FX has officially scheduled the return of its acclaimed Oklahoma-set crime thriller, The Lowdown, with Season 2 set to premiere on October 14, 2026. Ethan Hawke returns as Lee Raybon, the “truthstorian” and bookstore owner whose eccentric approach to investigating local mysteries has made the series a standout in the crowded crime genre.
While the show’s Tulsa setting draws inevitable comparisons to the Sylvester Stallone-led Tulsa King, the project from creator Sterlin Harjo offers a starkly different experience. Rather than leaning into traditional machismo, the series has been characterized by critics as a “Big Lebowski”-esque subversion of the genre, prioritizing sharp dialogue and neo-noir quirkiness over standard action tropes.
The second season significantly boosts its star power with the addition of Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones and Emmy winner Betty Gilpin. Their roles remain under wraps, but they join a narrative that is shifting toward a larger scale. A recently released trailer features a bloodied Raybon uncovering a conspiracy that he warns “goes all the way to the top,” suggesting a more intense stakes-driven plot than the debut season.
A Subversion of the Tulsa Crime Genre
Created by Harjo following his success with Reservation Dogs, the series brings a grounded, authentic view of Oklahoma that serves as a counter-narrative to more traditional “Sheridan-style” dramas. This “anti-Sheridan” approach has resonated with audiences looking for a more cerebral and witty take on criminal underworlds.
The series originally debuted on September 23, 2025, and quickly secured a high critical standing for its unique blend of comedy and suspense. By maintaining an eight-episode structure, the show focuses on a tightly paced mystery that leverages Hawke’s performance as an unconventional, obsessive lead character.
Viewers can catch up on the first season on Hulu before the new episodes begin airing. Season 2 will follow a similar release pattern, airing weekly on the FX cable network with next-day streaming availability on Hulu.
