The Lowdown's Finale Brilliantly Upends the Characters’—And Audience’s

The Lowdown's Finale Brilliantly Upends the Characters’—And Audience’s—Assumptions

Sterlin Harjo’s Tulsa-set neo-noir series, The Lowdown, concluded on FX with a mix of violence, humor, and unexpected twists. The finale, titled “The Sensitive Kind,” aired Tuesday and centered on two major questions.

Central Questions of the Finale

How did Dale Washberg die? This question received a straightforward answer.
Is Lee Raybon a righteous crusader for truth and justice or a dangerously delusional white savior? This proved to be a more complex issue.

Harjo, known for Reservation Dogs, challenges simple hero-villain labels. Ethan Hawke’s portrayal of Lee Raybon, a "Tulsa truthstorian," blends both archetypes into one character.

Surprising Character Dynamics

In a twist, the man Lee viewed as his nemesis turned out to be no more malicious than Lee himself, defying the audience’s expectations.

The finale’s title, “The Sensitive Kind,” references multiple elements:

A song written by J.J. Cale, featured in the episode as an Eric Clapton cover
The headline of Lee’s cover story about Dale
The show's original working title

Opening Scene and Tone

The episode opens with a flashback that blurs reality and fantasy. Lee Raybon is in his bookstore, reading Walter Tevis’ novel The Man Who Fell to Earth, while Dale (played by Tim Blake Nelson) browses nearby shelves.

“Lee Raybon’s wild-eyed ‘Tulsa truthstorian’ turned out to be an equal mix of both archetypes [hero and villain].”

Author’s summary: The finale of The Lowdown cleverly disrupts simple character categories, blending truth and delusion while delivering memorable twists and complex emotions.

Time Magazine — 2025-11-05