by Jeff Alan, Contributing Writer
FX is no stranger to giving us compelling new dramas that are equal parts riveting and hilarious, and their new series The Lowdown is no exception. The series is a neo-noir style investigative drama/comedy that brings Ethan Hawke to the small screen, and throws into the mix a host of outstanding supporting actors.
We follow Hawke’s Lee Raybon, a rare books store owner and local Tulsa journalist who refers to himself as a “truthstorian” — he has a fascination with telling the truth through his own writing. Lee writes for the Heartland Press, a small-time magazine which recently published a story he wrote about Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan) and the high level of corruption that surrounds his campaign for governor of Oklahoma. However, one night after the article is released, Donald’s brother Dale (Tim Blake Nelson) is discovered to have killed himself in his home office. This leads Lee to start investigating the mysterious circumstances that surround Dale’s apparent suicide. But as he ventures further into the truth about Dale, Donald, their family, and the shady businesses that Donald is associated with, Lee finds himself in a mess of a situation he can’t seem to get out of. But for the sake of the truth, he feels compelled to see just how far the rabbit hole goes.
This series ended up coming in pretty far under the radar for most audiences, despite the marketing I was seeing for it. It carves an intricate mystery that can get a little bit convoluted at points, but ultimately delivers an interesting story that kept me mostly engaged. The likability of Ethan Hawke and his character is what drives the story most. Even when he is making questionable decisions for his family and friends, he’s still so electric and fun to watch, bringing notes of his Before series and Boyhood characters into the fold.
But the supporting cast doesn’t quite hold a candle to Hawke. Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who plays Hawke’s daughter, has some moments that make her shine as an actress, and Jeanne Tripplehorn and MacLachlan have great moments of acting (especially MacLachlan toward the end of the season), but outside of their notable characters, there really isn’t anyone else that really moves the needle.
Another aspect I really like about this show is its cinematography, showcasing a city like Tulsa in a way that makes it look gritty yet somehow still appealing to look at, similar to the way Breaking Bad sought to portray Albuquerque as a character of the show as well.
While The Lowdown works well with its equal parts mystery, drama, and comedy, I feel sorry to say that I can see how this series wouldn’t hold a typical audience member’s attention for very long. It has stretches of time where it is boring and falls a bit flat. When originally watching ads and trailers for the show, I was partially expecting it to be a bit more in the vein of Fargo, which I absolutely adore. The Lowdown has elements of that in it. It’s got the comedy and the mystery angle, but I can’t quite put my finger on what doesn’t make this just as interesting and fun. But again, I think what does make this show so fun to me is Hawke and his magnetic acting work.
There’s a lot to like about The Lowdown, despite its lack of excitement. Hawke does enough to keep the viewer interested in what he is doing, and the mystery that unfolds — while a bit hard to follow — still leads to a satisfying conclusion.
Rating: Liked It
The Lowdown is currently streaming on Hulu
You can read more from Jeff Alan, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd