One thing you’d say about The Lowdown and its hero, Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), is that it isn’t afraid to dig deep. That’s certainly been the case in season 2, where Lee has plunged into a new mystery headfirst. Sometimes he’s done it without thinking through the consequences. That’s what landed him in jail to end last week’s episode.
In The Lowdown season 2 episode 5, “A Dog with Two Tails,” finds him right there but with a plan to get out and get answers.
An old friend
As we begin, Lee is behind bars. The sheriff (Martha Plimpton) is hoping for some answers. But, instead, Lee has an express ticket to freedom. That ticket is for the governor (Kyle McLachlan), who just so happens to owe Lee a favor. So, he springs Lee and takes him downtown. As they’re enjoying some pie and hashing out whether or not Lee will get a ride to his van, the local Judge (John Hawkes) arrives.
The judge is popular in the region, and being seen with him is good for the governor, if he can stomach it. And Lee is seeking answers, so he manages to convince the governor that they should go on a little tour. During the tour, the judge talks about a diversion program at a local meatpacking plant he proudly sponsors.
The judge even has a video. And that video is quite compelling. It paints a fun and rosy picture of the program and all the good it’s doing in the community. The governor is quite taken, but Lee refuses to get taken in. Instead, he asks some pointed questions but doesn’t get much in the way of a satisfying answer. Still, he knows there is something up with the judge.
The governor drops Lee off at his van. He also asks Lee to never call him again. That’s a bad break since Lee is still worried about being framed for Chili’s murder, but he doesn’t have much time to dwell. He’s late for a party.
Three generations
Lee makes it in time for Francis' (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) birthday bash at the bowling alley. But he isn’t the only Lee Raybon in attendance. Francis has invited her grandfather, Lee Senior (Tommy Lee Jones), who arrives along with Ray (Michael Hitchcock). The younger Lee isn’t pleased to have Senior crashing the party, but Samantha (Kaniehtiio Horn) urges Lee to make the day about his daughter.
So, Lee lets it slide. But when it comes to interacting with Senior, things are still a bit rough. Senior has a way with words — but not in a helpful sense. That leaves Lee more than a little upset, but he’s able to hide it well enough from Francis. She enjoys her day and even enjoys the book Lee brought. No matter what, unlike his own father, Lee intends to always be there and available for his daughter. But, for now, he has a pressing case.
Ginger’s digging
While Ginger (Betty Gilpin) worked to get answers from Mrs. Spence (Laura Spencer), Lee was getting his own answers. The time has come for them to compare notes. Lee shares what he knows about the judge and the diversion program. And Ginger shares she learned that Nathan Spence died while at the diversion program. The question is how, and how they’d find out more information. So, the pair set out to talk to Mrs. Spence again.
The problem is, their investigation is out. Jeff (Kirk Fox) wasn’t as helpful as he could have been. He’s weary of the sheriff, so he loops her in on the conversation between Ginger and Mrs. Spence. He assures the sheriff it’s nothing, but she’s not taking any chances.
So, by the time Lee and Ginger arrive, Mrs. Spence is being taken by ambulance. She’s dead, and Ginger blames herself. Lee suggests they need to keep digging, and he also doesn’t want to leave Ginger alone. But she’s ready to call it a night, so she sends him home.
Except she doesn’t really call it a night. At a convenience store she has a smoke and calls Pookie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) for an update. The talk around jail is that Mekko killed a kid while at the diversion program. Ginger doesn’t believe it but doesn’t have much time to dwell before she’s put in a car trunk by gunpoint.
As we hit the halfway point of The Lowdown season 2, the mystery is heating up. I like the return of Kyle MacLachlan and the rabbit trails in this episode. We end on a fun cliffhanger, too. And still, the show has time for the personal drama, which is fun, too. I can’t wait to see where we’re going.
The Lowdown airs Wednesdays on FX. Check back next week as we recap all the action of season 2.
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