‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale, What America Could Learn from Tulsa and How Ethan Hawke Can ‘Break Your Heart While Making You Laugh’

‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on the Bittersweet Finale

SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses plot details from “The Sensitive Kind,” the Season 1 finale of The Lowdown, now available on Hulu.

Lee Raybon: The “Truthstorian” of Tulsa

Journalist and bookstore owner Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), the main character of The Lowdown, calls himself a “truthstorian.” Though a made-up title, it reflects his dedication to uncovering Tulsa, Oklahoma's hidden histories.

Season 1 Finale: Dark Secrets Unearthed

In the November 4 finale, Lee discovers 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), who died in a suspicious “suicide,” had intended to leave the land to his Native friend Arthur (Graham Greene, in one of his last roles before his September death).

Donald’s associate Frank (Tracy Letts) secretly hired thugs to intimidate Dale, resulting in his death, and later killed Arthur.

Choosing Impact Over Exposure

Despite uncovering this scandal, Lee decides not to publish these revelations in his final article on the wealthy Washburg family for a local magazine. Instead, he persuades a guilt-ridden Donald to transfer the land to the Osage Nation, turning his findings into a meaningful outcome.

“Lee likes to call himself a ‘truthstorian,’ a made-up title that nonetheless speaks to how he views unearthing the buried secrets of Tulsa as a higher calling.”

“Lee 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 The Lowdown finale highlights complex truths about Tulsa’s history, showing how revealing stories can lead to true justice beyond mere exposure.

Variety — 2025-11-05