Television: In Plain Sight

It’s been a while. And I have no excuse. Although the writers’ strike put a spanner in the TV works, there was still a steady, albeit mediocre, stream of TV over the last few months. So thank God for cable. While other channels are busy cancelling their dramas and replacing them with Rock of Love or eighties TV stars in hilarious and challenging situations, US cable channels have been quietly airing some new shows. And although, none are outstanding, the ardent viewer can indulge, safe in the knowledge that low viewership is not a precursor to the guillotine.
From USA Network, In Plain Sight has a dull name and a text book premise, but it’s lifted out of the mire, thanks to a refreshing performance from lead, Mary McCormack. Mary Shannon is a federal marshal in Albuquerque, assigned to protect the anonymity of those under the witness protection program. The action revolves around possible breaches of their security or hazards that may be connected to their status.
The plots involving the witnesses are mildly diverting but it’s the series regulars who provide the most appeal. Mary’s partner, the aptly named Marshall, is a possessor of a wit as gravel-like as his voice. He’s a potential romantic interest for he’s obviously very fond of her beneath all that fraternal joshing. Mary has a number of admirers: her older, jovial boss; a cop who’s both irate and intrigued by her refusal to co-operate; a hunky semi pro baseball player who wants much more from her than the occasional shag Mary is offering. Given the amount of male attention this woman is receiving, she should be one of the most hated characters ever conceived. Thankfully McCormack’s performance is spot on. She’s intuitive, bitchy, sarcastic, brutally honest and mercifully oblivious to the effect she has on men. At the core of her attitude is a lack of self-worth that has yet to be explored. Mary can control the lives and lifestyles of those she is protecting so that she doesn’t have to display any control in her domestic situation.
The weak link in this show is her family. Her mother is an irresponsible lush. Her sister is a troublemaking skank (is there any other kind?). For reasons that have escaped me, both are indefinitely encroaching on Mary’s hospitality and causing her no end of bother. I assume they are brought in for light relief, but they fall flat. They are annoying and charmless.
In Plain Sight will succeed as long as it focuses on the regular characters. The concept that so many witnesses are located in the same area seems careless in plot and downright lethal in practice. Mary calls all characters by their original names. Shouldn’t they be identified by new names? Isn’t rebranding part of the protection too? There are many holes in the structure of this show, but I’ll forgive them. Strong female leads are often pitched but rarely work this well. And she doesn’t even have a superpower!