And finally, it was here—the goodbye episode. Our last glimpse inside the life of Mary Shannon, U.S. Marshal. Crime HQ speculated back in January that Mary had a lot of issues to be resolved in the eight episodes of season five. In the countdown to the finale, Mary struggles with parenting even though Norah’s father, Mary’s longtime ex-husband Mark, is a very participatory dad. Then, Mary accidently discovers Stan’s romance with the lovely dance instructor, Lia. And we see broad hints at Washington D.C.’s plans for major changes at Albuquerque WITSEC. Then, in “The Merry Wives of WITSEC,” protecting a witness who has two simultaneous families brings up all of Mary’s issues about her father’s abandonment thirty years before. Marshall reminds Mary of his oft-repeated mantra, “Sometimes you just have to let go.”
(Spoilers ahead!)
Mary’s father, now terminally ill, knocks on her door. In thirty seconds flat, Mary handcuffs and mirandizes him. Episodes six and seven centered around Mary’s father, his life of crime and his trying to make amends, all while Mary keeps him at an emotional distance. And in the middle of a gun battle, he jumps in front of Mary, saving her life and ending his own. We also see Abigail unraveling a little more each time Marshall drops her like a hot potato (including standing her up when they are supposed to be meeting with the minister who will officiate at their wedding), because he needs to help Mary sort things out about her father.
Finally, it is early May, and the last episode wraps this all in a tidy package. Of course there is a witness to protect, a very young fashion model who needs mothering, which Mary, surprisingly, provides. Mary’s family gathers so that mama Jinx can hold a “remembrance” of her late husband, and sister Brandi shows up pregnant, but straight and sober, looking for all the world like she finally has her act together.
But what of Mary and Marshall? Abigail has read him the riot act, and he keeps telling Mary they have to “talk,” but it looks like they never will. Suddenly, Marshall drags Mary out to the balcony at work and tells her that she has to “release” him. He says he loves her, “. . .you know, I love this, what we have. It’s indefinable.” And when she calls, he will always run to her, but now it’s a problem. Mary understands that he is saying this because he is getting married. She tells him to be happy. She knows Abigail makes him happy. So with that conversation out of the way, and a reaffirmation of their role as each other’s best friend, they agree “to get on with our lives.”
Stan gets promoted and is going to Washington D.C., but the Albuquerque WITSEC office will stay open with Marshall as the new boss, still another separation between the two. They will no longer be partners. As a final “letting go” Mary spreads her father’s ashes, very fittingly, at the race track.
At Stan’s farewell party, everyone is happy and laughing, including Kenny, who Mary has brought. Marshall makes a toast to “old friends and new beginnings.” I felt that he was talking, not just to those assembled ’round the table, but to all the viewers of every episode of the past five years.
I am okay with Mary and Marshall staying friends and not turning into a great romance. And, while I have no complaints about Kenny, he shows up just as Marshall gets engaged and Mary finds out Raph is married. A little too convenient. And just because Mary has made peace with her father, that doesn’t mean she should jump into the first possible relationship that comes along. She is stronger and smarter than that.
Of course, that may just be my reaction to knowing we’ll never have Mary/Marshall. (sob)
The In Plain Sight website has plenty of videos, conversations pictures and memories. But before you click over, tell us. What did you think of the final season of In Plain Sight? How do you feel about the way it all ends?
Terrie Farley Moran’s recent collection of short stories, THE AWARENESS and other deadly tales, is currently available in e-format for the Nook and the Kindle. Terrie blogs at Women of Mystery.
Read all of Terrie Farley Moran’s posts for Criminal Element.
I was actually relieved that a Marshall/Mary romantic happy ending wasn’t forced down my throat. I didn’t like the Abigail/Marshall pairing, though. And Kenny was just a place holder but it was significant that Mary finally brought a ‘date’ to an office party, I thought. Overall, a good finale for me.
Mary’s last words in the series were “Don’t say farewell. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I’d live to see a TV movie in a couple years.” That having been said, Mary and Marshall work as what they are. As mates, they don’t work. They wouldn’t work. I think the series ended nearly perfectly. A couple quibbles here or there, but I am satisfied.
Sort of.
But I’ll miss the characters.
@bungluna, You have hit the two things I don’t like, either. I don’t like Marshall/Abigail, and as I said above, don’t like the Kenny storyline. I prefer your take that he is just a placeholder. @Chris H, Nice pick-up on Mary’s last line. I am so used to her telling Marshall not to use this word or that, so I completely missed a possible alternate significance of “Don’t say farewell.” I, too, will miss the characters. And will dream about a movie.
Oh wow…no wonder my Mom wants me to get back into watching it…a bunch of awesome stuff happens! I had a feeling Mary and Marshall wouldn’t be getting together and that belief was confirmed when in Season 1 (I think the episode was called “Lola”) he compared Mary to an exotic animal that he needed to protect…and protect everyone else from. I am actually glad they didn’t give in and make them a couple, I love their relationship as partners!
Ho, hum!
@Scarlett–you raise a valid point. Marshall has always been drawn to Mary’s strong, acerbic personality and that makes the partnership work wonderfully well, but would probably kill a romance.
@bitsy08–I guess the finale didn’t hit a home run for you. Or is it the entire last season you found boring–all that tying up of loose ends?
Having just finished all the episodes late, doing the netflix thing. I don’t know what to think. Always had a feel for M&M to get together but just couldn’t picture it. Maybe it was as it was supposed to be, a sweet poignant sort of codependent relationship, but not romantic.
No matter, I will miss it all.
Hi Karissa,
Don’t you just hate when a terrific series ends? I love your definition of Mary and Marshall as “… a sweet poignant sort of codependent relationship, but not romantic.” Now that I’ve had some distance from the show, perhaps that is what the relationship is supposed to be. Thanks for such a fitting description.
I know this is odd because the show was about protecting witnesses but what almost ruined this show for me was that Raphael and Mary broke up. I loved them together and I just wasn’t as interested in watching the show after that break up. They could have worked it out between the two. Raphael loved Mary (that was very obvious) but Mary loved him too. I didn’t like that Brandi and Peter broke up either but since Mary and Raphael had already broken up, I only watched for the WITSEC part of the show and no longer cared about their personal lives any longer.
Mary is a total @sshole. That character is a horrible horrible person. It would have made zero sense for Mary and Marshall to get together. I am glad Raphael escaped her controlling clutch. Why do writers always try to shove romance between main characters down our throats. Especially when there is zero chemistry.
COVID times have brought this series into my life and I’m glad it did. Mary is the voice in my head that I can never speak out loud and it’s refreshing. Marshall is “the fairytale” and it’s hurts to know they did not get together. It seems it is a romance missed. It makes me think of season 3 episode 11 where the couple finally comes back together after years of living life. It would be a salvation to have a movie which rectifies the true love that was meant to be. Let us enjoy a win vicariously.