The FX mystery drama The Lowdown, helmed by creator, writer, and director Sterlin Harjo of Reservation Dogs fame, plunges viewers into a moody, slow-burn investigation set in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The series follows a prominent political family grappling with the suspicious death of black sheep Dale Washberg.

At the heart of the story is Lee Raybon (played by Ethan Hawke), a self-proclaimed “truthstorian” who dives deep into the Washbergs’ secrets, pulling the family into an escalating web of revelations and betrayals. Among those caught in the storm are Dale’s brother Donald Washberg (Kyle MacLachlan), a gubernatorial candidate, and Dale’s widow Betty Jo (Jeanne Tripplehorn), who is fighting to preserve her social and financial stability in the aftermath of her husband’s death.

The Director’s Touch

Both MacLachlan and Tripplehorn were captivated by Harjo’s unique narrative voice — a blend of cultural depth, emotional restraint, and atmospheric tension that marked his previous work on Reservation Dogs.

MacLachlan praised Harjo’s organic approach to character development:

“He doesn’t rely on dialogue to define a person,” MacLachlan said. “You learn who they are through what they do — their choices, their silences.”

This method allowed MacLachlan to explore Donald’s layered psychology — a man torn between ambition, grief, and pride — without overt exposition. The result is a performance rich with nuance and moral ambiguity.

Tripplehorn’s Take on Betty Jo

Tripplehorn described working with Harjo as a career highlight, calling it a “hole-in-one” for any actor. She portrayed Betty Jo as fiercely pragmatic — a woman who clawed her way from modest origins into wealth and refuses to lose it.

“She’s not naive,” Tripplehorn said. “She’s streetwise and strategic. The trappings of wealth aren’t what she cares about — it’s the money, the power, the security.”

Her character’s evolution reveals both resilience and moral compromise, a blend that makes Betty Jo one of the series’ most compelling figures.

The ‘Twin Peaks’ Connection

In reflecting on The Lowdown, MacLachlan drew intriguing comparisons to Twin Peaks, the groundbreaking series that cemented his collaboration with David Lynch.

He noted that both Harjo and Lynch share an intuitive ability to build distinctive worlds filled with eccentric yet deeply human characters:

“They both create these spaces where the unexpected feels natural,” he explained. “It’s not imitation — it’s instinct. That unpredictability is a gift for actors.”

This creative alignment adds a haunting undercurrent to The Lowdown, where every smile and silence hints at something darker beneath the surface.

Emotional Sparks and Unscripted Chaos

One of the show’s most powerful scenes — a volatile confrontation between Donald and Betty Jo — showcases both actors’ commitment to authenticity. MacLachlan described Donald’s outburst not as cruelty but as “pain in motion,” while Tripplehorn recalled feeling genuinely shaken on set.

“I went off playbook,” she said. “In that moment, Betty Jo realized her actions had real consequences.”

Later scenes reveal a more vulnerable Betty Jo during her interactions with Lee Raybon, suggesting a midlife reckoning for a woman torn between survival and desire. Her impulsive choices — especially when alcohol and loneliness mix — expose cracks in her carefully built façade.

Audiences can catch The Lowdown airing weekly on FX and streaming next day on Hulu. With its blend of mystery, moral complexity, and psychological drama, it continues to establish Sterlin Harjo as one of television’s most distinctive storytellers.