Pilot Programme: Stumptown

While my life is generally pretty heavy with film watching I do still manage to get a significant amount of TV viewing in too. I was beginning to feel like it was getting left out a bit so I decided to start reviewing the first/pilot episodes of new shows and shows that I really should have already got round to watching by now, welcome to my first one!

---

I flukily came across Stumptown just before the first episode aired on Alibi in the UK. I don't tend to watch anything live on TV anymore and does anyone actually watch ads on recordings anymore? Alibi ad breaks are very odd though and I managed to catch the tail end of the trailer that looked interesting so I had a quick rewind to watch the whole thing and that was enough to make me set a series link.

SERIES SYNOPSIS

Starring: Cobie Smulders, Jake Johnson, Camryn Manheim and Michael Ealy.

Dex Parios is a sharp-witted military veteran, who struggles to get by and take care of her younger brother, in Portland, Oregon. She also struggles with PTSD from her time as a Marine in Afghanistan, where she worked in military intelligence until she was injured by an explosion which killed her college sweetheart and former lover. Burdened by heavy gambling debts and unable to hold down a steady job, she becomes a private investigator to solve problems where the police cannot get involved. Detective Miles Hoffman refers problems to her, and Grey McConnell, a bar owner and Dex's closest friend, provides moral support and employs her brother Ansel at his bar.

Series 1, Episode 1: Forget It Dex, It's Stumptown.

Dex Parios is a former Marine officer whose PTSD makes it impossible to stay employed, leaving her financially insecure. After gambling away her latest disability check at the local casino, the owner, Sue Lynn, asks Dex to find her runaway granddaughter Nina in return for clearing her debt. Dex accepts the job, but her lack of experience quickly shows, as she finds Nina only to then lose her to two kidnappers and steals a car from a gangster whom she wrongly assumes had something to do with the kidnapping. She meets a police detective, Miles Hoffman, who encourages her to stay away from the case. Shortly thereafter, Sue Lynn fires Dex, claiming Nina has been returned home. Depressed, she goes to Hoffman's apartment and sleeps with him. The next day, while Dex is trying to track down Nina's boyfriend Michael, the kidnappers grab her and drive off; she subdues them and proceeds to rescue Sue Lynn and Nina from an unstable Michael. Impressed, Hoffman offers to keep Dex on retainer if he comes across any other problems the police cannot handle.

REVIEW

Taking the series from the description above it sounded pretty good, the trailer really caught my eye and I was glad I managed to catch it before it started airing. Crime dramas are high up my "favourites to watch" list and it's pleasing to see one that's finally a little different. Most of the shows I come across tend to have men in this position, and that's fine, but there's no denying that when I saw it I paused and thought "finally".

In the lead part of Dex we have Cobie Smulders, I'm only really familiar with her as Maria Hill in the MCU and Robin in How I Met Your Mother but she never fails to entertain in those so it was a promising start. Smulders is accompanied by a few recognisable names, catching my eye were Jake Johnson, Michael Ealy and Camryn Manheim who all make me go "ooooh" at the screen when I see them pop up.

I've got to give it to the team who put this first episode together, the beginning is brilliant. It draws your attention instantly and it's laced with a little ridiculousness that makes it amusing. We're treated to other bits that grab as well, whether it's amusing or serious it genuinely keeps you engaged.

Dex is a solid main character in this episode, she's got the military background that's left her not quite on top form and that means that she's struggling to be a responsible person, I think we all get that from time to time. She's depicted as caring with her brother Ansel, and friendly and connected with her best friend Grey. With other characters you see the same friendly attitude but with an added streak of sarcasm and a desire to stay at arm's length. There's a great rapport with everyone even with her slightly sharp nature and for such a wide range of personalities it's amazing that it still works.

We don't really get a big look at the other characters, though Hoffman and Cosgrove, played by Ealy and Manheim, seem like they're going to be solid recurring roles. I feel potentially disappointed by Jake Johnson as Grey, but that may be more to do with the fact that this isn't quite the same as previous roles I've enjoyed. Grey is a little more serious, and I do love Johnson's humour.

For a first episode it's definitely good enough to hook you in for the second, but there is just one thing that happens in it that you can see coming and I really hoped they wouldn't, but they did. I don't want to say what it is specifically because it would constitute a spoiler but if you watch this sort of show I'm sure it wouldn't take you long to notice it too. I was rather surprised to see it pop up so early in the series and I'm in two minds about how it will pan out, it could go either way.

WATCHING MORE?

I definitely enjoyed what I saw so I'll be keeping up with the rest of the series, there are 18 episodes to series 1 and it appears like it's positive response will mean a second season as well.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

I'd recommend giving this one a try, especially if you like crime drama that has a twinge of humour in it.

THING YOU WISH YOU COULD TAKE HOME

I could do with some of Dex's spunk, I've got the sarcasm thing down already.