Recap: The Lowdown "This Land?"

 

It was a reunion Lee didn't want, but perhaps desperately needed. Here's my recap and review of The Lowdown's "This Land?"

Lee's estranged former business partner, Wendell, makes his annual visit to honor their late friend, Jesus, who tragically died a few years earlier from a fatal overdose. Wendell soon helps Lee with his investigation into the valuable land in Indian Head Hills that Dale and Donald were violently arguing about.

Meanwhile, Donald has been busy making trouble. He meets with Allen's former boss and, alongside a group of white businessmen, spearheads a campaign to seize political and financial power from the Native American community. Later, Donald confronts Betty Jo about her drunken night with Lee, demanding and taking Dale's gun. Upset and vulnerable, Betty Jo is then sent by Lee to a self-care retreat to keep her out of sight.

While all of this unfolds, Wendell and Lee argue intensely about the lingering guilt over Jesus's death. The two eventually reconcile, agreeing to repair their friendship and move forward with more grace. However, just as Lee is about to speak with Betty Jo's daughter, Pearl, he is forcibly swept away to a chaotic, drunken police meeting with Donald.

Review: A Character-Driven Triumph

"This Land?" was an excellent character-building episode for Lee and his friend Wendell, featuring a spectacular performance by Peter Dinklage that could easily earn him an Emmy nomination. The strained relationship between the two characters beautifully evolves in the aftermath of their friend's death, leading them to finally accept that they need to be better to each other and to others in their lives.

Right from the first few minutes, the scene between Lee and Francis was such a delightful father-daughter moment. Francis shares the news about Allen's death while trying to avoid school, and Lee gently, yet firmly, takes her back. Even though she wanted to help, that scene really stood out as one of the episode's most memorable and special parts.

The performances were strong, the writing was solid, and the overall pacing was fantastic. I truly enjoyed this episode! Overall, I give it a 9/10.

What did you think of this week's episode of The Lowdown? Leave a comment. You can catch The Lowdown Tuesdays at 9/8c on FX and streaming the next day on Hulu.