S01.E08: The Other Woman

[formerlyfreedom]

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Dex is confronted with unresolved feelings from her past when she is hired by Sue Lynn to investigate a case with the widow of Dex’s former flame. Meanwhile, Dex and Grey’s friendship is put to the test by his new romance with Liz.

 

Airing Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

 

[janeta]

Ok, I dozed off at an apparently important moment—who was the bomber, why did the tribe kick him out, and who were the three kids? Thx.

[luna1122]

I'm a little tired of Dex. Apparently, I'm the only one, cuz literally everyone else  wants to fuck her. 

The kid didn't mean to blow up sue Lynn's car, he just wanted to scare her. He'd sold/gave--i wasn't paying close attention either--the drugs to the kids who OD'd and died and sue Lynn had him disenrolled in the tribe, so he was bitter. 

Edited December 5, 2019 by luna1122

[shapeshifter]

6 minutes ago, luna1122 said:

The kid didn't mean to blow up sue Lynn's car, he just wanted to scare her

That didn’t make sense to me. He just wanted to blow up her car a little bit? 
But we’ll never see him again anyway, so it doesn’t matter. 

[mommalib]

33 minutes ago, luna1122 said:

I'm a little tired of Dex. Apparently, I'm the only one, cuz literally everyone else  wants to fuck her. 

The kid didn't mean to blow up sue Lynn's car, he just wanted to scare her. He'd sold/gave--i wasn't paying close attention either--the drugs to the kids who OD'd and died and sue Lynn had him disenrolled in the tribe, so he was bitter. 

They might as well miss me with the triangle stuff because it holds no value. Apparently Dex is gonna just screw everybody.

[phalange]

I had a sneaking suspicion that Dex and Liz hooking up was where things were headed, and yep. Poor Grey. His girlfriend who he really likes slept with his best friend who he’s secretly in love with who also has a boyfriend. This will obviously end well for everyone involved. 

[staphdude]

This would make more sense if Dex wasn't such a mess. According to the show Liz REALLY likes Grey. To this point Dex has been an absolute bitch to Liz. Even in a drunken craps high I feel it is a stretch that the two of them hook up. So maybe it was all innocent but if they did sleep together I think the writers are as ascribing an attractiveness to Dex that just isn't there.

Edited December 5, 2019 by staphdude

[Danielg342]

OK, so I haven't exactly been keeping up with this show...and I'm not sure if it's done enough for me to call this "appointment television".

...but I think Stumptown just may have found its winning formula.

Let's be honest- there's still a lot this show needs to sort out, chief among them being Dex's 500 different flaws. I don't really think the show has struck the right balance in terms of displaying Dex's competence despite her many personal issues and struggles, as there are still times when I roll my eyes and think the show lays it on a little too thick about how miserable Dex is.

Plus this episode had quite the pacing issues- right at the end, after they caught the bomber, Sue Lynn decides she actually has a heart and wants him to be forgiven? With only a line of dialogue to establish that? OK then...

...and...well, that's quite the love triangle (quadrangle?) to untangle.

...but...

Colbie Smulders makes it all work and gives Dex- and this show- a humanity it badly needs. This show is built upon the quirky and the weird amped up to 12, and it takes a grounded performance to make sure that stuff doesn't come across as silly.

Well, Smulders grounds it as best as anyone could, and focusing on her strengths and letting her run with the material was the show's best decision. Stumptown is built around its star, and letting its star shine is what it needs to do in order to have continued success.

[luna1122]

I like Smulders, and I think she's good, but tonight's episode just made me roll my eyes. It did come off as silly. Annoying, even. I think even she can't quite pull this off. Dex is just too much of a trainwreck, I find her wearying. 

I WAS interested in the de-enrollment stuff. I had no idea that was a thing. 

[iRarelyWatchTV36]

27 minutes ago, phalange said:

I had a sneaking suspicion that Dex and Liz hooking up was where things were headed, and yep. Poor Grey. His girlfriend who he really likes slept with his best friend who he’s secretly in love with who also has a boyfriend. This will obviously end well for everyone involved. 

I've been loosely following along to figure out if I wanted to watch this series or not, and I totally pegged the (Ealey)-Dex-Grey triangle coming, but this?? 

It feels like there's little need to watch new TV series anymore, at least in terms of the personal relationships side of the story.  If you've seen one PLI triangle/quadrangle/octagon, you've seen them all.  Its beyond repetitive and boring.  Wash-rinse-repeat.

Even an expiring series that's went 14 seasons without any of the WT/WT stuff, is quite possibly headed that way in a very messy way for its final short season.  Its become so common-place, you can't escape it, no matter where you turn.  For the love of all that's holy, find a new schtick, writers & producers!

[shapeshifter]

36 minutes ago, staphdude said:

This would make more sense if Dex wasn't such a mess. According to the show Liz REALLY likes Grey. To this point Dex has been an absolute bitch to Liz. Even in a drunken craps high I feel it is a stretch that the two of them hook up. So maybe it was all innocent but if they did sleep together I think the writers are as ascribing an attractiveness to Dex that just isn't there.

Maybe it will turn out that Liz was worth running a background check on and that she slept with Dex for ulterior reasons. IDK. Briefly back in college I did some binge drinking that resulted in me waking up in whatever bed. In general I think people in both real life and on TV make too much of one night stands, but then I haven't dated in decades.
  
  

23 minutes ago, luna1122 said:

I WAS interested in the de-enrollment stuff. I had no idea that was a thing. 

I had only heard of tribal disenrollment in relation to race. But what do I know? Not much. Maybe this show can do a little groundbreaking WRT NA culture? 
  
  

44 minutes ago, Danielg342 said:

OK, so I haven't exactly been keeping up with this show...and I'm not sure if it's done enough for me to call this "appointment television".

Yeah, I've probably watched half the episodes, but I do appreciate a show that isn't so serialized that you can't pick it back up later.  

[Cranberry]

I'm kinda over triangle nonsense in my media, but if we're gonna have triangle-type drama, I'm much more entertained by Dex sleeping with Grey's girlfriend than Dex sleeping with Grey. This should effectively kill the Dex/Grey will they/won't they stuff, at least for a while.

I liked Dex bonding with her ex's widow. It wasn't saccharine; it felt real.

I don't know a lot about Native Americans or reservations, but it seems like the show is handling stories involving them pretty respectfully, which is nice to see. Usually when you see Native Americans on TV shows, they're filling the stereotypical "wise old Indian" role that Sue Lynn called out this episode (and are usually doing some badly-researched mystical stuff, besides).

[possibilities]

TV is littered with males with angst who have secrets and screw everyone they meet, and they're considered sexy anti-heroes. I can't fault the show for turning it around and doing the same thing with a female character.

My solution is for them to all be one big happy poly family, but I don't expect that to happen.

I'm actually not in the mood for angst, so I wish the show was funnier and more campy and joyful, like it was in the first few episodes. Yes, Dex was miserable, but there was a wink now and then, and it wasn't full on non-stop emo.

[Dowel Jones]

3 hours ago, luna1122 said:

I WAS interested in the de-enrollment stuff. I had no idea that was a thing

It's definitely a thing, especially in tribes that have significant sources of income, such as gambling or oil leases.  Money is almost always the root, and people who publicly disagree with the council find themselves out of the door, but quick.  That has happened to two of the tribes near where I live, to the point where the dissidents at one reservation elected their own council and tried, by force, to take over the council buildings. 

I have a feeling that, despite Sue Ann's statement, that the kid who lit the car bomb is going to be in deep shit once they get him back on the reservation. He might be better served by spending the time in a state prison somewhere.  I was also surprised the PPB caved to Sue Ann and let him go, as they did have a case there, regardless of who the car belonged to. I'm guessing that Cosgrove just wanted to wash her hands of it and move on.

[Lady Calypso]

I didn't mind this episode, but it was one of the weaker ones for me overall. I am still all in on this show, though. 

Dex basically fits the typical anti-hero from a cop/detective show, so the things that she does is stuff that I've mostly seen on other shows similar to this one. I've seen many shows where thr anti-hero sleeps around, even if he's not really appealing, so Dex taking on those traits isn't surprising to me.

Now, Dex sleeping with Liz wasn't something I ever predicted. That adds a layer to the tangled web that Dex weaves. So points for them adding a little originality to it? But yeah, no way does Dex get off clean with this. Miles should be upset that Dex slept with someone else while they're semi-exclusive, and I can't imagine Grey will be pleased that his girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend. 

Dex needs to start figuring some of her life out, but other TV shows have the anti-heroes take FOREVER to figure it out, if they even do. I imagine Dex is the same.

I do like Liz, and I didn't like Dex's complete hostility toward her. It was especially hard to watch because of the Grey/Dex stuff that now Liz and Miles have commented on, which means it's definitely going to be happening at some point (if the show gets renewed, it'll probably be for next season). 

The stuff that they have done with the Native American characters have been respectful. I really, really like learning more about their way of life and the reservations and I think this show has done a great job with it. Sue Lynn is right that people tend to stereotype any Native Americans as the wise one.

[shapeshifter]

13 minutes ago, Lady Calypso said:

Now, Dex sleeping with Liz wasn't something I ever predicted.

…especially unpredictable since: 

13 minutes ago, Lady Calypso said:

 Dex's complete hostility toward her

…even though TV and movies have often shown the unlikely heterosexual romance blossoming from adversaries. 
 

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That adds a layer to the tangled web that Dex weaves. So points for them adding a little originality to it? But yeah, no way does Dex get off clean with this. Miles should be upset that Dex slept with someone else while they're semi-exclusive, and I can't imagine Grey will be pleased that his girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend

Now that you mention it (great post, BTW, @Lady Calypso), what about Ansel? Although I do think Dex should feel free (and does) to live her life; Ansel is her brother, not her child. 
 

Can someone recall? What was Grey’s attitude towards Dex and Liz going out to shoot craps? Was Grey encouraging? Or did he look like: ‘No good can come from this’? 
All I can recall is his remarks about Dex believing that a gambling virgin has good luck. 

—

OT: Hrmmmm… I’m a gambling virgin…

[Lady Calypso]

6 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Can someone recall? What was Grey’s attitude towards Dex and Liz going out to shoot craps? Was Grey encouraging? Or did he look like: ‘No good can come from this’? 
All I can recall is his remarks about Dex believing that a gambling virgin has good luck. 

From what I recall, Grey was a bit hesitant, but only because Dex had just been really hostile toward Liz and he wasn't sure how a night out with them could go. 

7 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

…even though TV and movies have often shown the unlikely heterosexual romance blossoming from adversaries. 

In this case, I do find it different because the hostility is toward her best friend's girlfriend. There's a connection there that makes sense for the hostility, but not for the sleeping with her aspect.

When two characters are hostile, it's not usually because they have a connection through another character. So let's say it was Miles and Dex who had started out hostile like Liz and Dex. It's not usually because of Miles dating Dex's best friend, for example. 

That aspect is what adds a little originality to it. That, and the fact that Liz isn't a main character who will be sticking around. 

[luna1122]

Have Miles and Dex had the commitment convo? How upset is Miles 'allowed' to be, if they haven't? Does he know dex slept with her ex,  the singer chick whose name I've forgotten? 

I don't imagine grey and Liz have had any commitment talks yet, but he 'gets'to be upset about it all, no matter what, I think. Friends aren't supposed to bone one anothers current love interests, just in general. 

Dex does fit the anti hero mold, and it's cool that it's a woman filling that role for a change, but I'm pretty bored by that stereotype no matter who it is. I had a run of being self destructive and emo and drank too much and slept with any cute guy who asked and woke up next to randoms more times than I should have (tho I'm boringly hetero and never woke up next to random chicks, let alone my BFFs new girlfriend) so I get it, and I dont even have PTSD, which I guess Dex has, but mostly she just seems all emo and self absorbed, drinking too much and wallowing to Yellow Ledbetter cuz it was 'their song' ,and she shrugs off her own bad behavior with "well, that's just what I do" too often to compel me to a lot of sympathy for her. I do think she'll have to face some actual consequences here, with Grey, but not sure what that will entail. Rehab? Therapy? AA? 

I also think her dead ex seems like he was kind of a dick. 

[Lady Calypso]

1 minute ago, luna1122 said:

Have Miles and Dex had the commitment convo? How upset is Miles 'allowed' to be, if they haven't? Does he know dex slept with her ex,  the singer chick whose name I've forgotten? 

I don't think they have, which is why I had said semi-exclusive. Technically, since they aren't officially a couple, Dex CAN sleep with whoever she wants. But I think Miles being a bit upset if he finds out is understandable, especially with the situation and how she slept with. It's not even some random girl; it's Grey's girlfriend. 

If Miles is over the top with his anger, then I'll call him out because they AREN'T boyfriend/girlfriend. Dex and Miles are both technically open to sleep with other people. But if he's a little hurt, that's perfectly fine, because of the circumstances. 

[luna1122]

I used air quotes in reference to the feelings of all involved cuz feelings are feelings, we kind of can't help them (tho how we react is, of course, another story). Even if they haven't used any form of the commitment word, miles being upset would be understandable, especially, as pointed out, since the person in question is grey's girlfriend, who she finagled for him to commit an actual crime to get him to investigate. I wouldn't be there for him getting righteously angry over the sex, but I would be 100 per cent for him noping on outa there cuz DeX is too much of a mess to deal with. He probably won't tho. Dex possesses some kinda magic, apparently, that makes everyone put up with her. And sleep with her 

 Or maybe this whole thing is one big misdirect and they didn't have sex at all.

[sempervivum]

I suppose the sleeping with Liz thing will end up not meaning much, but I thought it was a pretty big betrayal (mostly of Grey and Ansel) and in real life would be a red flag for Dex to think about joining AA. 

I had never seen Cobie Smulders in anything before this show, and I've become a big fan. I plan to go back and watch that scene of her at Ben's burial- the way her stern control dissolves into such pain and guilt was beautifully acted, imo. 

Was Suelynn's paying Dex in casino chips another way of her not really getting paid for her work? I am bored stiff by gambling, and didn't understand if those chips could just be directly turned into cash? It seems like ages since Dex actually had any money coming in; it's a good thing Ansel is getting a paycheck to help pay the rent!

[Dowel Jones]

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

…even though TV and movies have often shown the unlikely heterosexual romance blossoming from adversaries. 

Alcohol definitely played a part there.  Dex basically drank three shots of liquor in less than a minute before leaving Grey's bar, and who knows how many at the casino.  I'm surprised she was even able to sit up in bed the next morning.

11 minutes ago, sempervivum said:

Was Suelynn's paying Dex in casino chips another way of her not really getting paid for her work?

That was really dirty on Suelynn's part.  She knew that Dex has a gambling issue ("See if you can get all the way to the cashier") and was looking to save herself some of the payoff, hoping that Dex would lose it all.  I don't know whether the casino would redeem the chips for cash or give her a check, but she would get paid.  Which brings up another question.  Suelynn contracted with Dex as a private individual, but paid her with casino owned chips.  Suelynn doesn't own the casino (the reservation does), but she's using their money for personal gain. A bit shifty, to say the least.

[chaifan]

The funny thing about the chips is that Dex did get out of the casino without gambling them away.  But she also left without cashing them out, which was just really weird. 

Did they show what the end result of the gambling was?  Did Dex blow it all, or did the gambling virgin increase her winning?

Benny - he was fully divorced when he followed Dex into the military, right?  His grave stone said father & son, but not husband.  But the conversations with the ex sounded like he had an affair with Dex. 

[saber5055]

I totally did not get the Benny thing. Was he married with a kid and took off to follow side piece Dex into the military? That's on Benny, not Dex. And Benny being killed by a roadside bomb wasn't anyone's fault except the person who planted the bomb, and I'm just guessing that wasn't Dex.

Sue Lynn paying off Dex with casino chips was smart on her part, and she probably did get the approval of the reservation council. Knowing Dex would head right to the casino means, pretty much, that the reservation paid Dex nothing for her work. I doubt she forsaw Dex actually winning at the craps table.

I wanted to know what the cop boyfriend found out about Liz. Besides that she is dating Grey. Did that nugget show up in her background check? Cop reports include dating history? Who knew.

I don't know what the big flap is or will be about Dex sleeping with Liz. All the men I know would be all, "Do it again and let me watch." I don't know any guy who would be freaked about two women together, but I know a ton who have that as one of their fantasies. So that development was a big NO big deal to me.

[luna1122]

9 minutes ago, saber5055 said:

I don't know what the big flap is or will be about Dex sleeping with Liz. All the men I know would be all, "Do it again and let me watch." I don't know any guy who would be freaked about two women together, but I know a ton who have that as one of their fantasies. So that development was a big NO big deal to me.

That's not creepy and reductive or anything. As if 2 women together is just for a guy's benefit. As if 'the other woman' isnt a threat to a relationship cuz she's just fantasy fodder. Cheating is cheating unless everybody involved thinks it isn't. If this even IS cheating, as we've already pondered. Ugh, I'm thinking about this too much. 

[saber5055]

15 minutes ago, luna1122 said:

As if 2 women together is just for a guy's benefit. As if 'the other woman' isnt a threat to a relationship cuz she's just fantasy fodder.

Two women together IS a male fantasy. Google it.

I personally would like this show better if they skipped all the romantic triangles and quadrangles and twosomes and threesomes and all somes. I'm not interested in who Dex or anyone else is sleeping with, male or female. I'd rather see the entire hour feature Ansel than some love angst, whether it be hetero or bi or whatever. Dex and Grey being friends is the best part IMO.

[luna1122]

3 minutes ago, saber5055 said:

Two women together IS a male fantasy. Google it. 

This made me lol in real life, sitting at my desk. Yes, I am familiar with this, the most basic of men's (and some womens) fantasies. But that's not the point. Not my point, anyway. 

Were we to think that kid was blasting the Monkees, or was that just the soundtrack? 

[joanne3482]

24 minutes ago, chaifan said:

Benny - he was fully divorced when he followed Dex into the military, right?  His grave stone said father & son, but not husband.  But the conversations with the ex sounded like he had an affair with Dex. 

The way the ex played it he had an affair with Dex, but Dex said that she turned him down.  The wife said she threw him out. Then Dex said she joined the army and he followed her and he died.  Now the whole timeline is kind of confusing to me because I'm not 100% sure I know how old Dex is supposed to be. It was 12 years ago he died. She was in her dress uniform which indicates to me she was still in the military because I don't think you can just wear it otherwise.  And I'm not sure how she was even able to be stateside for the funeral since it wasn't like he was her husband. AND I'm not even sure how they ended up in the same unit. I don't think the army works that way easily.  

[chaifan]

Wasn't Dex injured in the same explosion that killed Benny?  I know she has PTSD from it, but didn't she have physical injuries?  If so, it's likely she was sent home due to her injuries, so she could be at the funeral, in her dress uniform.  Just guessing here, but that all makes sense to me.  As to being in the same unit... yeah, that's a stretch. 

[joanne3482]

40 minutes ago, chaifan said:

Wasn't Dex injured in the same explosion that killed Benny?  I know she has PTSD from it, but didn't she have physical injuries?  If so, it's likely she was sent home due to her injuries, so she could be at the funeral, in her dress uniform.  Just guessing here, but that all makes sense to me.  As to being in the same unit... yeah, that's a stretch. 

I think that is correct.  I did consider that too, but if she was injured enough to be sent home, I would think she probably was in the hospital awhile before she got home which would mean she would have missed the funeral because she was in the hospital and recovering. But then I don't know how long it takes for the military to recover a body and send it home (if they even were able to recover the body in this case).  So maybe? I'm thinking way too much about this. 

Another aspect is that we're seeing the past through Dex mostly and she's an unreliable narrator which I guess can also explain some of the inconsistencies. 

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I’m not really clear on what happened between Benny and Dex and what his exact status with wife was at the time that he went chasing after Dex, but I thought it was a bit much for Benny’s wife/widow to blame Dex for all of it. Benny was an adult. If he had an affair with Dex, that’s on him. If he left his wife and child to chase Dex halfway around the world, that’s on him too. On top of all that, the wife said she threw him out so as far as I’m concerned, he didn’t owe his wife any fidelity. When you kick your husband out, that’s not exactly a sign that either of you are committed to being together. 

I’m not condoning adultery but I don’t think that Dex should be held accountable for other people’s choices. And Benny loved her enough to get a ring so he could propose, so it wasn’t like he just got drunk and cheated on his wife one night.

[luna1122]

I think the onus of an affair is on the married person doing the cheating, but both parties bear responsibility in the fallout of it all. Dex flat out said she 'stole' Benny from his wife (tho the guy she was talking to said the wife stole him first, so I don't even know). They really do need to make it a little clearer wtf actually went on. The wife said she kicked him out, but I'd do that too if my husband was mooning around listening to Pearl Jam cuz it reminded him of another woman, which: he must have TOLD her that for her to know it, which is also kind of gross and mean.

[UnknownK]

From what I recall Dex loved Benny and Benny loved Dex. The exwife loved Benny from childhood and he probably liked her as well. Since Benny was a leader in the Indian clan his mother made him chose the Indian over the outsider Dex to marry and he did. Sometime down the road he regretted that decision and his wife kicked him out to get a divorce. Since he was free and clear he chased Dex to Afghanistan to propose and died before she could marry him (she had his ring so she said yes).

The fallout is the ex wife blames Dex for screwing up her idealistic family, the mother blames Dex for her sons divorce and leaving the tribe to chase an outsider, and Dex blames herself for getting Benny killed.

[saber5055]

Okay, that all makes sense now @UnknownK. I remember Dex had/was looking at a ring some episodes back. Thanks for clearing that big mess up. It is pretty common to hate the other woman, even when nothing is her fault.

[KaveDweller]

5 hours ago, chaifan said:

Wasn't Dex injured in the same explosion that killed Benny?  I know she has PTSD from it, but didn't she have physical injuries?  If so, it's likely she was sent home due to her injuries, so she could be at the funeral, in her dress uniform.  Just guessing here, but that all makes sense to me.  As to being in the same unit... yeah, that's a stretch. 

I didn't think they were in the same unit. I thought she told Grey (in the flashback to when they met) that Benny joined the military to get closer to where she was, and then as soon as he had a chance went on his own to where Dex was stationed. Then there was a bombing when he showed up. Still a bit of a stretch though.

Would the military give someone a pass to attend the funeral of a loved one?

[shantown]

7 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Suelynn contracted with Dex as a private individual, but paid her with casino owned chips.  Suelynn doesn't own the casino (the reservation does), but she's using their money for personal gain. A bit shifty, to say the least.

I like Sue Lynn as a shady character and hope we see more of that. I also want to know more of the backstory with her and Cosgrove. Some bad blood there and I look forward to learning the history and seeing them interact more. 
 

7 hours ago, saber5055 said:

I doubt she foresaw Dex actually winning at the craps table.

I wanted to know what the cop boyfriend found out about Liz.

These two things had me wondering if Liz was cheating somehow. I expected more of a revelation about her past, mostly because I didn't realize the episode was almost over. Will be interesting to see where they go with Liz, especially after sleeping with Dex. Is she spying on Grey? For the PD or for someone from Grey's criminal past? Does she have a dark, twisty secret or is she good and just a little weird?

I'm also a Tobin Heath fan, so I liked her getting some love this week! I wonder if she's seen the show!

[catrice2]

I think the show could be strong as a PI/Police procedural without all the drama and trauma i Dex's life.  I hope that they did not have her sleep with ( I can't remember her name) not because she is a woman but because I don't think it adds anything to the show. She is already tragically flawed and has PTSD.  Her relationships with Grey, Miles and her brother are what keeps her grounded. Why did anyone have to sleep with anyone?  Maybe they both just passed out drunk in the bed.   I am starting not to care what is going on with this show. 

[Dowel Jones]

59 minutes ago, shantown said:

These two things had me wondering if Liz was cheating somehow.

The camera zoomed in on and held focus on the croupier's hands as he laid her bet down on whatever number Dex called.  I thought that strange, and wondered if there was some foreshadowing there.

[cleo]

I enjoyed this ep, mainly I liked the story more than previous eps- not the quadrangle stuff though that doesn't really bother me as much as it does some people.

But everyone is convinced they slept together? I'm wondering if the show will pull the rug and say they just passed out. Although they had more chemistry than Dex and the singer.

I'm enjoying the show but mainly for the actors, I like them all. This plot was better than some of the others.

ETA I thought it was really nasty of Sue Lynn to give Dex chips if she really has a gambling problem.

Edited December 6, 2019 by cleo

[paigow]

Quite hilarious how Dex got very curious about Female NCAA Soccer....recalculating odds on the fly that Liz is Bi....

[Emily Thrace]

13 hours ago, Lady Calypso said:

I didn't mind this episode, but it was one of the weaker ones for me overall. I am still all in on this show, though. 

Dex basically fits the typical anti-hero from a cop/detective show, so the things that she does is stuff that I've mostly seen on other shows similar to this one. I've seen many shows where thr anti-hero sleeps around, even if he's not really appealing, so Dex taking on those traits isn't surprising to me.

Now, Dex sleeping with Liz wasn't something I ever predicted. That adds a layer to the tangled web that Dex weaves. So points for them adding a little originality to it? But yeah, no way does Dex get off clean with this. Miles should be upset that Dex slept with someone else while they're semi-exclusive, and I can't imagine Grey will be pleased that his girlfriend cheated

The stuff that they have done with the Native American characters have been respectful. I really, really like learning more about their way of life and the reservations and I think this show has done a great job with it. Sue Lynn is right that people tend to stereotype any Native Americans as the wise one.

The show loses major points with me for casting a half white half Cambodian person as Naomi . It's one of those things that an outsider wouldn't notice but I spotted in about a minute. She just didn't have the righteous anger  Native woman would have. (Never piss off a Native woman trust me). Her hair line, the way she moved, how she talked it was all off. She didn't even try with the accent every time she said Sue-lynn I rolled my eyes because she used an Asian inflection. This could be that the actress is shit but it could be the show didn't care. Having native people play native people is a big deal not just for the reasons above but because of historical lack of Hollywood giving a fuck. Personally between that and the Liz business the show is on the bubble for me watching it.

Something else that bugged was Dex being oblivious to how gossipy and petty life on the rez can be. If she dated the Chief's son she would have been the subject of gossip at the very least. Reservations are essentially insular small towns and have all the personal politics that come with that. Its part of the magical native stereotype that reserves are places where everyone gets along happily.

Also the dis enrolling drug dealers is a real thing my reserve does it. We call it a band council resolution here in Canada. Also only the federal government can remove native status up here though so you just get kicked out of your reserve you can still move another one if they'll have you.

[tennisgurl]

I mean, I know that Grey asked you to be more friendly to his new girlfriend, but probably not that friendly!

[UnknownK]

The show has Dex losing (screwing up an important relationship) every time she wins (solves a case, helps somebody, gets paid).

I think she did sleep with that girl because she was not wearing anything from the waist up, but who knows.

[Elbow]

Was I hallucinating, or has it not been repeatedly established that Dex & Ben dated in high school? I thought this episode filled in some of their timeline gaps.

I thought it was great that she ended up in the sack with Liz. Of course, she would. Grey should’ve known better. 
 

The plots, in general, are still feeling really poorly written and smashed together. I know it’s network tv, but I’ve seen better writing on soap operas. They really need to either eliminate Miles, recast him or give him *something anything* to make him interesting on screen. The actor has anti-charisma and I find myself looking anywhere he isn’t in the frame. And the inclusion of Ansel still feels much less than organic to the story. In reality, I do not see someone like Dex having managed to get and maintain guardianship and, in reality, most adults with Down Syndrome are not happy go lucky, highly functional, easily able to socialize with strangers, etc. etc. etc. I don’t understand the point of including him only to paint an idealized and patronizing caricature of someone with the condition.

Edited December 6, 2019 by Elbow

[Danny Franks]

16 hours ago, saber5055 said:

Two women together IS a male fantasy. Google it.

Which is kind of the point, regarding this plot development. It may be a fantasy, but when it involves your partner doing it behind your back, without your consent, then it's not quite so much fun.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

14 hours ago, UnknownK said:

he chased Dex to Afghanistan to propose and died before she could marry him (she had his ring so she said yes).

I think in a previous episode, they said that he took leave from wherever he was stationed to go find Dex so he could propose but he was killed before he reached her.  In this episode, she told Naomi that she would have turned him down.

14 hours ago, UnknownK said:

From what I recall Dex loved Benny and Benny loved Dex. The exwife loved Benny from childhood and he probably liked her as well. Since Benny was a leader in the Indian clan his mother made him chose the Indian over the outsider Dex to marry and he did. Sometime down the road he regretted that decision and his wife kicked him out to get a divorce. Since he was free and clear he chased Dex to Afghanistan to propose and died before she could marry him (she had his ring so she said yes).

Yeah, it sounds like the timeline was:

(1) Naomi sees Benny when she's six years old and falls in love with him
(2) Benny and Dex date
(3) Benny and Dex break up
(4) Benny and Naomi get married/Dex joins the military
(5) Naomi kicks Benny out
(6) Benny joins the military
(7) Benny plans to propose to Dex
(8) Benny dies

[paigow]

23 hours ago, Lady Calypso said:

If Miles is over the top with his anger, then I'll call him out because they AREN'T boyfriend/girlfriend. 

Every cop and janitor in Portland believes otherwise...

[AnimeMania]

3 hours ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Yeah, it sounds like the timeline was:

(1) Naomi sees Benny when she's six years old and falls in love with him
(2) Benny and Dex date
(3) Benny and Dex break up
(4) Benny and Naomi get married/Dex joins the military
(5) Naomi kicks Benny out
(6) Benny joins the military
(7) Benny plans to propose to Dex
(8) Benny dies

(6a) Whatever Dex was going to tell Grey before Liz walked over. It seemed like it was really important. Maybe that Dex and Benny had a little more contact after he was married than Dex let on.

[tennisgurl]

Oh Dex, this is SO not good. Because there isnt as much drama in this whole mess of a situation already! Having sex with her best friends girlfriend is...probably not the best call ever, even if she and Miles arent in an officially committed relationship. Its consistent more or less though, that Dex is basically well meaning and smart, but really bad with interpersonal relationships. 

I really like Sue Lynn and her relationship with Dex, and in general I think they do a pretty good job with the reservation and the Native American characters. It seems like on TV, Native characters end up stuck as either "magical Native Americans" or " modern bitter swindlers and untrustworthy" and they seem to be going for something more nuanced here. I wonder what the baggage is with Sue Lynn and the captain is? 

Not the best episode, but I enjoyed it and I am really happy that the music has returned! 

From what I understand from the backstory with Dex and Benny, Dex and Benny were in love in high school/early 20s, then his mom made him dump Dex because wasnt a Native and member of the tribe, and probably pushed him in the direction of his now widow (who is big into the tribe and seems to be close with Sue) Dex tried to leave after that, but Benny was still in love with her, and while he probably cared about his wife, who had been in love with him since childhood and basically assumed she would marry him and have a perfect life with him, he never got over Dex, and went into the military to find her, and then he died. Or thats the jist from what I understand, and it definitely seems like the wife is blaming the wrong person for Benny's death. It was just a bad messy situation, honestly it sounds like all of this could have been avoided if Sue Lynn had just let him stay with Dex. Maybe they would have broken up anyway, or maybe they would have stayed together, but he probably wouldn't have gone into the military, and a lot of crap could have been avoided. 

Edited December 6, 2019 by tennisgurl

[Orbert]

After Dex and Naomi had reached something of an understanding, I was reminded of the title of the episode, "The Other Woman".  To Naomi, Dex was the other woman, the one who broke up her marriage.  But Naomi finally admitted that she wasn't mad at Dex, she was mad at herself.

Then at the end, I chuckled because Dex ended up in bed with Liz, and became the other woman in Grey and Liz's relationship.  And I thought "Ha ha, the shoe is on the other foot!" but actually no, it's the same thing.  Dex is again "the other woman".  Unless it turns out that they didn't sleep together, they just slept together.