I have to admit, this one slipped under the radar for me for a while, but one perk of getting into a show late is the ability to binge the entire thing rather than wait eight weeks. And now, you can binge Hulu’s best new show that has a certified fresh 98% Rotten Tomatoes score with dozens of reviews in.
That show is The Lowdown, which stars Ethan Hawke among a number of other familiar faces that come and go. The series has been week-to-week but just aired its finale, and now the entire thing is available to watch, which will take you somewhere under eight hours, as despite being (mostly) a comedy, these are not 22-minute shorts here.
I’ve just started watching it myself, and The Lowdown is an all-time Ethan Hawke performance, who has thrown everything possible into this role, a type unlike anything we’ve seen before from him. I absolutely recommend it along with practically every other critic, even if its audience score is lower, putting it in the 70s on that front.
Here’s the synopsis of The Lowdown:
“Lee (Hawke) lives and works in a rare bookstore tucked in the heart of Tulsa – a local refuge and unofficial community hub. While Lee’s no idealist, he’s fiercely committed to exposing corruption and unearthing the city’s hidden rot, even when it puts him at risk…When the publication of Lee’s latest exposé – a deep dive into the powerful Washberg family – is immediately followed by the suspicious suicide of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), the black sheep of the family, Lee knows he’s stumbled onto something big. Following a trail of breadcrumbs Dale has left behind, urging someone to dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding his death, Lee does just that.”
Why is the show so good? In addition to Hawke’s performance, you may understand why when you realize that this is a series from Sterlin Harjo, who just wrapped up his time with the thoroughly excellent Reservoir Dogs. The tone is not quite the same, but you can see the parallels as you go in terms of how well the drama and humor blend together.
I haven’t finished it yet. I’m currently watching an amazing episode that co-stars Peter Dinklage as Lee’s frenemy and former partner, and I see why the role earned him a “Performer of the Week” award several weeks ago. I’m not really even as invested in the mystery itself as I am just watching how great all of these characters are in their respective roles.
The Lowdown is one of the best-reviewed series of the year, and I can definitely see why. Check it out for yourself now, no waiting required.
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