Ethan Hawke has returned to the small screen with the second season of the FX crime dramedy The Lowdown, marking a notable shift in the Academy Award nominee’s decades-long career. The series, which premiered its second season on October 14, 2026, represents the first time Hawke has returned for a second season of a live-action scripted television series.
While Hawke has lead high-profile television projects in the past, including the critically acclaimed The Good Lord Bird and Marvel Studios’ Moon Knight, those roles were confined to the limited series format. His return as Lee Raybon in the Tulsa-set production breaks a career-long pattern of one-and-done television commitments.
A New Dynamic for the ‘Truthstorian’
Created by Sterlin Harjo—known for his work on Reservation Dogs—The Lowdown centers on Raybon, a self-described “truthstorian” and citizen journalist navigating the criminal underbelly of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The second season expands the show’s neo-noir atmosphere by introducing Raybon’s estranged father, Lee Raybon Sr., played by Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones.
The addition of Jones brings a traditional Western weight to a show that critics have often described as a “shaggy noir” or “crime dramedy.” The narrative for the new season reportedly pivots around a missing inmate case that forces the younger Raybon to confront his family history while navigating the eccentricities of his local community.
Joining the cast alongside Hawke and Jones is Betty Gilpin, who portrays Ginger, a brash public defender. The season also sees the return of series regulars and features appearances by Keith David and Ryan Kiera Armstrong.
Season 2 Release Schedule
FX launched the second season with a two-episode debut on both the FX cable network and Hulu. The current season consists of eight episodes, following a weekly release cadence that will lead to the season finale in late November.
The remaining release schedule for The Lowdown Season 2 is as follows:
- Episode 3: October 21, 2026
- Episode 4: October 28, 2026
- Episode 5: November 4, 2026
- Episode 6: November 11, 2026
- Episode 7: November 18, 2026
- Episode 8 (Finale): November 25, 2026
The series continues to lean into its specific Oklahoma setting, utilizing the unique geography and cultural backdrop of Tulsa to distinguish itself from standard coastal crime procedurals. By securing both Hawke and Jones, FX has positioned the series as a cornerstone of its current scripted lineup, blending Harjo’s signature tonal shifts with veteran star power.
