‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale
SPOILER ALERT: The following article includes 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,” refers to himself as a “truthstorian,” a made-up term reflecting his mission to uncover Tulsa, Oklahoma’s hidden truths.
Key Revelations in the Finale
In the Nov. 4 finale, Lee discovers evidence that a white supremacist church manipulated a land deal to bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg (Kyle Maclachlan). Donald’s late brother Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), a closeted eccentric whose suspicious “suicide” is deeply mysterious, attempted to bequeath the land to his Native friend Arthur (Graham Greene, in one of his final roles before his death in September).
Unbeknownst to Donald, his associate Frank (Tracy Letts) hired thugs to intimidate Dale, leading to his death, and later murdered Arthur.
Lee's Decisions and Impact
Despite uncovering this dark conspiracy, Lee chooses not to publish these explosive findings in his last article about the influential Washburg family. Instead, he convinces a remorseful Donald to transfer the land to the Osage Nation, turning his knowledge into real-world change.
Lee Raybon calls himself a “truthstorian,” reflecting his dedication to uncovering Tulsa’s hidden truths.
“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: Sterlin Harjo’s finale masterfully blends truth-seeking with moral complexity, showing how uncovering painful secrets can lead to meaningful justice.