Full disclosure: I was so bored last night, I had to fight to stay awake. Wow; just not a good episode.

And for a season finale? I think the writers of In Plain Sight may have tried to dig a bit too deep with this season, what with the additional three episodes over last. I’m not saying it can’t be done (see Burn Notice, season two), but it may have been too much for this group.

Here’s the issue I take with plots like this one: where’s the drama in the main character’s life “being in danger?” Is Mary McCormack not signed on through next season? Of course she is! Could they, theoretically, pull a Sopranos and have her in a coma for much of next year? Sure, but that doesn’t mean her life will ever be in danger. Unless, of course, USA Networks doesn’t show McCormack the money. In that case…. Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, so that’s not literally true, but, how many surprises do we need in our guest star’s past? His best friend died in a boating accident; his best friend panicked, and our guy left him behind to save himself in a boating accident; our guy is the best friend, and he stole the other dude’s identity. So … we’re supposed to believe that James Frain’s real British accent was a fake? “Not bloody likely.”

The story was a bit contrived. Okay. The real loop I got thrown for was how poor Mary and Marshal suddenly are at controlling their witnesses. I’m sure I will get plenty of argument from Ryan, but the bottom line is that they had a total lack of control over NEW inductees into the WITSEC program. Mary didn’t have clue one what was flying, and I feel like our duo is becoming more detective than protector. Yes, the former is an important part of the job, but what good is entering The Program when those tasked to protect you are incapable? Read the rest of this entry »

Alright, so it was kind of sad, on its face … but, as predictable as it was, I still found the office engagement party to be pretty damn funny. Eleanor (Holly Maples) and Stan (Paul Ben-Victor) awaiting Mary and Marshals’ return with some hats and drinks? Good stuff.

Of all the shows that I watch on TV, In Plain Sight was possibly the last I imagined going PC. That is, a lesbian witness, whose sexual orientation was taken in stride. For whatever reason, I didn’t expect it to happen, but I appreciated how it was handled: nothing different happening here. Sure, there were the occasional comments by Marshal, but his inappropriateness level would have been the same had the witness been a tree, or a rock…. Give it a minute. Read the rest of this entry »

Sorry for the delay; I spent all of yesterday on the phone with the postal service. It seems that no one can find the royalty check that the writers on In Plain Sight must have sent me. It’s like no one even knew what I was talking about. I figured, “the episode aired Sunday night, so they probably meant to get it to me beforehand, in which case, it should have arrived by Saturday, latest.” Thus my response to everyone that, “no, it wasn’t most likely in Monday’s mail.” It wasn’t, anyway, so that blew their theory to hell.

Anyway, while I await what most assuredly must be arriving in today’s mail, I figure I might as well revisit said episode with you. I’ll fill you all in when the check finally gets here.

I thought the training video storyline was hilarious. In its application, I was a bit disappointed by the end, because I imagined Marshal and Mary starring in it, but I like how old-school the original was, and how brain-dead even the new, finished product, was. That it was meant to mirror Mary’s life was a bit too obvious, and I’m kind of surprised that it was news to her; it was like saying to her, “Mary, you wear jeans,” and having her be stunned at the revelation. But, okay. Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, so that threw me for a huge loop. Did anyone follow the logic at the end of last night’s episode of In Plain Sight?

Rafe’s (Cristián de la Fuente) mom is in town for his and Mary’s engagement party. Already a little strange, but, fine. Time for a game of pretend this is happening, so as not to disturb the mother steeped in traditions, and what not. Check. Mary can’t go through with it, tells the truth, and she and Rafe have a showdown. Got it.

Now, here’s where the episode doubled down on things: Rafe and Mary finally (finally!) realize that they’re not on the same page. That something’s wrong with their line of communication. In fact, Rafe’s spent the last nine months seriously contemplating retirement from professional baseball, a move he made real the day before. Clearly, there’s a disconnect in your relationship if you could physically make that kind of HUGE, life-altering decision without your partner in life. So, what does Mary do? Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, not literally, but who else was really impressed by David Denman’s (Roy from The Office) performance on In Plain Sight this week? I did not know the actor had a dramatic side to him. I mean, sure, his arc was kind of stupid, but, bravo on the acting chops. Very impressive.

What was not so impressive was the show that surrounded the guest star. But, to begin with the positive: I love how this week got back to focusing on the witness. For all of you who’ve read my complaints on the subject, this is what I meant by getting back to the guests. We still got plenty of Mary and Marshall, but the witness was no longer merely a tool for the stars. Instead, he was central to a story in which the stars played a lead role. Big different, and wildly different results. I liked the back to basics.

What didn’t work for me was the actual story, but that stuff’s hit or miss on shows like this. You can’t love them all. However, you can expect a little bit of clarity, something I feel that this episode did not provide. Read the rest of this entry »

I feel like a broken record. All of the shows that I watch that are in their second or third seasons are getting the same complaints from me: Where’s the progression? Where are the stories that make sense? The ones that fit?

Well, In Plain Sight was, and is, firmly in that category. What’s happening in Albuquerque?

If you caught the last episode, and have been reading my reviews of season two of the show, you know that a lot of the questions that I’ve previously posed have finally been addressed. In one episode. Where everything is put on fast forward, and ties up in a neat little bow by the end credits. Huh?

We’re talking about major plot-points here! Series-long arcs that need time, thought, and lots of story to conclude. Instead, we get forty or so minutes? Why so lazy? Read the rest of this entry »