By Elliana Guardado
When you pair a nosy journalist with an unwavering determination to uncover the truth, you get Lee Raybon.
Created by Sterlin Harjo, The Lowdown follows the self-proclaimed “truth-storian” Lee Raybon, played by Austin native Ethan Hawke, who refuses to stop digging until he finds the answers he is looking for. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the FX series follows Lee as he investigates corruption, challenges powerful figures, and exposes the secrets that others would rather keep buried.
Season 1 centers on Lee’s investigation into a prominent Tulsa family following a family member’s suicide. His pursuit of the truth leads him into dangerous territory, from confrontations with local gang members to being followed by a private investigator. But even when his investigations put him at risk, Lee remains committed to his work. I had the opportunity to attend the Season 2 premiere of The Lowdown on Oct. 7 at AFS Cinema, where the cast and creative team discussed the series’ return and the stories they hope to tell. With new characters, deeper family conflicts, and another mystery to unravel, Season 2 continues to explore what happens when the pursuit of truth collides with the people determined to avoid it.
Season 2’s first episode hits the ground running, introducing viewers to the central mystery surrounding Ginger, played by Betty Gilpin. A defense attorney, Ginger becomes concerned when a former client stops communicating with her after months of frequent conversations. His sudden silence raises questions, setting the stage for another mystery that demands answers.
And what is a mystery without Lee?
With his instinct for discovery and a growing interest in Ginger, Lee finds himself drawn into another investigation. But this new season also brings a complication he cannot simply chase down or write his way around: his long-lost father, Lee Raybon Sr., played by Texas native Tommy Lee Jones. His arrival introduces a new layer of tension to Lee’s already complicated life, bringing family history and unresolved relationships into a story that has never shied away from uncomfortable truths.
For Harjo, the new season is an opportunity to expand the world of Tulsa while continuing to uncover what lies beneath its surface.
“We’re unfolding different corners and shining lights into the shadows … [and] try to continue to… amplify everything up,” Harjo said when asked how he plans to further explore the city in Season 2.
That approach builds on the first season’s exploration of political corruption while opening the door to new perspectives and conflicts. Rather than limiting the story to Lee’s investigations, the series continues to examine the people and relationships surrounding him, revealing how the city’s larger problems intersect with its characters’ personal lives.
For Harjo, however, the pursuit of truth extends beyond exposing corruption or holding powerful people accountable. It also requires a willingness to look inward.
“Fighting for the truth is important … in your own self,” Harjo said when asked what he hopes viewers take away from the series.
That idea resonates throughout The Lowdown, particularly through Lee, whose determination to uncover the truth often puts him at odds with those around him. While he may be searching for answers about other people, his investigations also force him to navigate his own relationships and convictions.
Ethan Hawke sees that conflict as part of what makes Lee such a compelling character. “People don’t ever want to hear the truth, and people want to hear what they already believe,” Hawke said, describing Lee as a “Don Quixote figure.”
The comparison captures Lee’s seemingly endless pursuit of answers, even when the odds are stacked against him. Like a man chasing an impossible ideal, Lee continues to challenge the narratives people accept, regardless of whether anyone wants to listen. For Hawke, the series also provides an opportunity to explore the country’s broader contradictions through humor.
“It’s a great opportunity to tell a story where we get to talk about America and get to do it through a comic living lens,” Hawke said.
By blending comedy with stories about corruption, power and personal conflict, The Lowdown approaches serious subjects without losing the unpredictability of its characters. Its humor does not erase the weight of the issues it explores; instead, it offers another way to examine the absurdities and contradictions of American life.
Season 2’s introduction of Lee’s father adds another dimension to that exploration. Through Jones’ character, the series turns toward a fractured family attempting to find some sense of connection amid years of unresolved tension.
Jones described the family as “a shattered, broken family,” with an aging patriarch grasping at opportunities to achieve some kind of cohesion.
The dynamic offers a different kind of mystery for Lee to confront, one that cannot necessarily be solved by gathering evidence or publishing a story. As the season expands its focus beyond political corruption, it also examines the complicated nature of family and the difficulty of repairing strained relationships.
Jones hopes viewers will find something familiar in the season’s stories, even when the characters’ circumstances are far from ordinary.
“I want them to feel as though they’re looking at something that’s original … [I] hope that ultimately, they recognize themselves in the show just like they’re looking into the mirror,” Jones said.
That reflection is part of the series’ appeal. Its characters are imperfect, their motivations are complicated, and the truth rarely comes without consequences. By exposing the shadows surrounding both the city and its residents, The Lowdown encourages audiences to consider not only what other people are hiding, but also the
assumptions they may be reluctant to question themselves.
Of course, the creative team is already looking ahead. When asked about the show’s biggest takeaway, cast member Rafael Casal offered a more playful response.
“I think the big takeaway is how desperately we’re going to win a Season 3,” said Casal, who plays Johnny, the boyfriend of Lee’s ex-wife Samantha (Kaniehtiio Horn).
The remark brought a lighter note to a conversation about a series built around some of life’s more uncomfortable realities. Whether Lee is uncovering corruption or confronting his own family history, his story continues to revolve around a simple but difficult pursuit: finding the truth, even when it would be easier to look away.
In The Lowdown, the truth may not always be welcome, but Lee Raybon has never been particularly interested in making people comfortable.
New episodes of The Lowdown Season 2 premiere every Wednesday on FX. More details about The Lowdown are available at https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-
lowdown.
Elliana Guardado is a senior communications major at St. Edward’s University and a KOOP Radio 91.7
Note: Elliana Guardado’s Lights Camera Austin report on the Austin premiere of The Lowdown Season 2 can be at https://koop.org/program/lights-camera-austin/ through Oct. 28.