like Hawke’s powerful portrayal of John Brown in the 2020 mini-series “The Good Lord Bird,” there’s an almost divinely zealous, yet wild, quality to Lee. As Marty bluntly puts it, “There’s nothing worse than a white man who cares.”
The series subtly hints that Lee, the “truthstorian,” carries a complex personal past. He is divorced, navigating a strained relationship with his clever, resilient teenage daughter (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), and constantly trying to earn the trust of his ex-wife (Kaniehtiio Horn, also from “Reservation Dogs”). One gets the distinct impression that Lee’s relentless pursuit of answers in external mysteries is, in part, a quest to mend something broken within himself.
Fans of “Reservation Dogs” will immediately recognize the series’ signature dry wit and authentic Oklahoma atmosphere. However, “The Lowdown” also shares thematic DNA with regionally focused dramas such as “Justified.” While “Justified” drew its literary inspiration from the crime narratives of Elmore Leonard, “The Lowdown” looks to its own gritty muses: the hard-boiled prose of novelist Jim Thompson, whose work influences the storyline, and the real-life Oklahoma citizen journalist Lee Roy Chapman, who served as the inspiration for Lee’s character.
Despite its moments of humor, “The Lowdown” firmly adheres to the traditions of noir crime fiction. It operates on the premise that all established institutions—government, politics, corporate entities, and even law enforcement—are inherently corrupt and easily compromised. In this world, genuine truth is elusive, and if discovered at all, it’s unearthed only by dedicated outsiders prepared to sacrifice everything. Lee’s escalating collection of facial injuries serves as a stark visual callback to the battered detective Jake Gittes in “Chinatown.”
What sets Lee apart from the archetypal noir detective is that his ultimate investigation is a deep dive into history itself. His primary motivation stems from an unfiltered, complex love for Tulsa, a city that embodies the classic detective trope of a captivating client capable of both profound inspiration and devastating betrayal.
Echoing “Reservation Dogs,” “The Lowdown” is richly infused with distinctive local flavor. It also addresses a highly relevant theme: the crucial importance of local journalism, particularly as small, independent news organizations vanish. The series implicitly argues that information, even unvarnished truth, functions as a town’s essential nervous system; without it, what remains is merely a hollow shell.
That said, “The Lowdown” might not be the most intricately plotted or ingeniously twisted mystery you’ll ever encounter. (My assessment is based on five out of the season’s eight episodes.) Its villains are somewhat transparently sinister, and the narrative occasionally relies a bit too heavily on fortunate coincidences.
Ultimately, “The Lowdown” thrives on its undeniable charm and tenacious spirit. The core appeal lies not just in the promise of unearthed scandals and revealed secrets, but in the colorful array of unconventional characters who both assist and obstruct Lee’s relentless quest for the truth. The series wisely observes that journalism, much like its beleaguered protagonist, isn’t always glamorous, but its hard-won scars are precisely what give it its profound character.