I’m sad to see it go, but man did it go out in style! I was not looking forward to the season one finale of White Collar … I just didn’t want to see the show end. Even for the season. Yet there I was, watching as the overhanging plot of Neal, Kate, and Fowler seemed to head toward a predictable conclusion. At least for the time being. I even made a note for myself that the end of the season appeared to be a rip-off of the season one finale of Leverage, when everyone parted at the airport and season two had to figure out how the hell to bring all concerned parties back to the table.
And then the plane that Neal was about to board exploded, and I almost fell over.
Just wow. I think one of the things we’re going to learn is that Kate had already gotten off the plane (there was time between the last shot of her in the window and the explosion), but I totally did not expect that at all. Not even a little bit. Bravo.
The episode itself had its usual share of fun and enjoyable moments, interspersed with a solid amount of annoyance in the form of Fowler. I’m not sure if it would be better without it, but I’m not convinced that the Kate story needed the added layer of Fowler versus Peter to make it fly.
I of course enjoyed the machinations behind the music box heist — it’s something I’d love to get more of on this show. How funny was Mozzie studying the picture that he put on the easel, on top of the floor plans of the Italian Consulate? I thought Peter would see that it was upside down or something, but it was funny nonetheless. As was his line about being sent to some prison and “adopting cockroaches as pets.” But then Mozzie’s always great for many laughs.
And I loved Neal’s sculpture. It didn’t even occur to me that he was referring to anything other than money when he said he’d make a generous donation in order to get invited to the party, but then I suppose there’s a reason that Neal’s an internationally renowned art thief (great toast!). How cool was it that he put his safe-cracking equipment in the sculpture?
I thought Neal’s incarceration was going to go differently; think George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven, when he’s “locked up” all through the heist. But how about Mozzie holding a digital camera up in front of the security camera the entire time? How funny was that? And did anyone else notice that the coloring during Neal’s rundown of the security at the consulate was very 1950s WWII movie? Especially with the uniforms.
I was happy to learn that Alex would be there for Neal if Kate wasn’t in the end, but who else was disappointed in her for screwing Neal at first? It seemed out of character for someone I assume lives by the code “Honor among thieves.”
Did we know that Fowler was a pawn in the music box thing too? The whole “Mentor” operation is strange to me. I’m sure we’ll find out eventually, but what could possibly be so important about a music box that it would convince a very high-ranking FBI agent, or Federal agent of some sort, to spring a con man from prison and get him to steal it? It all seems rather convoluted, no?
I’m kind of surprised that Neal wants a happily ever after. It just doesn’t seem like him. But I was having a harder time gaining clarity on what Peter’s argument was for Neal to stay. Is it that he thinks this is a better life for Neal than being a crook, or does he really not trust Kate’s motives? Because I definitely never trusted Kate through all of this. Which would matter even if she were dead, which I don’t believe she is. But the point is that by the end of the episode, Peter seemed to be appealing to Neal’s interest in doing good, as opposed to what I would have gone with: questioning if Neal’s innate instincts weren’t screaming that something was off about Kate. At the very least, Neal taking a closer look at the situation might have convinced him to postpone his fleeing.
I readily admit that I may have had predetermined feelings about this, but I loved having Marsha Thomason back. You could argue, rightly, that Natalie Morales was never given the chance to stand out like that, but maybe she just never proved herself. Which leaves me questioning why Thomason was replaced in the first place. But whatever the reason, it was great having her back. Even you doubters have to admit that she was good last night. And I loved her dig at Caffrey’s hats … boy is she right!
And boy am I excited to see what White Collar has cooked up for us next season. Talk about ratcheting up the suspense! What did you think?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Mar 10, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
I loved having MT back, especially her natural connection with Peter. Peter pulling out her back piece definitely shows the established bond between two who have worked closely together. However, the writers seemingly manifested it in other minor ways i.e. Peter’s smile when first seeing her. Is it me or was it awesome that she had a second gun? While I loved Morales in Middleman, she never seemed to fit the FBI profile. But, I hope they continue to keep Jones around, in addition to MT –
However, I hope Alex doesn’t return. She struck me as another Kate (and not because of the double-cross). She fits the seductive ingenue personae, but she doesn’t come across as Neal’s intellectual equal. Neal and Mozzie have a clear talent for /obsession with the field (why didn’t Neal do it legitimately), but Alex comes across as someone who does it for the challenge. However, the sexy thrill-seeking thief doesn’t do it for me –
Side, side note: If a generous donor declared himself an art thief, would they really rough him up in art lock up or just take him to a side office for a cup of coffee and mild interrogation?
P.S. I love Peter-Neal’s man-man connection. Although Neal’s confession will probably inspire fan-fics on my end, I hope they continue to build on the seeming intimacy between captor an captive which blurs the line between brother, partner and friend -
*POST AUTHOR*
I too did not understand Neal being roughed up. It made no sense for the situation.
Interesting point on Alex. I’d looked at her as a great romantic replacement for Kate, but her actions in this episode, along with your insights, make me rethink that. Thanks!
The only surprising part was that it was a private jet that blew up rather than an SUV. I was frankly shocked that the conspiracy would spend that kind of cash on cleaning up two small loose ends when there are so many cheaper ways to do it.
Dramatic imperative dictates that Kate made it out, as she can’t die before Neal gets closure from her on the relationship. Also, it would be much more believable for the plane to go down accidentally once in the air. The only reason to blow it up on the ground is to give Kate the opportunity to escape.
I loved the embassy heist, but all the characters felt much less clever in the rest of the episode, and I’ve seen these plot twists a million times before. Kind of a letdown from the rest of the season. The best part was that the Neal/Peter guy love subtext quite blatantly became text throughout the hour.
Not disappointed at all in Alex. She made it quite clear when Neal was chasing her down for her help in earlier episodes that she expected him to double-cross her and keep the music box for himself, despite his protestations to the contrary. I got the impression that she did it to him first to prove that she could do so, intending to bring the box to him at the loft despite her better judgment, not that she changed her mind after the heist.
I thought it was Peter’s idea to spring Neal as a work-release consultant, not Fowler or anyone else at the FBI? Operation Mentor just used Kate to inspire Neal to break out of prison and eventually help them.
I haven’t read any negative posts about Thomason’s Diana on here. I liked her in the pilot and the finale, but she definitely was given a much bigger part here than either Lauren or Clinton got all season. It’ll be nice to see her interact with the rest of the characters besides Peter this summer, though.
The Italians beat up Neal to reinforce that they were bad guys from whom it was all right to steal. Remember, the consul bought a stolen piece in the first place, so it makes sense that he would have thugs on security detail. It was more believable than Fowler’s obviously evil FBI minions who are loyal to him personally rather than the Bureau as a whole.
*POST AUTHOR*
You saw that explosion coming? I was totally not expecting it. I was still trying to figure out why they were pulling a Leverage when it happened.
Yeah, the heist itself — not to mention the parties involved — was poor. But I like the ingenuity; it’s always fun to see how Mozzie and Neal think.
It was Peter’s idea to use Neal – I too assumed that Fowler expected Neal to just break out of prison, and then stay out. I think Fowler got lucky with the consultant thing, unless Kate knew Neal would do anything to stay free and find her, and all they had to do was sit back and wait to hear how he planned to do it. Plus maybe Fowler was able to support the idea when it was presented?
It was the scene direction that telegraphed it. When I saw Kate staring at Neal and Peter very strangely from inside the plane, I knew a big explosion was coming.
*POST AUTHOR*
Ah … that’s one of those “get your glasses” moments that my wife always yells at me about. I can’t see that sort of nuance from my couch to the TV! :)
I finally watched this episode tonight and loved it! I was wishing we’d see more heists take place and this one was clever and funny. I was very surprised by the explosion and I too think Kate isn’t dead and is probably in on things with Fowler or even higher than him. Can’t wait for summer!
It wasn’t Peter’s idea to use Neal. It was Neal’s idea. He offered it to Peter and Peter turned him down. Then Peter gave in an accepted Neal’s offer.
*POST AUTHOR*
Are you referring to the following sentiment I expressed above? Because I was talking about whoever was giving Fowler orders in this paragraph, not Peter:
“but what could possibly be so important about a music box that it would convince a very high-ranking FBI agent, or Federal agent of some sort, to spring a con man from prison and get him to steal it? It all seems rather convoluted, no?”
It would appear from what we’ve seen so far that the Mentor scheme began with Kate luring Neal out of prison to catch her before she left, thereby playing on what Kate knew about Neal — that he’d do whatever it took to get out of prison and chase after her. The fact that he appealed to Peter to take him on as a consultant just made it all the easier for Neal to find the music box, because working for the FBI put him in the perfect position as far as access and resources were concerned. That was just dumb luck for whoever Fowler is working for.