During the two-episode premiere of The Lowdown, Lee (Ethan Hawke) launched into a new case. He also had his estranged father (Tommy Lee Jones) show up. It put a lot of pressure on his life, something that got no easier as he made friends with a former prison guard and then watched the man get executed in the woods.
The Lowdown season 2 episode 3, “Truth’s Easy,” picks up in the aftermath and continues his search for truth. Let’s dive in. SPOILERS BELOW.
Where’s Mekko
We pick up where we left off in episode 2. Lee is coming out of the woods and trying to get a ride back to his van. He gets picked up by a kindly man who offers rides to those who are in need, often after a night of heavy drinking. He has a cup with a simple phrase — "Truth’s Easy." It grabs Lee’s attention and makes him think. He gets to keep the cup, and that becomes his mantra throughout the episode.
He heads to find Ginger (Betty Gilpin) with an update. It seems clear that Mekko is free. That bothers Ginger, since they spent hundreds of hours connecting and yet she had no idea. But they begin to pursue it. They find his uncle, which leads to his ex and his son, Mekko, Jr. Through it all, they learn that Mekko is out and he’s likely on a mission due to what he saw in the jail.
The question is what he saw and what it means. All the while, Lee and Ginger aren’t really alone. The other man (Austin Amelio), who was first following Ginger is still following. He was recently shot and bears a bandage on his neck, but he’s still focused on what’s happening and where it might lead. But Lee and Ginger remain unaware they are being followed.
Marty’s dig
Meanwhile, Lee dumped his story on the new archeological dig on Marty (Keith David). Lee helped Marty get the job as a writer and editor at the paper. But Marty is none-too-pleased that Lee has dumped this story back in his lap. Still, he’s pursuing the leads. But as he arrives at the site, it’s clear that Lee has set him up for something else.
Lee spun a web when leaving the story. He told the dig supervisor that Marty was a historian with plenty of experience. That leaves Marty thrust into the middle of the action and forced to make his own set of excuses to get out of it. But there is something more going on here. As Marty is at the diner in the aftermath, he latches on to a new lead. Could it turn out that Lee gave up on a robust and interesting mystery too quickly? It seems Marty is hooked and going on a new adventure.
The other Lee
Meanwhile, Lee, Sr., isn’t going away. He has made a connection with Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), which doesn’t please Lee. When he discovers his daughter and his father at a diner, he quickly intercedes. He gets his daughter out of there and offers some vague threats to his father. But that’s not the end of it all.
As Lee drops off Francis, she remains upset. She’s upset that her father lied about her grandfather. She’s upset that he won’t let her learn more. It makes Lee suspicious of what his father might have said. Lee is also suspicious about his father’s motives. But it’s clear that Lee, Sr., isn’t going away. He is committed whether his son likes it or not.
So, Lee heads to a family dinner with Francis, Samantha (Kaniehtiio Horn), and Johnny (Rafael Casal). It’s an awkward meal. Francis is still unhappy and pushing her father. He tries to answer and to direct the conversation, but neither of them are happy. Lee finally walks away from the table feeling a swell of emotions. It’s then he spots something in the yard.
Lee heads out and realizes the man Ginger shot is still following him. The man has a gun on him, and he and Lee fight. But Lee is losing the fight, and it’s not looking good. That’s when Johnny appears. He is able to get the upper hand and choke the man out. In the immediate aftermath, they manage to distract Samantha so they can figure out what to do. Johnny pulls the man’s ID, and it turns out he’s a police office. Johnny begins to panic, while Lee is confused about what’s happening, and that’s where we’re left.
Nothing is ever simple for Lee Raybon. His case isn’t simple. His life isn’t simple. And his family structure isn’t simple.
That’s certainly the case as we dive into this second season. There are some serious layers to the case, and yet Lee is distracted by the presence of his father and what it means for his relationship with Francis. That makes this a fun journey to take as we move through season 2.
The Lowdown airs Wednesdays on FX and streams on Hulu.
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