Fri Nov 07 04:40:00 UTC 2025: ‘The Lowdown’ Season Finale Offers Hope Amidst Noir Darkness
Tulsa, OK – The FX series “The Lowdown,” set and filmed in Tulsa, concluded its first season on November 4th with a finale that, while acknowledging the darkness inherent in noir storytelling, opted for a more hopeful resolution for its protagonist, Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke).
Series creator Sterlin Harjo, who directed and co-wrote the finale, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the decision to veer away from a purely bleak ending. The season saw Raybon investigating the corrupt dealings of gubernatorial candidate Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan) and the suspicious death of Washberg’s brother. The finale sees Raybon making a deal with Washberg to return stolen Washberg family land to an Indigenous nation. In exchange, Raybon doesn’t publish the exposé he’s been working on and instead publishes a tribute to Dale Washberg titled “The Sensitive Kind.”
Harjo says that the ending aims for a middle ground, acknowledging that Raybon compromises his journalistic integrity but ultimately makes the “good” choice. He also notes the impact of Raybon’s actions, particularly his involvement in a death, which forces him to question his motives and methods.
Harjo emphasizes the importance of casting actors with ties to Oklahoma, noting that they provided a deeper understanding of the unique world and dynamics of the state. He also shared a surprising anecdote about how a story from Robert Plant about “bovine vagina relaxant pills” inspired one of the finale’s funniest scenes.
While FX has not yet announced a second season, Harjo has ideas for future stories, including delving deeper into Oklahoma and exploring the show’s supporting characters. Harjo stated that people love Waylon, played by Cody Lightning, so he’d love to explore that character.
First Piper 