I don’t know about you, but it’s been a while since I’ve known what was flying with Michael’s burn notice on the USA Network series Burn Notice. At this point I just smile and nod, but as far as understanding why the gang is doing what it’s doing on any given episode….
Well, that feeling started creeping up on me during the first half of White Collar’s second season. And last night’s return for the second part of season two didn’t do much to clarify.
I was actually a fan of the Kate plot back in season one, but ever since the music box became a central figure, and more so since Kate was killed, I’ve totally lost interest. Unfortunately it was at that very moment that the plot took center stage. Why can’t Peter and Neal just fight crime?
I like when Neal trolls back into his former life for help on an FBI investigation. The fact that all the assembled forgers respect Mozzie that much is awesome. And it definitely was enjoyable watching Peter and Neal burn all of Julian Larson’s (Paul Blackthorne) aliases in order to force him to go out and buy the Justin Springer ID … but did they really believe that the sting at the apartment wouldn’t be a set-up? Sometimes Neal neglects to apply the “if this were me” litmus test to things.
Burke being forced out on leave, or suspension, or whatever is getting old. At this point I’d exert more effort wondering just how it is that criminals seem to have such an easy time setting up an FBI agent. But putting his fingerprints inside the gun on the slide was smart.
I know that for a long time the show’s been looking for a way to put Burke on the opposite side of the table from the law … so I was disappointed in just how they did it. Despite the obvious Ocean’s Eleven overtones, which I appreciated, Burke’s Seven was kind of dumb. And was this really the first time that Jonesy’s been brought inside the music box caper?
I thought Sara Ellis (Hilarie Burton) the insurance agent was a weak character the first time she popped up, and her continued reappearances aren’t doing anything to change my mind. It was cool that Caffrey was able to use the word “bubble” as a stand-in for “double,” but a machine that can only translate a handful of words into someone else’s voice, not to mention a machine that can translate words into someone else’s voice in the first place? Sure.
Look, White Collar’s a great hour no matter what everyone’s doing. And I’m really glad that Mozzie’s okay. But the show does better as the FBI agent and his criminal partner solving crimes week after week, not the pair chasing phantoms and ghosts. All of that is just noise, noise that’s unfortunately drowning everything else out right now.
I’m definitely looking forward to what is likely to be a flashback episode next week, though. Can you imagine what Caffrey was like when he was still studying at the feet of Vincent Adler? Sounds awesome!
![White Collar – The final minute blew me away [41lA9%2BufLlL. SL160 ] (IMAGE)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41lA9+ufLlL._SL160_.jpg "White Collar – The final minute blew me away [41lA9%2BufLlL. SL160 ] (IMAGE)")
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 19, 2011 @ 13:06 EST5EDT
I definitely get what you’re saying, but I really loved the episode. I agree that when series contrive plot lines they don’t necessarily make for better TV. Sometimes the viewers just want the writers to stick to the formula.
*POST AUTHOR*
You’re right, I’d hate to jump the gun on the show. And it makes sense that the Kate mystery, as central as it’s been from the beginning, should be pursued. But like I used Burn Notice as an example, my concern is that White Collar might get so caught up in that central mystery, it will forget that it’s a pretty great show even without it. I think my disappointment came from the fact that it left us hanging, only to come back all caught up in a story that’s getting harder and harder to follow. I guess we just have to wait and see where they’re going.
I agree about wanting to see ordinary crime fighting with less mythology (although I’m looking forward to the flashback episode). What they need are good bad guys and clever plots. Like the John Larroquette episode from last year. Add that to Neil’s charm, and the interplay with Peter and the other characters, and they could throw the whole music box/Nazi china/who-killed-Kate plot away, as far as I’m concerned.
Another bad habit they’re picking up from “Burn Notice” is increasingly annoying music played too loud during key scenes. Or maybe they’re just following the lead of their horrible 10-second opening credits music. Either way, I’ve started to mute the action scenes on this show just like I did on “Burn Notice” before I gave up on that series last year.
dude, they have voice changing software that exists… this particular one just picked up on the words he said and used the recorded words of the criminal (hence why they talked about needing surveillance equipment earlier and then they brought her into the con).
I do get where you’re coming from though, but I love the whole kate thing…although it has been drawn out for far too long and should have been solved already.
*POST AUTHOR*
If they have the technology I take back my complaint there — it just seemed a little too convenient. Thanks!