Ethan Hawke’s The Lowdown Is a Crime Drama You Need to Binge

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Crime dramas continue to be popular and engaging, and 2025 brought some excellent new series. Highlights included Netflix’s Dept. Q and The Beast in Me, as well as Task on HBO Max. FX also offered a standout crime show last year, a fast-paced series with Ethan Hawke in the lead role.

I just finished watching The Lowdown, and it’s seriously good! It’s a crime drama, but it’s also really funny. The show centers around Lee Raybon, played by Ethan Hawke, who’s a writer – they call him a ‘truthstorian’ – and he’s obsessed with digging up the real story of Tulsa, especially when it comes to the city’s wealthy and powerful people. Of course, uncovering those secrets gets him into some pretty dangerous situations. It’s a really quick-moving show, and honestly, I think everyone should check it out!

The Lowdown Features a Star-Studded Cast

The new crime series features a highly skilled and famous cast. Ethan Hawke plays Lee Raybon, a man who runs a used bookstore and writes for local magazines. However, Lee’s articles aren’t about books – they expose the hidden, dark side of Tulsa’s wealthiest families and their connections to racist organizations.

I was really fascinated by Ethan Hawke’s character, Lee Raybon, and learned he’s based on a remarkable real man named Lee Roy Chapman. He was a historian, activist, and a true citizen journalist who dedicated his life to uncovering the hidden racial history of Tulsa. What struck me most was his work exposing the connection between the city’s founder, W. Tate Brady, and the Ku Klux Klan, and how Brady played a part in the horrific 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. It’s a story that needed to be told, and Chapman bravely brought it to light.

In addition to Hawke, the series features Kyle MacLachlan (known from Twin Peaks and Fallout) as Marty Brunner, a private investigator. Brunner and Hawke’s characters begin with a tense relationship because they’re on opposing sides of a case: Hawke is looking into the wealthy Washberg family, while Brunner is employed by Donald Washberg, who is campaigning to be the governor of Oklahoma.

Jeanne Tripplehorn, famous for her roles in the HBO series Big Love and as Dr. Alex Blake on Criminal Minds, stars as Betty Jo Washberg in The Lowdown. Betty Jo is married to Dale Washberg, who is portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson, a well-known character actor who also appeared in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

In addition to the main cast, the show features Kaniehtiio Horn, known for her role in The Man in the High Castle, as Lee’s ex-wife and daughter. Michael Hitchcock, a familiar face from shows like Mad TV, Glee, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Nobody Wants This, plays Ray, an antique dealer who is also Lee’s rival.

Eric Edelstein, known from “Shameless,” Johnny Pemberton from “Son of Zorn” and “Superstore,” play two white supremacist skinheads who object to the writing of a character named Lee. The show, “The Lowdown,” also includes appearances by notable guest stars like John Doe, the founder of the LA punk band X, and Tisha Campbell, who is known for her roles in “Martin” and “My Wife and Kids.”

The Lowdown Follows One Big Mystery

Although The Lowdown primarily follows Lee’s investigation, the first season also revolves around the death of Dale Washberg. The series begins with Dale in his study, writing and hiding a letter before he apparently dies by suicide.

Lee has been investigating the Washberg family, and Dale Washberg was recently found dead. Lee previously published a critical article about the family, and some believe it may have contributed to Dale’s death. However, after discovering a letter from Dale hidden in one of his books, Lee believes Dale was murdered, not a suicide.

The story then centers on Lee’s investigation into the Washberg family and the fate of Dale. However, his search forces him to confront the repercussions of his past reporting. Meanwhile, Lee also needs to get his personal life on track if he hopes to reconnect with his daughter.

Despite dealing with some serious themes, The Lowdown is often a funny and lighthearted read. The story features several comedic characters, including the main character Lee, his friend Ray who deals in antiques, and Waylon, a former convict Lee hires as a bookstore security guard. The Lowdown successfully mixes mystery, action, comedy, and drama, offering broad appeal for a wide range of readers.

The Lowdown Features a Unique Storytelling Device

What makes The Lowdown unique is how Lee discovers the contents of Dale’s letter, and what Dale says within it. Instead of just showing Lee reading the letter, the story cleverly has Dale appear alongside him, essentially narrating it directly. This approach is much more engaging than a simple reading scene, which could quickly become dull.

Dale didn’t just leave a single letter; he hid several throughout different books. After Lee discovers Dale’s final letter, his new goal is to track down all of Dale’s hidden books and correspondence, which proves to be quite challenging. The show, The Lowdown, continues to use the letters as a storytelling device, bringing the scenes described within them to life for the audience.

A story centered around discovering the truth through old letters could easily have been dull. But The Lowdown avoids this by cleverly using Dale as a narrator – a ‘ghost’ who tells the story of his life and events leading up to his death, keeping the audience engaged.

The central puzzle of the story is whether Dale was murdered or died by suicide. As Lee reads Dale’s letters, she uncovers details about his family, his emotional state, and key events that might have led to his death. However, the Washberg family isn’t being very helpful with Lee’s investigation.

Ethan Hawke Is Still the Best Part of The Lowdown

Ethan Hawke is a highly celebrated actor known for his work in both film and television. He’s gained recognition for memorable roles in movies like Dead Poets Society, Training Day, and Boyhood, as well as popular horror films including Sinister, The Purge, and The Black Phone. On television, he’s been praised for his performances in series such as The Good Lord Bird and the Marvel show Moon Knight.

Ethan Hawke is the biggest standout in The Lowdown, showcasing impressive comedic timing. Though the show deals with heavy themes like murder, corruption, abuse of power, and the growth of white supremacist groups, Hawke brings a delightful charm and understated humor that makes it surprisingly enjoyable. He also makes viewers genuinely care about his character, Lee.

Lee isn’t perfect – he’s not a great writer, boss, or father, but he always tries his best. He frequently gets his friends and colleagues into trouble, especially when people react angrily to the articles he publishes. He also has ongoing financial difficulties, often struggling to pay his bookstore employee.

Lee is a typical “cool dad,” which might make him unlikeable in a different story. He’s always up for fun with his daughter, even letting her join him on risky adventures and help solve the mystery of Dale’s murder – things a thirteen-year-old would enjoy. However, his relaxed attitude also puts his daughter in potential danger.

Even though some viewers may criticize Lee’s parenting and he might not seem dependable at first, the show makes it easy to like and support him. He consistently faces danger and refuses to be intimidated, all in pursuit of a worthwhile goal.

Hawke portrays Lee as a charismatic and quick-witted hero, skilled at talking his way out of trouble. While he might seem like an irresponsible father at times, the audience understands he’s genuinely trying his best, even when money is tight. When work takes priority, it’s clear Lee is driven by a desire to stop criminals.

The Lowdown Shares a Connection with Another FX Series

Season 1 of The Lowdown has eight episodes, totaling around seven hours of viewing time – ideal for a weekend binge! It’s currently very well-received, with a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.3 on IMDb. While FX hasn’t officially announced a second season, fans are optimistic.

Sterlin Harjo’s new show, The Lowdown, takes place in the same world as his previous series, Reservation Dogs. Reservation Dogs is a funny and heartfelt three-season show also set in Oklahoma. If you’ve already finished The Lowdown and are eager for Season 2, Reservation Dogs is a great show to watch in the meantime.

The Lowdown and Reservation Dogs are both available for streaming on Hulu.

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2026-01-06 22:11