I don’t know how I feel about the new showrunner(s). When I interviewed Mary McCormack a few weeks back, she stated that while it might take a new showrunner longer to get into the groove, the continuing existence of the core actors, Mary, Fred, and Paul, would serve as anchors. She didn’t believe the show’s tone would overtly change; however, I have to disagree.
What I liked most about seasons two and three of In Plain Sight, surrounded the introspective monologues and the ability of the producers/writers to increasingly complicate each week’s script (through multiple witness plots and various home entanglements). However, with the introduction of the new characters (Marshall’s bright and sunny girlfriend alongside WitSec’s bright and sunny new inspector) and way lighter plots it seems more focused on drawing Mary into the bright side. I don’t know if I like it. I miss the introspective monologues. I miss the Mary/Marshall bonding on a microscopic soul cleaving level. And, I miss Mary’s darkness. Season three’s executive producer, John McNamara, cast Mary’s house wholly into shadows. It gave the show a dark overtone, but it revealed more about Mary’s inner nature. I think it will take the new showrunners, Ed Decter and John Strauss, far longer. And, although I loved There’s Something About Mary, I don’t think either really understand In Plain Sight’s Mary.
This is a case of the USA executive producers feeling they know more about the show than the show’s creator. I have to disagree with USA Network executive Wachtel. They lucked out with McNamara, but In Plain Sight might not get another season if USA executives continue to follow pride over plot. For heaven’s sakes, the show’s pure fluff now (and not the marshmallow kind). Throw in the towel and respect the person who successfully drew in a strong audience base for two and half seasons (including the third season where David Maples partially stepped in for McNamara). I don’t know if I have the patience to wait until Decter/Strauss figure out what to do.
This week, the pageant daughter of Mary’s most domestic witness discovers her mother’s past through a 48 Hours-like exposé preview while Jinx plans for Brandi’s wedding. Although I enjoyed seeing Jinx back in action and watching the Shannon women scheme Peter’s family, the plot didn’t make sense. On day one, Jinx claims she wants to hold the wedding herself in the name of Shannon pride, on day two she reveals it’s just a ruse. You know it’s a not-so good show when the best part includes Jinx. Actually, that isn’t true. I really enjoyed watching Stan wheel and deal behind the scenes. Although I’m up in the air about Marshall’s girlfriend, I’m not against her. I loved the connection of the characters (and their actors), but did anyone else notice the longing glance Marshall cast Mary’s way in the beginning scene? I also liked when the show focused on Mary’s investigative skills (albeit briefly). These minor parts reminded me of the show I once enjoyed.
But, I didn’t enjoy the forced foray into lightness. We didn’t need 30 minutes watching a teenager pout about her parents’ former lifestyle. Yea, your mom took drugs in the nineties, get over it. Pouting, complaining, and threatening to tell your friends, while knowing it could catalyze your family’s death just seemed petulant and self-absorbed. Sure, she’s in pageants, but she isn’t brain dead. Considering, we’ve already seen Mary play mother to various teenagers/witnesses with more depth, this didn’t stand out as a unique episode. However, kudos to the writers for the Mary-esque line at the end telling the baby food pageant mom that she’s what’s wrong with the world.
While I like watching the more mature Jinx and Brandi in action, I miss the strong writing. The new show has good spots, but it isn’t the show I watched for the past three years. It might get better as the showrunners gain their feet, but for now the new direction feels stale and forced. Clearly, I’m going to have to buy seasons two and three to mourn the loss of direction in my favorite show. I always felt Chase was the poor man’s knock-off of In Plain Sight but, now thanks to network interference, In Plain Sight is Chase’s lesser sister.
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on May 24, 2011 @ 01:49 EST5EDT
Just one point about the wedding plans. At the end I think it’s made pretty clear that the “ruse” was as much to keep Brandi in the dark about the true plans as it was to let the future in-laws foot the bill for the wedding. It seemed to me that everybody realized the in-laws, being extremely wealthy, would offer to pay for the wedding, but this way Jinx and Mary kept Brandi from feeling like she was part of some scheme to make that happen. Brandi has apparently straightened out her ways and they didn’t want to make her complicit in something that, while a foregone conclusion, might seem like a bit of deception.
Regarding the show, I haven’t liked it very much since the first season and this season is the worst of all. I’ve watched every episode, but it just seems to lose more and more of itself as time goes on. At this point I’m hoping USA puts it out of our misery and replaces it with something a bit more enjoyable. They’ve got a good track record of making fun shows, even if they have little depth, and “In Plain Sight” seems to no longer have depth and it isn’t very fun.
*POST AUTHOR*
You and Aryeh both love season 1, whereas I hated the first half, but I hung on until the second half because at the time (all of 4 years ago) a show focused on a strong, non-sexualized woman didn’t really exist.
I’m really disappointed in USA. The show clearly built (and grew) a strong audience base. Yet, a few executives decided they want less reality and more ideality. Less shows like ‘Monk’ (seasons one and two), and more shows like ‘Fairly Legal.’ I love when new networks start because the executives remain open to unique ideas (think Fox/the WB in the 90s). But, the minute they become successful, they force themselves into a template and away from the originality that attracted people to the network –
Season 4 seems dedicated to avoiding all conflict at all costs and resolving any negative issues immediately. I thought about the two putting on a show for Brandi, but then I thought it seemed like too much energy for Mary. But, maybe Jinx had decided to put it on just in case. If this were season 1-3, the Shannons probably would have held the wedding at Mary’s house and we’d watch Mary balance that frustration with her work life.
Instead, this season we continue the fairytale that Peter’s high end luxury car business remains successful and unhampered by economic crises . . .
I certainly can’t disagree with your take on the show. It does continue to disappoint and Mary is most definitely not herself any more. The only remnants left of her original personality are superficial snippets. It’s kind of sad, but the season is young and perhaps it’ll move in a better direction. (Yeah, I’ll keep telling myself that.)
I hope things get a little deeper with Mary once the big seasonal twist happens (I think most know about this, but I don’t want to spoil). But I think that’s also one reason for the change, because Mary’s going to be fundamentally changing this season, whether we like it or not. I do agree about Marshall’s gf and the new Inspector, they’re both way too cheery for my liking. I miss Eleanor.
*POST AUTHOR*
Hey Monica,
I’m impressed by your willpower in avoiding spoilers. However, I probably will spill the beans in a couple weeks when I release the MM interview. Let me know what you think then ;) I’m fine with change and I loved the maturity we witnessed in Mary from season one to three, but this is less a character change and more a total change in the entire tone/focus of the show.
I think Monica was stating that she doesn’t want to spoil others with the big twist. She doesn’t want to spoil, rather than wanting to avoid being spoiled.
*POST AUTHOR*
Hey Josie –
That’s the same name as my cat! However, I knew what Monica meant, and that’s why I applauded her in avoiding the desire to spoil the coup, when I plan on doing that in a couple days ;)
I agree about upcoming events changing the entire tone of the show. It’s why I really wish they hadn’t decided to go there.
While I think that the episodes we’ve had so far this season have been fine, I just haven’t been feeling the show and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think you’re right in that the Mary/Marshall connection just isn’t there anymore. I actually think they started to lose it last season, but even though they’ve been working together more this season than last, they feel even less connected. I really miss the Mary/Marshall of late season one and season two.
And while I thought Mary got too mean last season, I’m not sure how I feel about this Mary. Up until this last episode, her snark felt too forced and artificial. It felt a little more natural in this episode, but…things just feel off. Maybe the showrunners will figure it out, but I can’t see it happening when they are going to be too busy shoving the show in a completely different direction when the upcoming change.
YES. THANK YOU. I’ve been really annoyed at the cheesy, contrived dialogue that is a very poor imitation of the previous years’. These are not the same characters and this is not the same show.
Recent episode kumar v kumar is the best of this season