# Stumptown **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [September 27, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933 "2019-09-27T23:36:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/1 "2019-09-27T23:36:30Z")
Anybody catch the premeire of _Stumptown_ on ABC? Cobie Smulders (late of _How I Met You Mother_) plays an unemployed Army veteran with PTSD who helps find a missing teenager. This will apparently lead to her becoming a licensed P.I. in the coming episodes. I kind of liked it. While there were a number of well-worn crime-show cliches (most notably the out-of-control car that, instead of crashing into anything, heads straight toward a handy ramp-like structure and goes spectacularly airborne), and her investigation seemed to progress a little too quickly and conveniently, the pacing and tone made for an entertaining hour of turn-off-your-brain television. They seem to be aiming for a _Rockford Files_ with a female lead vibe - a high bar, but if they keep the right balance between serious and silly, they might pull it off. Smulders did a nice job with the tough but flawed lead; sassy and seemingly confident, but full of anxiety and self-doubt. It will be her performance that ultimately makes or breaks this show, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/2 "2019-09-28T04:13:29Z")
I saw it and enjoyed it, and will be tuning in again. Good cast (Smulders really carries the show, and I’d say she’s more than up to the challenge), pretty good dialogue, not a bad case for her to crack right out of the gate, interesting Portland setting, etc. I like that it has prominent contemporary Indian characters, too. The fight in the car was exciting but I always wonder why the driver in those kind of Hollywood scenes doesn’t just brake hard and stop the car (other than the need for more excitement for the viewer). Why keep going - even accelerating - when you’re so dangerously distracted and not in full control of the car? Smulders plays a Marine and not an Army vet, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/3 "2019-09-28T13:06:03Z")
I liked the ongoing bit about the car’s mix tape (cd player?) always playing an appropriate song. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/4 "2019-09-28T13:18:12Z")
Good performances actually, in a badly written episode. Cobie Smulders better learn how to not wear a ton of makeup while pretending to be a tough PI. You don’t get in a fight leaving you cut and bruised without smearing some of that pancake makeup. This was a pilot for a show which will be somewhat different, it has a chance to get good writers and direction and become something like Rockford Files with a female lead as mentioned above. Even without that it will limp along for a while with a small but dedicated audience that has less trouble suspending disbelief than I do. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/5 "2019-09-28T15:11:17Z")
We enjoyed it. The ongoing joke of the mixed tape stayed amusing throughout, and she carried off the bad-ass part of her character very well. Glad to see some Native American actors getting work. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/6 "2019-09-30T18:43:58Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > if they keep the right balance between serious and silly, they might pull it off. > > Smulders did a nice job with the tough but flawed lead; sassy and seemingly confident, but full of anxiety and self-doubt. It will be her performance that ultimately makes or breaks this show, I think. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/7 "2019-09-30T19:16:30Z")
I saw it over the weekend. It was OK, but I could do without the war-veteran-with-PTSD element. (Apparently the show is based on a graphic novel, so presumably that’s from there. It’s still a tiresome cliche.) ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/8 "2019-09-30T20:25:29Z")
They also had Cobie slightly misuse peoples’ names a couple of times. It cracked me up because I felt like it was on purpose. 🙂 I think it’s a way to knock people down a little bit. I hope they continue that ‘bit’. I’ll definitely be watching it again… that and Unicorn. The new Walton Goggins sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/9 "2019-09-30T22:15:19Z")
I enjoyed it, despite the rather cliché’d plot of the pilot; thirding the _Rockford Files_ vibe, with maybe just a touch of _The Big Lebowski_ thrown in, and there’s the potential for some interesting character development. Also, please keep feeding Smulders the snappy dialogue; she’s got a great delivery. Taco truck guy: “What happened to your face?” Dex: "What happened to _your_ face? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/10 "2019-10-03T15:27:40Z")
Well, S1E2 aired. I’m hopeful this is going to be a good one. We got a little insight into Grey’s background; which can be full of story arcs as well. The ‘bad-cop’ Lieutenant Cosgrove even showed some signs of being reasonable; which I wasn’t expecting. I thought they’d have her be the cop that always hates what Dex is doing, no matter what. Can’t wait for S1E3. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/11 "2019-10-04T00:08:36Z")
Shubotsky did a pretty good job as an action hero in Avengers and Jack Reacher 2. So, not much of a surprise she’s pretty good in Stumptown. What’s the title supposed to mean? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/12 "2019-10-04T00:18:40Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > Shubotsky did a pretty good job as an action hero in Avengers and Jack Reacher 2. So, not much of a surprise she’s pretty good in Stumptown. > > What’s the title supposed to mean? 😕 Portland was a lumber town - I suspect that’s the origin of the title… ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/13 "2019-10-04T01:41:40Z")
…the reviews here looked promising, so I checked it out. :: less than a minute in, my favourite sing-a-long song Sweet Caroline starts playing…then the bad-guys start singing along… :: Thats cheating! Instant click-bait for someone like me. There is no way I’m not going to keep watching the show after an opening like that. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/14 "2019-10-04T03:59:12Z")
…and two episodes in: I think that Stumpdown will fill that “not-too-demanding-procedural-with-great-characters-left-by-elementary” gap nicely for me. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/15 "2019-10-04T04:24:48Z")
Agreed. I like it so far. I didn’t guess where the lovelorn-client plot was going, so that’s a plus. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/16 "2019-10-04T06:09:25Z")
I tuned in at first chiefly to gawk at the local scenery, but it’s engaging and just fresh enough to keep me coming back for a while. I’m hoping it doesn’t get too soapy and keeps a strong “case of the week” focus. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/17 "2019-10-04T13:07:34Z")
When the land was cleared for the original Portland plat that left a lot of stumps. Hence the nickname. The nickname had a resurgence back in the 70s. E.g., there was a Stumptown cafe around SW 12th & Market at that time. Since then the most famous use is by the coffee brand Stumptown. Portland’s answer to Starbucks, barely. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/18 "2019-10-04T13:38:17Z")
Missed it, but thanks for the reminder. I’d commented, on seeing the previews, “I’d watch Cobie smolder in anything…” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/19 "2019-10-04T18:15:31Z")
The weekly abrasions and busted lip don’t exactly add to her looks, though. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933/20 "2019-10-04T18:45:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The weekly abrasions and busted lip don’t exactly add to her looks, though. True, but I like that she generally gets her ass kicked when fighting people bigger than her, at least until she manages to find some sort of weapon and/or opening for a crotch-shot. Which I is also Rockford-like, for those who see the similarities between the shows. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stumptown/840933.md?page=2)