User Reviews

Bethany Butler guest co-stars in this episode, and she delivers a world-class performance. You expect consistently good work from the regular stars and guest stars on this show, but I have seen this episode twice and on both occasions, Bethany Butler steals the scenes.

There is very little information about her on IMDb.

Nevertheless, she is not just a beautiful black woman. Ms. Butler gives her character a power punch that you won't forget, from her very first brief appearance to the climactic last scene. She delivers a range of emotions that are crystal clear and unforgettable.

I give the episode a 9 because the plot itself is a little bizarre and strains credulity, although it is delivered competently. I would have given it a 7, but for Ms. Butler's captivating performance. She doesn't depend upon sex appeal or stereotypes -- this is acting at its finest! Wow !

Wow, that was a stellar final scene between the husband and wife! Superbly played. Bethany Butler and the actor that portrayed her husband were very convincing.

I love Law and Order SVU Great Stories and great characters. But, I recently watched an episode called the Lowdown. It highlights a family broken up by deceit and lies to avoid the truth. It is such a good message to be honest and avoid hurting those you love. But, this episode really stood out to me because of the performance of the wife's character, from actress Bethany Butler. It was powerful and so real, It brought me to a stop with tears streaming down my face. What a powerful actress. She really lights up the screen with her performance. I hope this review gets to her. I am definitely a fan. I have checked her profile and there aren't very many acting spots listed. But, she is an AMAZING ACTRESS...GO BETHANY!! YOU GOT IT GIRL!!

There's a lot about this episode that deserves attention, but I'll go right to the heart: Bethany Butler. She gave a performance that went so deeply into my heart, that I couldn't deny her an expression of my respect and awe. A lot of the guest performances have received attention through Emmy nominations, but all of these honors are for thespians already well known for earlier exceptional work.

Ms. Butler deserves recognition for this performance alone.

I can't know why she hasn't had more parts, but her work here stands head and shoulders above most actresses, and is on par with the best recorded.

Bravo, Bethany! Your performance is on a pedestal right next to Renee Maria Falconetti's for Joan of Arc.

Some marksmen only need one shot.

"Lowdown" is another "ripped from the headlines" type of episode. 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' showed in both previous and succeeding episodes that it could do these types of stories very well, just as much as the uncompromising approach to difficult subject matters which is saying something. It proved that in the wonderful previous episode "Sick". On my first watch, "Lowdown" struck me as a powerful episode and the supporting performances really stuck with me.

On rewatches (have watched over a long period of time, we're talking over a decade, every episode of the original 'Law and Order', 'Special Victims Unit' and 'Criminal Intent' at least twice, even those that didn't do much for me and in some cases still don't), "Lowdown" is every bit as wonderful as remembered. Perhaps in fact even better now, with everything that was so good before still present and even stronger now. To me it's actually a much better episode than a good deal of the other Season 5 episodes with a higher rating here as of now (i.e. "Manic" is rated higher but it is to me one of the season's lesser episodes).

This is a strong example of an episode where everything about it works. And brilliantly. The production values are still slick and suitably gritty (without being too heavy in it). The music is not too melodramatic and is not used too much, even not being too manipulative in revelations. The direction lets the drama breathe while making sure that the tension and emotion never slipped.

Moreover, "Lowdown" is a very tautly yet sympathetically scripted episode, with some nice entertainment value with Fin, the tension between Novak and Zeirko, all the intriguing insight revolving around the victim and his relationship with the perpetrator and the emotional impact of the final scene. It is especially good in the second half. The story grabs the attention from the get go and the truth that shocked me so much on first watch has still not lost any of the "clap hand to the mouth"-worthy feeling. The final scene is a tear-jerker.

While the leads are all strong, especially Diane Neal and Mariska Hargitay (Ice-T is both tough and amusing too), "Lowdown" is yet another episode where the supporting cast are even better. A suitably smarmy Peter Riegert is fun casting and Michael Beach, no stranger to the 'Law and Order' franchise having given a brilliant performance in the original's Season 5 episode "Purple Heart", is excellent as well in a role different to that one. Absolutely agree with the acclaim for Bethany Butler, giving a emotional powerhouse of a performance that became particularly heart-breaking in the final third.

Concluding, another wonderful episode. 10/10