In Plain Sight Review: Perfectly Messy
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I have loved every episode of the final season of In Plain Sight. Although last week's episode may have been my true favorite, the series finale far from disappointed.
Mary Shannon's a strong, beautiful, flawed character and I'm grateful to have gotten to watch her grow over the last five seasons and her story arc in "All's Well That Ends" was no exception.
Abigail had finally reached her breaking point and I couldn't blame her. While she sat with a minister expecting her fiance to show up to help plan their wedding, Marshall was at Mary's side helping her plan her father's funeral.
Yes, these were extreme circumstances and Mary needed her best friend but I couldn't blame Abigail when she told Marshall in this In Plain Sight quote…
Marshall, I need you to remove the phrase, she's my partner from your arsenal. | permalink
…because that has been his response every time he's bailed on her and he's uttered it plenty. Thankfully Abigail wasn't a foolish woman. She put the brakes on the wedding plans and made Marshall face his feelings head on. It was their only chance of survival as a couple.
Surprisingly, even to me, was that I was OK with Marshall ending up with Abigail. Marshall and Mary have always had this incredible bond but I suppose it was the fact that they've never dealt with it that has continued to bother me. They talk without talking. They dance around their feelings and use subtext as their only text. It was long passed time that stopped.
I had to admit that when Marshall told Mary that he loved her there was a small part of me that was hoping for more. But even the hopeless romantic in me could see that Mary and Marshall would end up making one another miserable. They're amazing partners and wonderful friends but as lovers I'm afraid they'd drive one another crazy and not in a good way.
Still when Marshall asked her not to call because he couldn't help but come running, there was a part of my heart that hurt for them both.
On the home front I was thrilled to see Brandi back. I've missed her this season and I loved how Mary described their family.
Unbelievable. Two knocked up, unwed mothers, multiple rehabs, daddy issues all over the place. This family is so Jerry Springer. | permalink
Brandi and Mary bonding over their children just felt right. The entire Shannon clan has come a long way since the show began. None of them are perfect but they don't need to be. They simply needed to learn how to rely on one another.
I'll admit that I hated seeing Mary sleep with Kenny over the last two episodes, even though he seemed to be a decent guy. Mary has always tended to leap into bed before she gets to know a guy and Kenny was no exception. But when she brought him to the party at the end it felt like acceptance for both of us.
That Mary had apparently decided to use her father's money for his grandchildren seemed an excellent way to wrap up that story. Perhaps that abandoned little girl could finally put that chapter of her life to rest and move on.
The model / witness of the week story hardly seemed worth mentioning except that it served its purpose to highlight Mary's role as a caretaker to those around her. Now she needs to find someone who can take care of her, at least some of the time.
Stan's promotion to Deputy Director of WITSEC was wonderful and a little sad. He's moving up and helping his friends at the same time. Marshall becoming Mary's boss should keep life interesting. I wish we were able to see it.
In Plain Sight has been one of my favorite shows since its first season and I'm a little heartbroken that this is the end. I've loved all of the characters but no one more than Mary. She's smart, kick ass, loyal, and has a soft heart she hides from the world. Plus I've always related to her killer sense of sarcasm. There simply isn't another character quite like her on TV.
Goodbye In Plain Sight. You will be missed.
C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.