'The Lowdown' Star Reflects on Francis and Lee's Relationship
Ryan Kiera Armstrong shares insights on the evolving bond between Francis and her father, Lee Raybon, following the finale of The Lowdown Season 1.
Season Finale and Character Developments
The season concluded with unresolved elements concerning Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) and his daughter Francis (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), both driven to uncover the truth. In episode 8, “The Sensitive Kind,” Lee solved the mystery of Dale Washberg’s (Tim Blake Nelson) death but confronted the harsh reality that his work endangers Francis emotionally and physically.
Francis’s Awareness of Danger
Armstrong notes that although Francis had close calls earlier in the season, she “didn’t realize how big it was” in terms of danger. However, she believes Francis is “really intelligent for her age” and sensed that something was wrong.
Emotional Impact of Parental Absence
Francis’s feelings about her parents’ breakup and her father’s absence were expressed in a poem recited at an open-mic event after Lee missed her parent-teacher conference. Armstrong recalls her experience:
“I read it, and at first I was really moved, and then the next thought was I have to make it really good.”
“It was also my last day on set, so I was like, I can’t regret anything, it has to be perfect.”
This moment highlighted Francis’s emotional vulnerability and determination.
Author’s summary: Ryan Kiera Armstrong portrays Francis’s complex relationship with her father, balancing intelligence, emotional depth, and the consequences of Lee’s dangerous career.