Ethan Hawke is returning to the streets of Tulsa as “truthstorian” Lee Raybon for the second season of the FX crime series The Lowdown. Following the release of the first official trailer on September 30, 2026, the series officially returns today, October 14, 2026, with a two-episode premiere.
The new season continues the partnership between Hawke and creator Sterlin Harjo, the mind behind Reservation Dogs. Set and filmed on location in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the series maintains its distinct “Tulsa noir” atmosphere—a blend of gritty crime drama and stoner-investigator comedy that has drawn tonal comparisons to The Big Lebowski and Justified.
The Tulsa Conspiracy and a Wild New Case
Season 2 shifts focus toward a high-stakes disappearance from a state penitentiary. What begins as a missing person search quickly spirals into a broader investigation of a conspiracy within the Tulsa sheriff’s department. Hawke’s character, a citizen journalist who prefers the term “truthstorian,” finds himself navigating layers of institutional corruption that threaten the local community.
The central mystery is sparked by Ginger, a brash public defender played by Betty Gilpin, who enlists Lee’s unorthodox investigative skills to help her client. While the first season established Lee’s place in the Tulsa underworld, this new case forces him to confront the law directly.
Heavy-Hitting Cast Additions
The most significant addition to the ensemble is Tommy Lee Jones, taking on a rare major television role. Jones portrays Lee Raybon Sr., the protagonist’s estranged grifter father. The elder Raybon was previously believed dead by his granddaughter, and his sudden re-emergence adds a personal, volatile layer to the season’s primary mystery.
According to a report from the A.V. Club, this casting highlights a shift toward more complex family dynamics as the show explores Lee’s history. The friction between the two generations of Raybons is expected to serve as a secondary engine for the plot, contrasting the elder man’s criminal instincts with his son’s obsessive pursuit of the truth.
Viewing Schedule and Creative Direction
Sterlin Harjo continues to serve as the primary creative force, writing and directing the new season. His influence remains evident in the show’s pace and the specific cultural texture of its Oklahoma setting.
Fans can watch The Lowdown Season 2 on FX and stream episodes via Hulu. Following the two-episode premiere at 9 p.m. ET tonight, the series will continue with a weekly rollout, further expanding the “truthstorian” mythos and the dark secrets of Tulsa’s legal system.
