‘The Lowdown’: Ethan Hawke on Dragging Johnny Into Lee’s Violent Antics in Episode 3

The Lowdown‘s Season 2 mystery continues to unfold in the latest episode, “Truth’s Easy,” and while Lee (Ethan Hawke) and Ginger (Betty Gilpin) are in search of answers surrounding missing inmate Mekko, it’s the installment’s final moments that deliver a surprising twist Tulsa’s “truthstorian” and Johnny (Rafael Casal). Warning: Spoilers for The Lowdown Season 2 Episode 3 ahead!

After Johnny married Lee’s ex-wife, Samantha (Kaniehtiio Horn), last season, he’s become stepfather to the man’s only daughter, Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong). And the evolution of Johnny’s role is on full display in this episode when the blended family gathers for dinner and Lee explains why he’s been keeping Francis away from his father, Lee Sr. (Tommy Lee Jones).

While it takes Johnny a minute to realize that his optimistic viewpoint of parent-child relationships isn’t exactly in line with Lee’s experience, he begins to read the room more accurately. Still, Lee needs a minute to himself as Francis gets upset over being lied to her whole life, believing her grandfather was dead all this time.

Shane Brown / FX

When Lee steps away from the table, he sees a shadow in the backyard and goes after the culprit, who happens to be the man (played by Austin Amelio) who previously targeted Ginger. Their scuffle turns violent, and Lee’s in a losing battle when Johnny swings in with some of his karate skills, choking the guy out. It turns out, after inspecting the man’s wallet, that he’s a deputy sheriff whose name is Lonnie.

What does it mean moving forward? Fans will have to tune in to find out. Until then, Hawke and series creator Sterlin Harjo are opening up about crafting the bond Lee and Johnny are building as co-dads in Season 2. “Rafael Casal is a wonderful actor, and he’s been a wonderful friend to the show; he directed a couple of episodes this year too,” Hawke remarks to TV Insider. “We felt it was a surprising turn if we forced Lee and Johnny into their co-dad relationship [and it] was put on tenterhooks.”

“You always see these shows and movies where the new man in your ex’s life who is a part of your child’s life is problematic, and in my experience, it hasn’t been that way,” Harjo admits. “I just wanted to see a different dynamic play out in that situation in divorce.”

Shane Brown / FX

“Different people bring different things to your life,” Harjo continues, “and I just wanted to show that.”

Hawke agrees with the sentiment, adding, “It’s really cliché how much in stories that the stepparent is a threat to the parent.” In The Lowdown, that couldn’t be further from the truth for Lee and Johnny, who are still learning to coexist in a way that works for both of them, and this latest turn is sure to evolve their relationship even more.

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“So many people can have positive influences on your children. And it’s one of my favorite things about working with Sterlin is the way that he thinks,” Hawke continues. “To see that Johnny can be a source of humor from Lee’s point of view and he could be [silly], but he also could actually love my daughter and see things about her that I don’t see and be really helpful in helping her grow up.”

Stay tuned to see how Lee and Johnny’s connection continues to form as Season 2 of The Lowdown unfolds, and let us know what you thought of the twist in the comments section below.

The Lowdown, Season 2, Wednesdays, 9/8c, FX