In Plain Sight – Recap & Review – The Medal of Mary

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In Plain Sight
The Medal of Mary

Original Air Date: Apr 20, 2012

Jules – News Editor
jules@thetwocentscorp.com

We ended last week’s episode with Mary cuffing her dad, thus beginning the wrap up of the story of Mary’s MIA fugitive dad, which is fine by me because you don’t keep mentioning this large looming figure in Mary’s life for five seasons for nothing.

In tonight’s antepenultimate (a new word I learned today!) episode, we delve into why James is back and what he’s been up to. With so much going on for Mary (and Marshall-his dad is back), let’s not waste any space here. James is now in the custody of the FBI. It’s late and Marshall comes down to see how Mary’s doing. Awww. Mary also gets the “how are you doing?” the next morning from Stan and Delia.

Mary’s making a list the next morning when we flashback to her as a child with her dad. He tells her to “Never trust your partner. If you need something done right, just do it yourself and to always keep a list.” Interesting words of advice for a kid, but we’ll take it.

Our favorite FBI agent to hate, O’Connor, is back (aka Mary McCormack’s real life brother Will McCormack). He’s leading the case for James and says getting him is great, but what he has to offer is even better. Apparently, James is willing to roll on his former colleague, Cormack “Sully” Sullivan, in exchange for a reduced sentence and a place in WITSEC. Mary’s shocked at the revelation. The only problem is that James will only talk to Mary. Of course.

James met Sully 40 years ago. It was him who got James on the bank robbery track and began to trust him. Sully was ruthless and said if James ever left the fold he’d kill his family(s). Then Sully sprung himself from max security and contacted James saying he wanted to ramp things up again. James said he was done, but Sully – well he’s still keeping tabs on James’ family and that’s when James decided to run again. And since Sully knows about Brandi and Jinx, Mary’s worried for their safety. But no worries – Delia’s out to check on them while Marshall is on detail for Mark and Norah.

So what changed for James? Sully had lots of rules, but James’ only rule was no violence. This last time though Sully went off the rails and killed someone. James says the FBI need to stop Sully now and is ready to do it now with Mary, his new partner. Mary says she’s not his partner and the interrogation or her dad gets to her, even breaking down a bit in the bathroom. Poor Mary; an emotional scene seeing such a strong woman be broken like that.

James learns that Mary is a WITSEC Inspector and tries to compare himself to Mary saying they both spent their life protecting people. Mary doesn’t have it; James was just protecting himself. We flashback to right before James left and gives Mary a necklace, “the medal of Mary” from her first communion and to wear it to keep everyone safe.

Mary tries to get Scott into WITSEC, but he’s not ready to put his life in park again. Very well. James reveals information about how Sully works and says all he wants now is to lay low and to do that he’ll need a nice cushion. He knows Sully doesn’t trust him completely, but knows he trusts his merchandise and can get him on this last score, which he’ll get, but only with Mary.

Heading out to James’ house, he mentions a bunch of details from Mary’s life – ending her relationship with Raph and Brandi’s engagement. Mary says she needed a father, not a stalker. Very true. But James says he was trying to keep her safe and walking away from her was the best and worst thing he’s ever done.

The team arrive at the house and there’s Mark with Norah! So James (using the name George) has been here this whole time and even bought solar panels from Mark just to see Norah. How did no one know? O’Connor chastises Mary on what kind of inspector and mom she is for letting her daughter be five minutes from a known fugitive. Mary makes it clear she wasn’t aiding and abetting and just wants makes sure her family’s safe, capture Sully, and ensure the rapid departure of her dad.

James gets the merchandise – an emerald – and sets up a meeting with Sully’s in between, Finn, and they wait until Sully makes contact, which eventually happens. In this time we find out James has stage three cancer and Delia calls to say Jinx and Brandi are safe. Phew!

Before James is about to have his meet with Sully, he and Mary have a heart to heart of sorts where she gives her dad the medal of Mary to keep him safe and without really saying it James lets it be known that he’s proud of what Mary’s become with the nothing he gave her.

The meet is under a local bridge with cameras ready and the team in the van watching. James gets a call – it’s Sully – who says he’s not the only one with an in at the bureau (!) Sully says he has Scott – who in the background says he’s OK, but as soon as he says that, Sully tells James to say goodbye to his son. A shot is heard over the phone! Sully says he doesn’t bluff and tells James to tell his pretty daughter that he says Hi. OMG!

After Sully hangs up, James has a panic attack and is rushed to an ambulance while the Miami office is trying to track Sully down. In the ambulance, James is not sick at all, as he’s able to knock down both the ambulance workers and escapes. O’Connor finds out and immediately speculates Mary’s involvement, but since he doesn’t know Mary like we do, she lashes out at him saying she would never be in cahoots with anyone on the FBI’s most wanted list. O’Connor is still as prickly as I remembered.

Mary suspects her dad is after Sully to kill him even though he’s never killed a soul. What makes Mary sure? Because that’s what she’d do. Mary says her father probably should have trusted his own advice about never trusting your partner as Mary (his new partner) put a tracking device on the necklace. Now she knows where James is. Should have suspected something when Mary gave him the necklace.

Elsewhere, Abigail has some fun with Marshall’s father Seth. He seems pretty happy about Marshal being with Abigail. But later when mentioning Seth’s new happiness, he gets all seroius and tells Marshall that in marriage, there’s no room for guest work, you have to be sure. Seth tells Marshall, “Who you’re there for at four in the morning, that’s the one. You gotta ask yourself, is Abigail the girl you’d always hope you’d bring home?” Cut to Marshall with Norah in his lap. Aww! As a Mary and Marshall fan, it made it seem like there was hope yet. Thanks Seth!

Favorite Mary-isms

• “Stan, this is bullshit. I’m a WITSEC Inspector. If I wanted to be a douchebag Special Agent, I would have gone to douchebag Special Agent school.”
• “Where are we going, the mixed metaphor store?”

What a rush of an episode! I just loved it. Seeing Mary still hold on to that memory of her “daddy” brought it all home for me. I’m not at all surprised that James is on the lam. Is Mary right in thinking James’ out to get Sully once and for all? What will Mary share this intel with O’Connor (doubt it)? Only two episodes left to wrap this up! And the Mary/Marshall stuff! Is Mary the one Marshall really wants to take home? I’d love to get your thoughts!

Next week: Sacrificial Lam