The Lowdown’s Finale Brilliantly Upends the Characters’—And Audience’s—Assumptions
Sterlin Harjo’s neo-noir series The Lowdown, set in Tulsa, concluded with violence, humor, and unexpected twists. The finale aired Tuesday on FX and addressed two main mysteries.
Key Questions Explored
The first question, how did Dale Washberg die?, had a clear solution. The second was more complex: Is Lee Raybon a righteous crusader for truth or a delusional white savior? This debate mirrors many iconic protagonists in this year's films.
Complexity of Characters
Harjo, the creator of Reservation Dogs, avoids simple labels of hero and villain. Ethan Hawke’s character, the intense "Tulsa truthstorian," embodies both roles equally. Unexpectedly, Lee’s supposed nemesis was revealed to be no more malicious than Lee himself.
Finale Details
The episode, titled "The Sensitive Kind"—a nod to a J.J. Cale song covered by Eric Clapton and Lee’s headline about Dale—begins with a flashback that feels partly like a fantasy. Lee is in his bookstore, reading Walter Tevis’ The Man Who Fell to Earth, while Dale (Tim Blake Nelson) browses the shelves.
“The Sensitive Kind” was not only the episode title but also the show’s working title.
This ending challenges viewers to reconsider simplistic judgments about truth and morality.
Author's summary: Sterlin Harjo’s The Lowdown finale challenges black-and-white views of good and evil, revealing complex characters and surprising truths.