Debapriya Bhattacharya
Created by Sterlin Harjo, ‘The Lowdown’ chronicles Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke), a bookstore owner and self-styled “truthstorian” from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The character is loosely based on real-life citizen journalist and self-taught historian Lee Roy Chapman. Lee from the series is deeply invested in uncovering secrets that lie buried in his hometown. His 14-year-old daughter, Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), is deeply interested in his work and wishes to accompany him everywhere. However, Lee avoids doing so, as his exploits often bring him in close contact with the criminal underbelly of the area, resulting in narrow escapes. FX’s historical drama series delivers on the thrills, laughs, and rustic rural scenes. If you are in search of more shows similar to ‘The Lowdown,’ the following list is for your consideration.
12. I Know This Much Is True (2020)
Adapted from Wally Lamb’s eponymous novel by Derek Cianfrance, ‘I Know This Much Is True’ stars Mark Ruffalo as twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey, living in Three Rivers, Connecticut, in the early 1990s. Thomas is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and works at a coffee stand with the help of medications. While life is generally peaceful, his condition acts up at times. One day, he cuts off his hand at a public library, believing it to be a sacrificial protest against the Gulf War. In the aftermath, Dominick stands by his brother through the decision of not reattaching the limb, as well as attempts to free him from the shackles of a depressing mental institution. The obsession demonstrated by Lee Raybon in ‘The Lowdown’ is seen in the brothers in ‘I Know This Much Is True.’
11. Unbelievable (2019)
Based on a news article titled ‘An Unbelievable Story of Rape’ written by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong and their 2018 book titled ‘A False Report,’ ‘Unbelievable’ tells the story of Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever), a survivor who gets charged with a crime after she reports being assaulted by a serial sexual offender. She is supported by two detectives, Grace Rasmussen (Toni Collette) of the Westminster Police Department and Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) of the Golden Police Department, who are on the hunt for the actual perpetrator. Like ‘The Lowdown,’ the show co-created by Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, and Michael Chabon deals with the dark side of seemingly innocuous neighborhoods.
10. Dopesick (2021)
Inspired by the non-fiction book ‘Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America’ by Beth Macy, ‘Dopesick’ focuses on the opioid crisis in the US. Weaving together different points in time and different storylines, the narrative traces the launch of OxyContin to the exoneration of the Sackler family, which owned Purdue Pharma, in court. With the exception of the Sackler family, some government officials, and prosecutors Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer, most of the characters in the miniseries are composite characters who help highlight the broad effects of the crisis. Similar to ‘The Lowdown’ and Tulsa, the Danny Strong creation dives into the details of a niche subject and dramatizes it.
9. When They See Us (2019)
Created by Ava DuVernay, ‘When They See Us’ retells the Central Park jogger case of April 19, 1989. When a female is assaulted in Central Park, New York City, five juvenile Black men present in the vicinity get charged with the crime. Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), and Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez) are convicted by juries on various charges related to assault and spend years behind bars. However, things change when another man confesses to the crime in 2002. The series puts up a mirror to society, much like ‘The Lowdown.’
8. State of Play (2003)
From the mind of Paul Abbott, ‘State of Play’ chronicles the investigation of a team of journalists, which includes Cal McCaffrey (John Simm) of The Herald and his colleagues Della Smith (Kelly MacDonald) and editor Cameron Foster (Bill Nighy), looking into the murder of a teenager and finding a connection with the death of young political researcher Sonia Baker (Shauna MacDonald) that took place on the same day. The investigation brings to light a love affair between Sonia and her employer, rising star MP Stephen Collins (David Morrissey). It also reveals a more sinister political conspiracy and large-scale corruption within the British government, funded by the petroleum industry. As in ‘The Lowdown,’ it is a thorough investigation by journalists that ultimately brings the truth out.
7. Press Gang (1989-1993)
Created by Bill Moffat, ‘Press Gang’ centers around a group of comprehensive school students who run a newspaper called The Junior Gazette. They work diligently on the publication before and after school hours and, in later episodes of the series, transform it into a commercial venture. While the show is aimed at children, it deals with serious issues such as solvent abuse, child abuse, and firearms control. Much like ‘The Lowdown,’ it focuses on amateur journalists putting forth the real social problems.
6. Harry (1993-1995)
‘Harry’ stars Michael Elphick as Harry Salter, a once-high-flying journalist who is running a news agency in the small town of Darlington in England. He deals with new stories every day, while also dealing with a variety of locals, from officials to private citizens, gathering a treasure trove of experiences. Harry’s spirited interactions with the people around him are reminiscent of Lee Raybon’s interactions with Tulsa natives in ‘The Lowdown.’
5. Eric (2024)
From the mind of Abi Morgan, ‘Eric’ is set in 1980s New York City, and follows puppeteer Vincent Anderson (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose son Edgar (Ivan Morris Howe) disappears one day. As a television personality, Vincent’s plight gathers significant public attention and is prioritized by the NYPD. However, as days pass, Edgar remains missing. This results in Vincent spiralling into substance abuse and alienation from friends and family. Looking at his son’s drawings, he convinces himself that if he can get a blue monster puppet named Eric on television, the child will return home. The obsession of Vincent with the monster is similar to the trait Lee Raybon displays in ‘The Lowdown.’
4. Bodkin (2024)
‘Bodkin’ by Jez Scharf is set in the titular coastal town of Ireland, where American podcaster Gilbert Power (Will Forte) arrives to pursue a cold case. It involves the disappearance of three people during a Samhain celebration many decades ago. Accompanying Gilbert is Dubheasa “Dove” Maloney (Siobhán Cullen), a Dublin-born investigative journalist working in London, who is out in the field following the death of her source. They are also joined by aspiring journalist Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara), Gilbert’s podcaster assistant. The niche setting of the narrative and the focus on local customs make the show comparable to ‘The Lowdown.’
3. Sharp Objects (2018)
Based on Gillian Flynn’s debut novel of the same name, ‘Sharp Objects’ revolves around crime reporter Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), who returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, after years. While she looks into the murder of a young girl and the disappearance of another, she faces the criticisms of her overbearing socialite mother, Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson). She also has a number of issues to deal with, which include alcoholism and a tendency to self-harm. Similar to ‘The Lowdown,’ the Marti Noxon creation interweaves thrills with personal drama with greater narratives.
2. The Hour (2011-2012)
Set in 1956, ‘The Hour,’ created by Abi Morgan, is about BBC newsreel maker Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw), a journalist who hates his job and wishes to be on television. When his best friend, Bel Rowley (Romola Garai), sets up a new news magazine named The Hour, Freddie is offered to run the domestic news beat, something which he considers to be useless. Others in the institution include foreign Lix Storm (Anna Chancellor), anchor Hector Madden (Dominic West), and taciturn translator Thomas Kish (Burn Gorman). As he gets more and more involved in his work, Freddie’s views begin to shift, and the fervor with which he jumps into work is reminiscent of Lee Raybon in ‘The Lowdown.’
1. Enemy of the People (2022)
Penned by Laura Suhonen and Timo Varpio, ‘Enemy of the People’ stars Kreeta Salminen as a small-town journalist named Katja Salonen, who earns the ire of the people in her hometown for attempting to connect the untimely death of a local football hero to cryptocurrency. Stubborn in her ways, Katja refuses to budge and doubles down on her research. Many parallels can be drawn between ‘Enemy of the People’ and ‘The Lowdown,’ especially the grit of the lead characters to uncover stories no matter the personal cost.
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