‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo Explains THAT Character’s Finale Decision and Season 2 Plans

‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on Character Decisions and Season 2

Sterlin Harjo, creator, writer, director, and executive producer, previously led the three-season comedy series Reservation Dogs, which followed four Indigenous teenagers living on an Oklahoma reservation. That experience boosted his confidence, allowed him to experiment creatively, and attracted actors eager to work with him.

For FX’s The Lowdown, Harjo focuses on citizen journalist Lee Raybon, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, who is also an executive producer. Lee, a self-styled "truthstorian" in Tulsa, Oklahoma, becomes intrigued by the mysterious death of Dale Washberg, the black sheep of the Washberg family, played by Tim Blake Nelson.

Plot and Characters

Lee’s investigation intensifies as it leads to interactions with Dale’s older brother Donald (Kyle MacLachlan), Dale's grieving widow Betty Jo (Jeanna Tripplehorn), a white supremacist church leader (Paul Sparks), and a private investigator (Keith David). Lee is well-meaning but often finds himself in dangerous situations, risking disappointing his daughter Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong).

Influences and Background

Harjo also shares that his creative approach has been shaped by various films and a class he took on filmmaker David Lynch at the University of Oklahoma.

Editor's note: The following contains spoilers for The Lowdown.

Author's summary: Sterlin Harjo blends personal experience and cinematic inspirations to craft gripping narratives in The Lowdown while exploring complex characters and their consequences.

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Collider Collider — 2025-11-06

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