We've missed you, Mary and Marshall — and we're so glad to be back in Albuquerque relocating irritating witnesses with you.
One of the better dramas on cable, the USA Network's "In Plain Sight" returns to its first and second season time slot with its season four premiere Sunday.
After a shortened schedule, it's good to again hear the droll banter between the feisty Mary Shannon, a U.S. marshal working for a highly secretive relocation program, and her staid partner, Marshall Mann. (Yes, he is Marshal Marshall.)
When whistle-blowers and innocent witnesses of crimes are in jeopardy of being killed, Mary shepherds them into new identities in new cities. If by shepherding you mean relentless bullying with a heaping helping of comic sass from the tough-as-nails Mary.
With Mary McCormack and Frederick Weller in the lead roles, acting remains the show's major strength. Their performances are crackerjack, elevating "In Plain Sight" above routine cop-workplace procedurals.
Viewers enjoy watching Mary's exasperation at her chaotic professional life. And Mary's exasperation at her chaotic personal life.
A lot of screen time last season was spent writing out secondary characters, but intriguing promise is seen under new executive producers Ed Decter and John Strauss (whose fine work includes creating TNT's "The Closer").
With actress Nichole Hiltz's pregnancy, Mary's problem-prone sister Brandi was exiled; and completely erased was Mary's former fiance, Raph. (Actor Cristin de la Fuente is now on "Private Practice" wooing Addison Montgomery.)
Hiltz is back, so Brandi will be in more episodes and, now that she's engaged to boyfriend Peter, Joshua Malina is promoted to series regular — with the commitment-phobic Mary cajoled into planning a blissful nuptial.
To further complicate Mary's life, she works with a sunny (and polar opposite) Albuquerque police detective, Abigail Chafee (Rachel Boston). And she's Marshall's girlfriend. It's our first look at his personal life.
In the season's first episode, "The Art of the Steal," (airing at 11 p.m.) Brandi and Peter are working together at his car dealership. After the theft of two Porsches, two Audis and two Mercedeses ("What are they building, an ark?" Mary wisecracks), Brandi, with her long rap sheet, becomes a prime suspect. Luckily, Mary and Marshall have just relocated a former car thief who can help track down the real criminals.
The episode has Marshall defining the verb "to Mary." The walking Wikipedia in a cowboy hat explains its meaning: "Speaking in unfiltered harsh truth when respectful silence might be more appropriate."
Along with bringing back the deadpan wit of "In Plain Sight," the first episode skillfully includes enough background to introduce the excellent series to new viewers.
Reuniting McCormick with a "West Wing" alum, Bradley Whitford guest stars in the second episode as a witness against a Blackwater-style military contract company. The fine acting of Joe Spano and Fred Ward was wasted in previous single-episode story arcs, but Whitford's character is introduced as potentially more than a one-time appearance.
While Mary believes there are "precious few men walking the planet worth putting on lipstick for," the season may hold a love interest, or some semblance thereof.
Blair Howell is a writer and editor.