FX’s The Lowdown has quickly carved out a place for itself among crime thriller enthusiasts with its gritty Tulsa setting, morally grey protagonist, and overlapping web of corruption. The show is shaping up to be as much about survival as it is about exposing the truth. After two episodes filled with bruised knuckles, shadowy deals, and a journalist who can’t seem to keep his nose out of danger, fans are eager to know what Episode 3 might bring.
The last two episodes laid the groundwork for a conspiracy stretching from the Washbergs’ gilded halls to the seedy back alleys of Tulsa. Lee Raybon, our stubborn “truthstorian,” has stumbled upon a suicide that doesn’t feel like one, a widow who looks more like a co-conspirator, and a mayoral candidate whose ambition reeks of buried secrets. Add in a near-death experience courtesy of neo-Nazis, a pile of dirty money, and a mysterious private investigator, and it’s safe to say Episode 3 is primed for fireworks. Let’s see what we might expect.
The Jim Thompson Clues
The thread of Dale Washberg’s cryptic farewell note is far from resolved. Lee already found one chilling message tucked into a first edition novel, hinting at betrayal and conspiracy. He even emptied his stolen-painting fortune to secure Dale’s other Thompson volumes, convinced that more secrets are hidden between the pages.
In Episode 3, we can expect Lee to dig deeper into this breadcrumb trail. Will these books reveal coded messages? Financial ledgers disguised as pulp fiction annotations? Or perhaps Dale’s last desperate attempt to whistleblow his family’s corruption before he was silenced?
Lee’s obsession with the novels could become his compass, driving him closer to the truth or into another trap. Given how much he already risked to obtain them, Episode 3 may finally pull back the curtain on what Dale really knew.
A Mayor in the Making or a Villain in Disguise?
Donald Washberg’s character looms larger with every episode; from his clandestine affair with his brother’s widow to his links with Marty, the private investigator, Donald is positioned as a political hopeful and a potential puppet master.
Episode 3 will likely push his campaign into the spotlight. Could we see Donald using Dale’s death as a sympathy card in his bid for mayor? And if Lee keeps pressing too close, will Donald orchestrate another public humiliation or even a smear campaign to discredit him?
The heated confrontation at Dale’s memorial suggests their battle lines are drawn. Donald has the resources, the family name, and an eager PR machine. Lee has stubbornness, a gun he doesn’t know how to use, and the kind of reckless integrity that can topple empires. Expect sparks when these two collide again.
Allen Murphy’s Shadowy Role
Allen Murphy emerged in Episode 2 as a chilling presence, respectable on the outside, but rotten at the core. His past ties to Nazi gangs and current collaboration with Akron Development paint him as the link between organised crime and corporate greed. His brutal execution of Blackie and Berta showed us he’s willing to pull the trigger himself to keep loose ends tied.
In Episode 3, Allen could shift from background menace to central antagonist. He already handed Lee his personal number, an invitation that feels more like bait. Will Lee take the call, desperate for answers? Or will Allen strike first, tightening his hold on Tulsa’s underworld and proving to be more than just a side player in the Washberg drama?
Fans can anticipate Allen’s mask of respectability slipping even further, perhaps revealing exactly how far Akron’s monopolistic grip reaches.
Friend, Foe, or Something In Between?
The enigmatic Marty is one of the most intriguing wild cards introduced so far. He saved Lee’s life at the bridge, yet later revealed he was tailing him on Donald’s dime. Their fallout at the memorial was raw, exposing Lee’s hypocrisy and Marty’s moral compromises.
Episode 3 may explore Marty’s loyalties more deeply. Is he just another mercenary working for the highest bidder, or could his conscience nudge him toward helping Lee? His presence keeps viewers guessing he could either be Lee’s unlikely ally in exposing Donald or the one hired hand capable of finally shutting him up.
Expect more tense encounters between these two, with the possibility of Marty’s backstory shedding light on why he chooses to operate in the murky grey between justice and corruption.
The Neo-Nazi Connection
Before their untimely end, Blackie and Berta left behind tantalizing hints of a “Skaitook job gone wrong.” Considering Dale’s death occurred in Skaitook, this thread is too significant to be a coincidence.
Episode 3 could finally pull this subplot into focus. Perhaps the Thompson novels contain references tying Dale to whatever happened there; or maybe Lee’s next reckless adventure will take him directly into Skaitook, where old enemies and hidden crimes wait for him.
The Skaitook mystery might be the missing puzzle piece that links the Washbergs, Akron, and Allen Murphy under one sinister umbrella.
The Stakes at Home
Amidst all the bruises, conspiracies, and late-night stakeouts, Lee’s daughter, Francis and his loyal employee, Deidra, ground the story. Episode 2 already showed Deidra stepping up, keeping the bookstore afloat and urging Lee to consider protection in the form of her cousin, Waylon.
In Episode 3, their roles could expand. Francis might stumble onto her father’s secrets, adding a layer of vulnerability to Lee’s crusade. Deidra, meanwhile, may prove to be more resourceful than Lee realises, perhaps even drawing fire from enemies trying to get to him.
If The Lowdown continues to balance crime with family stakes, Episode 3 could show just how much Lee risks losing at home while chasing truth in the streets.
Will Lee Finally Publish Something?
For all his investigative zeal, Lee hasn’t managed to turn his findings into a published exposé yet. His pieces scare some, anger others, but never quite make it past editorial desks.
Episode 3 could mark a turning point. With new evidence from Dale’s novels and more dirt on Akron and Allen Murphy, Lee might finally craft an article that someone at Tulsa Beat or another underground outlet is willing to run.
Of course, publishing the truth will only paint a bigger target on his back. If Episode 3 delivers Lee’s first major exposé, it will likely ignite the second half of the season into an all-out war.
Chaos on the Horizon
If Episodes 1 and 2 taught us anything, The Lowdown doesn’t shy away from escalating stakes. Each step Lee takes toward the truth invites more danger, enemies, and impossible choices. Episode 3 has all the makings of a game-changer:
- The discovery of Dale’s next hidden message.
- A potential showdown with Donald Washberg.
- Allen Murphy tightening his noose.
- The shadow of Skaitook finally taking shape.
- Marty walking the tightrope between betrayal and alliance.
For fans, the tension is delicious; we’re not just waiting for answers, we’re waiting to see how long Lee can survive in a city where corruption is currency, loyalty is negotiable, and the truth may be the deadliest weapon of all.
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