Stumptown (1×16) All Quiet on the Dextern Front Review

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

Synopsis: Dex takes on a case helping a mother who has lost custody of her children, which triggers parallels to her time in Afghanistan; Dex spirals and must face the reasons behind Benny’s death; Grey and Tookie coach Ansel on how to ask a girl out. (TV Guide)

The best episodes of Stumptown tap into the character of Dex because of Cobie Smulders. For some reason, this first season has not done that nearly enough but this episode does so with great results, following up what was another great episode.

All Quiet on the Dextern Front started with Dex and Grey on the way back from Los Angeles. Dex’s car broke down on the way to a motel where they would have to share a small bed. This was followed by a hilarious will-they-or-wont-they moment after watching some porn but they eventually decided against it. Now back to the bar, Jeremy came back to ask Dex for help to clear his cousin Aimee’s (Toni Torres) name so she can get her kids back, claiming that she was being railroaded by the system. This case unfortunately hit close to home for Dex as it brought back a memory of her time as a soldier in Afghanistan where she was forced to interrogate the wife of a terror group leader who may or may not be responsible for an incoming attack. She wanted her kids back in exchange for any information. Dex’s superiors refused, wanting her to torture the woman for the information for which she refused. Her base was attacked, leading to the death of her former love, Benjamin Blackbird (Dex would have nightmares of this woman throughout the episode).

The subsequent pain and frustration from that memory led her to storm back home where she started to destroy the place. Grey soon showed up and Dex opened up to him which helped. Feeling better Dex, apologized to Jeremy. Aimee was charged with robbery after a man claimed he picked her up as a prostitute. She could not have been there as she was working at an illegal gambling ring involving video games. After chasing someone on a scooter for information, Dex found video that put Aimee at the tournament. Hoffman claimed that he was busy to help but decided to help (trusting Dex’s instincts). Meanwhile, Dex gave up but Jeremy convinced her to continue by telling her that her past actions weren’t her fault. Thankfully, Hoffman found evidence that proved Aimee’s innocence. She was set up by another member in her AA group.

Faced with the guilt of her involvement in Benjamin Blackbird’s death, she confronted Sue Lynn to tell her the truth but she was surprisingly on Dex’s side, admiring her ability to do the right thing by not torturing that woman. Meanwhile, Ansel had his eye on a girl who worked at a frozen yogurt store so Grey and Tookie decided to help. He just needed the courage to ask her out and finally did and they were cute together.

The episode ended with Ansel moving back in with Dex while Jeremy showed up to tell Dex that there was more to the earlier explosion that she didn’t know.

Give Cobie Smulders more to do and the show succeeds. It’s not hard.

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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.