The Lowdown episode 5: Lee reconnects with an old ally and exposes chilling ties between the string of murders and a high-ranking politician

Ethan Hawke and the other fan-favorite stars returned in The Lowdown episode 5, and as Hawke recently explained, this chapter "is kind of a pivot point for the whole show." The series debuted in September 2025, and viewers are praising the mix of mystery, quirk, and drama.

Before we explore what happened in episode 5, here's a quick recap of the latest TV series: The Lowdown has been described as a modern noir, but there's more to the story. Hawke's Lee Raybon is central to the show, who also owns a bookshop and calls himself a "historian".

He lives in his beloved bookstore in Tulsa, and that place is more than just a workplace for Lee. He welcomes the entire community of Tulsa into his bookstore, and while everyone is busy, Lee starts working as a detective.

He has been trying to expose the shady businesses taking place in Tulsa and digging into hidden problems. What makes his quests interesting is that Lee never really thinks about the outcomes and often puts his life in danger.

And now, in episode 5 of The Lowdown, Lee Raybon once again gets into trouble. The latest chapter brings a new mystery and a chain of chaotic events.

The Lowdown episode 5 recap: A chain of murders and a new mystery

The Lowdow episode 5, "This Land," begins with a focus on the increasing number of dead men: Dale Washberg, Blackie, Berta, and now Allen. Their deaths, tangled up in a messy chain of revenge and failure, are deeply related.

Blackie and Berta tried to kill Dale, but they failed, and Allen killed them instead. Then Allen ended up dead too, although we do not know if it was because of what he did to Blackie and Berta or if it was for something else.

The odd thing is that Dale was only aware of a small part of this because he did not know any of these men very well. But even so, he was the one who started this violent chain of events by having his own life taken.

At the same time, Governor Donald Washberg also seems to be suspicious. He was last seen in episode 4 and might be responsible for the destruction in episode 5 of The Lowdown. Another possibility could be that if Washberg isn't the actual culprit, someone else might be using him from behind.

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Lee reconnects with his old friend in The Lowdown episode 5

In the same episode of The Lowdown, Francis woke her father up and shared shocking news: Allen, who previously threatened Lee, had been shot dead. This leaves Lee in shock, but he tries to remain calm in front of his daughter.

Lee can see how Francis is getting involved in his investigations, and this might lead her to get into trouble. Just like in episode 3, in which she helped him solve the case, but at the cost of her life being in danger.

And in the latest episode, Francis missed school after learning about Allen's death. So, this is undeniably concerning for Lee as he wants to keep his only child safe. The episode progresses, and Lee's old friend Wendell (played by Peter Dinklage) enters the story.

The reason behind Wendell's return to Tulsa is the yearly memorial to a friend named Jesus. The two old friends confront, and Wendell also warns Lee about his actions and being selfish. He tells him that his behaviour might hurt his daughter, just like he once failed to check on Jesus the day he died of an overdose.

Lee then tells Wendell about digging into a suspicious piece of land, somehow tied to Governor Donald Washberg. And after hearing the case, Washberg decides he can crack the mystery faster than Lee.

The two old friends then set out to find the truth about a place called Indian Head Hills. This episode of The Lowdown also features comedic moments between Lee and Wendell as they try to solve the mystery as soon as possible.

They flirt a courthouse clerk into giving them an old map, trace the land to a shady company called White Elk LLC, and start bickering nonstop. Things even get ridiculous when a scuffle ends with Lee’s face in the grass where Wendell had just peed. But the laughter fades fast when gunmen appear, proving that Lee’s suspicions about corruption were dead-on.

Donald Washberg's power games and Lee's deadly encounter in The Lowdown episode 5

Lee and Wendell meet a real estate agent named Vicky, who discovers that White Elk LLC is secretly reselling the same land to another company for four times its real value. It's basically a bribe hidden as a business deal tied to Governor Washberg.

Wendell gets annoyed with Lee’s attitude, convinced Lee always has to be the smartest guy in the room. That night, they share their strange annual ritual, "Jesus Day," where they sit by a fire, burn books, and confess their screw-ups.

It’s a rare, honest moment: both admit how lonely and broken they really are. Their friendship is shaky, built more on shared pain than trust. Meanwhile, Donald Washberg’s wife, Betty Jo, gets caught in the crossfire. Donald accuses her of secretly helping Lee, loses his temper, and smashes up the kitchen before leaving with a gun.

Scared, she calls Lee, who helps her plan to escape Tulsa. But before he can sort things out, the police arrest him and drag him to a wild, violent party full of crooked cops and skinheads. There, he finally comes face-to-face with Donald, setting up a tense, cliffhanger ending of The Lowdown episode 5.

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