Is there not an official discussion thread for this episode? B/c I want to discuss not only the episode, but the previews for next week (hint: check out the spoilery pic on the IPS front page!).

I was impressed with Marshall's inebriated insight into Mary's true motivations for telling Raph about her job. I think he pegged it, I think Mary knows he pegged it, and she offered her alternate view in a defense. You could tell Marshall wasn't buying a word of it. She'll "tell him again in the morning" which gives her a chance to repeat it enough times to believe it herself.

Isn't living vicariously through fictional characters fun??!

Also wanted to say I'm thoroughly enjoying the preview clip for next week's episode on USA's site. Cracking me up!! Could Mary preen any more?

I love this show but i think as the show gets more technical then need a resident techie going over the script.

I was cracking up when Eleanor said:
"But it's from a V-O-I-P -- they're not optimistic"

I think they should continue to explore the technical avenues but might need to make sure they're using some of the terms correctly.

I liked Marshall's line later when Mary asked him any luck with the trace and he said it was internet based so they're probably long gone ...

i LOVED the line when Dershowitz asked "What's wrong with you two?" and Mary responds with "We've been trying to get pregnant and the strain's getting to him"

I also agree with kelwarrior that Marshall's insight into why Mary told Raph she was part of WITSEC is dead on.

-katia

Again, a lot in this episode. How does Mary go from berating Raph for looking up info on Witsec to giving him a book about it? I commend her for trying to help Raph understand what she does, but isn't a book about Witsec a lot easier for anyone to find than a website? You can erase browsing history. What happens if Brandi or Jinx find the book? And what was Raph doing looking up Witsec websites in the middle of the kitchen with a window behind him? And leaving the computer running with all your searches still on the screen when you leave the house? Sloppy, people. Very sloppy.

I liked the witness plot but I knew as soon as 'Lord Ashmore' said he and his southern buddy "looked like brothers" what was going to happen.

Marshall's continued reaction to Mary's engagment is interesting. I thinks his responses in this episode were very childish. Not talking to Mary, continuing to snipe at her and throw the whole 'Witsec rules' thing in her face and finally getting drunk . . . I thought Marshall was above that kind of behavior. (And on a seperate note, why get drunk at work? Why not go home and play drunken chess? And is Mary telling Raph what she does really worth getting drunk over?)

Can't wait for next week's episode! Of course, that means the cliffhanger until the new season starts (when? January?).

Some thoughts from my run this morning:

1. Raph is clearly going to have a problem with his soon-to-be wife doing such a dangerous job. The stuff that happens next week ain't gonna make that any better.

2. I think Marshall's reaction was more about feeling like she betrayed his trust than the actual fact of her telling Raph. She violated his security and waved it off like she had been caught taking the last donut. She should have at least talked to him about it, but she seems to be making more impetuous decisions these days.

3. Going from mad to helpful about Raph's search about WITSEC is Mary's way of trying to open up to him. I think she was mad that he was carelessly leaving a trail in his searches. Her giving him the book is about giving him a "safe" way to research.

4. I think both Mary and Marshall are right about the reasons she told Raph. She feels she should be able tell her husband what criminals already know; and Marshall knows her well enough that if she's going to jump, it's going to be off the deep end. Almost like sharing the secret is a more sacred vow than "I Do."

5. Raph's last name in all the show documentation is Ramirez. Why do his business cards say Molina? Hmmm.

My take is that Raph's unease about the dangers of her job will come to a head in the aftermath of next week's episode. If they're going to split up Mary and Raph, it may be because she as to choose between her work and Raph.

I also think that they are deconstructing Marshall and Mary's relationship to its foundations in order to take it to a different place. Maybe not a romantic one, but a different level of trust and understanding. I'm thinking it may be a vehicle for us to learn more about Marshall as they heal the wounds between them that this whole affair has opened.

I completely agree. Jealousy probably played a part in his reaction, but he wasn't exactly off base, either. Telling people about their job puts their security at risk, and Mary should have at least given Marshall a heads-up about telling Raph. But then, she didn't exactly plan on telling him. It was an impulsive decision. But she certainly shouldn't have waved it off. Telling Raph was a huge step, and it has an effect on more people than just Mary.

I also agree that Raph is going to have problems with how dangerous her job is. Mary might find herself in a situation where she has to choose between Raph or her job. I think Raph might cause some problems on a few other fronts. He and Brandi are just a little too cozy together, and so far he has been awfully sloppy about keeping her secret. Maybe reading the book will help him better understand, but I'm not sure. He'd never intentionally tell, but I could see him slipping and making a mistake.



This is a very interesting idea. I like it. Sometimes you have to break something down in order to rebuild something stronger in its place.

FAKE TRAIN!!!

Although the money drop location was correct, the Rio Bravo area, the train was superimposed on this real piece of railroad. This is a branch off the BNSF mainline, which passes under l-25 and skirts the south side of the airport to Kirtland AFB. There is no way a train can travel at the speed shown without having a massive derailment. Although CSX locomotives are possible in New Mexico, it's highly unlikely to be used in the service shown. Useless information in my brain!! Other than that, it's A GREAT SHOW!!!

Brooding, viciously snarking his partner, getting S-faced at work. Our hero seems to be unraveling around the edges. A professional crisis he can handle, no problem—but, a personal crisis and apart he falls? This strikes me as very UnMarshallLike behavior. But, then, we’ve never seen much of the personal side of Marshall. He has always been defined by his relationship to Mary, to his job. He is peeved that Mary told Ralph what she does for a living. He is peeved that his Mary love (if the shippers are right) is marrying Ralph—yet, I never heard him make any kind of declaration of love.

Marshal is starting to get that “poor me” aura (the one Brandi used to have) about him—there is nothing attractive, or endearing about that. Marshall is starting to tick me off.

I know my opinion is in the minority, but I really think that that the Raph/Mary connection works. Raph and Mary are quite different but his unconditional love for her is touching and gives Mary the opportunity to work out her "relationship phobia". If the writers so choose, both Mary and Marshall's characters can grow by having them pursue relationships outside of work. I hope that Marshall moves beyond Mary and perhaps hooks up with a woman who can add a new dimension to the show.

I agree with usanfan completely. The Mary/Raph connection works. Marshall needs to move on, and that can enrich the show.

However, having read about creator David Maples' departure and the cast changes coming up for Season Three, and how the network plans to change the show's tone, I wonder how long Mary McCormack will stay with it. If she leaves, its over.

I also kinda suspected that twist was coming. But, at first, I was thinking more alone the line of “The Talented Mr. Ripley”. But, then, I figured that a person who did dastardly deeds to gain a fortune was not likely to give it all away. Especially since he was in the WitSec program where the aggrieved couldn’t get their hands on him.

Then when Ashmore and his wife were still alive after the train had passed (instead of dead with a bullet to the back of the head), I knew. Even so, I think that either scenario would have been a satisfying conclusion. In fact, I think I would have been more surprised if he had turned out "not to be" the brother.

As long time WEST WING viewers may have heard this before....

THERE IS NO BLACKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

There's a Blacksburg, VA. IN FACT, There are Three (count 'em 3) Blacksburg, VA.

Best known is the home of Virginia Tech University. You may have heard of their problems the last few years.

And we had that whole Civil War thing - brother against brother, family against family, dividing into two states. 2 States.

So there's West Virginia and there's Virginia -- for nearly 150 years now.

Everytime writers want to stick some backwoods psycho into a script -- stick them properly
IN VIRGINIA.

That made me laugh really hard and I don't know why.

Anyway, I think Marshall got mad at Mary not just because it puts him in danger. I doubt Marshall really fears Raph is going to tell everyone that they're marshals who work in WITSEC. Assuming that Marshall's feelings do run deeper than friendship, their job is his and Mary's big secret, something between just the two of them. Mary shared that with another guy; so she was like, emotionally intimate with another guy. It probably hurt his feelings a bit.