Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

The statute says they can appear at any time. Frankly, it sounds like you didn't file procedure. If Tenant did not respond to a properly served complaint you should have entered a default order (the response date should *always* be before the order to show cause, and absent a response you move for default).

Unlawful detainers are strictly construed against the Plaintiff, so the procedural hurdles are on the Landlord, and very few are on the Defendant.