Hi White
Collar fans. Tessa here, your new White Collar part time reviewer. I’m a big
fan of the show so you might hear from me from time to time.
Let’s jump to
the episode, shall we?
As we saw in
the shocking conclusion of last week’s episode, David Seigel, Neal’s
temporary and now former handler died. They put Neal under house arrest, which
surprised me because no one apparently cared to check his anklet data to match
it with the location of Seigel’s murder. It would have been an interesting
development, which they might be keeping for later, when Neal’s deal with
Crowley Hagen comes to light.
The first
part of the episode is very case heavy and somewhat slow. Some guy confesses to
stealing a pile of money, but he doesn’t remember how it happened or where the
money is. Neal and Peter investigate. By the time they connect the dots to
another guy, and then their therapist, I nearly fall asleep.
It becomes
interesting after that though. Neal decides to go in as a patient and wring some information out of the said psychiatrist. They ask her to take him and she
conveniently says yes. At first I thought it was due to Neal’s charms, but then
we find out she had a different agenda. Why the FBI didn’t wire Neal and listen
in on their conversation I don’t know.
Neal goes in
and from the get-go something seems off. There are wild camera angles and weird
zoom ins and outs that indicate something is affecting Neal. Neal finally says
he feels dizzy, and looks at his glass to clue us in that he’s drugged. That
actually made me relax because, for a moment, I thought they were implying the
doctor was a professor at Hogwarts instead of the university we saw at the
beginning because no one could cause someone to faint simply by speaking to
them unless they were a wizard.
Here’s my
first confession of the day: I’m a hurt/comfort fan who has a weakness for sick and
injured Neal, so that part with Neal panting and collapsing to the floor made
me happy.
But it got better.
In an effort to help Neal remember what he said to Dr. Summers, Mozzie gives
him the same drug again, and it becomes a vehicle for some of the most adorable
Neal scenes this season. Neal goes hyperactive and starts ranting. He confesses
to liking to work for Peter and the FBI, as well as to cheating them. He gives
Mozzie life lessons (the faces Mozzie makes are priceless,) and as if that wasn’t
enough he heads to Peter and Elizabeth’s for more confessions.
Second
confession of the day: I adore the Peter/Neal/El dynamic. I love to see them
together as a family and have the impression (or like to have the impression)
that Neal is like their son. This is amplified in this scene, in the ‘disapproving’
fatherly way Peter talks about Neal drugging himself, and the motherly way El
asks Neal if he’s hungry because she’s worried about his health. Neal for his
part is hugging a pillow like a four year old does his teddy bear, and falls
asleep on the couch where peter covers him up with a quilt like any good father
would after his kid falls asleep on his face.
Peter however
does one thing that I don’t like. Right before Mozzie gets there to collect
Neal he starts asking questions about Siegel. I understand where Peter if
coming from and how he needs to make sure Neal doesn’t hide anything from him.
But I didn’t expect him to take advantage of Neal’s drugged up condition. Maybe
I hold Peter to too high standards. He is human after all and it’s only natural
for him to see an opportunity and go for it.
The rest of
the episode flew by me without much care. The case gets resolved rather absurdly,
with evidence that wouldn’t hold in a classroom let alone a court of law. Neal takes
the money and hands it to Moz to rebuild his empire. No Crowley Hagen in this
episode, no heists for Neil either. If it weren’t for the cutsie Neil parts in
the middle I would’ve called it mediocre.
Parting
thoughts:
Moz as Neal’s
spirit animal. Too many layers there for me to discuss.
Neal looked
exceptionally fine in all his outfits. This shallow female viewer approves.
Love Jones’ presence
on the show, miss Diana’s though.
Love the no
Sara Ellis state of affairs. May she stay in London forever.
Great to see
El, though I’m craving more of her and El/Peter/Neal.
This episode
had some excellent Mozzie quotes which I sadly draw a blank on. Perhaps some of
you guys could refresh my memory in the comments, or simply talk about what you
thought of the episode.
