It Takes a Village to Raise a Child. Review: In Plain Sight - "Four Marshals and a Baby" @InPlainSight_USA

Review: In Plain Sight, S5 E2 – “Four Marshals and a Baby”

Airdate: Friday, March 23, 2012, 10/9c on the USA Network

Rating: ★★★★★

“Oh my God, you’re the baby whisperer.” – Mary

“Four Marshals and a Baby” is nothing if not entertaining. It is so much fun watching Stan (Paul Ben-Victor), Marshall (Frederick Weller) and even Susan (Mädchen Amick), a WITSEC politico, cooing to and cuddling baby Norah. Poor Mary (Mary McCormack), she’s so much better at her job than she is at parenting.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child. Review: In Plain Sight - "Four Marshals and a Baby" @InPlainSight_USA 1

Lisa and Stan doing the Argentine Tango

This week’s episode covers a lot of ground with many different storylines that all come together at the end. The major storyline belongs to Beth Wilcox (Jennifer Elise Cox), a doll shop owner who sees a shooting during a drug deal gone wrong. Beth is a very happy-go-lucky sort of woman who is very unhappy about being uprooted and leaving everything and everyone she loves behind. But that’s what people in WITSEC have to do.

Then there’s Christy Owens (Lauren Petzke). While Petzke isn’t known for her acting skills (she does electric and lighting work on various TV series and movies), she plays a credible character in Owens. Owens seeks WITSEC protection in jail because she’s a member of the Brotherhood, an Aryan nation club. It’s no wonder with all the swastika ink on her body that she’s afraid. I like that Petzke’s character challenges Delia (Tangie Ambrose) in the office, showing us a different Delia than we’re used to seeing. It also provides some nice character development for Ambrose as she goes from silly to serious in the blink of an eye. Delia gets in Christy’s face, her voice drops, her confidence rises and by the time she’s finished telling Christy like it is, I find myself saying, “You go girl!” Not only does Ambrose earn my respect as an actress, but her character earns Mary’s respect as well.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child. Review: In Plain Sight - "Four Marshals and a Baby" @InPlainSight_USA 2

Fred and Mary rushing to help Delia

Because of that earned respect, Mary sends Delia to deal with Beth’s crazy landlord (Eric S. Lynch) and things swing out of control quickly. Sweet Beth is now a crazy lunatic. I must commend Cox for how well she turns her character from happy one minute to angry and bizarre the next. Perhaps the funniest line of the episode occurs when Mary and Marshall rush to Beth’s apartment to help Delia, and Marshall sees a slew of bunnies running around.

Marshall to Mary: “You see what I see?”

Mary: “Yep. Key chains. Dozens and dozens of key chains.”

Robert LaSardo reprises his role as Carlos Ramirez but this time, LaSardo shows us a different side of Carlos. Normally, LaSardo portrays a scary, ruthless drug dealer/murderer (think Nip/Tuck and CSI: Miami) but in “Four Marshals and a Baby,” his character cares more about his alpacas than his own life. When Carlos describes how the kids who connect with his petting zoo leave with lifted spirits, it’s sweet. I’m not sure I understand why Carlos calls for Mary’s help when he sees the Diablo Kings. I know they want to kill him but since he decides to leave WITSEC, what’s the point?

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child. Review: In Plain Sight - "Four Marshals and a Baby" @InPlainSight_USA 3

Mary freaks out when she realizes Stan left Norah with Susan

Stan is smitten with Lisa (Tia Carrere), his ballroom dance teacher. It’s funny how having a woman in a man’s life can change his personality. Wearing expensive suits and cologne, Ben-Victor transforms his character from a serious and determined person to a cheery and jovial man. Love will do that, although it’s not quite love at this point. I find it funny that Carrere is playing this role at the same time she’s competing on Dancing with the Stars. I hope she’ll perform the Argentine Tango on the reality competition series better than she does in “Four Marshals and a Baby.” I also can’t wait to see where this relationship goes now that Lisa isn’t leaving Albuquerque.

Susan elicits Stan’s help in getting her elected as the head of WITSEC because he’s the “top field office chief” and his backing will go a long way in this political race. I love Stan’s reference to The Godfather during their conversation. I can’t help but wonder if this storyline will be used in the final episode, as this is the last season for In Plain Sight.

Just a side note: Marshall is hysterical when performing King Lear to keep baby Norah occupied.

Memorable Mary lines:

Mary: “Let me have a chat with him; I’m fluent in hound dog.”

***

Mary: “I don’t know. I’m still looking. It’s like, dondé esta Waldo down here.”

***

Carlos: “Your energy is different. The little one’s opened your eyes to every precious life—to mine.”

Mary: “Yeah, that’s probably what happened. My water broke and I saw the light.”

***

Mary to Carlos about leaving WITSEC: “OK, look. I’m not sure which spiritual Tinkerbell you summoned for that craptastic epiphany but that might be the single worst idea of your life. And that’s coming from someone who’s seen you in a loin cloth!”

***

As you can tell from the above quotes, the writing in this episode is as snappy and witty as ever. Plus, I like how the writers draw the storylines to a close with Mary and Marshall simultaneously telling Carlos and Christy to “lay low.” It’s what they need to do if they wish to stay alive. But what I like most about this episode is Mary’s voice over at the end as she sits cuddling baby Norah, “there’s always hope, if only in glimmers…the reality that something as simple as a sunrise can still surprise you.”

Tune in to the final season of In Plain Sight, Fridays at 10/9c, only on USA.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!