‘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.
Lee Raybon: The Truthstorian
Journalist and bookstore owner Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), the passionate hero of “The Lowdown,” calls himself a “truthstorian,” a term he created to describe his mission of uncovering hidden truths in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Sensitive Kind: Season 1 Finale
In the Nov. 4 finale of the FX series’ first season, Lee discovers explosive evidence that a white supremacist church used a land deal to bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg (Kyle Maclachlan).
- Donald’s late brother Dale (Tim Blake Nelson) was a closeted eccentric who died in a suspicious “suicide.”
- Dale intended to leave the land to his Native friend Arthur (Graham Greene, in one of his final roles before his death in September).
- Donald’s associate Frank (Tracy Letts), without Donald’s knowledge, hired goons who intimidated Dale fatally and later killed Arthur.
Lee’s Choice: Justice Through Action
Despite uncovering such scandalous details, Lee decides against publishing the story in his final piece on the powerful 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
This finale highlights the complexity of seeking justice, showing how truth can be used not just to expose, but to create real change for a community.
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