In Plain Sight – Daughters of bad men

First off, best guest stars ever: Michael Badalucco (The Practice) and Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me, Pretty Woman). Who didn’t guess her cousin would try to shoot her the minute he suggested a wine run? Admittedly, I initially thought he was her husband and thought– “Oh no, not another case of a mob love interest gone wrong.” Technically, it’s the third case if you count the psychotic fishmongerer, but who’s counting? (Other than me.)

As I’m not in the mood to catalogue my thoughts coherently, below find a random mishmash of observations, thoughts, and cogitations:

Witness of the Week

• Why is Michael Badassco relegated to guest star hell? After seeing him play a Practice pushover, it was refreshing seeing him pull out his best ‘goombah.’ And, I wanted to see him return in the end.
• How cold is Mia’s family? Even if they didn’t know about the terminal tumor, they knew she just underwent brain surgery.
• Why did Mary apologize for the temporary housing? It looked really nice (better than the others).
• I liked that they’re continuing to show Mary and Marshall handle different witnesses without losing the M&M/Mar-Squared connection.
• Marshall’s witness this week? Very cute, although slightly dense. Really? Two men wearing full business suits in the middle of the day are about to eat pizza and watch the game?
• Even though it’s the third mob ep, I enjoyed it. Since The Sopranos went off the air, the mob theme has gone down in American TV.
• This is the second time in S3 we see Mary shop with her clients. The mundane events like going to CostCo make WitSec seem more realistic.
• I liked the new lawyer, Boswell, and wouldn’t mind seeing him as a romantic interest. However, I wished they had not brought him on just for the random line he said to Mia.
• What’s up with the beautifully poetic advice on marriage from this show (considering Mary’s advice two eps ago)? Mia tells  her niece to marry her boyfriend only because she wants his face besides hers.
• At the end, Mary points out the irony of the only witness she ever liked.

Private Lives

• I love the new subtle insights into Mary & Marshall’s private life. Three weeks ago, it was sushi, this time, an art show outing (Note: Mary hates men with lip tats that read ‘Yea’).
• On Alison Pierson’s clone: #1) Crap, she’s back? #2) Did you notice something between Marshall and Theresa?
• So, Mary has the ability to shoot accurately while drinking huge vats of liquid? Awesome.
• I’m surprised Scott went to see Jinx alone. Seriously, her Stepford Wife-Psycho Killer look thoroughly freaked me out. I love how Jinx says her life is great without her ex, when it is clear he has left a hole inside her, her family and even her children who no longer remember him
• This is the type of family drama I’ve always wanted. I tired of watching the Shannon women viciously ripping into each other week after week, but when the family disappeared, the show felt empty. I like seeing peeks into Mary’s life, but this last ep did a better job of showing them as flawed characters without in-your-face ‘I-hate-you-very-much’ demonstrations.
• I loved seeing Mary and Jinx discussing their problems while actually supporting each other. It seemed more realistic and made them more like a family.
• Again, I love how Marshall can make Mary depend on him in ways Rafe couldn’t.
  Mary: I should do it alone.
  Marshall: Why? I’m here.

Observation Mishmash

• I continue to enjoy the shot experimentation, including: the hot air balloons, the solitary nose drip, and the subtle shot of the bottle in front of Jinx.
• The writing was excellent this week. I particularly loved the parts where each character used the phrase spoken by the previous character:
  • Stan:We got a breach?
    Marshall: We may.
  • Marshall: Where you’re blind, I see.
    Mary: Where I’m smart you’re an idiot.
  • Mary (paraphrasing): Let’s not go down a road we don’t want.
    Mia (paraphrasing): We’re already down that road.
• Can they at least bump Stan up to three lines a week?

Quotations of the Week

• Mary: Ah, is Marshall speak for arrogant.
• Mary: I love it when you talk to me in greeting card.
• Marshall (to his closeted witness): I leave you with two words: Dick Cheney.
• Mary (on learning of Alison Pierson assistance): Ah. Victory. Why such a bitter aftertaste?
• Mary (on Jinx’s issues): You know what, mom? I don’t want to say your problems are less significant than other people’s. But, they’re less significant than other people’s.
• Mary (to witness): This is not pity. This is my twisted version of friendship.
• Marshall (when his witness calls him for assistance): I don’t know what to say except this doesn’t exactly constitute an emergency.
• Mary (on the only witness she ever liked): I can count the witnesses I’ve admired on a hand and a half. The ones I’ve liked fewer still. When it comes to the ones I was truly friends with I can’t even count. I don’t need to. There was only Mia. Somewhere a therapist’s couch beckons.

So what did people think? Awhile back I asked if CC should stop reviewing it. I received a few ‘no way, kick it to the curb’ and a ‘keep on keepin’ on.’ Since there are only 4 eps left in the season, what do you think about bi-weekly reviews? Also, although I have the ego of eggshells, but a head of steel, any other writing suggestions/IPS requests?

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Jun 04, 2010 @ 08:58 EST5EDT