Lee Raybon’s latest investigation takes a messy turn when raw milk, crooked cops, and a mysterious phone call land him in serious trouble.
Lee Raybon has a talent for finding trouble, but in “Raw Milk,” he takes things to a whole new level. With an abducted deputy, a questionable dairy decision, and a small-town conspiracy, The Lowdown delivers another wildly entertaining episode that balances outrageous comedy with a genuinely dark investigation.
The chaos begins when Ginger (Betty Gilpin) shoots a backyard prowler, only for Lee (Ethan Hawke) and Johnny to discover that the man is Woodrell County Deputy Sheriff Lonnie. Naturally, their solution is to gag him, stuff him into Johnny’s trunk, and race across Tulsa while trying to figure out what to do next. The increasingly frantic ordeal involves nitrous oxide, a dentist’s chair, and Lee dealing with a broken tooth. It’s ridiculous, frantic, and exactly the kind of trouble Lee seems to attract. Unfortunately, Lonnie escapes and returns to Woodrell County, setting the stage for even bigger problems.
Still determined to investigate the suspicious jailhouse death of Nathan Spence, Lee travels to Woodrell County and visits the local newspaper, the Woodrell County Monitor. There, he discovers that its editor, Dale (Steve Earle), is the same man who previously gave him a ride. Their reunion quickly turns into a fascinating debate about what journalism should accomplish.
Lee believes in exposing corruption and telling uncomfortable truths, even when doing so makes people miserable. Dale takes a different approach, favoring human-interest stories and positive local coverage over constantly reminding readers what’s wrong with the world. Their conversation gives the episode more substance than its chaotic opening might suggest. It’s an intriguing clash between two journalists with very different ideas about their responsibilities, and the episode does not entirely dismiss either perspective.
Dale eventually points Lee toward Sheriff Vela Thorne (Martha Plimpton), who is attending a local 4-H county fair. Lee sees an opportunity to confront her about Spence’s death but first makes a questionable decision: drinking an entire bottle of raw milk. The result is a digestive emergency that sends him sprinting to a portable toilet just as he is preparing for his big confrontation.
It’s an outrageous sequence, but the show’s willingness to embrace its absurd sense of humor is part of its appeal. Lee’s investigation may involve serious corruption and suspicious deaths, but it doesn't spare him an embarrassing bathroom disaster along the way.
Unfortunately, his problems do not end there. Once he emerges, Lonnie arrests him and takes him to the Woodrell County jail. That is where the episode reveals just how deep the corruption runs. Sheriff Thorne, Lonnie, and prison guard McMann are working together, and Lee finds himself caught in their web. He is accused of harboring the fugitive Mekko and being connected to the murder of Chili Franks.
The authorities hope Lee’s phone call will lead them to Mekko, but he has other plans. Instead, he pulls a hidden number from his boot and calls someone known only as “Big D.”
“Raw Milk” is another excellent episode of The Lowdown, combining outrageous comedy, sharp dialogue, and an increasingly compelling investigation. The philosophical debate about journalism adds welcome depth, while Lee’s arrest pushes the conspiracy into far more dangerous territory.
Ethan Hawke keeps Lee entertaining and unpredictable, and the final phone call left me eager to discover who Big D is and what kind of help Lee can expect. With a grade of 9/10, “Raw Milk” delivers a terrific mix of humor, mystery, and small-town corruption.
What did you think of “Raw Milk”? Leave a comment below.
Catch The Lowdown Wednesdays at 9/8c on FX, or stream it on Hulu.
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