The Marshal made its debut on ABC TV's primetime lineup Tuesday, January 31, 1995 bringing with it an air of cinematic sensibility markedly removed from the perceptions and expectations of the small screen.A much-anticipated "Second Season" transfusion to a formulaic action genre, this critically acclaimed contemporary crime drama from creators John Mankiewicz and Daniel Pyne starred charismatic film-and-TV veteran Jeff Fahey as Deputy U.S. Marshal Winston MacBride, an unorthodox fugitive retrieval specialist with a well-earned reputation for unequalled tenacity and resourcefulness.His perpetual easygoing outward demeanor and self-effacing affability belied a hidden focus and deep dedication to a profession both dangerous and complex. To a highly analytical postal inspector working with him on one particularly convoluted case, MacBride downplayed his own puzzle-solving prowess by remarking, "I usually just chase people." Possessing an overwhelming sense of fairness, he was quick to make difficult decisions based not necessarily upon the obvious thing to do but rather upon his estimation of the right thing to do. While more than unpredictable in his methods, he was no loose cannon. He may have tested the tensile strength of the rules from time to time but actually broke them only on the rarest of occasions. MacBride favored guile over gunplay and finesse over fisticuffs whenever possible and to the chagrin of fellow law-enforcers more often than not displayed open admiration of his more elusive quarry for their craftiness in their efforts to elude him.He was a solid family man, dedicated husband to a bright career woman and the adoring father of two young daughters. Still, despite his unquestionable devotion to them, he seemed remarkably comfortable in the mode of the solitary manhunter during extended assignments. This apparent dichotomy set Winston MacBride apart from the character-type one might have expected to see as an action lead. In the noir-bizarre episode, Love Is Strange, after briefly studying a sample of his handwriting, a consulting graphologist makes her skills evident to The Marshal by observing: "You don't swim with the other ducks, do you?"Extremely well-written female characters, allies and adversaries alike, were a staple of the series. The high-profile women of the episodes Hitwoman, Protection, Snow Orchid, Love Is Strange and Kissing Cousins stand out as key examples. But beyond these are others who likewise reflect an uncommon dimensionality.Recurring distaff associates Felton (Lisa Jane Persky), the ambitious forensics ace, and the quixotic Sarah Steenburgen (Elizabeth Ruscio), job hopping public servant at-large, proved to be far more than second-string sidekicks. And although her lines were the fewest and the farthest between, Patricia Harras conveyed a quiet, supportive complexity which gave MacBride's wife, Sally Caulfield, presence in absentia. To her credit, Dey Young, who had appeared in previous guest roles, lent the same class to the part in the last two episodes.The overall tone of The Marshal broke convention in a very clever way. Always refreshingly inventive in its plots and situations, the show's stylishly subtle quirkiness branded it unique among the dramatic network offerings of the day. A bittersweet holiday gift to die-hard fans of the show, the final episode (co-written by Ben Stein who also appeared in a supporting role) aired December 25, 1995. Its title suitably prophetic and a testament to surrealistic irony as well: Time Off for Clever Behavior.
