Ethan Hawke shines in his new crime noir series, "The Lowdown."
- The Real Perspectives
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Reel Perspectives
September 25, 2025
Ethan Hawke's new series, "The Lowdown," is the crime noir series you didn't know you needed. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, "The Lowdown" premiered on FX on September 23 with the first two of its eight episodes this season. The series follows Hawke as Lee Raybon, a citizen journalist and self-proclaimed Tulsa "truthstorian" whose obsession with the truth is always getting him into trouble.
Created and executive produced by Sterlin Harjo (Reservation Dogs), Hawke is superb as the ultimate underdog. A wonderfully scrappy, hilarious narcissist who's ready to uncover truths at every turn and ready to weed out corruption in Tulsa, going up against white supremacists, real estate developers, and local politicians. When Lee's deep dive exposé of the corruption of the Washberg dynasty leads to the immediate suicide of a family member, Lee becomes the proverbial dog with a bone and makes it his mission to unearth the truth while dealing with the disaster of his own personal life.
Per the official synopsis, Lee lives and works in a rare bookstore tucked in the heart of Tulsa – a local refuge and unofficial community hub. While Lee's no idealist, he's fiercely committed to exposing corruption and unearthing the city's hidden rot, even when it puts him at risk. His constant sleuthing pulls him deep into Tulsa's underbelly – and often away from his 14-year-old daughter, "Francis", a precocious kid who's inherited his curiosity and longs to join him on his adventures. His ex "Samantha" is exasperated by Lee's endless digging, but still sees the good in him – especially when it comes to Francis, the one thing they've never stopped showing up for.
The series cast includes:
Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon
Keith David as Marty
Kyle MacLachlan as Donald Washberg
Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Francis
Kaniehtiio Horn as Samantha
Tim Blake Nelson as Dale Washberg
Jeanne Tripplehorn as Betty Jo Washberg
"The Lowdown" is hilariously funny with an excellent blend of suspense and action, but underneath it's all heart. You can't help but root for the scrappy Raybon, even when the situations he finds himself in are usually of his own doing.
New episodes of "The Lowdown" drop every Tuesday through its season finale on November 4. Each episode will be available the next day to stream on Hulu.
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