diff --git a/gridlock/read.py b/gridlock/read.py
index 28afdd2..600227d 100644
--- a/gridlock/read.py
+++ b/gridlock/read.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class GridReadMixin(GridPosMixin):
             plane = Plane(**plane)
 
         if pcolormesh_args is None:
-            pcolormesh_args = dict(alpha=0.8, colors='gray')
+            pcolormesh_args = {}
 
         grid_slice = self.get_slice(
             cell_data = cell_data,
@@ -212,9 +212,6 @@ class GridReadMixin(GridPosMixin):
 
         mappable = ax.contour(xcmesh, ycmesh, grid_slice, levels=levels, **contour_args)
 
-        if finalize:
-            pyplot.show()
-
         return fig, ax