Stumptown (1×02) Missed Connections Review

For our review of the last episode of Stumptown, click here.

Synopsis: Dex is hired by a wealthy man to search for a woman whom he recently met, but she quickly learns that the task is not as simple as it seems; Dex and Grey’s history unfolds. (TV Guide)

While last week’s premiere introduced us to the dynamic character that was Dex, this episode, entitled Missed Connections, started to peel back more of the layers underneath that complex character albeit slightly via her relationship with Grey. The Dex and Grey dynamic has been one of the best part of the series so far so it was interesting to see how it all started which will surely not come as that much of a surprise to anyone.

The episode started with Dex at a convenience store just before a robbery. As the clerk was surrendering the money to the robber, he struck up a conversation with her. Ultimately, she didn’t have much to give him so he wanted her beanie which she was not willing to give away. This was enough of a distraction for the clerk to press the silent alarm and for her to subdue him, resulting in free beer for her trouble. This beer would get smashed once she ran into Grey while walking out of the convenience store. He offered to buy her a beer and the rest was history. Dex eventually woke up at Grey’s place, not remembering anything from the night before. At that point, she would rather just move on. However, Dex did not have a car so Grey took her to a used car dealership where she bought the same car she uses today.

Back to the present, Dex and Grey were arguing about juice cleanses. Meanwhile, Dex took care of Hoffman’s friend’s case by determining that his suspicions of having a cheating wife were justified. Grey also pointed her towards another case about a man asking her to look for a woman who he met at a bar named Katrina (Zosia Mamet). He believed he shared a special connection with her but the phone number she gave him was out of service. Dex was hesitant until she was offered money in exchange for her services. Her first stop was at the bar where the meeting took place where she tricked the staff in order to get an address. Thanks to some more trickery, the address led her to a woman who was in a fight with her ex whom Dex fought off. This woman happened to be who Dex was looking for and she believed that Dex’s presence meant that they were meant to be (Dex got another parking ticket which seems to be a recurring theme).

After the cheque from Dex’s last client bounced, she went back to his house but when she got there, she noticed he was gone before getting knocked out (again). She was then at the police station where she was scolded once again for breaking and entering. Hoffman claimed that he could not give her any favors despite their “encounter”. Meanwhile in the past, Dex and Grey were at a dinner where he discussed his criminal past. That’s why he was not interested in a relationship either. Meanwhile in the present, Ansel was confronted by a stranger named Jack Feeney (Austin Amelio) at the bar who appeared to share a connection with Grey and needed to get into the safe in his office (they needed to pay back their former boss Frank).

It was determined that Katrina was a con artist who was part of a team with another woman named Megan (Megan Le). Hoffman called her off but we know she won’t (he tried to assure Cosgrove that he could handle her). After some more trickery (and Ansel’s stolen phone), Dex found a way to track the missing man to a bank, he claimed he was helping Katrina buy out her partner. She later found him at a motel room after fighting off Megan. When the con artists were brought back to police station, Katrina found a way to pin it all on Megan and get away without going to prison (Cosgrove told Dex that she should get a P.I. license while Feeney was found dead). Meanwhile in the past, Dex told Grey a story about her one true love Benny and how he died in the war because of her.

The solid run of Stumptown continues. It will be fun to watch as Dex starts taking the P.I. business more seriously.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.