In Plain Sight (1.7)

Sunday, July 13, 2008

In Plain Sight 1.7 – "Iris Doesn’t Live Here Anymore"

One of these kids is doing is doin' their own thing, one of these kids is not the same...

Iris McBride, 17, and her boyfriend Lawrence Parker, are walking down a block in an East L.A. neighborhood minding their own business when a car pulls up alongside them and the Hispanic teens inside begin harassing them. The young couple tries to ignore their taunting, but when the guy in the car pulls out a Mac-10 and starts spraying bullets everywhere, Lawrence springs into action and jumps in front of Iris, taking several bullets for her. It's bad enough for Iris that her boyfriend has just been shot almost to death, but the fact that the shooters were members of one of the most dangerous gangs in the country makes matters much worse-not only for Iris but also for her entire family. Five hours later, Mary and Marshall have arrived in Los Angeles to transport the McBride family to Albuquerque, who haven't yet been told that they'll have about ten minutes to gather up their belongings and leave their lives behind-immediately. Her father, Warren McBride, a successful doctor, is livid when he learns that just because his daughter disobeyed him and went to the wrong part of town, he has to give up his successful medical practice that he worked so hard and long to build. Mary assures them that things will get better, but that's hard for them to believe when they'll have to move to Albuquerque to live on a government stipend in "Casa WITSEC" until their finances can be sorted out and the only job that the haughty Doctor McBride can get is at a free clinic-and that's only possible because Marshall pulled a few strings. Mary certainly knows what to do to keep Iris safe when she has to return to Los Angeles to ID the suspect, but what Mary's not so confident about is how she's going to keep the now "Morris" from falling apart, or worse, getting themselves killed. Meanwhile-back in her own hot mess of a personal life-Mary's trying to get back into some kind of rhythm with Raphael, which isn't easy when your younger (and sluttier-dressing) sister is trying to move in on your territory. And especially when said younger sister catches another woman answering her own boyfriend Chuck's phone...

Manatee: This was one of my favorite episodes of IPS yet.

Marmot: Definitely. It was finally about something interesting, not trying to protect someone from being killed. Immediately killed, that is.

Manatee: It was just the pure emotional side of leaving your entire life behind to start again. Sometimes, I think people dream about the opportunity to start over fresh, but this was a great look into the drama behind what's really involved. Quitting the medical profession, leaving your family, seasons Dodgers tickets, or what have you. Not to mention the idea of being a father first and an individual second.

Marmot: Exactly. This was a really well written episode, especially the struggle the father was having with being a proud, but ultimately selfish person and sacrificing personally for his family. It was ultimately resolved, but it was a definite struggle for him to get there. Kudos to writer Linda Burstyn on this episode.

Manatee: This was an episode I was looking forward to - clips had been on the previews prior to the premiere. My personal struggle with this show is that I want it to be more procedural than it is. I'll tell you why. Her personal life, family drama is not handled well. If it was, then I'd be fine with flying with it. But the drama with the boyfriend, who cares. So they obviously lack chemistry. The sister is a bad actress. And her personal issues are (I think) supposed to be mysterious, but come across as lazy... maybe the writers didn't know where they wanted to go with it yet. We've never really learned enough about her "previous" life or the suitcase of drugs to really feel invested in her "baggage" issues.

Marmot: Was that an intended pun?

Manatee: Yes

Marmot: Good. I agree with you on the sister. She's really just eye candy. I get the scene with her in her underwear, but her ethical struggle of whether or not to go after her sister's boyfriend doesn't really come across when looking at her chest and legs.

Manatee: The scenes involving her family make we want to turn off the tv and tune back in when the work stuff comes on.

Marmot: Where was the mom in this episode? The scenes with her family are always strange, because they rarely have Mary in them. When she does show up, it feels like you're watching a spinoff and she's guest starring. So it gives it more of an ensemble feel, but it's not an ensemble show. Just weird.

Manatee: The mom is even more pointless than the daughter. Do you ever get the feeling USA is airing the shows in a different order than they filmed them and those family scenes are just cut and paste into the show as needed?

Marmot: I think you may be on to something. Like they're just splicing their scenes in when the show is running short.

Manatee: Because the fam stuff doesn't always correspond like it did with that gambling episode. I don't think this show is going anywhere - it ranked #3 this week for cable series. I'm sure there is bound to be a second season!