As 'The Lowdown' returns for its second season, showrunner Sterlin Harjo, in an interview with Variety, reflects on the personal journey that informed protagonist Lee Raybon's (Ethan Hawke) struggle with newfound recognition. Harjo admits that Lee's discomfort with acclaim mirrors his own experience after the runaway success of his previous FX series, 'Reservation Dogs.' He described the sudden exposure as overwhelming, stating, "I didn’t handle it well at first. You don’t know what to do." This personal insight directly fueled Lee's knee-jerk rejection of his own success in the new season, where he is forced to confront themes of self-love.

Season 2 plunges Lee into a fresh mystery when public defender Ginger (Betty Gilpin) enlists him to investigate a client's perplexing disappearance within the Oklahoma prison system. Harjo drew inspiration from a trio of classic films for this season's underlying concept: the 1972 Lee Marvin/Gene Hackman film 'Prime Cut,' 1981's 'Cutter’s Way,' and the 1949 noir 'The Third Man.' He was particularly intrigued by the premise, questioning, "How do you go missing from prison? That was such an intriguing question."

The show's grounded realism stems from Harjo's childhood memories of a town shaped by a nearby prison, and stories shared by Ethan Hawke's cousin, a public defender in Fort Worth. This season even utilized a real Oklahoma prison in McAlester for filming, an institution Harjo visited as a child to see his uncle.

Perhaps the biggest revelation of the season comes with the casting of Tommy Lee Jones as Lee Raybon's estranged father. Harjo had written the character with Jones in mind, and the actor, who shares representation with Harjo, quickly signed on after reading the script. A fan of the first season, Jones specifically praised the show's distinctive humor and unique characters, particularly the bookstore security guards Waylon (Cody Lightning) and Cousin Henry (Jude Barnett). Harjo recounted Jones' appreciation, noting, "If you love the security guards, you love me and the show and the vibe."

Adding to the excitement, Harjo shared that Jones began watching 'Reservation Dogs' while shooting 'The Lowdown,' often discussing episodes with Harjo and Hawke on set. "There was something amazing about every day coming to work and having Tommy Lee Jones describe an episode of the show that I created," Harjo said, emphasizing Jones' sophisticated artistic sensibility.

Betty Gilpin's portrayal of Ginger also proved transformative. Harjo credits Gilpin with bringing an unexpected depth and energy to the character, prompting him to adapt his writing to her performance. "There’s things happening that I did not write. From that day forward, I’m trying to write toward her voice," he explained.

Harjo describes the writing process for Season 2 as particularly challenging, admitting he wrote himself into many corners. Nevertheless, he aimed to make the season "go harder and faster," envisioning it as an 'Empire Strikes Back' equivalent – a standalone success that leaves audiences eager for more. With high hopes, Harjo anticipates a potential third season for 'The Lowdown.'