Stumptown Review: The Dex Files (Season 1 Episode 17)
Stumptown Season 1 Episode 17, “The Dex Files,” is a powerfully humanizing episode of television that allows the new show to settle into its identity.
How lucky I am to be able to take over from Sarah Fields for this review!
A key feature of “The Dex Files,” is that it takes a big step back from Dex’s current love life in order to focus on the formative experiences in her past.
While Benny is a huge part of that, so is her drinking, her relationship with her brother, and work in the military.
Grey is absolutely essential to this part of Dex’s story, not as a romantic partner, but as a person, the only person really, who can hold up a mirror to the wayward PI.
A character breakthrough happens when Grey speaks about Benny from an outsider perspective: we learn that Dex’s memory is not THE truth, but A truth.
For example, when Benny approaches Dex at the music club’s door she’s clearly wasted. Dex’s memory of the event doesn’t reflect that her lense is an inebriated one.
Benny is perfectly sober and wonderful. She is too, all of sudden. Dex fell on her ass outside the club. But the bruising and dirt is suddenly washed away.
Each of her memories has the mess washed away, although her insecurities are ALWAYS still there.
Her memories of Benny are all magic and no mess.
Grey points out the likelihood that Benny is not a perfect person in a simple and logical way. This changes everything.
Grey lets the grey in.
This greyness has actually been the backdrop of Stumptown the whole time. But, initial episodes were so exciting and vibrant, it is easy to miss that it has always been a study on the messiness that makes us human and makes life worth saving.
Providing a key glimpse of humanity is quite the serious undertaking. But Stumptown covers all of its stories with coats of levity and color.
This show is a unicorn!
Hoffman and Lee finally give in to the gravitational pull towards each other. They are so clearly cut out of the same super sexy, super cool cloth that their union feels like a relief.
All of their banter on the episode is perfection. The final little repartee at Hoffman’s place makes me positively giddy.
And then, with Lee in his bed wearing his shirt, Hoffman lies to her about speaking to Dex.
For me, this doesn’t mean that he’s not head over heels for Lee. It doesn’t take away the sincerity of his passion or even his devotion. It means he’s human, just like everyone else.
Grey works best as the sturdy and certain anchor on the series, rather than a person who is at the center of a conflict.
It would behoove the show to continue to have him be the rock for the other characters, including Ansel, who are figuring out how and where to root themselves to get the best possible light.
Stray Thoughts
- Benny is HOT.
- Dex’s drinking problem pre-dates her relationship with Benny. This is important.
- Cobie’s Smulders’ facial expressions in the soccer game scene are profound. It shows how complex Dex’s feelings are toward being pitied, having to placate assholes, and letting go of control.
- So many amazing BrOTPs on this show!! Keep em’ coming.
- I feel terrible for Tookie. At the same time, maybe he can now, ah, revisit his foodie friendship with Lieutenant Cosgrove?
- Lee and Hoffman are my main ship on this show. Ship name Hoffee? HoLee?
What did you think of this episode of Stumptown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Stumptown airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.