"In Plain Sight" Trojan Horst (2008)

Director:

Bryan Spicer

Writers:

David Maples (creator)
Constance M. Burge (written by)

TV Series:

"In Plain Sight" (2008)

Original Air Date:

22 June 2008 (Season 1, Episode 4)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Horst Vanderhoff, who reportedly works for a high-priced contract killer, gets popped by the F.B.I. negotiating a hit...

Cast

Mary McCormack	...	Mary Shannon
Fred Weller	...	Marshall Mann (as Frederick Weller)
Nichole Hiltz	...	Brandi Shannon
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Jinx Shannon
Dave Foley	...	Horst Vanderhof
Christopher Stanley	...	Joe
Paul Ben-Victor	...	Stan McQueen
D'Nette Pennington	...	Wife
Matthew Page	...	Husband (as Matthew Daniel Page)
Dean Squibb	...	Jeweler
Dan Gerrity	...	Driver
Frederic Doss	...	Guard #1 (as Fredric Doss)

Runtime:

Italy:42 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Pirates' Cove Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: At the start of the first shoot-out, two bad-guys get out of their car, the bad-guy in the passenger seat shuts his door, then they both walk out in front of their car. The car is now empty. During the shoot-out, one brief camera shot shows the passenger door standing open, and when it pans back, the door closed.

Quotes:

Horst Vanderhof: Where's she going? Where's she going?
Marshall Mann: She's going to kill them... before they kill us.

Okay, you won me over!

First, let me say that I am not big on dramas of any kind. There usually is more drama behind the scenes that is far more interesting than on camera but somehow I am won over by this show's different take. It's filmed and set in Albuquerque, New Mexico with two U.S. Marshalls. The female U.S. Marshall, Mary Shannon, is a tough broad who acts more masculine but her femininity is clearly coming through. If the character was played by an unattractive or homely actress, she would come across as masculine. I think because she is attractive that she is more likely to get away with beating up on men while her male partner watches her. The actress, Tony nominee Mary McCormack, has produced a character that is not always likable at times. She's rough and aggressive especially towards the men. Some critics might argue that she hates men even though she is clearly drawn to her partner Marshall Mann played equally well by Fred Weller. He has to play straight man to Mary Shannon's quirks. Regardless, I keep thinking of Mulder and Scully in the X-Files. There is clearly a deep attraction with their characters that hasn't reached the surface. Okay besides that, this episode has guest star Dave Foley as Horst something who is taken into custody by the Marshalls. During this time, Shannon learns that her partner has put in for a transfer. There is a shootout and they are somewhat stranded in the middle of the desert in an abandoned gas station/restaurant. Shannon's younger troubled sister and equally troubled mother played by the wonderful Lesley Ann Warren bond over drinks. In this show, Mary Shannon's character is more than just a tough U.S. Marshall but more of the family caretaker and leader. We don't know much about Father Shannon's character or if Jinx, the mother, is widowed or divorced but I'm waiting to find out. I am surprised that this show is a hit on USA.