Noir in the Heartland: Sterlin Harjo’s The Lowdown Reinvents Tulsa Crime Drama

Following the critical triumph of Reservation Dogs, showrunner Sterlin Harjo has introduced his new series, The Lowdown, a sharp, genre-bending neo-noir crime dramedy set in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The series, which premiered on FX and streams on Hulu, marks a significant stylistic shift for Harjo while retaining his signature blend of regional authenticity and dark, character-driven humor, confirming his continued versatility as a storyteller rooted in the state.

The series is executive produced, written, and directed by Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muscogee), cementing his commitment to authentic, Indigenous-led storytelling, though the cast is intentionally diverse. Harjo continues his strong working relationship with FX Productions and partners with Hollywood heavyweight Ethan Hawke, who not only stars as the lead but also serves as an Executive Producer alongside Ryan Hawke and Garrett Basch.

The first season consists of eight episodes. The series premiered on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, with new episodes released weekly on FX at 9 p.m. ET/PT and becoming available for streaming the following day on Hulu in the United States. The principal cast includes Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon, Keith David as Marty, Kaniehtiio Horn as Samantha, Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Francis, Tim Blake Nelson as Dale Washberg, Jeanne Tripplehorn as Betty Jo Washberg, and Kyle MacLachlan as Donald Washberg. The soundtrack features an original score composed by JD McPherson.

The Lowdown is a "Tulsa noir" series centered on Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), a citizen journalist and rare bookseller in Tulsa who describes himself as a “truthstorian.” Lee is fiercely committed to exposing the city's corruption and hidden secrets, even at great personal risk, with the character being loosely inspired by the late Tulsa journalist and activist, Lee Roy Chapman.

The plot is ignited when Lee publishes an exposé on the powerful Washberg family, immediately followed by the apparent suicide of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), the black sheep of the dynasty. Believing the death is a cover-up, Lee embarks on a relentless investigation, following a trail of clues Dale mysteriously left behind. His probe leads him deep into the city's criminal underbelly, where he encounters a mysterious stranger, Marty (Keith David), and uncovers a web of political corruption involving Dale's brother, Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan), a gubernatorial candidate, and Dale’s enigmatic widow, Betty Jo (Jeanne Tripplehorn). The series explores Lee’s obsession with uncovering the truth, a commitment that frequently pulls him away from his precocious fourteen-year-old daughter, Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), who has inherited his curiosity and harbors a desire to join his dangerous adventures.

Harjo's shift in focus from the comedy of Reservation Dogs to the crime-drama genre demonstrates his versatility as a storyteller while maintaining a grounding in Oklahoma, where he currently resides. While his previous work was his "love letter to rural Oklahoma," Harjo has explicitly referred to The Lowdown as his "love letter to Tulsa." The series is highly praised for its realistic and vivid portrayal of the city, capturing its complex history, its beauty, and its underlying darkness. The show is designed to balance a serious, "crackling genre story" with the unexpected humor and strong character work that defined his past projects, proving that Harjo is equally adept at assembling a world of eccentric characters to tell a compelling narrative, regardless of genre.