In Plain Sight "Good Cop, Dead Cop"

Another fine episode for this freshman series although I've noticed that over the past few episodes the personal stories are starting to overtake the WOW (witness of the week) stories. I'm not saying this is a bad thing but I just thought more attention would be given to the case for that week. Actually it's really only been the last two so maybe I'm over exaggerating. Moving on, Mary's one-night stand with a witness comes back to haunt her when he's accused of killing an off-duty police office who he may have known in his previous life. The episode gets off to an interesting start as it begins thirteen months before the present day.

I've noticed that we're seeing more and more flashbacks, not just of the witnesses about to enter the program, but of Mary and others as well. I wonder if the writers keep track of all the glimpses we're getting. This was by far the most relevant as we see Mary moving into her house and Jinx stopping by to "help" her with the transition. Mary's single and lonely which leads to her breaking of the rules. Taking into account the amount of time that has passed since the series started, Jinx has been crashing for a little less than a year and her and Raph aren't yet an item. I'm not if they knew each other before their little friends with benefits romp, but she's certainly not seeing anyone now.

The tough as nails Mary is looking for some companionship and her mother's impromptu visit has her exiled from her own home. It's always good to see vulnerable Mary but I didn't care for the guy she decided to embark on her little naughty adventure with. I guess he was just a little too cocky about ending up in the sack with our favorite U.S. Marshal and it seemed weird she would sleep with him after she so adamantly told him it would never happen in her usual witty manner. The whole affair which is touted about in the previews really does not impact the resulting troubles all that much aside from a thinly veiled threat from the dead police officer's hothead partner. In the end he decides to opt out of the program and remain in Albuquerque and it looks as if Mary will have a fourth potential love interest. Only time will tell if Mary's mistake will come back to haunt her some more.

On a related note: M&M seemed to be a little tense this week. Marshall's not to fond of Mary's witness and only helps to prove his innocence because it's what Mary has already set out to do and he'll follow her to the ends of the Earth. He snaps at the guy when he catches him checking her out and rightfully gets called out by the witness for his own interest. He and Mary also have a bit of a face off following the discovery of the shooting. Perhaps he found out about Mary's one night stand and is a little jealous. Only time will tell but I still think M&M work best in a non-sexual partnership.

Again with the whole Brandi/Raph romance? At this point I think those two characters deserve each other and Mary is better off without either of them. Mary isn't the best girlfriend by any means and I'm sure Raph is hurt over his rejected proposal but why is his biggest concern bearing his soul to Brandi and then clearing the air with her instead of Mary? I think Mary's just better off extricating herself from this high school bs nightmare. Brandi has never been a tolerable character and now Raph is becoming a bit of a pain as well. After sleeping with his fat physical therapist it looks like he's still leading on Mary's sister. Move on Mary, you're above both of these deadbeats. You got, count them three other people who are possibly better matches waiting in the wings. This subplot has produced some comedic gold moments though such as when Brandi slapped Raph when he admitted his infidelity and when Mary thought both her mother and sister were sleeping with her boyfriend. You have to worry about a family where you assume something like that could be possible.

Dershowitz has a larger role to play in this episode although I thought he was being a bit of a jerk and letting his anger cloud his judgment as a detective. Obviously Mary has to keep certain aspects of her job and witnesses from local law enforcement but here he allows his frustration with that impediment affect how he does his job. Based off the fact that Mary called one of her witnesses that morning and that he was from Chicago, the same city as the dead police officer, he has an armed party bring the subject in for questioning. Not even to arrest him, but just to question him about the shooting. The hotheaded partner of the man Mary's witness supposedly killed is also pretty out there as she assaults Mary without even knowing who she is just because she's asking about the shooting. They then use the flimsiest evidence to get a warrant for his arrest and I have to say I'm a little worried about the Albuquerque police department. It looks like being angry with you is enough to charge you with a capital crime. I realize this headbutting for Dershowitz and Mary would be coming to a breaking point eventually but here, where Dershowitz is completely unjustified in his reasoning and actions, it only serves to undermine his character.

Favorite moment: It jumped around but I'm going to have to go with the cat fight. I got chills where Mary said she would kick that woman's ass if she ever laid a hand on her again. Then when she sucker punched Mary on the lawn of her dead partner's widow it devolved into a feral free for all that has to be one of the funniest moments in the series. Good to see that while in a struggle for her life Mary is still professional enough to try and keep her face away from the news cameras which happened to be on scene. I would trust Mary with my life just maybe in a different city.