‘The Lowdown’ Finale: Creator Sterlin Harjo Explains Lee’s Choices and Robert Plant’s Influence
The FX drama series The Lowdown, filmed in Tulsa, concluded its first season in November. The finale, titled “The Sensitive Kind,” dives deep into themes of guilt, justice, and redemption after a season steeped in violence and loss.
Dark Turns Through Noir Lens
Throughout the season, audiences witnessed grim events: multiple murders, a man brutally tarred and feathered by a white supremacist group, and the tragic death of an elderly Native man portrayed by Graham Greene — a death caused by protagonist Lee Raybon, played by Ethan Hawke. These moments reflect the hard-edged noir influences that guided creator Sterlin Harjo’s storytelling.
A Break from Despair
Unlike the bleak conclusions common to classic noir, the finale allows for moments of moral victory. Lee, after tirelessly investigating gubernatorial candidate Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan) and the mysterious death of Washberg’s brother, Dale (Tim Blake Nelson), arrives at a crossroads.
The Deal that Redefines the End
As Lee prepares a final exposé revealing the truth behind Dale’s death, he makes an unexpected decision. Instead of publishing, he confronts Donald directly and proposes a deal — one that returns land originally belonging to an Oklahoma Indigenous nation. This land had been slated for sale to a white supremacist network known as One Well, backed by powerful business interests.
“The finale breaks from the despairing tradition of noir, offering hard-fought justice that comes at a price,” said creator Sterlin Harjo.
Harjo also shared that a particular scene drew inspiration from musician Robert Plant, whose reflective lyrics about redemption and cycles of change informed the emotional foundation of Lee’s final choice.
About the Finale’s Message
The ending reframes the story’s darkness through acts of agency and moral clarity. Though Lee doesn’t erase his past, his compromise signals a path toward restoration over revenge.
Author’s Summary: The finale of The Lowdown transforms noir fatalism into a story of atonement, as Lee Raybon’s final decision restores meaning, justice, and lost land to those who deserve it.