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ABC‘s Stumptown just left us on the mother of all cliffhangers, setting its fans up to be wildly disappointed if the rookie drama is not renewed for Season 2.
Almost immediately after Dex got to the bottom of Benny’s death — long story short: Sue Lynn’s son was going to whistleblow his squad for siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from the U.S. military, so they planted the IED that killed him back in 2007 — the private eye was confronted by another ghost from her past: her mother!
The seeds for the big reveal were planted earlier in the episode, when an eavesdropping Tookie heard Ansel on the phone with a woman he believed to be Ansel’s girlfriend Lila. (“Please come back,” Ansel pleaded. “I miss you.”) But as we’d soon learn, the person on the other line was actually the parent who abandoned him all those years ago.
In the very final scene, an excited Ansel opened the front door to reveal Mom, whose appearance stunned Dex. It was then that the episode cut to black, before the audience got a peek at Mama Parios.
Below, Stumptown co-creator Jason Richman expands on the return of Dex and Ansel’s mom, their still-M.I.A. dad, and what’s next for Grey and Hoffman — should the series continue.
TVLINE | Let’s start at the end. Was it always the plan to bring Mom back?
Yeah, it was sort of the big, core mystery, that Dex doesn’t know what happened. She came back from her time in Afghanistan and found her brother in a home and her parents missing, so she’s carried this resentment about it for a long time. There were things we were playing with throughout this entire season, sort of seeding this angst that Dex has about it. It felt like it was such a compelling journey that it would take a lot of time to tell that story, and so we decided to hold it [and] it just kind of lined up perfectly. It gives [us] this deep-rooted, compelling storyline [for] Season 2.
TVLINE | Why just Mom? Why not Mom and Dad?
In the story that we’re going to tell in Season 2, Mom leads to Dad in a way that’s kind of circuitous… We needed Mom to show up first.
TVLINE | We’ve never really seen Dex get upset with Ansel. Will she be upset with him for surprising her with this?
That’s a really interesting question. Ansel is the one relationship in this [show] that grounds Dex. It allows us to take her to some very far-flung, damaged places because of the honorable dynamic she has with her brother. She can be angry with him, but ultimately, I think she has to understand that he wants answers.
TVLINE | The finale put an end to the mystery surrounding Benny’s death, and Dex and Sue Lynn finally get some much-needed closure. Was it important to you to bring that storyline to a close, and not keep viewers guessing?
Yeah, it was… [Dex] was a character who was lost, and then she starts dabbling in this line of work that is maybe the only thing in the world that she is suited to do, which is to be a private eye. And I just thought it would be amazing if, at the end of the first season, she finds a truth… that she never would’ve found otherwise, because of her work, and that’s how it comes to her. I thought that was a really important thing to say about the meaningfulness of the work itself. And so that’s what she gets at the end of the season. She doesn’t get “healed.” She doesn’t get “fixed.” PTSD is not something that just goes away. But what she gets is an answer, at least, and it’s a baby step towards the healing process that will be the eternal journey of this character.
TVLINE | Now that she has that answer, will she be less reluctant to seek help for her PTSD?
I think it’s always more interesting when a character never really heals themselves, you know? They change. And so I think we can expect a change in the way that she deals with it. We have a great storyline that we’ve [discussed] about her going to the V.A. to talk to a therapist, and at least initiating that, so I think we’ll follow her on that journey.
TVLINE | Let’s talk about Grey and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad couple of days he’s just endured. First his father flakes, then he comes back, then he flakes again and we find out that he’s in debt to some bad people. And if that’s not enough for Grey to deal with, he goes and gets shot in the arm while trying to help Dex! Haven’t you put the poor guy through enough already?
[Laughs] No, are you kidding? The drama has only just begun for Grey! Grey, as a character, has in some ways always been running from this past that he thought he was destined to [repeat], which is to turn out like his dad… This “sins of the father” idea, that he has to get his father out of a jam, felt like fertile ground for a story that can give him some answers, and I really like the familial aspect of it.
TVLINE | Hoffman also goes through an identity crisis of his own. Talk to me a bit about his decision to turn in his badge.
We [revealed] earlier in the series a friend of his that he had felt some responsibility in having gotten killed by forcing [him] into being a C.I. He’s [also] had this sort of push-and-pull dynamic with Dex this whole time… At the end of this story, he felt torn in the worst kind of way. It was all building to this idea that Dex would come to him for help like she always does, but he would be in this compromised position where any move he made would be the right move, but also the wrong move; he was in this catch-22. And so going forward, it really puts him in a position where he’s sort of lost. He doesn’t know where his allegiances lie… He’s completely off-kilter, and that’s going to allow us to play around with his trajectory heading into Season 2.
TVLINE | The penultimate Season 1 episode set up a potential romance between Hoffman and Lee. But can Lee be forgiven for going to Cosgrove behind Hoffman’s back?
Like all real people, they have to get beyond their emotional feelings, and ultimately get back to some rational understanding about what happened. And Hoffman himself was struggling with this problem, this information that he had [about Benny’s murder], so how can he really blame [Lee] for making a different choice with the same crippling problem that he had? She told the truth, she made a choice, and he couldn’t. He’ll have to forgive her. They have a great dynamic, and I think, like all relationships, they’re predicated on more than just one hard turn.
TVLINE | Lastly, what have you had in terms of renewal prospects? And how confident are you that the show is coming back?
The show just has so much story left to tell. It feels in some ways like we’re really just getting started… but just as a creative person in general, you always try to stay in the middle and prepare yourself for any outcome. But I’m hopeful. It’s been such a thrilling experience, and when the show is cooking on all cylinders, there’s nothing more fun in this world to be doing… I think that everybody is very proud of the show.
What did you think of the Stumptown finale (and Season 1 overall)? And what are your hopes for a potential Season 2? Weigh in via the following polls, then put your casting hats on and tell us who you’d bring in to play Dex and Ansel’s mom.
I’m not really into procedurals so when I first read about about Stumptown I was prepared to skip it. But then I saw the leads were Cobie and Jake and decided to give the pilot a shot, and loved it. It’s not the same-old same-old cops and robbers show. I love the quirkiness of it, and the car that plays great music randomly, Tookie, Dex’s relationship with Ansel, Dex’s struggle with PTSD, the vet she reunited with his family and who was helping her find help for her PTSD (Robert Adamson, and I hope we see more of him!!!). So in short (hah) Stumptown is out of my wheelhouse but was a great surprise. A+ for the season. Bring on S2.
I agree with much of your assessment of the show. I was initially thinking same thing… was not going to watch the showpilot until Cobie was brought on board. I watched the pilot episode, and others, and like the show. It is not the best I’ve ever seen, and not at the HIMYM level, but still, I watch and enjoy the show.
Can it come back for a season 2? With pilot season upended with COVID-19, many potential pilots may not get the green-light, so potential sophomore bubble series like Stumptown have a better chance at renewal. I think it is 75-25 that the series comes back in September, or whenever productions in Hollywood, etc. can begin again.
Keep it going!! We love stumptown!!
We love it!
I was hoping you were going to say the surprise was somehow Benny was alive.
Me too! I thought that the government had him under cover somewhere. I’m sad that he’s really dead.
I was thinking that too, at first, that maybe Benny is still alive (!), but that would just be waaaay too complicated for Dex and detrimental to the show. If Benny were alive, the 2 men in her life disappear (because you KNOW she’d drop everyone to be with him) and then there’s no suspense or banter between Dex & Grey and Dex & Hoffman.
Really good show. So different and so interesting. I like all of the characters they have introduced in this ensemble cast. That is very rare to like all of them.
Come on, there will be no season 2…
Don’t say that!!! I really hope there’s a season 2 and many more after that!!!!
I think in any other TV season, there would be no season 2. But we are in a very strange situation with the Coronavirus which has stopped pilot season from going forward. So networks have fewer or no new properties to choose to move forward. Granted all tv shows are going to have to wait to start production for the next season, but it is much easier to start a new season with a property that has already been tested and has groundwork in a cast & crew with writers raring to go than to set up a show from a pilot without a writing staff so late in the game especially when those pilots have yet to be shot. That’s just delaying a tv show even more when you can have something ready to go as soon as productions can start back up if you have writers for a series working from home during this hiatus. I at least say the shows this season have a better shot than normally, even though I know that’s a pretty twisted way to look at the situation. It’s twisted but it’s still a reality of the situation. It is what it is.
As much as I enjoyed the show, there won’t be a season 2 because ABC doesn’t have faith and confidence in the show. Air an episode, take 2 – 3 weeks off. Air a new ep, take another 2 weeks off Not the way to do it.
I would agree because that’s how they treated it before all of this happened. But they’ve got limited if no new shows as replacement options when it comes time to make choices so I’m thinking it could go either way.
Cobie Smulders has Stumptown capped at 18 episodes. Pre-emptions were necessary. ABC has been very supportive of the show since Day 1. Now, we just need that final thumbs-up for a Season 2.
I think we have a hit, i see it going 5 seasons atleast.
Love to see more seasons
I love this show! All of the actors are terrific and the characters are real. Come on season 2!!!!
Why didn’t you ask about Tookie? His wife? Does he go on tinder or what? Will there be more Tookie or what? This actor is too good to just bring up the back of the bus.
I love this show. Bring on Season 2!
Looking forward to season 2 hopefully
I didn’t think the show would make it so I wasn’t going to watch but then I decided too and I am so glad I did! I love this show. We need a season 2.
I knew Ansel wasn’t talking to Lila and that it was his mom. I am happy that I was right.
Based on that ending alone, we NEED a season 2. This show is so good. The performances are amazing and it’s a huge boon of representation especially for Native American actors. Sue Lynn is probably one of my favorite side characters. I also liked the storyline of Ansel’s desire for independence was good representation for young adults with Down syndrome. I really, really want a season 2. Please ABC give this show a second season. Don’t do it dirty like you did Whisky Caviler (sorry if I spelled that wrong). I still miss that show.
Agree on all points. The Ansel character is great for young people with Down’s to see, & there is very little representation of First Nations People on any platform- network or streaming. And while I think this is all-around better than Whiskey Cavalier (& I’m happy Lauren Cohan is coming back to TWD) I really liked the show. It was a mediocre procedural made awesome by good actors and not taking itself seriously at all.
We can’t NOT get a Season 2. Any many more. Please
I really hope that the series is picked up and renewed. It is well written and Colbie is phenomenal in her portrayal as a complex, damaged, strong female character that you truly root for. I live this series.
I love the show however, if we do get a season 2, I would like to see the writers lighten up some of the content. Let Dex have a feelgood moment every once in a while.
I really enjoy the show. I normally watch the next day on Hulu, but I look forward to each week. I’m hopeful that the show will return. Finally a good show to stay tuned in to.
Love the show. Bring on Season 2!
PLEASE renew!! Please!!
This is the type of show I really wish there would be more of. A series which can do great stand alone episodes and still be intelligent.
This was my favorite new series this year!
Please renew Stumptown for Season 2. I love Stumptown! I love each character and each story line!
I wonder if Sue Lynn is going to be in the second season
I agree with another writer that this is one of the best new shows from last fall with excellent actors and stories… ABC stuck it in a tough spot at 10pm so ratings have been so so but like many they provide an easy delayed viewing on Hulu,,, I tended to watch on DVR… Hope we get another season …
The scenes between Dex and Benny’s mom are the best, so hopefully, even though the Benny storyline is over, she can still be part of the show, if it’s renewed of course.
Would like to c Benny’s character come back. Maybe they blew up the wrong guy and Benny was laying low while they caught the right ones and had to play dead?
This is the only tv show I look forward to every week (or every other week since they skipped a lot). I’ve spoken to a number of people about this show & we all really like it. Last time I looked forward to a weekly show was Castle, so it would stink having Stumptown getting canceled. It’s an intelligent, thought provoking, yet fun & exciting show with a great female lead & strong showing of under-represented characters such as Native Americans and Downs syndrome persons who enrich the show because of their talent, not their physical attributes. I very much hope for a Season 2!