‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale and Lessons from Tulsa
Sterlin Harjo reflects on the Season 1 finale of The Lowdown, the series now streaming on Hulu, and shares insights on what Tulsa reveals about America and the experience of working with Ethan Hawke.
Plot Highlights from the Finale
The finale episode, “The Sensitive Kind,” aired on November 4th and concludes the first season's narrative focused on journalist and bookstore owner Lee Raybon, played by Ethan Hawke. Lee, who calls himself a “truthstorian,” dedicates himself to uncovering Tulsa’s hidden and painful history.
In the episode, Lee uncovers evidence that a white supremacist church used a land deal to bribe gubernatorial candidate Donald Washburg, portrayed by Kyle Maclachlan. Donald’s late brother Dale, a closeted eccentric who died under suspicious circumstances, had attempted to leave the land to his Native friend Arthur. Arthur was played by Graham Greene in one of his last roles before his death in September.
Unbeknownst to Donald, his associate Frank hired thugs to intimidate Dale, leading to his death, and later killed Arthur. Despite uncovering these dark truths, Lee chooses not to publish them. Instead, he uses this knowledge to influence Donald to return the land to the Osage Nation, creating a meaningful outcome from the investigation.
"Lee Raybon... likes to call himself a 'truthstorian,' a made-up title that nonetheless speaks to how Lee views unearthing the buried secrets of Tulsa as a higher calling."
"Lee opts not to put any of it in print in his final piece on the wealthy, storied Washburg family. Instead, he leverages a grieving, guilt-stricken Donald into giving the land to the Osage Nation."
Working with Ethan Hawke
Harjo praises Ethan Hawke’s performance, noting his ability to “break your heart while making you laugh,” capturing the complexity of Lee’s character and the emotional weight of the story.
What Tulsa Teaches America
Through the series and its finale, Harjo highlights Tulsa’s history as a powerful lens on racial injustice and the ripple effects that history continues to have in America today.
Overall, the finale balances revelation and restraint, turning dark truths into a hopeful act of restitution.
Author’s Summary: Sterlin Harjo’s The Lowdown finale reveals Tulsa’s buried secrets and shows how truth-telling can inspire justice, masterfully brought to life by Ethan Hawke’s nuanced performance.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or conversational?