Per the interview with David Maples, IPS was created to provide a forum for a strong female character. I'm OK with that. In fact, that's what first drew me to the show. However, I love the Marshall character, too, and I'd love to know more about his background. Since the writers so far have chosen not to devote any time to that subject, I've invented my own history for Mr. Mann.

In my self-created fantasy world, Marshall is the first child of a 4th-generation U.S. Marshal and a school teacher. The Marshal is his mother and the teacher is his father. His mother is not in the WITSEC program, but is a high-ranking official in the U.S. Marshal Service in Washington, D.C., nearing retirement Marshall's father switched jobs (new school) and moved to the D.C. area when his wife was promoted, This move came sometime after Marshal graduated from college. Marshal had a younger sister, who died in an accident when she was six years old. He was ten. He still feels guilty about the circumstances of her death.

The background I created supports my view of Marshall. His love of books and learning came from his father and his respect for attraction to strong women came from his mother. His parents have a good marriage, so he thought it only natural that he and Mary could be an ideal couple. But while I like them both, I do not believe they are a good fit as husband and wife. I think they make much better work partners. Marshall's instinct to protect Mary (the "exotic animal") comes in part from the tragedy involving his little sister.

Any other ideas?

quote
"""In my self-created fantasy world, Marshall is the first child of a 4th-generation U.S. Marshal and a school teacher. The Marshal is his mother and the teacher is his father. His mother is not in the WITSEC program, but is a high-ranking official in the U.S. Marshal Service in Washington, D.C., nearing retirement Marshall's father switched jobs (new school) and moved to the D.C. area when his wife was promoted, This move came sometime after Marshal graduated from college. Marshal had a younger sister, who died in an accident when she was six years old. He was ten. He still feels guilty about the circumstances of her death. """


I'm thinking Marshall is either an only child or the oldest child. He displays no attention seeking behaviors that middle children and youngest children more often than not carry over to adulthood (class clown, hypochondria, risky sports/activities...). His "loner" type personality would fit an only child, but he is able to effectively care for others on the spot which is indicative of an oldest child. Also, he rarely asks for anything for himself of others...also typical of an oldest child. His tolerance for other's bad behavior (Mary's spitwads and tantrums) also peg him as an oldest child (we have an uncanny ability to tune others out). So I guess I'm leaning towards oldest child.
Hmmm...death of a sibling. Don't know about that. His younger sibling(s) were likely girls, though, as he seems to have some good insight into women in general. Unlike Stan.

Interesting -- I always imagined Marshall as either an only child or as the youngest child by a significant margin (those kids tend to have a lot of "only child" traits rather than "youngest child" traits and tend to be loners, rather than the "baby" - like Brandi, who is the classic "baby" sister). Like maybe he has a sister or two who are 6-8 years older than he is. Too old to be playmates, but too young to be mother-type figures. I definitely don't get a "middle child" vibe from him.

I wish we could learn more about his family or meet someone from his family. He's mentioned his father a few times and he is clearly someone Marshall admires. I wonder if he's still around or if he has passed away. All the same, it feels like he had a strong relationship with his father, while Mary is the opposite, and basically grew up without a father.

I wish the show would portray Mary the way they do Marshall. I'd like to piece their characters together from their interactions with each other and others and enjoy the mystery of only little bits of disclosure at a time.

Wasnt there a toss off remark by him about living in his fathers shadow at some point?