The Lowdown season 2 review roundup: Ethan Hawke's Tulsa noir is still a critics' favourite
Season 2 of FX's The Lowdown sends Ethan Hawke's self-styled Tulsa 'truthstorian' Lee Raybon after a missing prisoner, while his con-man father, played by Tommy Lee Jones, turns up in town. Critics call it as warm, funny and offbeat as the first season, though a few found it slower and thinner.
The story (no spoilers)
A few months after his story on the late Dale Washberg, Tulsa bookseller and freelance journalist Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) is honoured with a local journalism award, and he turns the gala into a captive audience for a drunken rant.
There he meets Ginger (Betty Gilpin), a public defender who is sure she is being followed and who cannot reach her former client Mekko Dean in prison. When Lee visits the prison and a different man turns up, he is hooked. At the same time his estranged father, a smooth-talking con man played by Tommy Lee Jones, arrives in town, even though Lee told his daughter the man was dead.
Where to watch or download
Links go to official services only. Streaming services let subscribers download titles in their app to watch offline, on supported plans; stores let you buy a copy to download and keep. Availability differs by country and changes over time (checked 18 October 2026). ElysiumHub does not host files or link to unofficial downloads.
The verdict
A must if you liked season 1, and well worth trying if you enjoy shaggy, character-driven mysteries in the spirit of the Coen brothers. New episodes arrive weekly on FX and Hulu in the US and on Disney+ elsewhere, which suits its slow-burn pace.
- 100%Rotten TomatoesTomatometer, 13 reviews, 18 Oct 2026
- 92MetacriticMetascore, 9 critic reviews, 18 Oct 2026
What critics say
“'The Lowdown' is anything but a virtuous bit of cultural vegetables. It's a party that more people should join, and you'll be glad you did.”
“Sharper, funnier, and more purposeful, the mystery tightens in every episode without ever feeling overwhelming.”
“'The Lowdown' still offers plenty of pointed social commentary amid its offbeat criminal antics.”
“There was a real vision behind The Lowdown season 1 that simply is not captured in season 2.”
What works
- Ethan Hawke's twitchy, funny, heartfelt performance as Lee Raybon.
- Strong new additions in Betty Gilpin and Tommy Lee Jones.
- A vivid, affectionate portrait of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and its eccentric characters.
- Several critics found the mystery tighter and funnier than in season 1.
What doesn't
- Screen Rant found it slower and thinner, with style taking priority over story.
- Tom's Guide felt it lacks some of the wider social resonance of season 1.
- The mystery unfolds slowly, which may test impatient viewers.
The Lowdown returned on 14 October 2026 with two episodes on FX, streaming in the US on Hulu and internationally on Disney+. The eight-episode season runs weekly until 25 November. Created by Sterlin Harjo, who made Reservation Dogs, the show was renewed in January after a well-reviewed but modestly watched first season, as Variety noted.
What critics liked
Reviews have been almost uniformly warm. Variety's Alison Herman wrote that the show keeps the warmth, humour and texture of its debut while adding new faces, and called it still excellent. Collider's Tania Hussain found the second season sharper, funnier and more purposeful, and Inverse called it still the best neo-noir you are not watching. Critics also love its affectionate eye for Oklahoma, from 4-H fairs to a prison guard's homemade cheeseburgers.
The performances
Hawke's frenetic, keyed-up turn as Lee anchors everything, and the new cast members are widely praised. Variety called Betty Gilpin the perfect femme fatale for the show's loose take on noir, and Tommy Lee Jones's arrival as Lee Raybon Sr. gives the season a father-and-son story. Keith David returns as Marty, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Lee's daughter Francis.
Where it falls short
The main dissenting voice is Screen Rant's Greg MacArthur, who gave it 6 out of 10 and argued that season 2 becomes thin and shallow, putting style before story. Tom's Guide's Josh Bell, while positive, felt it lacks some of the wider social resonance of the first season, and the mystery moves at a deliberately unhurried pace.
Should you watch?
With a 100% Tomatometer and a Metascore of 92 from early reviews, this is one of the best-reviewed returning shows of the autumn. Newcomers can start here, but season 1, also on Hulu, introduces most of the characters and is the better place to begin.
Sources
This roundup summarises the reviews and reporting below. Follow the links for the full pieces.
- 'The Lowdown' Season 2 Review: Ethan Hawke FX Series Still Excellent · Variety
- 'The Lowdown' Season 2 Takes One of TV's Best Crime Shows and Makes It Even Better · Collider
- 'The Lowdown' season 2 review · Tom's Guide
- The Lowdown Season 2 review · Screen Rant
- The Lowdown Is Still The Best Neo-Noir You're Not Watching · Inverse
- The Lowdown: Season 2 · Rotten Tomatoes
- The Lowdown season 2 · Metacritic
ElysiumHub Screen Desk roundups summarise published reviews and reporting, and are written with AI assistance. Scores belong to the sites that publish them. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.