Post Ep Dish - S4.03 - Diminishing Returns

[elrhiarhodan]

Well, here we are, three weeks into the season, and we’re back to New York, with some interesting developments. Peter’s being punished, so our boys are still not together. And Mozzie, wherefore art thou?

What I don’t understand is why is Storage Wars winning the timeslot? I mean, I like the show, it’s kind of fun, but WTF? Who the hell would rather watch those bags full of ugly than Peter and Neal. NOT ME!

You know, I never responded to anyone’s comments last week. Wednesday turned out to be kind of nuts, Thursday was almost as bad, and you gals were playing to nice together that I didn’t need to step in. I hope to do better this week. I love you and I love our conversations.

And I hope to finish the comfort side of Six Hours to Freedom this week.

Once again, this mostly going to be incoherent flailing, but there's a time and a place for everything. Later tonight, head over to White Collar Fixation for jrosemary's incisive First Look at Diminishing Returns, and rabidchild67's ever brilliant Rabid Squee on Thursday. [/pimpage]

And here we go!



No “Previously On…” (thank goodness), but we have a somewhat somber opening …. Aww...flashbacks. “We’re going home”

Ohh new set - Neal’s bathroom! Very nice, very nice!

And Neal’s happy, limp is about gone.

Aw, Peter the Optimist!

Hughes is back, again. Jones and Berrigan are taking Peter’s caseload - everyone wants Peter back.

The CAVE - how bad could it be? VERY BAD! Apparently.

Patterson - almost as grim and one-note as Collins. At least he doesn’t shoot Peter in the leg.

Catalog those cellphones by SIM card...yoikes!

Poor, poor Peter. HUGS HIM TIGHT.

Neal!!!!!! Well hello, sailor! Boy does Peter look happy!

THE PICNIC AREA!

The Yard - I’m not in prison, I’m reassigned.

Neal - tell him. Tell him.

Ellen arrested his father, her partner - Neal doesn’t know everything. And timing is, as they say, everything. Patterson - you’re a bastard.

And Neal being AWESOME!!!!!!!! His solutions seem like they’re right out of every terrific fanfic written, right?

The guys can’t really freeze him out - they’ll try, but they can’t, can they?

And Neal is still being awesome...every five years for this guy? Smart - statute of limitations

Talk about clock watching...argh!!!!! Had a boss like that.

Neal and Peter doing cases…

And Diana to the rescue!

Neal’s like that little red devil on Peter’s shoulder.

Since when does Neal need keys?

I remember this scene from the publicity stills - and I thought that it was weird for Peter to be wearing an ID card and not a badge.

Love that shot of Neal.

Awwww - Peter and Elizabeth. Love those earrings, Mrs. Burke.

And speak of the devil, he will appear!

I don’t like him - He’s a Mets fan, I’m a diehard Yankees fan (sorry to hear that)

Nobody trades up from baseball. Now I can get on board with that!

El - you are HOT in red. You are very hot.

Peter in workout gear...oh, yum. OH YUM.

And nipples????? When do we get nearly naked Neal? He’s in a health club locker room, for crying out loud!

A grand - or five…? You better win that damn game, Peter! And who cares, you are one hot man when you sweat.

And still no nipples!

Christie and Diana went ring shopping !

MOZZIE! MOZZIE! MOZZIE! MOZZIE! MOZZIE! MOZZIE! MOZZIE!

No man is an island - you’ve retired from retirement.

Neal’s Mozzie’s frontman, awwww

And the treasure’s still hanging around. UGH.

“Who needs the fuzz when you have me?” Mozzie still gets all the best lines.

Confident Peter - is SUPER SEXY Peter. OH. MY. GOD. I NEED THAT CAP NOW. That blue tie, that suit, that SMILE.

Where did Peter go? To work, apparently.

Aw, Mozzie’s the best little elf!

Neal’s mom just checked out. Neal WAS in witsec!!!!!

Dad was a murderer? A cop killer?

Danny Brookes...awe

Mother’s maiden name was Caffrey. Father’s name was James.

And so the mythology for S4 begins. No music boxes, no man behind the curtain, no blood-soaked treasure. Just a boy wanting to know why his father was.


Okay - so you know the drill. Please park your thinky and not-so-thinky thoughts, your raves and squees and bits of utter happiness.

Comments

[sahiya]

This episode was utter delight to me. I haven't been this happy with White Collar in years, it feels like. Don't reach, Jeff Eastin. Just do what you do best, which is what you did tonight.

Now all I need to be complete is some Sara.

[(Anonymous)]

LOVE Neal's expression when Peter connected the dots about WITSEC.

You'd think Peter would be more appalled about a Mozzie looking figure deep in the evidence bowls of the FBI. Who knows what scams that industrious imp could be up too?

Although I'm not really sad that the Kramer stuff isn't gunking up things, it does seem pretty unresolved. Doesn't Kramer still have all these vindictive and covetous feelings? He sent Collins after Neal, is that it?

Hopes for the future: I want Peter to look up Danny Brooks, somewhat behind Neal's back-ish, a little, and then we see childhood and high school photos :D

Question: If Neal was in WITSEC forever, why didn't they have his prints on file to match up with the prints taken during his incarceration? Why didn't they already know about Ellen, Danny Brooks, etc, or at least know he was in the program period.

[attackfish]

I got to say it, Mozzie stole Neal's ice wines. I was kripked. Kind of.

[winterstar95.livejournal.com]

Treasure still exists.

Prediction: Neal's father was set up and did not kill anyone. Neal Will try to uncover who did it really, will get in real trouble. How will Neal feel when he finds out that his father didn't do it and he is a criminal by choice.

[pooh-collector.livejournal.com]

I think Neal's dad will still turn out to have been in on something bad, but he didn't do the deed. He copped to it to protect Neal and his mom.

The rest of your prediction is spot on.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

It's also my first guess that Neal's father didn't do it. The big mystery will be why he confessed if he didn't do it. Because something worse would have happened if he hadn't, but what?

Where is Neal's father now? Still in prison? Dead? And his mother?

[elrhiarhodan]

Prediction: Neal's father was set up and did not kill anyone. Neal Will try to uncover who did it really, will get in real trouble. How will Neal feel when he finds out that his father didn't do it and he is a criminal by choice.

Oh, I hope not. That's making him into another Adler.

Or maybe the Treat Williams character - supposed to be Neal's father's best friend (?) is really the baddie.

Many interesting thoughts on this ep. And still dazed by the pretty.

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

Pretty much my whole reaction to this episode was, "Awww, Peter". \o/

I kind of like that Peter stepped out before he could get credit for the take-down. I like that the writers, and therefore, Peter, are not quite ready to just move beyond the consequences of his actions.

And awwwww, Mozzie. I LOVED HIM in this episode. He missed Neal -- and Peter. \o/

[maiac.livejournal.com]

Pretty much my whole reaction to this episode was, "Awww, Peter". \o/

This!

[coffeethyme4me.livejournal.com]

I need some shots of that bathroom.

I know. Not thinky. But it's for bathroom sex, so....

[kanarek13]

Haha ♥ But seriously, even though the bathroom looks more spacious on TV, it's not even close to the bathroom ideas found in fanfics and I couldn't help thinking that there's no way they could have some quality time in that bathroom... without some serious acrobatics... but then again, the boys do love the challenge :D :D :D

[elrhiarhodan]

Got the caps, will supply!

[damietta.livejournal.com]

A lot of emotions in this episode despite the humorous moments, too.

I knew Neal was in witsec, it is the only way Peter couldn't have found out about him.

Loved that Mozzie helped Peter.

Neal bringing Peter food in "the yard" was great. Lots of quiet moments this time.

[elrhiarhodan]

I think my favorite parts of this episode were the lunchtime scenes between Peter and Neal - it's like the writers have decided to write fanfic instead!

I agree about Neal being in WitSec - I think I called it at the end of Judgment Day. In fact, I was thinking that the reason why Neal ran was because technically, he still was in WitSec and bringing him back to DC would have jeopardized his life.

Hmmm - lots and lots of plotholes in that theory.

[pooh-collector.livejournal.com]

They're back!

I loved this ep. All the things that make this show work so well were here.

Peter and Neal
Peter and El
El!
Mozzie and Neal
Mozzie!
Dialogue
Plot twists
Neal being brilliant
Peter being brilliant
......

[elrhiarhodan]

All of this - YEAH. HELLA YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Too tired for overly thinky thoughts, but I'm intrigued by Neal's WITSEC history.

[elrhiarhodan]

I actually called that after Judgment Day aired. And yes, I have MANY thinky thoughts on that.

[zoe-angel-bear.livejournal.com]

Just a couple of continuity issues for me, otherwise I really loved this episode. Well, maybe just ONE continuity issue.

Last season, Ellen said the reason she told Neal about his father was that he was going to enter the police academy and when he did, he was gonna get an earful about his father. Well, if they were in WitSec, they WEREN'T in the same city where Ellen and James were cops, Neal's name was Danny Brooks, so NO ONE would have known about his dad.

There also HAS to be something more than just a generic cop killing. You don't put people into Witness Protection because someone they knew/were related to turned out to be a murderer, even if they are a cop killer. There has to be some kind of mob connection or international drug cartel or SOMETHING that necessitated Neal, his mom, and James' partner needing to completely disappear.

I will say, that I actually enjoyed the character/story development more than I enjoyed the "case" this week. The case seemed really simplistic to me, but that's ok. Hopefully, the complexity will be in developing and revealing Neal's story/history.

Oh, and I'm keeping track of the # of episodes where we get shirtless shots of Neal. So far, we are 3 for 3 (altho in 402 we only got Neal shirtless in the "previously on" part of the show). This week, we got a 2-fer. Half-naked in the bathroom AND during the flashback. I"m liking the way these writers/directors are thinking and pandering to the fangirls/boys. lol

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

They need to pander a little harder to the Peter fans who want to see him shirtless, too! Though as I said in my comment, this was a pretty good Peter wardrobe episode. I could stand a little less wardrobe on him. ;)

I also had that same continuity issue. Maybe there's a little bit more to the story than that? Neal wanted to go back to where the father he idolized was a cop? Though the name thing I can't quite figure out under that theory, but I've given it about 60 seconds of thought, lol.

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

I kind of wanted a whole episode of Neal using the cane. I know they could have written it in as being useful at some point in the case. The writers are REALLY good at those little things when they put their minds to it.

Neal's such a cockblocker! Peter and El were totally about to do it when he showed up. Peter's, "Neal, it's late" was such a "I'm about to get laid, go away" and Neal just walks right in. I guess the case is more important. Marginally.

"Nobody trades up from baseball." As if I needed more excuses to love Peter Burke. So, so true.

"Just a convict and an FBI agent watching TV." I loved Diana's little shrug on that line. She looked so adorable!

The scene between Neal and Mozzie was so sweet. I had some flaily hands.

This episode was a great Peter wardrobe episode. Tee shirt, three piece suit, sweaty squash playing outfit. He just needed to be shirtless to make it the best Peter wardrobe episode ever. The little lock of hair over his forehead at the end of the episode was sexy, too.

Well, Marshals have been in a theme in Neal's life from a very young age, huh?

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

I thought it was adorable how Mozzie helped Peter out. I missed his entire conversation with Neal, but I assume that Neal told him about Peter's Very Challenging Job.

[bandykullan.livejournal.com]

Incoherent thoughts here as well:

Mozzie makes the best return! Too bad we didn't get more with his "friends" that he had picked up. I also loved his helping Peter, made me go all "awwww"

The case itself was pretty boring, but you got some nice Diana moments.

I don't like it if it's going to turn out that Neal's father was innocent. I predict that most of the season will be about Neal redeeming his father, and that just feels too sweet and cute for my taste. Is there going to be a big hugfest/father-son reunion as well?

[elrhiarhodan]

I love Mozzie's return - it's a classic! I love the "fellow travellers" (which, for those of us with parents of a certain age, was a code phrase for Communists).

I don't know what to feel about Neal's dad - I hope he's not whitewashed. I want him to be bad bad bad. Neal's father in play for the rest of the series doesn't feel right at all.

[countess-k.livejournal.com]

I liked this episode. I liked the camera shots, the close ups and fast pans. I liked Peter’s team working together again, shades of Burke’s Seven sans Mozzie and Sara. I also didn’t mind the case. The part where Neal taught Peter how to get the lady to choose the right gem was awesome.

My DVR cut off the last few moments of the episode. I need to know what they said after Neal’s line : “You said there were lines my father would never cross, but he did.”

I’m not sure how I feel about Neal Caffrey being his real name. I guess some part of me always liked thinking it was the special name he’d given to Peter. It doesn’t make sense for him to use his real name in New York when everywhere else he used an alias.

I hope in the father-son story we’re inevitable hurling towards, there’s a part there where Peter and Neal’s father have a standoff over Neal, like about who is the more protective father figure or something like that. I’d love to see Peter show off to Neal’s dad how he was the one taking care of his son while he was off doing God knows what. Secretly though, I hope either Neal’s dad or the one who killed that cop are really powerful villains who give Neal and Peter a very hard time.

[elrhiarhodan]

This whole episode was a recipe with only the following ingredients:

50% WIN
50% LOVE

I like how he got his name and I really like the backstory - more that his mother just "fell apart" - which fits with my personal headcanon.

I agree that Neal's dad has to be a real villain (maybe the real juice behind Adler - still pissed off at how lame he turned out to be).

[kerrylang.livejournal.com]

I already wrote in another journal my opinion on the ep but I can say it again: I LOVED it! The case in itself was boring, yeah, but the conclusion and the scenes to close this case were awesome. Neal & Peter at their best. That was priceless acting and the dialogue was again so wonderful, a few times I laughed out loud and replayed the scenes and laughed again.

This show doesn't particulary need a blood stopping case for me, for me the show it's about the how do we catch the bad guy? And the show delivers! Intelligent and with an eye twinkle. Very entertaining and the cutting is awesome.

If I think a few eps forward (I know nothing, be assured!) I would guess that Neal will get in so much trouble he never got in his life. Coming across the reason he'd been in Witness Protection may put him in so much danger only Peter would be able to pull him out. I think there will be a huge cliffhanger as it was when Elizabeth got kidnapped. I'm really curious if my guess will come true.

Just about to watch the ep again, if only to catch up on all that dialogue. Well, I'm German and some dialogue is hard to get but most of it I got this time by watching it the first time :D.

[elrhiarhodan]

I agree about the case - it was simply a vehicle for the boys to be awesome. TBH - aren't most WC capers about Neal and Peter and the Harvard Crew (by extension) the same thing?

Maybe the only "real" caper was the kidnapping in S1 (Front Man), but again, it was still a chance to show of the boys' awesomeness.

[(Anonymous)]

"Patterson - almost as grim and one-note as Collins. At least he doesn’t shoot Peter in the leg."

Oh, but THEN we could write lots of H/C fic!

[elrhiarhodan]

Yeah! We need more shot-Peter fic. Lots more.

[lauracollared.livejournal.com]

This episode was wonderful for so many reasons. Truly amazing bromance (and wonderful for slashers). Great having Neal, Peter, Diana, Jones and even Hughes all factor into the episode and working together. Peter having great humor opportunities and great wardrobe. The Mozzie stuff was great. Neal backstory was fantastic. We even get Judith Ivey again. Christy even mentioned! The bathroom, the Neal shirtlessness, watching him shave. MMF. Also: the wondeful directing/ editing choices of the close-up on Neal's face throughout the episode. I am not sure if it is just a preferred style, or if it's because we are beginning to peer into Neal's backstory finally. Maybe this will be a stylistic choice throughout this season, as we learn more about Neal. Who knows, but I really love it.

Yes, Peter's new boss is lame-sauce and one note. Yes, the lack of cane or limp is sad-sauce.

[countess-k.livejournal.com]

Ditto on the close-ups. In the part where Neal and Jones are at the office coordinating with Peter and Diana in Burkes' home, after Jones says surveillance lost cook and thought he was going dark the camera does this glide and zoom on Neal's face and he says, "He's pulling the job!" This is followed by a parallel move on Peter's face, highlighting how in tune they are with each other. It's very subtle but crafty camera movements can do wonders in showing the strength of two characters' relationship.

The only tinsy tiny criticism I have for the episode (and season 4 in general) is the absence of June. I miss her every time I see Ellen.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

I loved interactions between Peter and Neal. And MOZZIE! He certainly didn't last long before getting bored with retirement.

Athletic Peter! It amuses me when Neal lectures Peter on how to behave in an undercover role, as if Peter wouldn't know after years of experience. I bet it amuses Peter, too, so Peter lets him go on.

I'm surprised that Peter didn't look a little worried when he recognized Mozzie in "the cage". I'm wondering what little souvenirs Mozzie took home with him from the evidence lockers. I bet nobody's going to count those cellphones now that they're inventoried, for one thing. Mozzie could always use more burner phones.

[elrhiarhodan]

I think what makes this ep one of my favorites is how Peter and Neal interact. There's none of the mistrust, the anger, that characterized ALL of season three (even the best eps). Peter is going to do what it takes to get his job back - which is, in his sound opinion, keeping his nose clean, doing the tasks he's been asked to do, and everything with a gracious smile.

Neal, of course, misses Peter - isn't Peter why he came back to NYC in the first place?

I didn't actually see Mozzie in the cage - but you're right, the way Moz goes through burner phones, he needs all he can lay his hands on.

[definehome.livejournal.com]

I loved the very beginning, and on second watch...

As much as I love a clean- shaven beard.... It sort of looks/feels like a slave/prisoner being shorn. And then.... 'you're never fully dressed without a smile... 'I think they're really playing up the idea that Neal is putting on a mask.

[elrhiarhodan]

I actually thought the whole shaving thing was a tie back to the opening scene in Pilot - and a very nice contrast in situations. In both cases, Neal cleans himself up and puts on a uniform.

[charaefive.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to speculate on Neal's father...(as I mentioned to you earlier, I haven't seen the last two episodes of the last season because my White Collar heart couldn't take it, so in my head cannon, Neal's father is actually played by Liam Neeson - oh dear god if that were true...(head explodes from sheer overload of Liam Neeson and Matt Bomer on the same screen together) because anything I think will most likely be proven untrue.

So I'm just here to squeee over Mozzie! Just HOW did he get into the Secure Records Storage, in the middle of the FBI headquarters? And I have a sneaking suspicion that he took something from there. Call me a cynic, and as much as I adore Mozzie, I'm fairly sure he took something (Does that make me a bad person?).

Still, I'm just waiting for the writers to find this journal, and discover 'Happily Ever After Isn’t For Guys Like Us' (which is still my most favourite of your fics on this site), and actually make it...

Oh, and if you were wondering about my avatar, I actually sprited it from scratch, and my inspiration was one of my life axioms - 'Cute Things Can Kill'...

[elrhiarhodan]

Liam Neeson...hmmmm. Hadn't thought of him. I was going for Pierce Brosnan, simply on looks alone.

But Liam and Matt on screen together - guh!

I also loved that Mozzie was the Shoemaker's Elf - and yeah, I wonder what went missing. It make take the better part of a decade to figure that out!

Thank you for the props on "Happily Ever After..." That is still one of my all time favorites, too.