It definitely takes a good amount of creativity to concoct fresh white collar crimes week after week. And each episode since White Collar returned with the second half of its first season has felt new and inventive. Even throwing a dead body into the mix last night was a first, and we learned that, as far as Neal’s expertise goes, “Murder isn’t really an intellectual pursuit.”
We also met someone new, a character I liked in the very brief window we got to see her. Not only is Alex Hunter (Gloria Votsis) an old flame of Neal’s who could muscle Kate out of the picture for us, but she also seems to hit the exact chords that Mozzie doesn’t, meaning it would probably be incredibly awesome to see the three cons together.
That is, if Peter doesn’t get in the way again.
I liked how we were introduced to Alex, and I thought the idea of Neal reaching out for help tracking down the music box was a wise one. Mozzie can’t know all. I also really liked when she randomly popped up, both at Neal’s place and at the bar when he was meeting with “Pierce” (Sarah Carter). I can’t get a read on whether or not Alex will be around again, or on what basis, but I for one hope she is due to return soon and often.
Peter staying with Neal at June’s was hilarious, and I wish there was a little more focus on the inevitable uncomfortable and humorous situations that would have likely arisen. What is not cool is how Peter continues to investigate Caffrey. I realize I’ve brought the trust thing up before, and I’ve been shouted down numerous times, but here I’ve really got to say, “What gives?” How long will Neal need to keep minding the footfalls coming up behind him in the night? (Know what I’m talking about Bob?)
My understanding of where Peter and Neal left the question of the music box was that they were searching for it. So why was it wrong for Neal to be doing just that? Why did he feel the need to hide the fact from Peter, and why did Peter feel the need to look suspiciously into Alex? The whole thing was weird, and each time it comes up it wreaks of a contrived suspicion between them that is only dragged out of storage when it suits the writers. How are we supposed to get invested in their relationship if it keeps turning on a dime?
By the way, awesome Imperial Jade elephants, and kudos on the throwback to the dedication of the Chinese Forbidden City under the Emperor Zhu Di. But maybe a sentence could have been dropped about why the Japanese were there for the elephants instead of the Chinese (I re-watched the scene multiple times to confirm that this issue wasn’t clarified). Is that in a part of China that was annexed by Japan during one of their many wars? Or were all five elephants the Japanese Ambassador’s gift from the Emperor? I admittedly know nothing about Chinese or Japanese history beyond what I got in that Samurai movie with Tom Cruise, but I am curious.
Daniel Picah was a fun puppy dog, right? I can totally see him popping up again, studying Neal from afar, or getting up in his face and trying to hang out with him. We haven’t had the opportunity yet, but I feel as if White Collar would do well employing those little details.
And if the writers are looking to free up some time to try it, they can start by getting rid of the whole suspicion story line. That’ll open up tons of minutes in no time.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Feb 10, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
<blockquote cite="What is not cool is how Peter continues to investigate Caffrey. I realize I’ve brought the trust thing up before, and I’ve been shouted down numerous times, but here I’ve really got to say, “What gives?” How long will Neal need to keep minding the footfalls coming up behind him in the night? (Know what I’m talking about Bob?)"
And if Neal had never jumped out of the window, or stolen the painting, or broken into the medical facility in Vital Signs, or hidden from Peter the fact that he didn’t have the music box, or stolen a piece of FBI evidence IN THIS VERY EPISODE, then I would agree. But Neal keeps pushing the boundaries. No, he hasn’t tried to run on his own, but he did go so far as to arrange with Mozzie to get the money to run the one time he was off his ankle bracelet. He keeps doing less than legal things. He also hasn’t been out 1-2 years. This is uncharted territory. Peter trusted him enough to allow him out in the first place. Now Neal has to EARN continued trust and if he wants to not have Peter act like a Fed the he needs to act like he is someone who won’t break the law every time it is convenient for him.
*POST AUTHOR*
I certainly don’t think Neal is innocent of all charges that you’ve listed, but I believe his intentions are what should count. He’s always going to be someone more comfortable working on the fringes of the law, but time and again when Peter has suspected that he’s done something with ulterior motives, he’s discovered that Neal was really doing the right thing the wrong way. You’re calling his methods suspect, which is valid, but then Peter should be working towards correcting Neal’s methods, not assuming that he lost the mark because it was his intention to steal the elephants for himself and sell them. If Peter can’t move past that level of mistrust, this relationship will never work. As brief as he’s been working for the good guys, Neal’s earned at least some acceptance of how he gets things done.