‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Season 1 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” of Tulsa
Journalist and bookstore owner Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), the determined protagonist of The Lowdown, calls himself a “truthstorian.” Though a made-up term, it reflects Lee's mission to uncover Tulsa, Oklahoma’s hidden truths as a noble pursuit.
Major Revelations in the Finale
In the Nov. 4 finale, Lee uncovers explosive evidence of corruption tied to a white supremacist church. This church covertly bribed gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg (Kyle Maclachlan) through a land deal. The backstory reveals that Donald’s late brother Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), a closeted eccentric whose suspicious “suicide” raised questions, attempted to bequeath the land to his Native friend Arthur (Graham Greene, in one of his final roles before his passing in September).
Unbeknownst to Donald, his associate Frank (Tracy Letts) hired thugs to intimidate Dale, resulting in fatal consequences, and later murdered Arthur.
Lee’s Final Decision
Despite uncovering these dark secrets, Lee chooses not to publish the story in his final piece about the influential Washburg family for a local magazine. Instead, he uses his knowledge to persuade the remorseful Donald to transfer the land to the Osage Nation, achieving a meaningful outcome.
“Lee does dig up some serious dirt, finding proof that a white supremacist church has used a land deal as cover to bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg.”
“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.”
Author’s Summary
The finale of The Lowdown reveals deep-seated corruption in Tulsa while showing a path toward justice through truth and reconciliation.
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