Welcome Back, In Plain Sight!

In Plain Sight is one of the many USA Network shows that I love and after last season’s surprising and suspenseful finale, I couldn’t wait for its return. Well, In Plain Sight returned full throttle with its season three premiere covering Mary’s recovery, the search for her shooter, more Marshall trivia and outstanding guest performances.

At the end of season two on In Plain Sight, Marshal Mary Shannon was protecting the less than cooperative, South American revolutionary, Francesca Garcia that the U.S. government agreed to hide. Francesca insists on living in a bad section of town and the local gang-bangers begin to stir up some trouble, which ends up with Mary being shot.

This week’s witnesses—James “Jimmy” McCabe and his son Nicholas “Nicky.” Three years ago in Boston, Jimmy hijacked and stole the loot from tractor-trailers. When one of his crew turns on him and threatens Nicky’s life, Jimmy gives up crime and they are relocated to Albuquerque.

Back in the present…Mary admits that she has an extremely detail-oriented memory. For example, she remembers the meal, an omelet, she ate on May 11, 2007, when she first met Raphael, her fiancé. However, she can’t remember what the guy who shot her looks like. She is discharged from the hospital and brought home by Marshall, to a surprise—Jinx, Brandi and Raphael waiting for her in her repaired house. We learn the FBI picked up the tab (they should! They were the ones who tore up her house) and that Mary was in the hospital for six weeks.

Meanwhile, Marshall has been investigating who shot Mary. Every day, Marshall visits the gang leader, Lala, who witnessed the shooting, which is hurting his drug business. During one of those visits and while eating a danish, Marshall, with his love of random trivia, tells Lala, “Did you know the first danish was raspberry with almond flakes? Cheese came later.” Marshall continues to torment Lala with these visits and Mary finally remembers a clue—her shooter was wearing a green shirt. Marshall realizes that her shooter must belong to a rival gang (green is their color) but why were they on Lala’s territory? Lala refuses to tell Marshall, who responds, “Don’t tell me I want to figure you out myself. You’re like a crossword puzzle with B.O.” We learn that the two gangs were trying to broker peace, which is why Mary’s shooter was in Lala’s territory. Finally, Lala is worn down enough and agrees to tell Mary’s shooter (rival gang member named Carmelo) on one condition—that he never has to see Marshall again!

Back to the witnesses—Marshall comes across a video of an armed robbery that matches Jimmy’s M.O. and despite just being released from the hospital, Mary and Marshall pay Jimmy a visit. Jinx is less than thrilled that Mary is rushing into working again, she tells her, “it just didn’t happen to you, Mary. It happened to everyone who loves you.” We learn that Jimmy is now married with a stepson and owns a diner, which is in financial straits. He insists he hasn’t fallen back into his old crime ways despite not having an alibi.

Mary and Marshall then turn their sights on Nicky who lies to try to protect his father. When Marshall asks about Nicky’s “liar liar status,” Mary responds, “pants fully on fire.” However, when Brandi asks Mary about their father, it triggers an idea for Mary—perhaps Leo, Jimmy’s stepson, was behind the robbery after learning about his stepfather’s past from Nicky.

When confronted by Mary, Marshall and Jimmy, Leo admits to committing the armed robbery but won’t give up the other members of his “crew.” Jimmy is furious and tells Leo he led his friends down “dumbass lane.” With Leo’s mom’s encouragement, Leo finally tells who the other members of his crew are and where the stolen goods are hidden.

Nicky sneaks off to talk to Leo’s crew and encourages them to return the stolen items. Instead, lead by TJ (a member of the crew), they ferociously beat Nicky up, who lands in the hospital. At the hospital, Mary and Marshall lose track of Jimmy who leaves to get revenge against TJ. Mary and Marshall manage to find and stop Jimmy from killing TJ but allow him to get a couple good punches in.

At the end of the episode, Mary finally arrests her shooter, Carmelo, after a comical (they both are moving very slowly due to their healing gun shot wounds) scene of her chasing after him.

On a side note, throughout the episode Brandi received mysterious phone calls from a private number. Peter is suspicious even though Brandi says they are from a troubled friend. Hope she is not getting into more trouble…

USA Network prides itself on its characters and as a viewer you grow to, in a way, care about the characters. So, I am happy to welcome back In Plain Sight into my must watch shows and see more of the ballsy and outspoken Mary, plus the loyal and funny Marshall, and the rest of the gang.

I was really impressed by Donnie Wahlberg’s performance as the tough thief yet loving and devoted father! Sometimes the witnesses aren’t too memorable but his guest spot was superb! Some other guest stars we will see this season…Allison Janney, Rita Moreno, Steven Weber, Tess Harper and Josh Cooke. I was a huge fan of The West Wing and I love that former West Wing characters keep appearing on or are getting starring roles on USA Network shows.

Looking forward to the rest of the season especially next week’s flashback episode where we see Mary and Marshall meet for the first time!

Season 3, Episode 1: Father Goes West (originally aired March 31, 2010)

Wednesdays at 10/9c on USA

For more television reviews, click here.

Photographs courtesy of USA.