Stumptown

The show features an openly bisexual lead character, which adds extra weight under our LGBTQ+ scoring rules. It also actively prioritizes diverse casting by placing a native American actress in a prominent role as a tribal casino boss. Additionally, an actor with Down syndrome plays the lead character's brother. These choices were highly emphasized in the show's marketing.

The political dialogue is very mild. The show touches on things like veteran health care and native American tribal laws. However, it avoids using direct political lectures or activist language. Most of the dialogue focuses on standard detective drama and sarcastic banter.

This score is high because the lead character is openly bisexual and her romantic history with a woman is a key part of her backstory, adding LGBTQ+ weight. The show also focuses on identity-driven story themes. These include native American tribal casino dynamics and the struggle for independence of a character with Down syndrome.

The show offers a noticeable critique of traditional roles. It portrays its female lead as a messy anti-hero who rejects typical family life, marriage, and domesticity. It also includes mild critiques of how the government treats veterans and how local police interact with native American tribal land.

There was no organized backlash or boycott against the show. A few online comments criticized the girlboss action scenes where a smaller woman beats up multiple men. However, most viewers did not view the show as pushing an aggressive activist agenda.

The creative team is a mix of traditional network television writers and progressive creators. Some writers, like Zahir McGhee and William Jehu Garroutte, have strong records of advocating for LGBTQ+ and Indigenous representation.