In Plain Sight – CliqueClack Flashback

When In Plain Sight leaves, I’m going to miss a show that portrayed strong women and their problematic families realistically.

When headstrong Mary Shannon and her stalwart sidekick, Marshal Marshall Mann, aired five years ago, I squeed. FINALLY. Finally, Hollywood understood strong women.

Rather than muting Mary’s strength, intermixing it with flirty sexiness, or undermining it by focusing on her looks, David Maples gave us an unadulterated, unapologetic, strong female character. Mary didn’t cry to make people feel better. She didn’t twirl in heels to seem less threatening. She didn’t turn herself into the stereotypical chick flick. She was a marshal who realistically did her job without gloss or fashion and did it better and more efficiently than those around her.

Even better, rather than make her backstory that of the poor little rich girl, David Maples gave us realism without saccharine sweetness. Sure, Brandi and Jinx were initially annoying, but a show surrounding a family with an alcoholic history and an adult daughter  living with those scars was incredibly real.

I loved the show because it didn’t undercut the actual darkness affiliated with crime solving. We see Mary and Marshall get shot, highlighting the true-to-life dangers of their  job. Even better, the show didn’t aggrandize violence either.

While reminiscing on my love of In Plain Sight, I called on my fellow CliqueClack compatriot and frequent debate partner, Ivey, for a flashback on seasons past.

An: What are your flashback thoughts on In Plain Sight? I hated the first half of season one which reduced Mary to cat fights, dressing up as a bachelorette hooker, and feigning phone sex. But I watched because FINALLY TV portrayed a strong woman who showed anger without histrionics, without a clothing obsession and without character signposting. She’s good at her job and we know it because fifty people don’t tell us. However, in season one’s second half, it hit its groove and smoothed out the rough patches. Jinx and Brandi became stronger and the writers embraced the professional dangers affiliated with law enforcement.

Of course, because you’re guys, I know you and Aryeh preferred season one’s first half.

Ivey: I guess I don’t remember the show as well as you. I went back and have watched the first couple episodes, and sure, it’s a little overwrought, but that’s not entirely uncommon for new shows.

I’ve never liked Mary’s personal life, especially early on. You can take Raph and Jinx and Brandi and completely jettison them and I’d be a much happier camper.

The biggest moments I remembered from season one are both, I believe, in the finale. Stan stepped up and proved he wasn’t the pushover we thought he was. And Marshall’s reaction to Mary’s shooting was perfect. I’m a big fan that they’ve never really pushed this relationship beyond where they have. They are perfect partners.

I can’t say enough about Mary and Marshall’s platonic, unrequited relationship. While I find a man’s willingness to NOT pursue yet remain in love with a woman for six years unbelievable, I loved Marshall’s anguished face whenever Mary fell into danger. Even if the two don’t eventually wind up together (stop yanking my chains, USA!), their friendship (which USA SHOULD requite) is sufficient (almost).

In Plain Sight is an amazing show. Despite last season, the show has traveled far from season one. Stan is a mega-badass, Jinx is Mary’s maternal core, and Brandi has multiple career options. Sure, she relapsed, but she traveled far from the woman willing to let her sister die in her place to a woman with multiple career paths: college, massage therapy, car saleswoman, and day trader. She’ll always struggle with alcoholism, but she’s further along now.

Maybe Bobby D and Elinor might never return. But, we have Delia, Stan’s glamazon and even the Barbie version of Nancy. Hmmm. Almost everyone on In Plain Sight figured out their happy ending … except for Mary and Marshall. You know what, screw it. Even if it’s rushed, I want those two together. I just hope it’s believable, if it happens.

Honestly, I don’t want the show to end because it is so awesome this season. Everything I loved returned this season, fully explained, including Mary’s lists and her father. In fact I owe a debt to In Plain sight. I started guest-clacking for CliqueClack covering In Plain Sight when Aryeh gave it up two years ago. (I know Keith totally regrets inviting me on board since then).

So, USA, I thank you for giving us Mary’s final season and writing a show about a strong woman undergoing familial darkness. While that type of character remains wholly untapped in the contemporary TV landscape, seeing a real female character, defined by her personality and not her sexuality, is rare. And, you wrote it perfectly for five seasons. Mary was a unique, one of a kind character, who you helped feel wanted.

I will totally miss In Plain Sight. Hopefully, even when In Plain Sight is out of sight, it will remain in viewer hearts.

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Apr 27, 2012 @ 10:00 EST5EDT