In Plain Sight – Marshall’s two wives

I enjoyed “The Merry Wives of Witsec“, particularly Mary’s snark, Mary (Mary McCormack) and Marshall’s ongoing relationship, and the incredibly quote-worthy writing. The first half felt slightly empty due to the single case of the week, a bigamist who must bring both his families into the WitSec fold. However, the second half filled up with Marshall (Fred Weller) and Mary’s mutual Stan snark, Marshall’s engagement and his relationship with Mary.

I can always tell when David Naples writes/co-writes an episode, because I typically enjoy them more. This week Naples co-wrote the episode with 2011’s executive producer, Natalie Chaidez. This episode proved no exception concerning my enjoyment. While I loved the incredibly tightly funny writing, the plot felt weak due to the focus on one case. I understand two wives and two separate families equals two separate protection details. However, the witness interactions went slightly too long. The scene with the marshals interrogating the bigamist about his dual wives didn’t need five minutes of Mary’s needling and Marshal’s moralizing. Also, we didn’t need to watch the wives tell their children.

Of course, the writers eventually related the case’s dual wife complex to Marshall’s relationship with Mary, the cynical blonde AKA Marshall’s work wife AKA the witness’ first wife, and Abigail (Rachel Boston), the perky, brunette AKA Marshall’s real wife and the witness’ second wife.

Will Marshall’s marriage proposal change his relationship with Mary? Based on this week, yes. At first I feared Abigail would affect their relationship. However, watching their early morning gossip over Stan’s kissing style felt like old times. But, the end scene where Mary calls the usually ever-faithful Marshall who does not pick up while getting busy with Abigail, implies it will change. I’m not sure how I feel about the engagement. Although I’m FINALLY over the Marshall and Mary relationship, the proposal felt too soon for me. I didn’t expect to see Marshall’s angsty face, typically reserved for Mary, displayed to “Nancy Drew” while waiting for her answer.

Marshall and Abigail are a good couple. No doubt Marshall’s feelings for Mary served as a placeholder until someone more accessible came along. Even so, I needed a few more episodes to further adjust.

Overall, is this season the In Plain Sight we know and love? So far, yes. Mary’s still snarky and she’s still the witness whisperer. I loved the moment when she calmed John’s second wife by asking her to stay calm for their child.

Do you believe Marshall’s engagement to Abigail is a good thing? Or do you hope Marshall will eventually return to Mary?

Thoughts:

• Delia (Tangie Ambrose) and Marshall make great natural partners, but I still prefer seeing Marshall and Mary together.
• This is the first time I actually calculated the cost of WitSec protection. This week, Stan and company rented rooms for both families in a high end hotel, rented out the main ballroom for discussions, and then added multiple agents in the ballroom, lobby and bedrooms. That’s a lotta moola for a couple days.
• Seriously, I hate it when TV tries to cast the guy who fell in love with two women as honorable *cough, cough * 30 Rock. Um, dude, if you love both women, why wouldn’t you tell them? Also, why would you create a fake wedding and a fake wedding certificate? OK, so woman two is kinda stupid for not noticing her certificate came from an inkjet, but DUDE, if you think your love is that honorable, you wouldn’t go to such lengths.

Pseudo-Quotes:

• I loved this week’s humor including Mary’s referencing bomb-dropping as “pearl harbor-ing.”
• Mary mocking Marshall’s antipathy for fireside seating: “I don’t know what xerothermic is, all I know is it makes me want to punch you in the throat.”
• Marshall’s description of making out: sipping from the “chalice of Eros”
• Mary’s continuing Bobbit references both verbal and physical (fry-chomping has new meaning).
• I loved the various Mary asides regarding calling the two families as “bizarre Brady bunch” and mocking Abigail as “southern fried Avon lady.”
• Mary is Marshall’s “work wife”? I thought it was the other way around.

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Apr 09, 2012 @ 09:50 EST5EDT