Post Ep Dish - S4.01 - Wanted

[elrhiarhodan]

Can’t believe it, here we are, ready to start Season 4, and it looks like it's going to be a doozy! All signs are pointing to a better relationship between our boys, an interesting mythology alongside the usual capers.

Are you ready? I know I am. It’s funny - it feels like S3 just ended. Maybe because of the long, LONG interval we had between the front and back half of Season 3 (about twice as long as the interval between Season 3 and 4.

Anyway, welcome my friends to the Season 4 version of the Post-Ep Dish, where I squee in real time, then you get to chime in and continue the conversation.

And here we go!



And a minute’s worth of recap. “This is my home now.” The head shake. “Neal should be free.” The Mona Lisa smile.

And we begin, again.

Oh, poor, poor Peter. He’s making a pot of coffee. Relegated to mail fraud.

HUGHES - telling him to forget about Neal Caffrey.

That sneer and swagger sends chills up my spine. Kyle Collins - OIA. FBI’s incompetence means that Neal has to go to jail. That doesn’t make much sense.

Hughes - supporting Peter. Lovely, thank you.

Okay - this I’ve seen a million times, and it still bunks me. I want to be the steam and the soap.

Nice hat!

PR is a nice stand in for Cape Verde.

Cute kid, and Neal HAS to be a hero!

Pretty lady, and Neal is so romantic.

Barry Sotoro wants to unionize the servers...wonder if he knows Moz.

Awww, he misses New York! New York misses you very much, Neal Caffrey. (And it’s a real newspaper, the real New York Times. That is a first for WC.)

Collins is a bastard, isn’t he?

And once again, it’s Sing Sing. SO NOT A FEDERAL PRISON.

El, SO PRETTY and yes, she can kick Collins’ ass!

No, neither you nor Moz are normal.

Contrary to popular opinion, no one ever thought you had the compassion of Jesus, Moz.

Yes, it’s very important to have hobbies. I write fan fiction.

Dobbs has your number, Neal.

NOW Neal talks about justice?

Parker! Hello Aunt Ellen!

Peter’s nostalgic for Neal and stakeouts. And yes, Elizabeth IS the best wife ever!

REJECTED!

I am flashing back to the anniversary scene from Pilot.

WOW - what a sandcastle!

Neal was from St. Louis.

El does a very good, good cop. Of course she would.

And can I say GUH to Peter in that black button down? My ladyparts are very happy about that shirt! VERY HAPPY!

Peter can’t bring himself to say “dead”

And Neal got some! Go Neal!

And still MORE NIPPLES!

I think Peter’s going to cry...I know I am.

Sneaky Peter is sneaky. And YAY for Diana and Jones.

That’s quite a ratio of OJ to Champagne, Barry.

That is some teamwork, guys.

Peter - you were a little sloppy. Now Collins has found Neal. That’s not good. Not good at all.

Am I the only one who’s finding Collins to be so one-dimensional he makes Adler seem like Hamlet?

Peter’s giving him up to Hughes?

Oh, Hughes - I LOVE YOU SO VERY VERY VERY MUCH!!!!!!! Telling Peter he should pick Neal.

Neal - unless you’re with Peter, you’re never done running.

Awww, Barry - you are such a good friend.

Peter, of course you speak Portuguese!

Coffee, his biggest weakness.

He’s a good friend, he’s worth it. MELTS.

Shit - you’re so screwed, Neal. No amount of money you’re paying Dobbs is going to protect you now.

Run Peter, run!!!!!

In conclusion...THE HUG. THE HUG. THE HUG!

That punch - consider trying out for the Olympic boxing team, Peter?

And the lady to the rescue.

BUT - THE HUG THE HUG THE HUG. I don’t care about anything else.

He kisses as much with his hands as he does with his lips.

Shit - I think Collins is there. He is there.

Neal - both you and Peter are making way too many mistakes when you’re apart. You need to get back together NOW!!!

ETA - Just watched the opening credits. New shots of almost everyone. And Hilarie's no longer a regular cast member, but Sharif finally is!!!!!!




Remember, folks - this is a place for your thinky and not-so-thinky thoughts. Be profound, be squeeish, it’s all good here. Because White Collar’s back!!!!!!!!

Comments

[yamx]

SO ANGRY AT PETER RIGHT NOW!!!

It was Peter who found Neal (again)--Collins never could have. Had Peter just left it alone, Neal wouldn't have been in danger. But no, he had to go *find* him--and then leave that information lying around! Did he REALLY not see this coming? Collins made a big deal of Peter being the only one who can find Neal, and accused him right-out of withholding information!

Really, if Peter had just left well enough alone, and trusted Neal and Moz that they know how to disappear without his "help," Neal would still be safe and happy right now...

And yes, I too wanted to see the two of them back together, and for the series it's necessary that Neal goes back to NYC--but from Peter's POV, not knowing he's in a TV series, his behavior was idiotic.

(Also, the whole "No, this bell must be Spanish brass, which is never ever used in Portugal because those two countries are not right next to each other and certainly never trade," "Oh, look, there's only one Spanish bell in the whole archipelago, and I found it within five minutes with Google!" explanation for how they found him doesn't hold even a tiny little bit of water... Couldn't that have come up with something slightly more plausible?)

YAY! White Collar is back! :)

[queenaeron]

OMG the steam and the water and the soap! I may have to go back and watch that several more times.

Elizabeth...I have such a girl crush on Elizabeth (and Tiffani). I love the Burke's relationship. It is so rare to find a couple on TV who love each other and respect each other without all the crazy sterotyping of nagging wife/stupid husband. Yes, Peter forgets to pick up the dry cleaning and other normal stupid things, but we all do stupid things. When Peter got kicked out of Aunt Ellen's place, I knew that El would be the one to get them together.

Yeah the whole Spanish church bell thing was lame, but it was fun too. So, I'll give them a pass on the lameness.

I loved that Neal was still trying to be a good guy. While he has done illegal things in the past (and most likely in the future too), it seems he's never gone after the "little guy". Doesn't make it less illegal, but there is some wiggle room there.

I loved Mozzie with the whole "Vitamin C" That cracked me up.

The whole "Operation Find Neal" charts and stuff - I kept thinking "What if the place is bugged?" Mozzie and his surplus Russian spy equipment isn't there to do a sweep. And when Collins showed up with the search warrant, I had hoped that since Peter know where Neal was, he would have destroyed the maps and such. No such luck.

Another question was how did Peter beat Collins to the island?

Did Peter leave his wallet on the bar accidentally or purposefully?

Why is Kramer so damn set on grabbing Neal? Were his intentions to save Peter from himself, to get the kind of results that Peter got or something else? I wish that that issue is resolved but knowing how they haven't resolved other issues in the past, doesn't leave me hopeful. But any fanfic writers who want to deal with that, please be my guest! :-)

I thought the hug was sort of awkward,like Peter was more excited to see Neal than Neal was to see Peter. I know there might have been some worry that Peter was working with Collins, but it just felt off. The hug after Peter escapes in Payback felt real and genuine.

As for the end, $500,000 is quicker than $25,000/month. I pretty much knew he was walking into a trap when Neal walked into that guys office.

Where there any "Next week on White Collar"? My DVR stops and starts back up again for Covert Affairs and there is a time delay. I didn't run through the WC recording to see if there were any previews for next week or if it just ended with Collins showing up to arrest Neal?

I saved the best for last...the beach. There are no words to describe how completely amazing and romantic and I just melted with him in the while outfit, the hat, the sand castles, the lights and the ocean. I think I would have jumped him right then and there. And I love at the end when he tells her his real name (which I think really is his name.)

I've been reading the interviews and next week's ep is suppose to be another ride on the WC roller coaster.

[yamx]

Peter didn't beat Collins to the island. hector comes and warns Moz and Neal about Collins before Peter gets there. Peter just beats him to the bar because he knows how Neal thinks and was able to find the place he hangs out a lot faster. Collins actually mentions to Peter that it took him a whole day to find Neal's usual hangout. Peter took a few minutes.

I don't think Peter left his wallet on the bar on purpose. He thought Hector had actually stolen it.

And I think Neal looked reluctant during the hug at first because he just wasn't sure what Peter would do and if he'd try to make him go back.

[yvonne]

I can't wait for episode two. they left us hanging, I expected to see a new one this week;(

I was so mad Peter left a map with circled place where Neal's hiding. omg. I was sure he would mislead them by putting a false lead. and it turned out he had the real map with the right place cirled. who does that? ugh.

[yvonne]

oh, I just checked and there's going to be an ep this week. phew.

[secretsolitaire.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, I did initially get Puerto Rico vibes from some of those fort shots and such -- I was going to say I've got to visit Cape Verde, but I guess I've got to visit PR. ;-)

Favorite moments: Hughes and the long-distance angsty phone call.

[elrhiarhodan]

Yeah - that phone call. I sort of wrote it in a fan fic. Only it was rather more NC-17 than this one. :D

[leonie-alastair.livejournal.com]

He kisses as much with his hands as he does with his lips. Oh yeah - he (Neal or Matt, whichever) has gorgeous hands.

With the exception of this being a two parter (I am soooo bad at waiting) this episode was perfect. I loved every moment. And Collins is a little flat, but since he exists only to drive Neal back into Peter's arms, I can deal. :D

[elrhiarhodan]

And Collins is a little flat, but since he exists only to drive Neal back into Peter's arms, I can deal. :D

Yeah, looking at it like that - I can accept it too.

And since he did just do that, more power to him.

[embroiderama]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the vulnerability we saw from Peter in this--clearly missing Neal, getting choked up with worry over him, that big hug. GAH, that openness is ridiculously sexy. Also, yes to the black shirt and the arm-flattering polo.

And of course Neal was gorgeous because duh, and I liked seeing that guardedness, even if he ultimately wasn't wary enough when he needed to be. Still, I think Peter was the star of this one.

Also, I loved the c. 1995 pager. But but but now we have to wait a week for more? NOOOOOO.

[elrhiarhodan]

Yeah - if Tim and Matt don't get nods from the Emmys or Golden Globes this year. They NAILED it.

[pooh-collector.livejournal.com]

Favorite moment - Peter telling Ellen that he didn't think he could live with it if something happened to Neal. The look on his face was so tortured.

Second favorite moment - THE HUG THE HUG THE HUG!

Third favorite moment - Nipples and Belly Buttons x 2!

Fourth favorite moment - Sand New York - So very Neal. So very homesick.

And, that phone call. Neal tries to tell Peter that they are done, but it's obvious that neither one of them wants to believe it.

And, heck yes they need each other.

[elrhiarhodan]

I think that scene with El was one of mine too - it's clear what camp Peter's in now (as if we had doubts before!)

And yes, that phone call - I definitely wasn't buying it as goodbye, and I don't think Neal was either.

[coffeethyme4me.livejournal.com]

"Coffee, his biggest weakness."

Whose??? Whose weakness am I???

:-D

I'mma hafta go watch that slo-mo of the hug you posted about a million more times.

And yay Sharif! It's about time, yes?

[elrhiarhodan]

Yes, it's amazing that YOU are Neal Caffrey's biggest weakness.

\o/

IIRC, the thing with Sharif as a Guest Star for the last three years is that it was his choice - he was looking for an opportunity to star in his own show. Apparently if he was a contractual regular, it would make things difficult for him. I guess he's resigned himself to being a regular on a hit show.

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

I dozed through a lot of the episode (kidney infection D: ), but I liked what I saw. :-)

[elrhiarhodan]

Sorry you weren't feeling well, it was definitely good.

[damietta.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth!

The Hug!

Neal in Linen AND the shower! Loved the hat and the look into the camera!

Diana and Jones loyalty

Mozzie "you run I run" Aw Moz. Glad to like you again.

But, I don't understand Collins anger and one noteness. Dead or alive for a forger? It would have been SUCH a better episode if they had taken one or two sentences to explain why he was such a robot.

But, yeah! Glad it is back!

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

But, I don't understand Collins anger and one noteness. Dead or alive for a forger?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Is my guess. For some people, that's enough.

[ostaras-journey.livejournal.com]

Surely if it had been for the $$$$$$$$ he'd have been better off working as a bounty hunter in the private market rather than as for a government wage. Do the FBI give bonuses to agents who get their man?

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

If he is paid well enough, that alone might be motivation. Plus revenge. Plus maybe Collins is a big enough nut to want to do it.

[damietta.livejournal.com]

Jim C. one of the writers was on twitter last night and I asked him about Collin's. Here are some of his replies (hit view conversation under some of them to see the reply trail). One minor spoiler in it, but it's kinda obvious. https://twitter.com/CampJim44

Basically, he said Neal put a lot of egg on the FBI's face and that the show consulted with the FBI and a large cash reward (er bounty) would have been in line.

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

Yes, that makes sense.

[elrhiarhodan]

Yes, Neal in linen. And he looks like he's still got so much of the Magic Mike muscle mass in those clothes...and in the shower.

::goes off to contemplate becoming wisps of steam and a tiny bar of soap::

Back.

I've noticed that many of the villains on WC are amazingly one-note and lacking any nuance, moreso as the seasons go by. Adler, of course, most of the villians in S3 except for Keller - is it because these guys are one-shots, there to advance the plot rather than to be part of the story?

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

They're back! So, so pleased with this ep, though I'm eager for the resolution of the cliffhanger.

Sharif Atkins and Mekhi Pfeiffer have worked together before. Part of me was sad they didn't really interact much onscreen.

The forged artwork made me crack up. Girl with a Pearl Earring, Starry Night, the Mona Lisa in a blue sweater (?). And the NYC sand sculptures. So, so Neal. And Mozzie refusing to stay if Neal ran. Too many things to highlight.

[elrhiarhodan]

I am sad at how they wasted a good actor like Mekhi Pfeiffer with such a one-note, cardboard cutout role.

Not only those three, there's Rousseau's Sleeping Gypsy and a Mondrian, too! Neal's been a busy boy!

It wasn't flawless, but as season premiers go, it was leagues bettern than Withdrawal (which I loved as a "regular" episode) and On Guard (which I mostly despised, Neal's fencing not withstanding).

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Other things are rattling around in my brain from the ep, poking me to write a short fic for them. Or at least one item in specific.

I haven't written any fanfic in something like 5 years. I'm a bit intimidated...

[elrhiarhodan]

Oh, please, please, please write!

I will do a ficlet for you in return.

::bounces in excitement::

[virgo-79.livejournal.com]

I loved every single Peter moment in this ep. LOVED THEM. His face when he was talking with Ellen...oh, my heart. And the hug. The punch may have been the best moment of the whole ep, rivaled only by El turning up with Ellen. Peter Burke does not care that you have a knife. Peter Burke will break your face. Rock punches scissors.

I loved, loved, LOVED that Neal was all pissed about the little kid getting ripped off and had to rectify it. I was also surprised; when he was watching it happen, I figured he was going to find the guy and lift his wallet, then give it to the kid, and I think it says a lot about where Neal's at now that he paid himself, and basically went to the authority (such as he is)to get the problem resolved.

Collins is a little shit and I just want somebody to wipe that smirk off his face. Preferably with a metal baseball bat.

I can't say I was taken with any of the supporting characters other than Ellen (her, I adore.) Maya was saccharine and tedious, and had no chemistry with Neal. Also, I was annoyed by the fact that she's supposedly been unwilling to touch "James Maine" with a ten foot pole for all this time, then one sandcastle and twenty questions later, she's doing him. Meh. Dobbs was pretty transparently no good. He slicks his hair back and makes bad analogies involving model ships and power structures, which are two good reasons to shoot him, in my opinion. And Collins' every line feels like a long slow build to the moment when Peter makes him crap his own jaw, so as long as he gets his ass kicked in the end, he can be a one-dimensional prick.

I loved the scene with Peter, Jones, and Diana figuring out where Neal was.

I felt like there were some iffy plot moments in this one, namely Peter keeping the map, and Peter, Neal and Mozzie strolling through the streets in the open after Collins made his offer. Particularly with Peter in his nice, highly visible sea green shirt.

Hughes. You go, boy. So good to have you back.

[elrhiarhodan]

I agree with you 100% on everything you said.

Mehki Pfeiffer was wasted here, the character was as un-nuanced as a villain in a Scooby-Doo cartoon. Dobbs was as transparent as a pane of glass. And Maya? Of course Neal's going to go after the pretty girl. All stock characters, nothing special.

But Peter and Neal - OMFG - they light up the screen like fireworks. The passion - the friendship is EPIC.

[virgo-79.livejournal.com]

That moment when Peter was on the verge of tears while he and Ellen were talking made *my* throat close up.

And their hug. I love how Peter just *engulfs* him. That hug's a bruiser, and Neal just kind of gets swallowed up. And watching that wall Neal's put up with all his "what good is regret gonna do me" and "there were only a few ways this could have ended" crumble was fantastic.

Ellen: "Protect our boy." **falls over**

These boys.

[bandykullan.livejournal.com]

As much as I loved most of the pilot, my absolute favorite thing was that Hughes was back!

Peter was sloppy with the map, to me it was obvious that Peter would make a mistake that lead Collins to NEal, and it happened.

My biggest hope for the next episode is to see Neal in handcuffs though, I mean Peter has to bring him back and make it look like he's back in the legal system.

[elrhiarhodan]

When the first promos came out, and Hughes was in the first scene - my squee was EPIC.

Yeah, Peter was too sloppy with the map - it screamed plot device, didn't it?

One hopes that Collins will do just enough damage to satisfy the HC crowd, but not enough to really hurt Neal.

[teaboyfan.livejournal.com]

Tim and Matt are both incredibly good at conveying complex emotions with just an expression, and Tim was especially brilliant in this episode. Why are they both so under-rated? If anybody on television deserves award nominations, it's these two.

It was interesting to see Neal landing on his feet and adapting to his new life; he's had so much practice at moving on without letting himself get bogged down in grief for what he'd left behind. Peter was hurting a lot more, at least on the surface, because Neal is good at compartmentalizing things, like any good con. He obviously missed Peter, though - that phone conversation was hard to watch.

Hughes is back! It's interesting that his take on Peter's relationship with Neal is diametrically opposed to Kramer's. Peter's kidnapping and Neal's reaction to it seemed to have changed his opinion of Neal. I still think that part of Kramer's vindictiveness was simple jealousy that his Petey had obviously chosen Neal over him; that's why he set a bloodhound like Collins on Neal's trail. Except that bloodhounds are gentle creatures, not attack dogs.

Jeff Eastin and his cliffhangers! Enough already!

[elrhiarhodan]

I agree.

When I was doing the screen caps for the Hug gif, I was going frame by frame (the scene, all of 5 seconds, is over 300 caps), so I saw each minute change of expression. It's awe-inspiring.

I so agree with you about Hughes...and can I say (for the umteenth time) that S3 was so much for the poorer without him.

Is it next Tuesday yet?

This was fanfic

[countess-k.livejournal.com]

Yeay my first comment on a post ep dish. I feel so included. :)
Loved the episode. Although I must say, had it not been for the radiant bromance - especially all of Peter’s actions and reactions - the plotholes would’ve drowned me.

The phone call was epic. I’ve watched many scenes of phone conversations between lovers and few had been as emotionally loaded as this one. Just the tone of their voices, what they were saying to each other and what they were not saying….

The hug. It was magnificent. Peter’s care for Neal that shone throughout the episode went supernova in that scene. Also the scene at the café when Collins was showing Neal’s picture to everyone and telling them about the bounty. Peter’s devastated look was so heartbreaking. Tim Dekay nailed it at every step.

Still I have to acknowledge the plotholes. It’s a shame they didn’t put a little more thought into the story so that our heroes won’t come across as not fully intelligent. I still can’t believe Peter led Collins to Neal. Why would he circle the location on the map? Or leave the map lying around? And why would Neal trust a man whom he’d met only once and had paid a meager amount to not be tempted by the bounty? Both Neal and Peter are smarter than that.

And also about Collins. I’d only seen Mekhi Pfeiffer in one other role and I admit I’m not too fond of his acting. He seems to overact a lot. He played Collins too over the top evil. The only thing he was missing was a mustache to twirl. The last scene would’ve been much more sinister and effective had he just sauntered in the room with a triumphant smirk, instead holding a gun to Neal’s face. And I agree with everyone that they should’ve given him a reason for being so gung ho on catching a forger.

But all that is forgiven in the face of the epic bromance, because it is on the top of the world and it is epic. Also with the developments in this episode, and what we’ve seen from the trailers, I’m hoping for some whump in the next one. And more Peter worrying about Neal and maybe more hugging. Then we’d have a full on fanfic made live action and all the fangirls will be happy.

Re: This was fanfic

[elrhiarhodan]

Welcome to the Fun House!

Your comments and squees are so appreciated.

Yes - there were plotholes galore...particularly with Collins, but you know what? I don't care...we got Hughes telling Peter to go get Neal. We got Moz telling Neal that he'll always be at his side (Moz = Ruth?) We got the most epic HUG.

Not to mention showers and nipples and navels and all that lovely, lovely skin.

Yeah, I'm shallow.

Re: This was fanfic

[countess-k.livejournal.com]

Hey I'm with you about all the goodies we got. Like I said, this was fanfic come to life. Who cares about logic when angst and squee and whumpage can reign. :D

To add to your list:

We got Peter telling Ellen if something happened to Neal he couldn't live with it, WITH TREMOR IN HIS VOICE!

We got Peter and El working together to dig up information about Neal (who totally is like the third member of their family now, OT3 FTW!)

We got Peter reminiscing his stakeouts with Neal and El correctly identifying how much he misses him.

We got Neal telling his lady friend he thinks about New York every day despite being in the middle of paradise.

We got a body-slam hug. We got epic bromance.

I'm satiated. :)

[nieseryjna.livejournal.com]

great episode and Hughes! Have you noticed the look he gave Peter after he asked if Neal is at Cape Verde?!! It's the same look Peter give's Neal when knows he is lying (okay, okay omitting the truth..), made me smile :)

Neal's hat, yey! Mia might be little strange but has great lines, one of my favorites from this episode comes from here.

Oh Peter, it was definitely Peter's episode.

The end? what? I was very surprised when the episode ended, three more seconds?!!? Pleeeease?!!!?

Collins, I have a feeling that the reward is coming from something deeper, something Kramer digged up about Neal's past.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

Everything you said!

And the scene with Neal and his new hat! LOVED IT! However Neal gets out of this mess, I hope the hat survives and he takes it home with him.

I had some "Wait, what?" moments -- oh, really, where does an FBI agent get half-million bounty? Or how did he plan on reneging without having it taking out of his hide? But mostly I had "SQUEE!" moments.

I love Peter in this episode, wearing his heart on his sleeve and being Possessive Peter all the way. And El being awesome.

I hope they actually resolve the Collins Dilemma and don't just handwave him away. Peter hasn't burned any bridges, but he's put his career in some serious jeopardy. They can't just handwave that way, can they? Or [wild speculation] will Season 4's story arc be "Peter and Neal have to solve enough spectacular crimes to make Peter a star agent again"?

But OH NEAL! For a world-famous conman, you are way too trusting sometimes. Couldn't you see that Dobbs isn't trustworthy?