Yeah, that would be a whole interesting vibe, wouldn't it?

In my rhythm & blues band, we had an amazing lead guitarist who was a former alcoholic. Later on we added a percussionist...who used to be his bartender. He was a regular at her bar. So it was an interesting dynamic there.

[xposty now but oh well:] Oh yes, that's definitely how Britt met Katie. But I think that maybe Hank already knew Katie, and met Britt through her -- not the reverse (which is what I'd assumed until rewatching). It interests me because it makes Hank's position more complicated and, I dunno, just changes how I view the dynamics a bit.

Also, John Ramos/Couch Baron of TWoP set up a blog for recappage, and the first episode is up: [link]

From rewatching the early episodes, I have the strong impression that Hank & Britt met through Katie

I think I remember a scene where Britt is telling someone that when Hank was still a cop Hank busted him while he was in the act of stealing something, and that's how they met. (I think it was the episode where we first see his former co-thief, when the guy was trying to rope Britt back into the business.)

I think I remember a scene where Britt is telling someone that when Hank was still a cop Hank busted him while he was in the act of stealing something, and that's how they met.

That's my memory too. And he didn't arrest him but made him a partner. Maybe it was after Hank left the force, but Hank definitely caught him in the act of something. Heh - maybe it was robbing him, which means Hank and Katie have a LOT in common.

Okay, I had to go check. Britt tells Ray that 2 years ago Hank caught him trying to break into a taco place, took him out for waffles, and they've been PI's ever since. It's not clear but it sounds like Hank was off the force by then. Assuming it's true (given who he's talking to) that only makes sense if it was after Britt broke into Katie's place but before meeting her in-person.

Anyway: mostly it seemed like Katie had met Steph before from the way she knew the "rules," while Britt most definitely hadn't. I will offer the caveat that it's entirely possible that I'm crazy and/or reading into things.

Now I have the urge to make a timeline, because I'm obsessive. Maybe this weekend.

I notied that Katie seemed to know the Steph rules too.

But I'd love the timeline. This is clearly a dvd show for me. I want it to be mine, mine.

I am in San Diego and kinda sad I won't have time to go down near Ocean Beach and Pt Loma. Oh! Someone not me should get obsessive and figure out where Hank's house is. And then post about it. All of my trips here until Christmas are booked tighter than Senor Frog's ass and I want to know.

Katie knowing "the rules" of Steph struck me at the time as surprising. Though perhaps Hank explained them to her over the phone when he asked her to come over. She didn't know about the smartness of Steph, right?

2 years is more than Hank's sober time, though Britt could be rounding up. Britt made that " I wish I knew you when you were drinking" comment at some point, I'm taking that at face value.

I don't know, I can kind of see a lot of plausible possibilities.

Britt tells Ray that 2 years ago Hank caught him trying to break into a taco place, took him out for waffles and they've been PI's ever since.

I was speed reading after I read the question asking this. I loved when Brit told this version because it's a great tale of offering someone trust and them living up to expectations.

Anyway: mostly it seemed like Katie had met Steph before from the way she knew the "rules," while Britt most definitely hadn't. I will offer the caveat that it's entirely possible that I'm crazy and/or reading into things.

I need to see this interaction again. I thought Katie knew the rules because Brit had briefed her before they walked in the door. I thought Katie being so close with Steph was just evidence of Katie's heart.

It could be a representation of her heart. I could easily respect that read. But it felt like she had some kind of experience for the situation. If not with Steph, with someone.

I thought Katie knew the rules because Brit had briefed her before they walked in the door.

Because I just watched that bit: Katie arrives, and Hank says he needs a babysitter and tells her Steph is there. Katie's surprised by that, so she definitely wasn't briefed. Hank says, "You know the rules, right?" and she nods, and Hank & Britt leave. And then in the truck Britt's all, "There's rules, man, for your sister?"

I'd be inclined to handwave it as unimportant but I feel like all the "2 years ago" and "it's been a year" and "543 days of sobriety" signals that there is a fairly definite timeline to the backstory. But see above re: crazy.