‘The Lowdown’s Martha Plimpton Reveals What To Expect From Her Sheriff in Season 2

Editor’s note: The following contains some spoilers for The Lowdown Season 2, Episode 4

In Episode 4 of Season 2 of the FX series The Lowdown, entitled “Raw Milk,” we’re introduced to Sheriff Vela Thorne (Martha Plimpton), a county political figure connected to the corruption Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) is investigating. The two cross paths when Lee makes his way to a hog contest where the sheriff is mingling with the community, and some raw milk leads to a memorable interaction that puts the journalist on her radar.

Collider recently got the opportunity to chat with Plimpton about joining the Tulsa, Oklahoma-set series and just what kind of sheriff her character is. During the interview, she discussed Vela’s very tight Wrangler jeans, how much fun she’s having playing such complicated women across various projects, her very well-behaved sheep co-star, the kind of sheriff she is, and the collaborative environment showrunner Sterlin Harjo creates on set.

COLLIDER: I love this show. I also love a character with a memorable introduction, and there’s something fun about meeting your character while she’s putting on her cowboy boots with her gold jewelry and her nails and her jeans. And we see her just being charming with the locals. What did you find most interesting about Sheriff Vela Thorne? What were you told about this woman and how she fit into this season?

MARTHA PLIMPTON: I read the script. I love (creator) Sterlin [Harjo] and, obviously, Ethan [Hawke] is an old friend. I was working in Madrid or Lisbon at the time, I can’t remember which, and I just thought, “Hell, yeah, I want to go and do that. Yeah, I’ll commute between Madrid and Tulsa for a couple of months. Why not?” Look, I don’t recommend that commute. It’s a little bit long. But I was really thrilled to do it. I love this world. I love Tulsa. I love Oklahoma. I’ve worked there before. In fact, I’ve worked in the same two small towns that we shot in. It felt like the easiest choice in the world.

‘The Lowdown’s Sheriff Vela Thorne Is a Woman Who Loves Her Very Tight Wrangler Jeans

“I wanted Sheriff Vela to look like a woman who has run for office and won.”

Image via FX Networks

Did you get to have any say into her look, or was that very clear on the page?

PLIMPTON: Yeah, absolutely. Because I was working on multiple things at the same time, I couldn’t really change up my look too much. I came onto The Lowdown relatively late in the season. They had already been shooting for a couple of months. I went to my fitting, and I put on those Wrangler jeans and I just wanted them to be tight, tight, tight. I wanted them to look painted on with a big gold belt buckle. I wanted Sheriff Vela to look like a woman who has run for office and won.

After The Regime, Task, East of Eden, and now this character, are you just having the most fun digging into these interesting and complicated women who don’t fit into any one box?

PLIMPTON: Yes, I am. Thank you for asking. Yeah, I absolutely am. I’m having so much fun, and it’s just wonderful. I’m having a blast. I suppose, as in all stories, every character is an archetype of something, but I think I’ve been really fortunate to just be able to work with these really great writers and these really great productions that are very singular in their voice, and they want to do something unusual. They want to do something a little bit weird and a little bit off and a little bit maybe even rebellious, and I love that. It’s great.

Is this the first time you’ve ever done a scene with a sheep or a lamb?

PLIMPTON: No, I’ve worked with animals. On Raising Hope, I worked with a lot of animals. I’ve worked with plenty of animals. Actually, that sheep was very well-behaved. That sheep was a pro.

According to ’The Lowdown’s Sheriff Vela, There’s Nothing Wrong With Being a Bitch

“A lot of great women get called a bitch.”

Image via Apple TV+

I love your character’s reaction to being told that everyone calls her a bitch when she says, “You know, I hope they call me a bitch every day of my life.” Is that just something she has to live with, as a woman in a position of power in this town?

PLIMPTON: It’s probably a combination of things. She’s also trying to talk up this girl and tell her, going into this competition, not to be afraid and not to care about what anybody says or thinks. She’s saying, “Just keep your eyes on the prize and move forward. Don’t forget who you are. Whether it’s true or not, stand tall and be proud of yourself.” There’s nothing wrong with being a bitch. A lot of great women get called a bitch.

Aside from having the great introduction to your character, we get to see the first meeting between the Sheriff and Lee Raybon in Episode 4. His reputation has clearly preceded him, but how much does she know about him? What is her opinion of Lee Raybon when she meets him?

PLIMPTON: I don’t think she knows anything about him. I don’t think she knows who the hell he is. And she wouldn’t care. She thinks he’s just some crackpot guy. She’s heard a little bit about what he does, but she doesn’t have time for that. She’s got bigger fish to fry, or so she thinks.

Sheriff Vela doesn’t seem to be all that concerned with the moral lines her deputies might be crossing. What kind of sheriff is she?

PLIMPTON: She’s probably a very good one. She makes some strange choices. Being a sheriff is not like being a cop. It’s a political job. You get sucked into politics a lot more than you would if you were in the FBI or something. Unlike today, which we obviously know is no longer the case. Being a sheriff is all about showing up to agricultural fairs and shaking hands and winning votes and gaining influence. It’s not just law enforcement.

The Vibe of ‘The Lowdown’ Set Is Fun and Kindness Rules

“Every day was just lovely.”

Image via FX

I’ve spoken to a lot of the cast of The Lowdown, and they all talk about the environment that Sterlin Harjo creates and how collaborative it is. Because of that, were there any particularly memorable moments during filming?

PLIMPTON: Every day was just lovely. Every day was just a joy to come in to work, to work with friends, and to work with people who have been doing this for a long time and who feel privileged and joyful about storytelling. They take pride in what they do and feel fortunate enough to be able to keep doing it. Sterlin is there with his guitar and it’s all very convivial. It’s obviously very professional. We get it done. But the most important thing is to have fun and be kind to each other. That’s the whole point of everything we do, to be kind and have a good time.

The Lowdown airs on FX and is available to stream on Hulu.

Release Date

September 23, 2025

Showrunner

Sterlin Harjo