‘The Lowdown’ Creator Sterlin Harjo on Character’s Finale Choice and Season 2
Sterlin Harjo, the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of The Lowdown, discusses the series' season finale decision and his plans for season two. Harjo also reflects on the movies that have influenced him and a memorable David Lynch class he attended at the University of Oklahoma.
Background and Previous Work
Harjo served as showrunner for the comedy series Reservation Dogs, which ran for three seasons. The show, about four Indigenous teenagers living on a reservation in Oklahoma, boosted his confidence, offered creative freedom, and attracted interest from actors to collaborate with him.
About The Lowdown
The series follows citizen journalist Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke, also an executive producer), a self-proclaimed "truthstorian" in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lee becomes intrigued by the mysterious death of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), the family's black sheep, and launches an investigation.
- The investigation uncovers connections to Dale's older brother Donald (Kyle MacLachlan), his grieving widow Betty Jo (Jeanna Tripplehorn), a white supremacist church leader (Paul Sparks), and a private investigator (Keith David).
- Despite Lee's good intentions and a heart in the right place, his tendency to draw danger risks disappointing his daughter Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong).
“While Lee is basically a good guy with his heart in the right place, his knack for attracting danger and getting himself beaten up puts him at risk for disappointing his daughter Francis.”
Harjo's experience on Reservation Dogs helped shape his approach to storytelling and character development in The Lowdown, allowing him to explore complex narratives with depth and humor.
Author’s summary: Sterlin Harjo leverages his creative journey from Reservation Dogs to craft The Lowdown, blending dark mystery with nuanced character stories anchored in Oklahoma’s unique cultural setting.