Review - In Plain Sight Season Premiere, S4, E1 - "The Art of the Deal"

Air Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011, 10:00 pm ET/PT

Rating: ★★★★★

Change. This season, it’s all about change. Change in the workplace and change in personal lives. Mary (Mary McCormack), as I learned from a conference call I participated in last week (read transcript here), is pregnant in real life. While not a part of “The Art of the Steal,” when I saw Mary on screen, a slight weight gain was readily apparent in her face. Fans should be happy to hear the pregnancy will be written into the show. I can’t wait to see how Mary, who can’t tolerate change, handles this. It’s sure to be funny, don’t you think? Although McCormack wouldn’t comment about the father, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be Faber (Steven Weber). It will be interesting to see what effect this baby will have on the both of them. That’s, of course, if he doesn’t patch things up with the ex-wife, like Mary told him to do in last season’s finale. Anyone think they’ll end up married? I don’t.

Review - In Plain Sight Season Premiere, S4, E1 - "The Art of the Deal" 1

Mary (Mary McCormack) telling Peter (Joshua Malina) not to get sucked in by Brandi

“The Art of the Steal” begins with a flashy scene of young men and women dancing to Usher’s “Yeah” playing in the background. It’s not a scene we’re used to seeing on In Plain Sight so right away, I know this season will be different. Flash to Riley Barnett (Marc Blucas) in the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC).

Review - In Plain Sight Season Premiere, S4, E1 - "The Art of the Deal" 2

Brandi (Nichole Hiltz) rushes into Peter's office

As Mary drives to Peter’s (Joshua Malina) car dealership with Marshall (Frederick Weller) sitting with bent head in the passenger seat (due to lack of head room), the visual alone is enough to make me chuckle. While they’re there looking at a car Peter was able to find for Mary, her sister Brandi (Nichole Hiltz) walks in. She’s made a huge change in her life; she’s now working for Peter and has become very successful at selling cars. Mary, of course, doesn’t believe Brandi is capable of change and warns Peter to be careful. I love his line to her when he turns her name into a verb.

Peter: “Brandy is making her own money and is feeling really good about herself, so big favor – just don’t ‘Mary’ the situation.”

What I love more though is Marshall’s explanation when Mary doesn’t understand: “Speaking in unfiltered harsh truth when respectful silence might be more appropriate.”

Unfortunately, they are interrupted when they learn six cars have been stolen off the back lot. I know Brandi has screwed up a lot in the past, but I can’t believe Mary thinks she’s responsible for this! Mary does, however, have this quixotic need to prove Brandi innocent before she’s arrested for grand theft auto.

Review - In Plain Sight Season Premiere, S4, E1 - "The Art of the Deal" 3

Brandi (Nichole Hiltz) getting a set of car keys from Peter (Joshua Malina)

Remember the change I mentioned? Well, change abounds as Mary first learns Brandi and Peter are engaged (what a rock, by the way!), and then figures out Marshall is having a relationship with Abigail Chaffe (Rachel Boston), the Albuquerque police detective who’s been assigned to the case. I must admit, Detective Chaffe is annoying and her upbeat demeanor is enough to drive anyone crazy, especially Mary.

It seems to me Brandi is the one who has undergone the biggest change in her life. At dinner with Peter’s parents, both Brandi and Peter are surprised when his father presents her with a prenup to sign. She handles herself beautifully, although Peter and his dad don’t do as well. Of course, that’s until Detective Chaffe shows up to take Brandi in as a “person of interest.” Kudos to Peter for standing up for her to his parents, although Brandi breaks the engagement so as not to come between Peter and his parents. The old Brandi wouldn’t have done that.

Meanwhile, Stan (Paul Ben-Victor) is looking for an inspector to promote to WITSEC and the slew of candidates he interviews makes for some funny scenes. First, there’s the guy who rearranges everything on Stan’s desk due to OCD; then there’s the computer geek, and finally there’s Delia Parmelee (Tangie Ambrose), the woman who brings muffins to her interview. Right off the bat, I knew Stan would hire her just because she has such a “sunny” personality, as he puts it!

Mary turns to Riley for help in clearing Brandi’s name. Cool, Mary using a thief to catch a thief. At first, she only wants his expertise about how the cars could have been stolen, but Riley takes it upon himself to visit the dealership to figure out how the cars’ anti-lock systems were disabled. Not only does he figure it out, but he steers Mary and Marshall to the people who actually committed the crime.

“The Art of the Steal” concludes with bullets flying, a car chase, and not one, but two car crashes. If there is one moment in this episode that bothers me, however, it’s when Detective Chaffe is shot in the shoulder and yells “OW!” I ask you, who yells “OW!” when they’re shot? I can think of a lot of things I might say, but “OW!” isn’t one of them.

Despite that, this is a terrific season opener. It’s fast-paced, Mary and Marshall play off each other beautifully, and the addition of new characters should provide us with plenty of laughs going forward.

Watch the all-new season of In Plain Sight on its new day, Sundays at 10:00 pm ET/PT, only on USA – Characters Welcome!

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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!