In Plain Sight – Recap & Review – Whistle Stop

photo: usa

In Plain Sight
Whistle Stop

Original Air Date: Apr 21, 2010

Sara M. – Reviewer
sara@thetwocentscorp.com

The post break up episode, our first encounter with the FBI since Agent O’Conner (who, lets face it, set the bar pretty low for likable FBI agents), and no family drama for Mary.

Also includes guest star Steven Weber, furthering my theory that anyone who has done a program with Aaron Sorkin will eventually end up on USA Network. And away we go.

We begin in Denver, Colorado. Agent Faber (Steven Weber) is attaching the wire to his whistle blower, Earl. The mission is simple; Earl is going in to find out the specifics of his bank bosses’ money laundering business. But before he can get into the room the bosses expect him to remove all metal objects. Panicking, Earl runs to the bathroom and looses the wire; he goes back in without any escape route. He gets enough info that he’ll be able to testify without the ledger of names. Faber has a star witness for his case, next step? Witness Protection Program.

Albuquerque. Marshall is busy doing origami while fighting over the phone about a penny that has been missing from his paycheck for the last 14 weeks. Mary arrives and takes over the call. Which of course means she hangs up. It is at this point we get the first engagement ring-less hand close up. Marshall notices but says nothing. Before anything else can be said Stan arrives to give them their assignment. The two are being sent to “help” with Faber’s case in Denver.

Mary and Marshall have been called in to tell Earl that he needs to go into Witness Protection. Per usual, the alternative law enforcement is a “jackass” (M&M are unanimous in this label) and never mentioned the need to go into protection. As soon as the topic comes up, Faber begins to promise a lavish life. Mary quickly puts an end to this and for one glimmering moment it looks like Mary is going to kick Farber’s ass. Earl is of course confused; during his three years of working with the feds he never thought that he would have to change his life and identity (along with his family). He leaves, but not before Marshall warns against saying anything to wife, family, or friends.

Back at the main office there’s a new guy, Charlie. Eager to work on a case, he brings Stan an emergency fax regarding one of Marshall’s past witnesses. A former boxing champion, Ricky is causing trouble at a local gym. Stan goes to deal with it and discovers that the champ has become delusional. Believing that Stan is his murdered friend, Arnie. Behold the semi-pointless B-plot of this episode. Lets just wrap this up now. Ricky has dementia; one more punch to the head could cause serious damage or death. But he returns to the gym anyway, Stan goes to find him. But he of course gets into a fight with one of the younger boxers who punches Ricky square in the face. As he lay on the floor loosing consciousness Stan cradles his head and pretends to be Arnie.

Tension is rather palpable between Mary and Faber. Him calling her ‘kitten’ doesn’t help the situation much. Faber is rather self-involved; it’s all about his case and doesn’t seem to truly care about Earl. Who becomes aware of the fact that Faber only cares about a conviction and decides not to enter witsec. On this choice Mary and Marshall prepare to leave. They’re about to get out of Denver when Faber arrives and asks them to help him convince Earl to go into protection. We find out that his father is a ruthless politician, with similar qualities as his son.

M & M agree to stay and head over to the meeting place (kind of dangerous to have the same meeting place every time, just saying). In the car we have a scene somewhat similar to that from the episode before where Mary confesses her lack of enthusiasm about the wedding. This time she shares the news that she and Raph broke up but refuses to elaborate. Instead she begs Marshall to spout his random facts, fill the silence and distract her. However, he is, for the first time every, speechless and incapable of performing.

At the ridiculous meeting place, Earl doesn’t show. He has been picked up by fake agents and is being held captive. At his house, wife Melissa reveals that he told her everything the previous night. The house has been bugged and someone knows that Earl went to retrieve the ledger. Melissa has a great scene with Faber, blaming him for the change in her husband. She begins to scream that if anything happens to Earl “you did it!” Over and over again but then comes the big moment, she slaps him. I love a good slap on TV.

M & M, and Faber go to pick up the ledger, unaware that Earl already retrieved and stashed it. Of course he hid it in a safety deposit box. As he is leaving the bank with the bad guys, the good guys are heading in. A gunfight ensues, Earl is safe, and Marshall saves a kid holding a balloon (too stupid to move when gunshots are fired right over his head).

Earl and the family go into protection, but not before Faber apologizes… well kind of apologizes. He then turns his sights on Mary, asking her out on a date. Which completely goes over her head, falling on Marshall to explain that she is being asked out. “Why?” Is her befuddled response. With a quick explanation that the timing is bad, a date is avoided.

Back at the witsec offices, Marshall is finally ready with random facts to distract Mary. But they end up actually talking about her failed engagement. Ricky arrives, he’s alive! And going into a special home. Despite appearing lucid, Ricky remembers everyone but Stan. They head off to deal with paper work while Mary disappears into the conference room to deal with Earl and his wife. Leaving Marshall alone at their desks. Mary’s phone begins to ring, it’s Farber. The call is ignored and deleted, because Marshall knows what Mary needs… at least that’s what the voice over would lead us to believe.

So, thoughts? A slower episode than usual, but enjoyable nevertheless. What do you think about an impending Mary/Farber relationship? Would that somehow function better as they are both in law enforcement? And he knows and understands what she does? Or joining the ship of M&M? Any speculation on what Brandi is doing in New Jersey and what will follow her when she returns? What are your two cents?

Next Week: Fish or Cut Betta

Add to: Facebook | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumbleupon | Reddit | Blinklist | Twitter | Technorati | Yahoo Buzz | Newsvine