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.
3 Reviews
Mary's fault
auntydle21 April 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I had a big problem with Mary's actions leading up to Marshall's getting shot. Marshall looked around carefully when he led Horst to the bathroom. He was watching the parking lot and the road as Mary was in the store. He even looked around when he was walking to the front of the car to check the engine. While he was doing that, Mary should have been watching the road behind them. Instead, she had her hand over her eyes, and was sulking. By the time she noticed the bad guys, they were already out of their car, guns in hand. So, to me, what happened wasn't Marshall's fault for not seeing the acid smear, but Mary's for not seeing the bad guys in time. Marshall made it a good episode, though. I love him.
Love the show! Shoot-out was poorly staged, though.
Dixiedev28 July 2008
First of all, I really love this new show. I've yet to miss an episode, and don't plan to. I was, however, blown away (no pun intended) with disbelief by the staging of a shootout between the marshals and two thugs. (I'm trying not to be too descriptive of the scene, because I absolutely despise user reviews that are basically just a detailed plot summary/synopsis with an "I think" tossed in somewhere to pass it off as a comment, posting it here instead of where it belongs... it happens endlessly... but I digress, and I'm done with that little soap-box... lol).
When shooting at two standing targets and a car fifteen or so feet away, how does a trained officer always manage to not hit anything for the first two or three clips? Are all bad-guys just better shots? Empty guns which are locked open in the ready-to-load position, don't keep firing ammo no matter how many times you pull the trigger, and people don't usually keep pointing them, pretending like they are. Heck, even prop guns have been known to recoil and eject spent cartridges when you actually do pull the trigger to fire the blanks. And don'tcha just love it when an untouched car has over thirty bullets holes in it... ten shots later, or you can fall face first into the dirt without getting dirty.
Not to mention, that everyone with a bullet hole in the shoulder will use that arm to pull themselves up off the ground, then hold that arm up to shoot with. No problem, though, 'cause it isn't bleeding anyway.
The actors were great, the scene was intense, but as so typical of Hollywood-type shoot outs... give me a break!
When shooting at two standing targets and a car fifteen or so feet away, how does a trained officer always manage to not hit anything for the first two or three clips? Are all bad-guys just better shots? Empty guns which are locked open in the ready-to-load position, don't keep firing ammo no matter how many times you pull the trigger, and people don't usually keep pointing them, pretending like they are. Heck, even prop guns have been known to recoil and eject spent cartridges when you actually do pull the trigger to fire the blanks. And don'tcha just love it when an untouched car has over thirty bullets holes in it... ten shots later, or you can fall face first into the dirt without getting dirty.
Not to mention, that everyone with a bullet hole in the shoulder will use that arm to pull themselves up off the ground, then hold that arm up to shoot with. No problem, though, 'cause it isn't bleeding anyway.
The actors were great, the scene was intense, but as so typical of Hollywood-type shoot outs... give me a break!
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