Review: The Lowdown, “A Dog with Two Tails” | Season 2, Episode 5
You’re invited to a bowling party! Bring your own shirt and try to keep your pants clean.
How badly does Lee Raybon stink, do you think? I mean this literally. By the time Lee gets Governor Donald Washberg to spring him from the Woodrell County jail, he’s been wearing the same clothes for a full day at least, and has had trouble controlling his bowels for about half of that day. So when Lee puts his arms out to give the governor a big hug, what does he smell like? I’m thinking sweat, shit, and spoiled milk.
I thought about this a lot throughout this week’s episode, the bulk of which sees Lee tagging along with Donald on a tour of Woodrell, conducted by the county’s powerful (and only) judge, Jed Sallsman. Judge Jed is played by the great John Hawkes, another actor who seems like he was born to be on The Lowdown. Donald wants to leave Woodrell—and Lee—as quickly as possible, but Jed’s popular among the governor’s constituents, so he endures the tour. This also means enduring Lee, who is embarrassingly and obviously obsequious, buttering up the judge so that he can later fry him with questions about Nathan Spence and Mekko Dean.
Every time Lee opens his mouth, Donald cringes—and who can blame him? Now imagine Lee’s wise-assery compounded by his physical presence, in cramped cars and in the judge’s elegant mansion. Imagine being unable to escape Lee’s stench.
