‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale
Spoiler alert: This article contains plot details from “The Sensitive Kind,” the Season 1 finale of The Lowdown, now streaming on Hulu.
The Story’s Heart: Truth and Tulsa’s Untold History
Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), journalist and bookstore owner, calls himself a “truthstorian”—a made-up title reflecting his mission to reveal Tulsa, Oklahoma’s buried secrets. In the Nov. 4 finale of FX’s first season, Lee uncovers evidence that a white supremacist church used a land deal to bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg (Kyle Maclachlan).
A Web of Deceit and Tragedy
- Donald’s late brother, Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), was a closeted eccentric who died under suspicious circumstances labeled a “suicide.”
- Dale had intended to leave land to his Native friend Arthur (Graham Greene, in one of his final performances before his death in September).
- To halt this, Donald’s associate Frank (Tracy Letts) hired goons to intimidate Dale, leading to his death, and later killed Arthur.
Justice Without Publication
Though Lee finds scandalous proof, he chooses not to publish it in his final article about the Washburg family. Instead, he persuades a guilt-ridden Donald to transfer the land to the Osage Nation, using his knowledge to achieve meaningful results.
Lee Raybon: A “truthstorian,” someone who seeks out hidden truths as a higher calling.
"Lee does dig up some serious dirt" — uncovering bribery and murder linked to the powerful Washburg family.
Author's summary: Sterlin Harjo’s finale explores how unearthing painful truths can lead to real change, exemplified by Lee’s choice to use knowledge for justice rather than headlines.
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