In Plain Sight: Rubble with a Cause

The idea of Mary having to protect a high-profile, high-risk witness trapped in the middle of a building collapse was an interesting one, and the production team knocked themselves out creating that setting for it. But once the David Zayas character showed up to confront the witness, things fell apart. It seemed to be missing a scene between when the explosion went off and when Mary and the bad guy had their guns on each other, and I have no idea what Zayas' plan was, exactly. Even if he hadn't been dumb enough to deliver a confession in the presence of a US Marshal (with or without her walkie-talkie turned on), how did he expect to get out of there? And all the talk of loyalty to partners above all else came out of left field. It's not that Mary isn't incredibly tight with Marshall, or that they'd risk their lives for each other (see him running into the building right before the explosion blocked the stairwells); it's that this wasn't the theme of the episode, or of Mary's interaction with her witness, until that moment.

I did like seeing Marshall and Stan working so hard in support of Mary, and I particularly liked Raph's reaction (or, rather, lack of one, as it's a cliche on these shows for the significant other to give the hero a hard time after a brutal day at work) to Mary being gone all day at the accident site. I just felt like the set-up didn't go anywhere that interesting.

Also, I fast-forwarded through the scene where Brandi interrupted the AA meeting. Do. Not. Care. Brandi's less irritating than Jinx is, but she really only works in a context directly tied to Mary; giving her a self-contained storyline is a waste of everybody's time.

In Plain Sight: In My Humboldt Opinion

Consistency,this is exactly the type of material I appreciate in a series and it is most often rarely seen.In Plain Sight manages to pull off a consistent 'Wow' of a Season 2! Giving me two consecutive installments, In My Humboldt Opinion, included.

Mary is now finding her way around her old job and she has 'The Newbie' Eleanor to deal with. As Mary tried to adapt to her surroundings and deal with her past struggles, Eleanor's new furniture arrangement wasn't cutting it. Good Mary was gone and Bitchy Mary was back, giving Eleanor competition for the 'bossy' title she wanted to claim. I smiled when Eleanor confronted Mary about her bossiness, saying that Mary cannot intimidate her, which is funny because by her saying that, Mary probably does intimidate her... as she did everyone. Everyone loves Mary, despite her ways and Eleanor had to earn her stripes, being the 'Newbie' and all!

In this case, Mary had to deal with a typical hypochondriac (Jerry); an owner of a marijuana plant testifying against his buyers. I found it surprising that he had a family; a wife and two children.I didn't really understand how his family put up with his drug-use; taking marijuana to stay sane, especially around the children. Was he always high on marijuana when he met his wife, how far did his condition date back? Was it his personality on or off marijuana she fell in love with?None-the-less, Jerry is afraid to speak on the witness stand... off the marijuana , and decides to take his life to prevent himself from testifying. So how much did he love his family if he was willing to take his own life and fake Amnesia?

Mary, Mary, Mary, she sure brought out the real Jerry. Giving him petty threats and then babying him in the end; attaching what appeared to be a smiley face on his microphone in court. At least she got him in court.While he was on the stand, Jerry took a little while to give his name on introduction, he also looked like a child.

On a real note, given "Boston Legal" Knowledge of a typical case in court, wouldn't the opposing party be aware of his marijuana usage. Prosecution could prosecute Jerry, someone with his mental state would say anything anyone told him to say... like Mary perhaps."Psst Jerry make sure and point out the guys that look the most guilty *wink*"Anyway, I didn't really get to see the prosecuting side and it was cool watching a frailly Jerry in court. I give credit to the scene where Mary placed the smiley sticker on his microphone and the point where he didn't need the smiley anymore.

The scenes with Mary and her analyst were well played; another intrusion into Mary's lifestyle which Mary took on surprisingly better than Eleanor.It was fun watching her analyst always writing in her note pad.

Mary - "What could you possibly be writing"

They actually formed a brief friendship-I guess; in the end. Then again if you look at the other side of the coin, Mary had to be nice to her, she held Mary's continuation at work in the palm of her hands, which encouraged Mary to behave a bit better to everyone. I loved how Mary fancied up her words when she was talking to Jerry.

Mary - "Just giving you something to write" :D

As for Mary's family, Jinx was back to her old crazy self- well alcoholic that is and Brandi was well changing her life, trying to go to school again, trying to become more civilized like Mary - a bit.

Eleanor sort of earned her stripes as well, breaking up the argument in the office, McQueen actually acted like a boss and who saw that Eleanor and McQueen thing coming?

Finally I got to see Ralph and their relationship has picked up heat again. Hmm, asking Mary to pass him a towel!

In Plain Sight: A Fine Meth (season finale)

It feels to me that a big chunk of the first season of In Plain Sight was Brandi's great adventure, and this show was the big finish. In a twist that was both surprising and satisfying, the loose ends were tied up and the air was cleared for the show to return for more chapters in the Shannon family saga. And all that other stuff that Mary's been doing with the Witness Protection Program, too.

After nearly eleven hours (give or take) of Mary's frustration with her mother and sister, it all came to a head. This was an episode heavy on the drama, and he did a great job balancing the FBI investigation, Marshall and Stan's efforts to save Mary's career, and the family dynamics. From the first scene between the Shannons, there was no question that this was not going to be a warm and fuzzy examination of their feelings. Mary dropped the hammer when she told Jinx and Brandi how much trouble they were in.

Kudos to Mary McCormack. She looked like hell for most of the show, which was completely appropriate after what she'd been through. Her performance was excellent. It was hard to feel sorry for Brandi. She was crying and moaning like she was the victim when she created the entire disaster. Mary had every right to be furious with her sister. Brandi's reckless actions endangered all of them.

Jinx's revelation -- that Mary was not her father's favorite -- was cruel beyond belief. I loved it when Mary was able to trump her with the letters. Also, considering the fact that Mary's such a savvy character, it would have been incredulous if she'd thought she was her father's favorite based only on her wacky mother's stories. It made sense that Mary had proof of his feelings. Of course, next season is going to have to get in to where Mr. Shannon is. I wouldn't be stunned to find out that he's in WITSEC and Mary's his handler.

The back story about Biscuit, the teddy bear, was sweet. I could really relate, too, because those flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz gave me nightmares when I was a kid, too. It was also nice and appropo that Raph was the person to remind Mary that Brandi's family and she needs Mary's help.

Were you worried that Mary was going to be found with the suitcase of meth? I was. Then I thought she must have had a plan or something because just as she told Brandi when she wanted to make a run for it, the FBI would stop her before the car was down the street. Instead, Mary, Jinx and Brandi were all shocked to see towels in the suitcase instead of drugs. The final shot of Raph taking batting practice in a baseball stadium, with the grounds crew putting white chalk down the foul lines, was the perfect button on the season. The smile on his face was not in reaction to his swing (which was awful), it was because he knew what was really lining the field. Raph turned out to be smarter than all three Shannons put together. He's also a really good guy.

In Plain Sight is now officially over for 2008. I'm anxious to see where they take the show in 2009. I'm even curious about Mary's annoying family, which is something I thought I would never feel when the series began.

Other points of interest:

Great line. "I'm the hall monitor in this family and nobody likes the hall monitor."

I've wanted to like Lesley Ann Warren, but I just don't. She's all wrong for this role. She's too hysterical...all the time.

Dad's letter to Mary was perfect. I mean, considering the fact that he was abandoning her, the sentiments were great.

Spanky wouldn't drink a Diet Coke but he'd eat powdered sugar donuts? I guess he got that Michael Phelps body from proper eating habits.

Mary's description of the taste of blood was graphic and pretty gross. "A sickening, sweet smell. I don't think it's ever going to go away." All the booze in the world wasn't going to erase that taste.

The authorities have the right to rip up someone's home with a search warrant. They have the right, but it's really disgusting that they can do so much damage and just walk away. And, yes, they do it all the time.

As I said last time, Stan finally has proved himself. Marshall also was the real brains, figuring out that Rebecca's kid was Spanky's because of the RH factor. Love that Marshall.

In Plain Sight: Stan By Me

"My family will be the death of me."

What an opening act! What a set up! This seemed to be the first of the two-part finale for season one, and in this episode, the writers really delivered a knockout. I think we're finally getting that clash of Mary's personal and professional life that's been building from the pilot when Brandi showed up.

The abduction of Mary was well done because they chloroformed her. If she weren't drugged, she would have not been overpowered. As it was, she nearly got away. Of course, they thought they were grabbing Brandi so why did they need to knock her out? Also -- continuity error -- Russell said they grabbed the first hot blonde that came out of the house. That's not where Mary was snatched; she was in the alley outside the theater.

One of the best sequences was Jinx's audition. She sang "Neverland" -- and yes, that really was Lesley Ann Warren singing. She has legit musical comedy chops -- Victor/Victoria, TV's second Cinderella (after Julie Andrews, before Brandi). That was also the perfect song for her character -- it's from Broadway's Peter Pan, a song is about never growing up, and isn't that just so Jinx Shannon? Jinx's reaction to seeing Mary at the audition was a stunner. All that pent up anger. I've heard week after week how frustrated Mary is with her family, who knew they were equally frustrated with Mary! Jinx turned on Mary and screamed, "The only time you're ever happy is when Brandi or I are miserable. You root for our failures. It's the only thing that gives your life meaning." Whoa! That's a heavy burden, especially since Jinx and Brandi are living off Mary. How can her mother really feel that way?

As screwed up as Jinx is, I'm really ticked off with Brandi. She is a maddening character. I think I hate her guts. She's selfish and manipulative. Oh, and did I mention that she's stupid! She's determined to get herself or someone close to her killed. She's already succeeded with Chuck. I think another victim is going to fall. Look out Raph.

The revelation about Mary's background was also stunning. "Honestly, with this family tree. It's a wonder she got into the U.S. Marshall service at all." Boy, did Agent O'Connor hit the nail on the head. Mary's father is on the most wanted list! Jinx and Brandi have rap sheets. I'm wondering if Mary did something underhanded to get into the Federal Marshall program. Did she bend the rules to achieve her goals?

Mary McCormack really shone in this episode. I loved the way she played Spanky, scamming him about the $500,000. It would have worked if not for the media alert the FBI was told not to put out. Later on, when she had to go along with the rape attempt to put herself in a position to kill Russell, that was Emmy worthy. It was also cathartic to see her shoot the guy -- and completely justified.

Other points of interest:

The FBI comes off really badly. Not only is O'Connor a pain in the ass, the two dead agents in New Jersey hang out at Chuck's long enough for Spanky to get the drop on them. If they had just taken Chuck to the office as planned, they wouldn't have been shot.

Hooray for the homeless dude. Bobby D. acted like he couldn't be bothered with him, but the guy did the right thing. So much for prejudging the bums in the alley.

Did you see Marshall's emotional reaction to Mary's abduction? Talking to Bobby and Stan, Marshall was choked up.

The red Mercury Caliente doesn't have seatbelts. Isn't that illegal? Of course, Jinx and Brandi seem to regularly break the law.

For the first time all season, Stan finally rose to the occasion. He not only was involved in the case, he had the topper at the end, locking Agent O'Connor in the office to cool his heels. I guess that's why this episode was called "Stan By Me."

In Plain Sight: To Serge With Love

What does Mary expect? I mean, really, what does she expect! Okay, before I get to the gory details, let's talk about the case.

Remember the Russian girl from the pilot? Natasha with the new boobs -- thanks to the U.S. government, our tax dollars -- has gotten a job at Headlights (nee Hooters) and has hooked up with a new guy.

Turns out he's Marshall's charge, another program member, Serge. The problem is not just the huge coincidence that they've hooked up, it's that she's a witness and he's a felon, they cannot stay together.

I was with Mary on this one; I didn't trust Serge. I didn't believe he was sincerely in love with Natasha. However, Mary ripping off his computer was blatantly illegal. The evidence would have been thrown out in court, but maybe the WITSEC program has different rules when dealing with felons.

Whatever, the bottom line is that her Charles Bronson bluster broke the case opened and revealed just how big a pile of steaming poo Serge really was.

Speaking of steaming piles, what the hell is wrong with Brandi? Could she really be this dumb? She listens to the never-seen Chuck in New Jersey and agrees to sell the cocaine and deal with the lowlifes. I don't think so. This is the same girl who gave Chico a hard time about doing his laundry. Would she break a nail for Chuck let alone commit a felony?

The baby twist took me by surprise. But even as wasted as the chick in the hotel was, why did she let Brandi into the toilet -- twice -- knowing they were hiding the kid? I liked Brandi coming back with Biscuit, the teddy bear and the back story about Mary having given it to her. Brandi's choosing to do the right thing -- but in her own screwed up way -- is going to lead to no good.

Finally, the finish. Mary just uses her keys to walk into Raph's house where he's conveniently comforting a sleeping Brandi. Naturally, Mary storms out. Are you kidding me? I'd be screaming bloody murder. Why is Brandi there? Why didn't she get on the plane? And Raph should be screaming, too -- why are you letting yourself into my house when you broke up with me?

Other points of interest

It was great to see Mary and Marshall at odds. They're fun when they're fighting.

Stan is still ineffectual. His character may be one of the worst I've encountered on TV drama in a while.

Didn't Mary throw Brandi and Jinx out of the house last week? Now she's paying for Brandi's flight out of town? And apparently Jinx is still living there. So much for that dramatic moment.

I loved Mary calling Brandi on watching The Secret with Jinx. Mary denouncing the magic of the universe was classic Shannon.

Did you notice that Mary was driving the WITSEC SUV? Why does she drive the Ford Probe on the job sometimes, but here on a personal errand, she's using the government car?

In Plain Sight: Good Cop, Dead Cop

If you've invested in this show from the start -- as I have -- here was a really welcome episode to fill in the blanks. Finally, I was given a little back story about Mary, the place she's living, her obnoxious family, her frustrations with her life and even Marshall's unrequited (or so he thinks) leering for his partner. There was even some good character stuff for Bobby D -- whom Mary colorfully calls a "little prick" -- which was really nice.

I liked the case of a Chicago cop doing a "Serpico" -- going undercover to rat out police corruption -- and winding up killing a fellow officer in self-defense and being forced into Witness Protection was on target. And unlike the ridiculous Russian girl in the pilot who was asking WITSEC for new breasts, this was a realistic relocation. He resented being stuck in Albuquerque, and proving that he wasn't a stone, he was attracted to Mary. Of course, Mary did cross a line by sleeping with the guy, but that was all right, too, because it proved that she wasn't a stone, too. And since it was back story, it was pre-Raphael.

When another former Chicago cop happens to be killed, Eps is implicated in a very convoluted way, forcing Mary and Marshall to defend their charge and also investigate who really did it. Any time Mary has had to interact with Bobby D the show has perked up, and this was no different. But when it comes to crossing the line, his using her cell phone to uncover Eps identity was tricky and clever, but it I know my Law & Order, completely inadmissible in a court of law. Even if Eps had shot Rodriguez, there would have been no conviction because the evidence was all tainted.

I could definitely see him and Mary hooking up again because that door was left wide open at the end of the show.

Other points of interest:

Why is Raph incapable of doing his laundry? Even Dr. Horrible did his own laundry.

Roxanne attacks Mary -- cat fight!! Granted, they're both in law enforcement, but this kind of fighting is really a guy thing. Cat fights are a male-fantasy. What is it with male scriptwriters and their obsessions with two girls wrestling, beyond the sexual turn on?

So the suitcase of cocaine didn't float down the river after all. Brandi retrieved it, although I recall her dropping it off a bridge and there was none in sight, and now she's going back to Chuck. I see flaws in that plan, don't you?

Marshall is too smart and observant not to have picked up on the fact that he walked into a gay bar. Also, Albuquerque can't have that many gay hangouts that someone as sharp as Marshall wouldn't know this one. Really. They're like an open secret in most cities.

Stan found a pair of balls! For the first time he acted like federal marshal with some clout.

I think Mary and Raph are done. She's moving on.

Call me crazy, but reading someone else's cell phone is an invasion of privacy, even if you're a cop. It's wrong.

I like Mary's idea about having a room full of cornflakes -- very practical.

I wonder if this was considered as the first episode? Or maybe it should have been in the first two or three. The info about Jinx driving from Paramus to help Mary move in to her house was great, especially Mary's line, "There are two kinds of surprise, Marshall, birthday and Pearl Harbor. Guess which category Mom showing up falls under?"

Mary told Brandi and Jinx to leave her house -- will they? I doubt it. When have they ever listened to her before!

In Plain Sight: Don of the Dead

In what might have been one of the stranger episodes, there was a point in the voiceover where Mary comments her clients, Ruth and Don. They're devout Catholics, but they hate each other and want to split. They don't because they cannot get an annulment. When Mary urges them to just get a divorce, saying that as a Catholic she understand them, they say they'll continue to suffer because it's God's will. That's when Mary's VO is, "Okay, too weird for me."

That's how I felt about this show. While it was an interesting examination of a couple facing a dilemma while at the same time being in Witness Protection, there were elements that made me cringe. It wasn't the religion that bothered me, it was the details. For instance, in Boston where they witness a mob boss killing a priest, they're presented as regular church goers and do-gooders who run a soup kitchen. So why then in WITSEC are they living the same lifestyle, going to church daily and running a soup kitchen? Mary and Marshall seem perfectly okay with the couple living the same life.

Another problem was the wrap up. Mary listens to Don's explanation for faking his death and agrees to move him to a new location and let Ruth think he's dead. Not only is this unethical and in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Witness Protection Program, but Mary's just spent time and money in WITSEC resources searching for this guy. He was in violation of the agreement and is never held responsible.

Instead, they become complicate in his lie. Why does Mary sanction this? Because Don says it's God's will. Holy moly! Are you kidding me? This was just a lame way to close this case, and if Stan were any kind of a real supervisor (is he still on the show?), Mary and Marshall would never be able to pull this kind of stuff.

The "A" story was just an excuse for the writers to expound on the idea of a couple who hate each other and can't separate. There was also the part where Don explains why he married Ruth, their love of God and how he sees in her a connection to God that he doesn't feel in the same way. I get it, identification of the same.

The "B" story, however, involving Raph and Brandi was far more interesting. Brandi has suffered no ill-effects from the coke in the suitcase -- yet. There was no mention of it and no more calls from the boyfriend. She is now obsessed with Raph and made a sort of move on him in the car. I liked that Raph stopped her and said he wouldn't cross the line. Finally, some backbone.

When the episode ended with the mystical moment by Don, the line from the Bible that tied in to the capture of the two mobsters fishing in San Diego, I think the writers hoped the audience would go "wooo." Instead it was more like "no!"

Other points of interest:

Hooray! Jinx actually was shown working and acting like a parent. She warned Brandi to keep out of Mary's relationship and sounded like a mother. It's about time.

Raph is such a sad sack. How could he let Brandi and Mary use him like a pinata and he still winds up with nobody to help get him to physical therapy. Where are his friends? He needs some baseball buddies.

How dumb is Brandi? She doesn't know the differences between lemon and limes, cauliflower and broccoli. She also was shopping (like Pretty Woman)and she still has no means of income. Maybe she kept the cocaine and threw out the suitcase? She still seems high on something.

Wouldn't you know that Marshall quotes Ayn Rand. I love this guy, but in this show he was back to being Mary's errand boy. What happened to the balance from the last show?

The owner of the bar, Joe, is becoming a character. He summed up Jinx pretty well when he said, "It's tough, watching the light go out on those childhood dreams." They should follow up on Jinx auditioning for Sweet Charity.

Thank you! We got the back story on the Mercury Caliente. It was won by the father on a bet and Jinx has taken care of it all these years. Although why doesn't Mary get to drive it?

Great use of the split screen on the phone calls between Jinx/Raph/Mary.

In Plain Sight: Iris Doesn't Live Here Anymore

This was quite possibly the best In Plain Sight so far. Seriously. From start to finish, this one had it all -- a good story, interesting characters, not too much voice over, a relatable situation and ultimately, a satisfying resolution that was realistic but tough. It also had what has been sorely lacking in the previous episodes -- balance. Marshall got as much to do as Mary, for a change, and was equally involved on an emotional level. Too often, Frederick Weller's character has been reduced to Mary's sidekick and support system. Not this episode.

The situation was a tough one. In the opening, Mary says the Witness Protection Program places people: some criminal, some not. The McBride family fall into the "not" category. They have everything to lose when their daughter's in the wrong place at the wrong time. With very little time, they're uprooted, kicking and screaming all the way.

Subplot of Raph and Brandi is going to some strange places. Apparently, Brandi is as nasty, selfish and bitchy as I thought. For her to see through the door that Mary and Raph were getting it on, and still knock on the door, was out of line. Geez, Mary's her sister! That's wrong. And I know that her attempt to dump the suitcase of cocaine -- notice it didn't go in the river -- is going to blow (ha, ha) in her face.

Warren was a complete asshole. His anger and disappointment in Iris was understandable, but that monumental selfishness was stunning. My favorite scene was when the adoring wife tells him straight out that as much as she adores him, and she clearly does, he better not ask her to choose between her children and him. That reminded me of Sophie's Choice, not the situation, just the idea of a mother loving her children equally.

Why has it taken till now for Mary to present the Memorandum of Understanding for the Witness Protection Program to clients? This was such an important scene, it makes me wonder why they haven't played this out before. Warren finally comes around, especially when he learns that Lily was as responsible for the situation the family's in as Iris. Can he really blame both his daughters to the point of losing them? Marshall's words about reconciling sink in and Warren forgives and becomes contrite.

Other points of interest

"Not supposed to situations" like Lawrence says is prefiguration, all right.

Background symbols abound. When Warren walks out of the office and Marshall confronts him at the elevator, the sign in the background is "High Voltage." That completely describes Warren's emotional state. "Now I have this rage inside me," he bellows, and you can see and read it. \

Another symbol, the high school is called Rio Bravo. Also, the calendar story is told instead of the Alamo story. That's two homages to John Wayne movies, which is who Mary is most like. Can The Searchers be far behind?

After the shooting, it was great the way the innocent bystander with the lawnmower was shown to have been mowed down by the machine gun. You didn't see the body, just the lawnmower going down the driveway by itself.

The opening gag with Mary, Marshall and the stewardess story was great banter, and for a change McCormack paced herself. She has a tendency to talk too fast and rush the joke.

Marshall's so smart and observant. Bach on the piano, the measurements on the door. Mary's sensitive in her own way, hard though it is for her to show it. Marshall's heart is in the job, too. He also pegs Warren as all bluster and no balls.

Mary's calendar on the refrigerator, her setting a goal for them to survive six months, was gone after one scene. Continuity error or did the McBrides dump it.

Like I said, there was just enough voiceover, like Mary overhearing Lawrence's romantic words to Iris and saying, "Only a 17-year-old can pull off that kind of crap." She's right and because she is, it's funny.

Over the wrap, Mary says a few words that really speak to the episode -- and in this instance -- really were appropriate. "People generally think of forgiveness as the flipside of contrition, the obligatory response to an apology. It is not. To forgive is to answer the call of our better angels, and bear our wounds is the cost of doing business. It is that rarest of things, simple and pure. Transcendent, without strings."

The final touch, Marshall brings the door to the family, was a perfect coda.

In Plain Sight: Who Shot Jay Arnstein

It was the best of In Plain Sight, it was the less than best of In Plain Sight. For starters, the only carry-over from the previous episode was Marshall's arm in a sling. Hey, what about his nearly dying and Mary's emotional breakdown in the waiting room? The lack of follow-through was stunning. Granted, this show isn't a serial, but I did expect at least a moment between Mary and Marshall that would connect back beyond her quip in the art gallery. It was too glib. Would it have killed them to have a moment? I can imagine a fight in the writer's room over this point and keeping it light and unemotional won.

I liked the case this week, although once again, is Witness Protection really this amenable? When art dealers with shady dealings Jay and Marcie are put into the program, Jay arranges for his mistress to also be WITSEC'ed. Are you kidding me?

Maybe this really happens all the time, but if so, why are my tax dollars paying for three people when only two are really in danger? It was funny, though, when Jay asked Mary to break up with Kay for him, taking his mistress out of the system so he could commit to his wife!

This is the first episode since the pilot to involve a mystery -- the title of the show, Who Shot Jay Arnstein? -- and it was great to see Mary investigating rather than just babysitting. I like her interaction with Bobby D. and the scene where they get caught in the gallery when it's torched was excellent. The snappy dialog, the danger element, it all worked. I loved that Mary couldn't unlock the fire door and after telling Bobby not to shoot out the lock, she does it anyway and it works.

Sherry Stringfield as Marcie was a plus. She's a familiar face -- ER, NYPD Blue -- and you automatically feel for her as the wronged wife. Also, she could have been the shooter because, after all, she's the guest star. But the thing about Sherry is she can play it soft and vulnerable, they let off a wicked line. When she realizes that Mary, whom she trusted as her handler and the person who helped her with Jay was in on the deception, she cuts Mary with a single word, "Liar."

The key to the plot was wood -- poplar versus cottonwood -- and it was cool that Marshall pointed it out. Like Monk or Columbo, Marshall is sneaky smart. The suspects, naturally, were fairly obvious, especially the artist. Why was he even at the gallery in the first place if he was banging Marcie and didn't want Jay to know? Then, on top of that, why did he make a scene by smoking and call attention to himself?

So once Mary puts two and two together, she trapped the killer. You didn't really think that was Jay in the hospital bed, did you? And don't you wonder about the killer coming up with a syringe filled with poison on short notice? How did she do that? Is there an all-night pharmacy that sells that item?

Maybe I'm over-critical, but the ending of the case felt rushed and too neat. Mary's voiceover was used to tie together all the loose ends more than to comment on the action. It should be more of the latter and less of the former. Still in all, I enjoyed the show.

One thing I will say for sure, In Plain Sight has earned a second season.

Other Points of Interest

Raph, or Chico as Brandi likes to call him, is back. His career with the Florida Marlins has hit a major roadblock now that he has a torn ACL. Mary sets him up in her living room until he can take care of himself. Mary's to busy to help, but in an ironic twist, Brandi becomes his caretaker. You mean she's not useless?

Marshall's prescription for Mary when she's pissed off -- pie. He then answers the phone, "House of Pie." Too bad they didn't say, "The Pie Hole," referring to Pushing Daisies.

Great voiceover line when Mary has to accept putting the mistress into the program, "Funny how mortgage payments and the desire not to eat cat food can get between a person and their principals."

"You're the glue that held us together," Marcie tells Mary. Mary's response, "Just call me Elmer."

Mary admits to Marcie that she felt bad about lying to her. Marcie's answer was choice: "Geez, I am so sorry. It never occurred to me that helping my husband cheat on me would make you feel bad. Wow, I must be a really selfish bitch!" Door slammed in Mary's face. Ouch.

Brandi finds the engagement ring in Raph's suitcase. Later, she wisely tells Mary that if she doesn't watch it, someone as great as Raph won't hang around. Was she showing an interest in him herself?

Mary looked really great in the little black dress. Bobby D tells her, "It's a good thing you're hot." Mary acts surprised like she doesn't know -- come on.

If Marcie and Jay were in the art business in New York and had to go into WITSEC because international art baddies are after them, why would WITSEC let them open another art gallery in New Mexico? Would that be a big flag?

It's about time a witness had the hots for Marshall. Kay was definitely intrigued with Marshall. He went all enigmatic on her, then explained entropy to her. Good Marshall stuff.

No Jinx this week. I didn't miss her. At least Brandi showed some humanity this week, but Mary's family is still the show's weak link.

Another weak link is Stan. This character is just a plot device. He just moves the story forward, that's it.

Liked the art class with the nude model, "What does he make an hour? Or does he charge by the foot?"

In Plain Sight: Trojan Horst

Okay, this was the best episode of In Plain Sight to date. Action-packed and filled with character revelations, if this is where In Plain Sight is going, it's going to definitely make it beyond this premiere season.

The set up has Marshall and Mary taking custody of a seemingly innocuous, diabetic, asthmatic accountant/arranger for a hit man named Lola. He's been caught in an FBI sting and will go WITSEC in exchange for "delivering" Lola.

Expertly played by Dave Foley (News Radio), he's just enough of an unctuous ass to make him amusing. When Mary throws him to the ground and pounces on him, he says, "Could you get off of me, you're not exactly petite."

The subtext of the episode was more fascinating than the case itself. Mary snoops into Marshall's mail and discovers he's been interviewing for a new job outside the Witness Protection Service. She acts out, getting moody, but not revealing why she's pissed with him. There's an interesting workplace dynamic between Marshall and Mary; they're really good at doing their business while doing this back-and-forth battle about their relationship. I wonder if they would they have walked into a trap if they were not bickering? I don't think so, because at the rest stop, Marshall is suspicious of the bottle drop.

So their Jeep breaks down, it's a trap. They're outside cell phone range -- good! I hate when you can just call out of a perilous situation, don't you? While checking out the engine, Marshall and Mary are ambushed by two shooters in a car -- the couple from the rest stop. There's a tremendous amount of shooting, but only Marshall is hit on first shot. Excuse me for complaining, but these people need to get to the shooting range! Mary shoots and shoots and doesn't hit either of the bad guys. There's lots of bullet holes, but only Marshall's blood.

Thanks to Marshall, they get away and find shelter in an abandoned building. Anyway, Marshall he passes out and Mary gets desperate. She really needs him, despite what she says. He comes to and manages to temporarily mend his wound with a plastic tube and a bottle of water. You gotta love Marshall's ability to know what to do when - bravo.

Mary suspects the bad guys have a GPS device. They're trapped, outnumbered and vulnerable, and in this tense, dangerous situation, Marshall admits he wants to leave the marshal service because of their relationship -- but it's not a love thing (at least that's not what he's saying). He tells her, "I feel like I'm this keeper of an exotic animal." He's protecting Mary -- the exotic animal -- from the world and the world from her. The responsibility of caring for her is getting to him. Mary gets it.

She kisses him -- as a friend -- says he can't quit. He's her friend; she needs him. When he starts bleeding, Mary acts boldly because she must. She tries to get the drop on the baddies, and when she uses their Jeep to get position, she realizes Horst was never shot at. She confronts him and in a rapid connect-the-dots way, she sings words to the Kinks' song "Lola," and confirms that Horst is hitman Lola. He got himself arrested to do a job. Acting decisively, Marshal Mary exchanges Horst for a car and rushes Marshal Marshall to help. Horst is apprehended and Marshall's fate hangs in the balance.

Other points of interest:

Mary brings "expensive coffee beverages" to the office. Marshall is stunned: "You're not a treater. ...It's just an observation, not a criticism." He's right, though. Mary wants to be reimbursed.

After discovering that Marshall's looking for another job, Mary wisecracks, "Why did I put up with your running commentary for three years?"

The weakest part of the In Plain Sight continues to be Mary's family. Brandi busts Jinx for not doing her cosmetics job. Jinx claims that "The dog ate my samples" which is dumb, but true. Brandi forces Jinx to turn to her "box." No, not that box. It's her jewelry. Guess what? All her gems are paste -- DOH!

Back at the bar, Jinx and Brandi drink to Mary, their meal ticket. By the way, who's paying for their drinks?

Great line when Mary confronts the woman from the shootout. "You shouldn't have shot my friend; I only have one friend." She then kicks her to the ground. Nice.

As "Lola" plays on the soundtrack -- "She walked like a woman and talked like a man" -- you realize the lyrics kind of describe Mary.

In voice over (the only time during the show), Mary quotes Nietzsche: "We go into the world alone and come out alone." At hospital, Mary really breaks downs and we see that she does need the emotional connection to her dysfunctional family. She is, as she says, "Infuriatingly dependent on others."

Lesley Ann Warren needs a new outfit. Her hot "Mary Kay" pink suit is tired.

In Plain Sight: Never The Bride

For a change of pace, In Plain Sight opted for a mainly comic episode. The results were mixed. The comedy wasn't really all that funny, and the plot was plagued by more than a few inconsistencies and holes. But once again, what's keeping me from switching to another channel is Mary McCormack as Mary Shannon. She's really a compelling actress, and this Mary Shannon is a complicated mess of a very cool character.

Mary's newest witness to be protected is a con artist, bigamist scumbag -- Mary's words -- named Treena. She ripped off her previous husband while on a Hawaiian honeymoon, getting away with $10 million in conflict diamonds before being arrested by the FBI. When Mary is forced to take Treena under her wing, she makes no secret of her antipathy for people of her ilk, saying, "God I hate con artists, even more than murderers."

There's an instant conflict between Treena and Mary, the uncooperative witness and unhappy marshal. Mary suspects that Treena is playing her and the system. She warns her that if you hang onto garbage from your past, sooner to later it starts to stink. The machinations to get Treena into the WITSEC program is the first leap of faith in the episode. The second comes when she allows her picture to appear in the newspaper, announcing her sixth wedding.

By this point, Treena should be out of the program, but instead I'm led down a path that finds Mary's anonymity as a U.S. Marshal compromised, Mary being trussed up in a ridiculous bridesmaid gown, and finally, Mary being tarted up by her sister Brandi to attend a bridal shower. All of this was supposed to be funny. It was more incredulous than hilarious. I appreciate absurdity, but the Treena wedding scenario strained. Mary is smarter than this. She wouldn't put up with this kind of nonsense. She's way too in control to be dictated to by a witness, especially one with a history of lying like Treena. It was all a bit much.

On the plus side, the subplot involving Raphael and Mary was illuminating. Raphael, I learn, is a professional baseball player. That was not in the pilot, as I recall. Anyway, he's called up to the Marlins. So, because he's leaving town immediately, Raph invites Mary to his home. She thinks it's a booty call. It's not. He proposes and she can't handle the prospect of commitment. She flips out and runs out leaving him with no answer. It's only in the end of the episode, when Treena -- who was really in love with her latest (yeah, right) gets married and tells Mary, "Allow yourself for the possibility of something greater" -- that Mary comes to grips with her feelings about Raphael.

Taking Treena's advice (really?), Mary calls Raphael and asks him to wait before boarding the plane to Miami. Mary tries to get to the airport, but at the railroad crossing she's held up and attempts to drive through. Her car conks out on the tracks, and with the train careening in her direction, she gets her dress caught in the door. Mary finds the strength to push the crappy purple Ford Probe across the tracks. As the train zooms by, the plane flies overhead. Was Mary really willing to risk it all for love and Raphael, or was this her trying to prove to herself that she would put it all on the line to make a commitment? What was she thinking?

Other points of interest:

How rich is Mary supposed to be? She's living in a house with a pool -- and a pool boy (with a six-pack) to take care of it. She also still supporting her mother and sister, apparently. Brandi lounges around in a string bikini, reading Success magazine, and seems oblivious to Mary's suggestions that she get a job.

I love that Marshall is wearing "mambo pants." What does he do when he's not working a case with Mary? In the office, however, the way Stan stepped up to give him pointers about how to dance was over the top. So far I'm not impressed with Stan. What is this character about, other than giving Mary and Marshall their next assignment? They need to color in the details. He's a stick figure right now.

Mary lets Brandi dress her for the party and Marshall is stunned by her slutty look and says, "You look nice," but he can't look at Mary because her boobs are so distracting. Not sure I believe this; he's never noticed Mary's a looker in all the time they've worked together.

And when she kisses him in the stable, Marshall is too willing to take it to the next level. Have they never confronted the underlying attraction they have for each other?

Funny stuff when Treena tells the story about Mary as a co-ed in psych class dressed as a Catholic school girl sans panties. That was quite a bit of imagery.

At the bridal shower, that was a butt ugly male stripper. They should have shown the guy from the pool instead. Of course, it turned out that the stripper was a real cop. Not much of a recommendation for the real thing.

Loved it when Bobby D. appeared on horseback with the bad guy in tow and Mary wonders, "Where the hell did he get a lasso?"

Treena nails Mary for being like her, lying for a living. It hits home, but would Mary really commiserate with the male stripper, even one who was actually a local cop? Maybe it's easier to vent to a stranger than to her family or friends?

Nice to see Joanna Cassidy as the groom's mother. Would have liked to have seen more of her.

No Jinx in this episode and neither Mary nor Brandi wondered where she was. To be frank, she wasn't missed.

In Plain Sight: Hoosier Daddy

Overall, a very good episode from Mary and Marshall as In Plain Sight settles into the kind of show it's going to be. Far less frantic than the pilot -- which in retrospect looks like a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth -- this show dealt with one main issue and it was a touching one at that. The story starts 18 months earlier when Mary's assigned to place an 8-year-old boy who's seen drug dealers kill his mother in Witness Protection, which is virtually impossible unless she can find a family in the system who are willing to take on that responsibility. I was stunned that she pulled it off, and when we were back in the present and we see little Lonny -- now Leo -- enjoying a perfect life with the Billups, I was skeptical. The adoption seemed too good to be true. Leo fit right in, taking care of the baby. Were the Billups for real? I thought there had to be something wrong, but it wasn't. I was just suspicious. It turns out there was a reason to show Lonny/Leo in such a happy family.

While he's having a happy family life, Mary's continues to be a disaster. Jinx and Brandi are just caricatures. How long has her mother been living there? I'm told it's three weeks for Brandy since she's come from Jersey (the New was dropped by Mary). I loved Mary telling them both to get jobs and contribute or else. It was about time, but I'm still wondering about Jinx...has she been living there all along and Mary's only now asking her to get a job?

The job she gets is a Mary Kay Cosmetics like gig, Dana Dean Cosmetics. "I need $2500 to get started." If I were Mary, I wouldn't have done it, but here I see evidence of just what a softy Mary really is. She writes on her car-pad, "Transfer $2,500 for Jinx." She's a good daughter, but is Jinx any kind of a good mama? The answer, no. In a scene that's a complete anachronism, Jinx dons a hot pink business suit and starts going door to door to sell the cosmetic. Nobody sells door to door anymore, do they? Of course, after one $10 sale, Jinx is done. She's ready to celebrate and goes to see one-eyed boyfriend for nookie. When his dog eats her sample case, her DD career seems over. Her lover says he doesn't love her enough to cough up $2,500 to replace the samples.

Meanwhile, Mary learns that Lonny's drug-dealer dad back in Indiana -- who has not been indicted -- is petitioning for custody of his son. Mary and Marshall, and a stuck up attorney from the DOJ (Department of Justice) have to fly Lonny back to Indiana to face a judge. Holed up in a big house with other marshals, it's like a big sleepover. Marshall wears funny pajamas, Mary comforts Lonny when he has nighttime fears of facing his Dad again. Good moments, especially more insight into Mary's real heart. She's doing this job because she cares.

The best scene in the show is when the courthouse has to be evacuated. It's a great action sequence; to flush Lonny out of the building, a car is blown up in the parking lot. The evacuation commences and in the crowd, Mary races to stop Marshall from taking Lonny out in the open. Turns out the evacuation exits are public information and the perfect way for the bad guys to rub out Lonny. They have a sniper rifle trained on the kid. Mary yanks him to safety just in time, then they race to get him into a government SUV and out of harm's way.

By this point in the episode when Lonny asks Mary about her gun, a Glock, she realizes Lonny has blocked out the truth about what happened the day his mother died. He used his father's gun to shoot the drug dealers but shot his mom instead. Vernon, the dad, still wants his son back. Mary won't let Lonny return to him and his dangerous life. She tells him, "You better make your peace with that," and I see her steely determination. But she also gives him photos of Lonny in his new life.

In an ending that was just a little too sappy/happy, the judge rules in Vern's favor, but he renounces his rights so Lonny can stay with the Billups. Then on the tarmac back in New Mexico, Lonny/Leo returns to his new family, but Dad is there, too. He's going to join WitSec, give evidence against the Cruz brothers, and have some kind of contact with his boy.

Other Points of Interest

The show had that time shift from the first scene to 18 months later. Hard to get into the time shift, but it's a necessary element to the storytelling.

How did Mary get a plain name like Mary when her mom is Jinx and her sister is Brandi? What? She named herself? In the episode when she's forced to use the alias Sarah White, Mary doesn't think she can pull off a Sarah!

Poor white trash background? You have to wonder about the Shannons. When Jinx and Brandi want to win over Mary's good favor, they do it with tuna casserole. Love the line, "With Velveeta and potato chip crust?"

Not so good line, "What's that game called, Texas what-em?" The smart ass kid is a TV cliche. On the other hand, I liked when they showed his sensitive side. He wonders if his Dad will think he doesn't love him anymore.

When protecting Lonny, Marshall gets tough at the courthouse and shows his bad-ass side. See, he's not always laid-back.

Where did Brandi get the cool red convertible? It was a Mercury Comet circa 1965. I love cool cars, but they're also a TV cliche. Everybody seems to have some kind of vintage wheels. Don't the producers know how expensive it is to keep a car like that? Also, where did it come from? Mary drives the crappy Ford Probe, Brandis visiting from Jersey, and Jinx has nothing...

Does WitSec really use a private jet? Looks like a lot of tax payer dollars to take a kid to Indiana and back. Marshall and Mary couldn't have protected him on a commercial flight? I think they could have.

Mary doesn't even mention Raphael. Are they on a time out? She could have left a message on his machine, couldn't she?

Stan is a waste of time. He does nothing and yet he's Mary and Marshall's supervisor. No wonder they don't consult with him about their operations. The only thing cool about Stan is his last name - McQueen.

When is Mary going to get wise to Brandi's drug use and her calls to a boyfriend who's clearly a criminal?

In Plain Sight: Mary Sunshine

You know that commercial that says, "The real question is, when you turn your car on, does it return the favor?" Well, over at USA Network, the question isn't whether "Characters Welcome" is their slogan, it's "Do I want to welcome these characters into my world?" In the case of their newest drama, In Plain Sight, the answer is...I don't think so.

The series presents Mary McCormack (The West Wing) as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal for the Witness Protection Program, living and working in Albuquerque, New Mexico. To say that Mary is a bitch is an understatement. She's aggressive and grumpy and hard to take. As the pilot played out, Mary showed glimpses of a softer side, a need to fix the problems of others that led to her career protecting and serving those in the Witness Protection Program. However, unlike USA's other quirky character dramas, In Plain Sight doesn't have the whimsy of Monk. It may be that this pilot was just overstuffed with too much of Mary's life, but overall, there's not much in Mary Shannon's life worth watching.

In Plain Sight depicts the marshals of the Witness Protection Program as part baby sitters, part detectives, and always on the clock. Nobody will be signing up for this service based on what they saw of Mary Shannon and her partner Marshal Marshall Mann -- get it?. As played by Frederick Weller, Marshall is a laconic foil for Mary's over-the-top histrionics. He's cool and collected, and even though he reminds Mary that he's not her assistant, he's the one doing the scut work and interfacing with the boss. The boss is completely ineffectual and doesn't seem to know what's going on with the case or even how to buy a gift for Mary. It's her birthday, which apparently is more important to everyone else than it is to her. When she's forced to a surprise party thrown in her honor -- "There are 60 people in there waiting to scream surprise" -- it makes you wonder if she even has six friends, let alone 60.

As hard as it is to put up with Mary's attitude, she's a walk in the park compared to her flaky, floozy mom, Jinx, and Brandy, an obnoxious, criminal little sister. With family like these two, it's a wonder that Mary hasn't placed them in the system and relocated them where they could be someone else's headache. Mary also has a hunky Hispanic boy toy, Cristian de la Fuente, who sounds like Fernando Lamas and shows off his pecs. No dancing, at least not yet.

There was a case to be solved. The teenage son of one of Mary's mob witnesses is murdered along with a girl who seems to be an innocent in all this. Mary is pissed off because the boy was her responsibility, and her investigation involves local cops, Mexicans, Native Americans, mob witnesses and such. Yes, there's lots of local color. The script skirts around the procedural aspects of the case, and the voice over narration which is meant to help tie in all the details, isn't very helpful.

Overall, In Plain Sight isn't without some moments that work. Bobby D, the local detective played by Todd Williams, is fun. Although why he is attracted to Mary -- "Is she seeing anybody?" -- is anybody's guess. Okay, I realize Mary McCormack is beautiful, but Mary Shannon is like John Wayne on estrogen. Not a nice mix. In the end, I'm not thrilled about the prospect of spending more time with Marshall Shannon. Maybe one more episode to see if it improves, as is the case with many pilots. However, if In Plain Sight doesn't click by then, it's going into my closed case file.

Other points of interest

An occasion pop culture reference is dropped, like the Amazing Kreskin. Mary doesn't know who Kreskin is. She does, however, wish she had a Columbo question when she wants to bring down a snotty Indian, and pulls a fake Meg Ryan orgasm when trying to smoke out a mob guy on the phone. In that instance, she says her name is Nomi, as in Nomi from Showgirls. Really, I'm not kidding.

Great crack at the Witness Protection Program, Bobby D refers to them as "The branch of law enforcement that puts criminals back on the street."

Mary is supposed to be a fixer, but does the Witness Protection Program really offer breast augmentation for witnesses who want new boobs? Maybe it was just more quirky storytelling.

Living up to his name, Frankie Nuts, Mary's mob witness, tears through a morgue, unzippingbody bags to find his son.

Running gag involves Mary's purple Ford Probe, a piece of dreck car that she uses to transport witnesses and everything else she has to do.

Why is Mary wearing layers, including a jacket, when it's 112 degrees in the desert? When you live in a desert town or the tropics, dress appropriately.