Isla faces betrayal as she tries to get the LA Waves’ season back on track before it even starts in Running Point Season 2, Episode 2, “The Poacher.” This episode, written by Joe Mande and directed by Erica Oyame, demonstrates why this show is even better when it strikes a finer balance with its ensemble. Of course, as the show’s lead, Running Point always starts from Isla, and “The Poacher” does so effectively. The instances of betrayal she recounts are rather superficial, yet she takes them personally, reflecting her privilege. She even takes Dyson wanting a better deal personally when it’s strictly professional.
Where the personal and professional really mix is in every move that Cam makes to work against Isla. He’s calculating and painfully selfish. Still, I can’t help but laugh at (and relate to) Cam’s reaction when reading Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Then there’s Charlie almost being the blue Power Ranger, Clint saying he was frat bros with Brett Kavanaugh, and Jackie wanting his desk to have a Nancy Meyers aesthetic. The pop culture references this season really don’t miss, but I expect nothing less from a Mindy Kaling series. Mostly, “The Poacher” finds its greatest assets in the tried-and-true Gordon siblings’ dynamic and the brewing conflict between Isla and Ali.
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Will Dyson’s Contract Cause Waves?
Rob Huebel is on fire with his return as Clint. When he comes into the meeting, announces he has COVID, and says, “Oh, get over it. It’s 2026,” I howled. While it’s silly and entirely likely that Clint doesn’t know Dyson’s name, even that detail reflects the reality of Dyson feeling undervalued. That sentiment tracks better than the fast-tracked development of Dyson and Zoé’s relationship. They just met, but “The Poacher” doesn’t address that. Instead, it takes the flirtation seriously enough for Marcus to pull Dyson to the side and talk about the “pecking order” with the team. Unfortunately, the team’s general connection, let alone power hierarchy, is so loosely defined that this doesn’t land.
Additionally, Running Point doesn’t earn that conversation because there’s no real reason to invest in or believe that Dyson and Zoé’s relationship will be that important. There’s never even any real clarification about Travis and Zoé’s relationship. So, “The Poacher” has to rely on Chet Hanks’s reaction to Dyson telling Travis that Dyson likes Zoé. Running Point is only two episodes into this season, and it already feels like it’s starting to burn through stories.
Maybe it’s just that this season, like the last, is 10 episodes. In an 18 or 22-episode season, there’s more time for developments like this to unfold, but Running Point has to beat the clock. Hopefully, when that final buzzer goes, the team’s interpersonal dynamics will matter more. Ideally, “The Poacher” is just the comedy settling into this season, and the pacing will even out soon enough.
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Who’s Getting Poached?
Tommy Dewey’s performance as Magnus Serfin, the GM of the Toronto Trappers, is the best thing about “The Poacher.” I know I’m biased because I think he’s great as Josh Daniels, one of Mindy’s boyfriends, in The Mindy Project. Then again, that’s the same reason I loved seeing Never Have I Ever’s Richa Moorjani as Aruna in Running Point. Regardless, Dewey’s commitment to a thick Canadian accent alone is incredible. The character’s arrival compounds the organization’s financial burdens and emphasizes who can do what with the money. For example, Sandy can cover for Cam’s fraud and use resources to help Charlie’s acting career, but he won’t give Ali a deserved raise.
It’s nice to see more of Sandy and Charlie’s relationship after Sandy’s grand gesture last season. “The Poacher” uses that solid ground to test the couple with the conflict over Charlie’s career change. There’s depth to that, as opposed to Cam’s connection with Al the Toilet King (Ken Mourino is outrageous!). That dynamic is clearly a means to an end for Cam, which makes total sense. It also feels like a bit of a commentary on the absurdity of billionaires in a fiscally forward season of Running Point.
Likewise, Isla is so preoccupied with the public-facing team that she misses the Waves’ most valued player off the court. Brenda Song nails the scene when Ali learns that she’s not getting the promotion from Sandy, instead of her best friend. Therefore, Magnus approaching Ali with an offer is predictable, but it still hits from a viewing perspective. I want Ali to be valued! Plus, the significance that will have at the Waves – and with Isla – will be unrivaled. Ali can’t be replaced, so where do the LA Waves go from here?
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