Stumptown Review: All Quiet On The Dextern Front (Season 1 Episode 16)

Stumptown Season 1 Episode 16, “All Quiet on the Dextern Front,” is one of the most emotionally difficult episodes of the season and yet somehow manages to be one of the most hopeful.

After returning from LA, Dex’s newest case triggers some memories of an interrogation from her time in military intelligence. The idea that there is more to Dex’s guilt than just that Benny died isn’t surprising. They’ve been hinting her guilt is more complicated than that for a few episodes now.

It is, however, unexpected that her guilt is tied to refusing to let a detained woman be tortured.

I have to think this is more of Dex looking for ways to blame herself than actually believing she should have complied with the torture orders. Somewhere in her mind, Dex has to know that she did the right thing even if it had ended up being true that the delay in information allowed the explosion that killed Benny to happen.

It would be wildly out of character for Dex to believe she should have let someone be tortured after spending the whole season fighting for the underdog and doing what’s right even when it’s hard. On the other hand, it is exactly in character for her to rationalize her guilt and look for reasons that confirm what she thinks of herself.

Even understanding what they were trying with that reveal, it feels a little ham-handed. They spent all season building up Dex’s guilt, guilt that she’s carried for 12 years. Having it end up being something that actually makes her a hero feels like they are pulling their punch a little.

I didn’t exactly hate it and they certainly execute it well. It just seems like there are more interesting ways they could have taken that story than what they chose.

But as mentioned, the execution of the reveal is excellent. They do some interesting things, especially with Dex’s breakdown. That scene works to visualize her mental state in a more dramatic way. That’s not something Stumptown does often so it stands out and signals a different level of anxiety for Dex at that moment.

In a lot of ways, this should be a devastating episode. The episode deals with a broken justice system, torture, PTSD, guilt, and shame.

These are heavy topics that, with the exception of Dex’s client getting her kids back, are unresolved at the end of the episode. Yet, it isn’t the dark episode I thought it would be. Instead, it’s one of the most optimistic episodes of the series and not just because of all the sweetness happening with Ansel and his crush.

It feels hopeful because of the way the people in Dex’s life support her and rally around her. It allows viewers to believe that there is some light at the end of Dex’s long tunnel.

I particularly love the end of the episode with Ansel moving back home. Earlier when Grey tells Dex that it’s lucky Ansel wasn’t there to see her breakdown, Dex replies that it wouldn’t have happened if he had been there.

It’s one of the truest things Dex has ever said.

Ansel has always been her rock and source of emotional support. Without him, she gets trapped by her thoughts and spirals without anything to ground her. So when he returns to their house, it feels especially hopeful and some of that tension that had been building immediately evaporates.

In addition to Ansel’s return, seeing Sue Lynn tell Dex that her decision to stand up for the woman in her custody didn’t make her responsible for Benny’s death is a nice moment between them. Sue Lynn may still blame Dex for Benny being there in the first place, but she is also the only person Dex would believe when they tell her the explosion isn’t her fault.

Despite a few squabbles with some writing choices “All Quiet on the Dextern Front” is an excellent episode with a sweet ending to set up what promises to be even more significant revelations in the final two episodes of the season.

Stray Thoughts

• One of my favorite moments of the episode is Dex saying she cares about all her cases. At that moment she is deflecting but it’s also the truth and the core of who she is.
• Grey and Tookie’s banter is quickly becoming a highlight of the series. Jake Johnson and Adrian Martinez have a great rapport.
• Speaking of a good rapport, I like the chemistry between Miles and Detective Lee. I hope we get to see that go somewhere.
• As expected, Ansel asking his crush out was sweet and endearing and made me smile almost as much as when he moved back in with Dex.

What did you think of this episode of Stumptown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Stumptown airs Wednesday at 10/9c on ABC.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

20 Characters from TV Dramas Who Gave Us All the Feels in 2019