Created by Sterlin Harjo.
The Lowdown premiered on September 23, 2025, in the United States.
Distributed by FX Networks and Hulu.
The Lowdown TV Series Review
The Lowdown is a crime drama created by Sterlin Harjo, starring Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon, an unconventional Tulsa journalist determined to expose corruption and hidden truths.
The series combines mystery, dark comedy and family drama.
Season 1 introduces Lee’s investigation into the death of Dale Washberg, leading him into dangerous secrets involving powerful families, corruption and political influence.
Season 2 expands the mystery with new characters, unexpected conflicts and deeper explorations of justice and personal responsibility.
Lee’s investigations continue to affect his relationships and safety.
Overall, the series offers strong performances, distinctive storytelling and entertaining mysteries.
CR Rating: 7.8/10.
The Lowdown Actors
Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon
DOB: November 6, 1970.
American actor, writer and filmmaker born in Austin, Texas.
He developed an interest in acting during childhood and made his film debut as a teenager in Explorers (1985).
He briefly attended Carnegie Mellon University before leaving to pursue acting professionally.
Role: Hawke plays Lee Raybon, the central character of The Lowdown.
Lee is an independent journalist and self-described Tulsa truthstorian who makes it his mission to investigate stories that powerful people would rather keep hidden.
He runs a bookstore and uses his knowledge of local history, documents and personal connections to uncover information.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (14 eps).
Interesting facts: Lee Raybon is partly inspired by the late Lee Roy Chapman, a Tulsa historian and researcher known for investigating overlooked aspects of the city’s history.
Hawke is also an accomplished novelist and filmmaker, with several published books and directing credits.
Notable Works: Dead Poets Society, Before Sunrise, Training Day, Boyhood, The Black Phone, Moon Knight.
Keith David as Marty Brunner
DOB: June 4, 1956.
American actor and voice performer born Keith David Williams in Harlem, New York City.
He grew up in Queens and developed an interest in acting during his school years.
He attended the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan before continuing his studies at the Juilliard School, where he graduated from its Drama Division in 1979.
Role: David portrays Marty Brunner, a private investigator and an important associate of Lee Raybon.
Marty is connected to the people and events surrounding Lee’s investigations, making him a useful contact as the journalist pursues stories involving powerful figures in Tulsa.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (14 eps).
Interesting facts: David is an accomplished stage performer as well as a screen actor.
His theatre work includes a Tony Award-nominated performance in the Broadway musical Jelly’s Last Jam.
Notable Works: The Thing, Platoon, They Live, The Princess and the Frog, Greenleaf, Community.
Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Francis Raybon
DOB: March 10, 2010.
Armstrong is an American actress born in New York City.
She is the youngest of five children and began her professional acting career as a child.
In 2017, she made her television debut as Minnie May Barry in the Netflix historical drama Anne with an E, which introduced her to a wider audience.
Role: Armstrong plays Francis Raybon, Lee’s teenage daughter.
Francis is an important part of Lee’s personal life and provides a perspective that contrasts with his sometimes reckless approach to investigative journalism.
While Lee spends much of his time pursuing stories and confronting powerful people, he must also fulfil his responsibilities as a parent.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (13 eps).
Interesting facts: Armstrong was selected to play Charlie McGee in the 2022 adaptation of Stephen King’s Firestarter, a role previously portrayed by Drew Barrymore in the 1984 film.
Notable Works: Anne with an E, The Tomorrow War, American Horror Story, Firestarter, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
Kaniehtiio Horn as Samantha
DOB: November 8, 1986.
Canadian actress of Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) heritage from Kahnawake, a Mohawk community near Montreal, Quebec.
She grew up in an Indigenous family and is the daughter of activist Kahn-Tineta Horn.
She studied at Dawson College in Montreal before pursuing an acting career.
Role: Horn plays Samantha, Lee Raybon’s former partner and the mother of his daughter, Francis.
Her connection to Lee and Francis makes her an important part of the journalist’s family life.
Although she and Lee are no longer together, their shared responsibilities as parents keep them connected.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (12 eps).
Interesting facts: Horn has been involved in several productions featuring Indigenous stories and performers.
Notable Works: Reservation Dogs, Letterkenny, Hemlock Grove, The Man in the High Castle, The Wild Hunt.
Siena East as Deidra
DOB: N/A.
Siena East is an actress whose screen work includes television appearances and supporting performances.
Her appearance in The Lowdown places her among the performers contributing to the series’ Tulsa setting and its everyday community interactions.
Role: Siena East plays Deidra, a witty employee at Lee Raybon’s Tulsa bookstore in The Lowdown.
She manages the shop’s daily operations while grounding her boss during his chaotic citizen-journalism investigations.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (12 eps).
Interesting facts: Her credited appearance in the series is a significant part of the currently documented screen information about her.
Notable Works: Clone High, Grimsburg.
Cody Lightning as Waylon
DOB: August 8, 1986.
Canadian actor, filmmaker and comedian of Cree heritage, born in Edmonton, Alberta.
He began acting as a child and gained early recognition for his performance as the young Victor Joseph in the 1998 film Smoke Signals.
Role: Cody Lightning plays Waylon, an ex-convict hired to provide security for Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke).
He acts as muscle and backup while Lee investigates dangerous corruption among Tulsa’s wealthy elite.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Lightning played the younger version of Victor Joseph in Smoke Signals before later taking on the character as an adult in Hey, Viktor!, which he also directed.
Notable Works: Smoke Signals, Four Sheets to the Wind, Run Woman Run, Hey, Viktor!, Echo.
Kyle MacLachlan as Donald Washberg
DOB: February 22, 1959.
American actor born Kyle Merritt MacLachlan in Yakima, Washington.
He developed an interest in performing during his childhood and participated in school theatre productions before pursuing formal acting training.
Role: MacLachlan portrays Donald Washberg, the brother of the late Dale Washberg and a prominent Oklahoma politician who becomes a candidate for governor.
Donald belongs to an influential family whose connections and business interests attract Lee Raybon’s attention.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (9 eps).
Interesting facts: MacLachlan is closely associated with director David Lynch, having starred in three major projects connected to him: Dune, Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks.
Notable Works: Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Dune, Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City, Fallout.
Jeanne Tripplehorn as Betty Jo Washberg
DOB: June 10, 1963.
American actress born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She is the daughter of musician Tom Tripplehorn and grew up in a family with an interest in the arts.
Before establishing herself in film and television, she studied at the University of Tulsa and later attended the Juilliard School’s Drama Division in New York.
Role: Tripplehorn portrays Betty Jo Washberg, the widow of Dale Washberg and a member of the influential Washberg family.
Following Dale’s death, Betty Jo becomes an important figure in the mystery surrounding his family and the circumstances that attract Lee Raybon’s attention.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (8 eps).
Interesting facts: Tripplehorn has a background in theatre and trained at the Juilliard School before establishing her screen career.
Notable Works: Basic Instinct, The Firm, Waterworld, Big Love, Criminal Minds, The Gilded Age.
Betty Gilpin as Ginger Lafferty
DOB: July 21, 1986.
American actress born in New York City.
She comes from a family with a strong connection to the performing arts.
Her father, Jack Gilpin, is an actor and Episcopal priest, while her mother, Ann McDonough, is also an actress.
Role: Gilpin plays Ginger Lafferty, a public defender who becomes involved in Lee’s world.
Ginger is a determined professional with her own commitment to justice and an interest in uncovering the truth.
Her work brings her into contact with cases and people who connect to the wider events unfolding in the series.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (6 eps).
Interesting facts: Gilpin has an extensive theatre background and has performed in several stage productions, including Broadway and off-Broadway work.
Notable Works: GLOW, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, Mrs. Davis, The Hunt.
Tommy Lee Jones as Lee Raybon Sr.
DOB: September 15, 1946.
American actor and filmmaker born in San Saba, Texas.
He attended Harvard University, where he studied English literature and graduated in 1969.
During his university years, he also played football and developed friendships with people who later became prominent in public life.
Role: Jones plays Lee Raybon Sr., also known as Frog, the estranged father of journalist Lee Raybon.
His unexpected return brings an important family conflict into the second season.
Frog’s arrival forces Lee to confront a relationship shaped by years of distance and unresolved personal issues.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (6 eps).
Interesting facts: Jones graduated from Harvard University in 1969 and played offensive guard on the university’s football team.
He was also roommates with Al Gore, who later became Vice President of the United States.
Notable Works: The Fugitive, Men in Black, No Country for Old Men, Lincoln, JFK, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.
Rafael Casal as Johnny
DOB: August 8, 1985.
American actor, writer, producer, poet and musician born in Oakland, California.
He developed an interest in spoken-word poetry and creative writing while growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Role: Casal plays Johnny, Samantha’s boyfriend and a person whose relationship with her creates another dimension to Lee’s complicated personal life.
Johnny’s presence means Lee must navigate the reality that Samantha has moved forward with her own relationships.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (9 eps).
Interesting facts: Casal is also a poet and musician.
He co-created and starred in Blindspotting, a project that developed from his creative partnership with Daveed Diggs.
Notable Works: Blindspotting, Bad Education, The Good Lord Bird, Loki, Are You Afraid of the Dark?.
Jude Barnett as Cousin Henry
DOB: N/A.
Jude Barnett is an actor whose screen credits include television work and performances in productions connected to contemporary Indigenous storytelling.
His work in The Lowdown places him within an ensemble that includes performers with experience in comedy, drama and stories centred on Native communities.
Role: Barnett plays Cousin Henry, a character connected to Waylon.
His family relationship gives Waylon a personal connection beyond his work with Lee.
Cousin Henry contributes to the wider network of relationships that helps make the show’s world feel like a connected community.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (9 eps).
Interesting facts: Barnett has credits in both The Lowdown and Reservation Dogs, two television productions featuring Indigenous characters and stories.
Notable Works: Reservation Dogs.
More Actors
• Tim Blake Nelson as Dale Washberg.
• Scott Shepherd as Allen Murphy.
• Macon Blair as Dan Kane.
• Tracy Letts as Frank Martin.
• Michael Hitchcock as Ray Moseley.
• Austin Amelio as Lonnie Reed.
• Martha Plimpton as Vela Thorne.
• Abbie Cobb as Vickey Williams.
• Clifton Collins Jr. as Bob Thorne.
• Eddie Spears as Mekko Dean
FAQ – The Lowdown TV Series
What is The Lowdown TV series about?
The Lowdown follows Lee Raybon, a Tulsa-based citizen journalist who investigates corruption, powerful families and hidden truths, often putting himself in dangerous situations.
Is The Lowdown based on a true story?
No. It is a fictional crime drama, although its Tulsa setting and interest in local history draw on real-world influences.
What genre is The Lowdown?
The series combines crime, mystery, comedy and drama, with elements of Western noir storytelling.
How many seasons of The Lowdown are there?
The series has two seasons as of November 2026.
Where can I watch The Lowdown?
You can watch The Lowdown on FX and stream both seasons on Hulu. It is also available on Disney+ in supported markets.
Conclusion
The Lowdown is a refreshing crime drama featuring strong performances, intriguing mysteries and a distinctive blend of dark humour and social commentary.
It is worth watching for fans of unconventional investigative stories.