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First of all, let me rec this show to my flist.
Why you want to be watching:
–A complex, abrasive, epically flawed, lead female character. (Mary Shannon is one of those roles that is so complex and difficult that it feels like someone wrote it for a man and then decided to cast a female because it would be more awesome that way).
–Hilarious dialogue. The lead actress read for the part because she laughed out loud reading the script, and it's no surprise.
–The writers. With rare exceptions, they do not do the predictable plot move.
–Main characters verbalizing who their best friends are.
–Actual legitimate character growth. Mary and every member of Mary's family, including her long-term boyfriend (yes, think about that, a lead in a procedural with a long-term relationship and the complications therof) goes through stresses and challenges and makes choices with consequences.
How to get into this show:
Watch the second episode first. The pilot, while possessing the skeleton of the show In Plain Sight will become, is too long, sluggish in places, and introduces the two leads with a mumbling exchange that requires three viewings to understand. Go straight to "Hoosier Daddy" for a crisper, tighter show.
–Okay, so when Mary Met Marshall was one of my favorite episodes so far. It was pretty much exactly how I imagined their first meeting to have gone, and I think it's awesome that Marshall was the one to bring her into Witsec. I loved the scene at the end where they're rearranging their desks. (Plus, bangs! And brushing her teeth with bottled water! And snow!)
–As much fun as the Mary/Marshall pairing is to play around with in fandom, I am so thrilled with Raphael/Mary on the show. First, because OMG, two partners with UST is so done on tv these days. Secondly, watching Mary actually have to deal with a longterm relationship and growing and changing because of it is infinitely more interesting than endless will-they/won't they. That's one reason I love this show - the writer never does the trope everyone else is doing.
–On that subject, I am really impressed with the finale. The first season finale was all about the fall-out from Mary getting kidnapped and last half of the second season closer had Mary in the hospital.
Anyway, talk to me about the awesome! Tell me favorite episodes, favorite lines, writing choices you had problems with! Favorite weird facial expressions!
Why you want to be watching:
–A complex, abrasive, epically flawed, lead female character. (Mary Shannon is one of those roles that is so complex and difficult that it feels like someone wrote it for a man and then decided to cast a female because it would be more awesome that way).
–Hilarious dialogue. The lead actress read for the part because she laughed out loud reading the script, and it's no surprise.
–The writers. With rare exceptions, they do not do the predictable plot move.
–Main characters verbalizing who their best friends are.
–Actual legitimate character growth. Mary and every member of Mary's family, including her long-term boyfriend (yes, think about that, a lead in a procedural with a long-term relationship and the complications therof) goes through stresses and challenges and makes choices with consequences.
How to get into this show:
Watch the second episode first. The pilot, while possessing the skeleton of the show In Plain Sight will become, is too long, sluggish in places, and introduces the two leads with a mumbling exchange that requires three viewings to understand. Go straight to "Hoosier Daddy" for a crisper, tighter show.
–Okay, so when Mary Met Marshall was one of my favorite episodes so far. It was pretty much exactly how I imagined their first meeting to have gone, and I think it's awesome that Marshall was the one to bring her into Witsec. I loved the scene at the end where they're rearranging their desks. (Plus, bangs! And brushing her teeth with bottled water! And snow!)
–As much fun as the Mary/Marshall pairing is to play around with in fandom, I am so thrilled with Raphael/Mary on the show. First, because OMG, two partners with UST is so done on tv these days. Secondly, watching Mary actually have to deal with a longterm relationship and growing and changing because of it is infinitely more interesting than endless will-they/won't they. That's one reason I love this show - the writer never does the trope everyone else is doing.
–On that subject, I am really impressed with the finale. The first season finale was all about the fall-out from Mary getting kidnapped and last half of the second season closer had Mary in the hospital.
Anyway, talk to me about the awesome! Tell me favorite episodes, favorite lines, writing choices you had problems with! Favorite weird facial expressions!
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I love Marshall in that episode. He has so become my tv-boyfriend. I just love him to pieces.
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Was that from When Mary Met Marshall?
I love Marshall in that episode. He has so become my tv-boyfriend. I just love him to pieces.
You may have to have a cage match with my mom for him. ^_^
Also, did I mention that I checked Lonesome Dove out from the library because your fanon has that as Marshall's favorite book?
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Also, did I mention that I checked Lonesome Dove out from the library because your fanon has that as Marshall's favorite book?
Oh, god! Wow, that's so cool. Have tissues on hand. Seriously, it's a lovely book, but so, so sad in places.
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Oh, god! Wow, that's so cool. Have tissues on hand. Seriously, it's a lovely book, but so, so sad in places.
Noted.
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As much fun as the Mary/Marshall pairing is to play around with in fandom, I am so thrilled with Raphael/Mary on the show. First, because OMG, two partners with UST is so done on tv these days.
Agreed. Very much.
Secondly, watching Mary actually have to deal with a longterm relationship and growing and changing because of it is infinitely more interesting than endless will-they/won't they. That's one reason I love this show - the writer never does the trope everyone else is doing.
Yeah, it seems like Mary could have more to gain as a character from dealing with those challenges than she would from the opposite. I also love how Raphael doesn't just seem like a temporary side-note. Like, think Fiona's relationship with the ambulance driver.
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So true. So, so true.
Yeah, it seems like Mary could have more to gain as a character from dealing with those challenges than she would from the opposite. I also love how Raphael doesn't just seem like a temporary side-note. Like, think Fiona's relationship with the ambulance driver.
Exactly. It is a real, honest to god, important relationship in her life. It's not killing time until she gets together with Marshall (which I quite honestly think she never will, in canon).
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The most recent ep I saw had Mary accidentally helping a man discover his lost bio parents, and one minute she's nuanced and emotional when telling the dad its his son and the next shes mooning over how great this free potato salad is at a funeral and Marshall is eyerolling at her insensitivity, and I totally love her for that.
That is Mary all over, a mix of sensitivity and distance.
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And as someone who's a bit sick of the fact that you can't seem to have a male/female cop partnership that isn't steeped in UST, I'm very much in favor of Raphael and Mary's relationship. (I like Mary/Marshall fine, but I like their friendship more.)
My favorite quote recently was from S3 episode 9, so I'm not sure I should share it!
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Without a doubt. Especially since it was basically stated that he has listened to her do this MANY, MANY times.
And as someone who's a bit sick of the fact that you can't seem to have a male/female cop partnership that isn't steeped in UST, I'm very much in favor of Raphael and Mary's relationship. (I like Mary/Marshall fine, but I like their friendship more.)
Agreed. Mary and Marshall remind me of Dani and Charlie of Life, actually. They have that same 'we're very important to each other but it's totally not sexual vibe,' and both of them have romantic/sexual relationships with other people.
My favorite quote recently was from S3 episode 9, so I'm not sure I should share it!
I am making a mental note, and will come back to this post and ask for your fav quote when I've watched that episode.
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Because that image? Hilarious. And so very Mary Shannon.
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Damn it...so many things to look at...
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From a more recent ep "ah yes, your ability to keep things in confidence, one of your most endearing qualities, that and your ability to shoot accurately while downing a big gulp".
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And do you notice how a.) the actress isn't super-skinny (I think part of it's that she comes from theater) and b.) we see Mary healthy - lots of salad and diet soda (and yes, the 'healthy' part of diet soda is questionable) - and verbalize the fact that you can't eat hamburgers all the time. It's so much more real and relatable than Gilmore Girls rhapsodic and completely unbelievable binges.