In Plain Sight "Trojan Horst" (2008)

I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Despite the quirkiness and eccentricities of the characters the show has remained humorous and engaging without going over the top. However I have to say I was at first a little disappointed with this episode. The preview for the episode sets the premise up well and I was looking forward to it. An assassin's assistant, Horst Vanderhoff (a hilarious Dave Foley) agrees to deliver his boss in exchange for witness protection and Mary and Marshall are sent to drive him back to Albuquerque when the assassin strikes and Marshall is shot. An exciting premise to be sure until we get the actual beginning of the episode: Mary discovers a letter on Marshall's desk where he has been offered a job at a private security firm. Despite the fact that I loved how the rift between Goren and Eames was handled in a frosty but still professional manner in L&O: CI, the petty sniping and immaturity I would have despised for them, more befits these characters and it absolutely spot-on as with Mary, upset Marshall is planning to leave without telling her and Marshall, upset Mary discovered this fact by reading his mail. If I was Horst I would be a little scared as well that my protection has been charged with these two who are going at it like an old married couple.

The problem is knowing where the episode is headed(Marshall's injury and life-threatening condition) makes all the lead-up seem extraneous. It seems like a common TV plot that just as the two argue, one of them is almost killed and they work to resolve their issues. I think the episode would have worked much better with just one of these plot threads, but not both together. However, once the assassins do strike and Marshall is left injured, the arguing ceases and it becomes a matter of holding out until back-up can arrive. Horst's character could have been an annoying aside to the relationship drama of M&M (yeah I made that up) however he provides a satisfying comedic element which has become a staple of the series. The fact that he in fact turns out to be the high-priced contract killer is an interesting twist and Dave Foley pulls off the mini-transformation at the end to his true persona effectively by allowing the comedic overtones of his character to continue to seep through.

This episode is all about the future of M&M's partnership and I was worried that after the kiss between them in the barn last week we were heading for some lovesick partnership drama in the episodes following this. However the reasons for Marshall's decision to consider leaving the U.S. Marshall's is an interesting one. His whole life has become about protecting Mary from the world and vice versa and we get the sense he has no room for anything else. There are still suggestions of a deeper bond between the two, but the fact that it's not explicitly stated is much more interesting in terms of dynamics between the two. When Mary kisses his cheek after telling him he cannot quit his job as her keeper, he immediately acquiesces and agrees to stay. While poignant it does highlight his fear of discussing the job offer with Mary. He originally states that she has a tendency to make up his mind for him inferring she is extremely bossy (as we have seen), however the exchange plays out with a completely different overtone in that it appears that Marshall simply cannot tell her "no" and it's a defining moment in their friendship.

Forgive me for bypassing the whole Jinx/Brandi subplot as these characters are becoming a bit too grating and if they were a bit more interesting they would be worth the screen time. However since they both come off as lazy and co-dependent ingrates it just makes you wish the scene would end as soon as possible and return the M&M storyline. This fact completely deflates the epiphany Jinx has regarding her life and Brandi's proud smile upon seeing her mother take a step towards ending her self-destructive behavior.

Favorite moment: Mary's realization that Horst is actually the assassin is a superb example of excellent storytelling. I have to say I myself never considered this possibility and when Mary starts to list the evidence in support of her theory the clues that did appear innocuous when first heard make more sense the second time around. Horst's adamant denial is starkly contrasted with his serious "Just do it" when Mary proposes the deal to escape with Marshall for the return of Horst. The character switch does not seem at all out of context and must be attributed to Foley's portrayal that we can easily believe he is a fussy assistant one minute and a cold-blooded killer the next.