Post Ep Dish - S4.14 - Shoot the Moon

[elrhiarhodan]

Post-Ep Dish - 4.14 - Shoot the Moon

After two less-than-stellar episodes (though both were better on re-watch than when originally aired), I was beginning to have my doubts about the direction of White Collar. Elizabeth was no longer behaving like a Stepford Wife, thank goodness, but she was definitely channeling something equally unwholesome and out of character. The trust issues driving Peter and Neal apart felt weirdly fabricated and it was more like these guys really didn't care about each other (no spending hours at the hospital bedside was definitely a lost opportunity) than they were good friends who'd do anything for each other.

But I have to say, after watching Shoot the Moon, my faith in White Collar has been restored. So, here we go, my friends, after a week's hiatus, it's time for the Post-Ep Dish.



The opening scene was a delightful bit of subliminal b-roll - we're treated to a few seconds of people lounging on what looks to be the Great Lawn in Central Park (it isn't), and then we're taken to a shot of Neal and Sara walking in front of a fountain and a giant globe. Raise your hand if you know what this is.

(It's the Unisphere, built in Flushing Meadows - Corona Park in Queens for the 1963 World's Fair.)

It's not in Neal's radius, whether June's place is uptown on the West Side, or Tudor City, by the Chrysler Building (see my comment to the Empire City Dish). Corona Park is at least 13 miles from Riverside and almost 10 miles from the Midtown area. No fudging here. I can only suppose that since Neal is being legitimately employed by Sara as a security consultant, he's giving an extension of his radius.

Anyway, I love the idea of Neal and Sara as amis amour (and my French-speaking friends, please correct my spelling) - which is a more romantic turn of phrase for friends with benefits. Sexy, but casual. Yum…

(And I am sure that I'm not only one who's glad to see that the color casting on this scene as shown in the Season 4 music video was off. Sara's definitely still a ginger!)

The scene shifts to Peter and Elizabeth, who are sneaking away for a little R&R - I guess they need it after everything that's happened. I love how casually romantic they are together - it feels like the couple I fell in love with in Pilot, except that Peter's a lot more self-assured here. But he's still an FBI agent, a professional paranoid, who takes his gun with him on vacation.

And is he so totally hot in the open collar shirt and well-tailored black pants (I think I recognize those from Power Play, yes?). And that line about having the upper body strength of a Norse God, GUH!!!!!!!!!

Cue the knock on the door, and it's Jones … and Peter's not fooling anyone. At least not El.

And now the caper of the week begins.

I have to confess, when I saw the promos for this ep, I was a little dismayed. As someone funnier than I am pointed out, this ep was supposed to be all about Peter and Elizabeth's favorite pastime - getting taken hostage. (I think at one point I figured out that over 30% of all White Collar episodes featured kidnapping as a plot device.)

But you know what, it worked. The tension was there, the scene where the two thieves take Peter and El hostage had me on the edge of my seat. I was cheering Elizabeth on for being smart and dropping her earring (and hoping that some passerby wouldn't pick it up).

And how awesome were Sara and Neal? (Although I do have to wonder, did they call 911 before heading into the gallery?)

While I loved this episode, it wouldn't be an episode of White Collar if it didn't have a few scenes that strained my credulity. These crazy-ass thieves in Venetian carnival masks who go around waving guns and kidnapping people (and threatening to kill them) are suddenly sharing clothes and confidences and letting El out of her zip tie handcuffs so she can chop onions with a great big chef's knife?

Okay - so maybe the bad guy isn't really so bad - just misunderstood.

Anyway, willing suspension of disbelief aside, there was much to love about this whole middle scene - Peter and Elizabeth and their nerves of steel, their complete trust and their ability to communicate. I was completely swept into their understated panic when Peter's ID was partially exposed (I think, though, had they not called attention to it, they might have gotten away clean. They may communicate impeccable, but their execution was a little flawed).

One of the interesting themes of this episode was how everyone's timing was off.

Peter goes to get El a hot chocolate and because he takes a moment to be courteous, he and El are carjacked. Neal and Moz go to the Burkes to pick up Satchmo and just miss the call from the B&B where the Burkes were heading. Diana calls the Science Museum to warn them, but the kidnappers/thieves arrive just as the phone rings.

And one has to wonder about the timing of Neal and Sara - since the perfume bottle was recovered and available for display, does that mean that the two of them are destined to be forever amis amour? (And even though the Marshals are turning a blind eye to Neal's jaunts into Queens, I think they'd be a little non-plussed if he went to London for a little weekend nookie).

I've gone a thousand words into this Dish and I've barely scratched the surface. So let's go to best moments:

Diana and Jones stepping all over each other at the operations meeting. "Ladies first… Why not guys first…" And Diana just steps out, anyway. (And speaking of Diana - that hair is absolutely MAGNIFICENT).

Neal telling Moz not to snoop while he's giving Satchmo a really good belly rub. Maybe he's still feeling guilty for breaking in last season.

Neal taking out an "ad" in Mugshot Monthly, and getting carpel tunnel syndrome from all the letters he wrote.

When Elizabeth and Peter almost reminisce about being kidnapped - "at least we're together this time."

Neal going all out for Peter and Elizabeth - that's the Neal I know and love and have missed for the last few weeks.

Peter talking Osborne down - the moment reminded me of Peter talking Neal down at the end of Point Blank. Maybe Peter's in the wrong line of work - maybe he should be in hostage negotiations?

And of course, absolutely of course, without a doubt of course, Elizabeth finally coming clean to Peter. That scene between them, quiet and without any fanfare, was as perfect as I hoped and needed it to be. And this: "Neal and I will always have secrets…" Note, Peter didn't say that they's always have trust issues. Secrets are good, mistrust at this point is just lazy scriptwriting.

A few honorable mentions:

Scruffy Peter at the end of the episode.
Not showing how the take down went, just Oz handing Peter his gun.
Not telling us about Sara's fate, just Neal going as her no-strings plus-one
And the most honorable mention of them all, Devious Peter manipulating Neal into going to the house and finding the IRS paperwork. Bravo, Agent Burke, bravo!!!

Okay, flisties and other peoples, this is the Dish - the place to park the thinky and no-so-thinky thoughts. It's also on my journal and I expect people to be well behaved and remember that I like Sara Ellis. I like her with Neal. I like her without Neal. And I will not hesitate to delete comments I find disrespectful. Full stop.

Comments

[pooh-collector.livejournal.com]

I love Sara Ellis and I love her with Neal. She's his match in every way. Neal and Sara as hmhm friends, was a great part of this ep.

You made a great point about all the bad timing in this ep. Good catch.

I thought a lot of the dialogue was well done including the bits you pointed out. Another favorite of mine was "You don't trust me with your dog?" "I don't trust you with my house."

I know the ep spent a lot of time focusing on the differences/similarities between Oz/Penny and Peter/El, but I also caught a few between Neal/Kate/Sara. The convict and the girl who gets him through his time inside, who he also eventually escapes for. Penny had some similar physical traits to Kate as well. All kinds of interesting dichotomies to play with.

And, the trailer for next week, OOOOOHHHHH!

[elrhiarhodan]

Hadn't made the Penny = Kate connection - but that's smart!

I did love the dialogue here - and there were a lot of bits that I didn't put into the Dish. I really wanted to enjoy the ep, so I didn't take notes as the episode aired (I find I miss a lot when I do the Dish like that).

[leonie-alastair.livejournal.com]

It was a fun and amusing episode. While there were some obvious plot holes/plot devices, none of them of was so glaring as to drag me out of the episode on my initial viewing.

And yes, I recognized the Unisphere - considering the way his radius shrinks and expands as needed perhaps Sara could come up with a reason to extend the leash across the pond for the weekend.

I loved the conversation between Peter and El at the end.

[elrhiarhodan]

I loved this episode - it worked on so many levels for me. The plot holes were slight enough that, as you say, none of them dragged me out of my enjoyment.

In retrospect, though, I had a little un-uh moment with the Marie Antoinette perfume bottle. The atomizer bottle wasn't invented until 1877 by Allen DeVilbiss, about 95 years after Marie Antoinette's execution. (I have friends who collect only perfume bottles with DeVilbiss atomizers, fwiw).

Once again, the writers have Google-failed. What would have been wrong with using a traditional perfume flacon?

[meeni (from livejournal.com)]

Neal can freely roam anywhere to do what he wants to do.
Maybe some kind of reward after return from Cape Verde..LOL

Sara and her baton awesome- missed them both.:D

Peter was brilliantly devious making Neal find that box although Mozzie did and he definitely might be feeling guilty for break in last time but he forgot it next moment
I'm so happy we got Peter and Elizabeth-
Peter looks damn fine in white shirt..
yes the timing is really flawed..LOL
I'm so so happy that the way i just imagined Elizabeth would learn that she cant protect Peter..and the quiet moment when she tells Peter the truth.i needed it too.
So Neal was in mugshot monthly..and Diana having fun at his expense(Silently)
i read spoilers of her might be leaving for London.So not happy about it.
It has left me sour.i want to be happy but i am not
jUst happy that season 4 is starting in my country tonight...

[elrhiarhodan]

Yes, Peter was pretty DAMN FINE in that white shirt. He was fine in the white shirt with a heavy scruff, too.

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

I have not be engaged in White Collar at all since the return. It hasn't really been holding my interest, but I've been watching anyway. Just not with any rewatches or desire to talk about it outside of a few live-tweet comments. I WAS excited for this episode because of the return of Sara. And that, my friend, did not disappoint.

As silly as I found the actual plot of the episode (another kidnapping plot, the kidnappers being way too open, as you'd think they would be MORE on edge and paranoid since they're so obviously bad at what they're doing), it had everything I love in the character moments. Neal and Sara and where they are in their friends-with-benefitsness. Their scenes together were just perfect. They were cute, I squee'd, and I was happy.

And, OMG, Sara whipping out her baton when she had a gun in her face. Smart? Not really. Badass? YES. I love the baton. And she got it out TWICE.

Unsurprisingly, I loved all the Peter/El stuff, too. It was a great episode for them. I like how you saw the characters sort of acknowledge that it's ridiculous how often they get kidnapped. I loved Peter's "I hate this conversation", I think when they were talking about how he was boring. I also loved his slightly offended face when the age difference between him and El was pointed out. But his speech about love at the end made me fall in love with him all over again.

El was awesome when she got the gun away from Penny. The women had all the badass moments in this episode.

I thought it was interesting that no one knew Peter and El had been taken until the episode was well past half over. I think that created some tension for me, that NO ONE KNEW they were missing.

I don't even want to think about London. Okay, I do. A part of me is all "Ooh! Putting them in different countries would be great for fanfic and I want Sara to get this huge promotion because I actually care about the career of a fictional character!" and the other part of me is "Noooooo! SHIPPY FEELS!". It's pretty incoherent.

I got rambly. It's late and I have feelings.

[elrhiarhodan]

Good to see your comments here - they've been missed.

I too squeed all over the place - Sara and her baton - TWICE was simply too good to be true. I loved how she was willing to sacrifice the atomizer for the safety of the people at the exhibit and I wonder if the pre-Neal version of Sara would have done that.

I did have a moment's pause when Sara talked about her trip to London with her sister. I wanted more, I wanted less - too much dangling bits there.

And thank you for pointing out the age difference part of that conversation - I think this is the first time it's ever been acknowledged in canon that Peter's got quite a few years on Elizabeth.

[sapphire2309]

I don't want Sara to leave for London. I've missed her a lot this season. She's far more fleshed out and real and good for Neal than Kate ever was, and she's got the badass side that Neal seems to like in Alex with the baton. (Love that baton!! And Sara does like using it.) I hope she doesn't get the promotion, I don't mind how.

For a second, I thought that Neal might not do his best so that they wouldn't recover the perfume bottle. Then they found out that Peter and El were missing, and Neal not doing his best was suddenly not an option, not even to 'Bad Boy' Neal. And of course he wants the best for Sara.
For one horrifying moment, I actually thought she went blonde. I think I maybe hated her until the next scene where her hair was fine again =)

I don't think it's amis amour - there was no 'our' in the second word, more of an ah. Hold on while I google it.
It's amis amants, with amour as a synonym for amant, so you were really close =)
I think Neal and Sara need the no strings attached relationship right now - Neal is a live wire as it is and Sara might be on her way to London. Who knows what's going to happen?

If it had been up to Neal, Peter's plan wouldn't have worked. It's good to know, after all the secrets and mistrust that recurs every season.

If that had been Peter who was the cooking expert, he would have found a way out right there and then. And this episode wouldn't have been as awesome as it has been. Damned two edged swords.

The little in vino veritas scene in the end was perfect. Not overdone, nothing elaborate, nothing Neal would have done for sure (except the wine, trading the screw cap for a cork, possibly from a bottle of Pinot =) ) but perfect for Peter and Elizabeth.

Mugshot Monthly seriously exists? That has to be the craziest magazine I've ever heard of!

Okay, I think that's all the coherent thoughts for now.

Neal kissing Sara in front of the globe - WOW.

This is where I stop typing...

[elrhiarhodan]

amis amants, yes - that definitely makes more sense linquistically.

Thank you!

I know a lot of people weren't too happy with how understated Elizabeth and Peter were at the end of the ep - the "confession" scene - but I'm with you. After all the drama from the kidnapping, the potential shootout, the arrest, this needed to be a quiet moment. And it didn't matter to me if Peter sussed out El's involvement or El confessed. The secret's out and the boys can work together on this now.

[angelita26]

I just finished watching the episode, and this is a lovely dish on the events. I enjoyed this episode though I never got into the whole Bonnie & Clyde thing. Probably because it was the USA network version, and all I could think of was Dollhouse when Alpha and Echo went on their little Bonnie & Clyde spree which was fantastically done and much darker.

My one nitpick (I only have one so far) is that Neal implied that he thought the blank in the gun wouldn't hurt him; this was in the science center when he explains away his boldness for not backing down in the face of the gun. He's a smart guy. He knows about guns even if he doesn't use them. *sigh at Show*

I suppose he could have been talking about how Oz didn't want to hurt anyone in the gallery, but this is many scenes and frustrations later. It just didn't feel like that to me.

Anyway, I'm so glad that Peter and Elizabeth had the talk. I was worried that it would get breezed on by without so much as a whisper, as the unpleasant things often do on this show. That clever Peter, steering Neal from afar. Not even Mozzie picked up on it. Yet.

All in all, it was a fun episode and it gave us some great moments. I will be sad if Sara moves to London - I like her and Neal together - but I can see where that is a good out for their relationship - neither have to deal with those pesky commitment issues. And it means that she could come back to visit some times. Amis Amour, and all.

[elrhiarhodan]

Yeah - I agree with your nitpick. Getting shot at close range with a blank it still going to hurt - broken ribs, collapsed lung, possible heart trauma. Anyone remember John Eric Hexum????

I too will be sad if Sara moves to London, and while from a storytelling POV there's no point in mentioning it if she's not going to go, we know that WC doesn't really follow the storytelling rules, do they?

[ultracape.livejournal.com]

Things that I loved about this episode was the way that Peter conned Neal into finding the information he had on where Ellen had worked. That was brilliant and what was even better, sticking to the missed timing throughout was that the only reason Neal fell for the con was because Mozzie was there. Neal was not going to snoop and so he would not have seen the file.

I like Neal and Sara too and I like the way that they are not really ending the amorous friends relationship.

I could not get over, and kept me laughing, was that Neal had a few hundred prison bunnies (just a few hundred?) and that he actually wrote them all back until he got carpul tunnel sydrome. Oh-G-d, and then the form letters letting them down gently.

So we don't really know if Peter figured out that El had told Neal to lie to him or if El confessed it but what I did like was that El embraced Neal back into the "family" so to speak. Before it felt to me like she had completely shut him out. Here, she's acknowledging that she was asking Neal to make a sacrafice and that it was causing him stress.

I also really love what they did with that electrical substation.

Only one slightly sour note on this for me, Marie Antionette never actually said, "let them eat cake."

[elrhiarhodan]

I agree that Peter's con of Neal was brilliant - I didn't see it coming at all! And I wonder if Peter knew that it wasn't going to be Neal that read the file, but Moz? I have a feeling that Neal is still feeling way too guilty (and so he should) for breaking into the Burkes' home in As You Were.

I liked the ambiguity of the ending - whether Peter figured it out or El confessed doesn't matter to me. Peter knows now that Neal will do anything for Elizabeth, and by extension, for him.

[winterstar95.livejournal.com]

Okay I have to admit, I swooned at the Neal and Sara moments. They are so wonderful together and so intense. The moments were perfectly played by both actors. The subtlies and the big moments....just lovely. I loved it. I want more Sara!

Overall, I spent more time smiling at this episode than I have in a long time - so that was good. I do think that El and Peter should have done a few more remarks on getting kidnapped because it is a staple in the world of WC. like you have to plan on being kidnapped at least once a year or something if you happen to live in WC land. Someone should write crack fic on that.

I actually liked Oz...I did really like his character and felt sorry for him in the end. I did get the vibe that the girl was setting him up - but that went no where.

I still don't get why Peter left the file out for Neal. Why do that? Why not just come clean and ASK him. This isn't highschool! I just don't get it. TALK TO ONE ANOTHER....Cripes!

And I do have to say I was a little underwhelmed at the big reveal with El and Peter. As a married person when your spouse conceals something that is very important to you, it HURTS. BIG time. And you can't just sweep it away. I didn't want dramatics, I wanted Peter to tell El that she shouldn't have done that and that doing it could put everyone in danger. She needs to understand that she should not interfere with his job (though the writers think it is okay). And she has to understand she undermined the needed trust between Peter and Neal. That's all...I didn't want dramatics just a little bit more.

But it was a nice episode and I am looking forward to next week now.

[elrhiarhodan]

Hurrah for your enjoyment! I definitely thought this was one of the stronger eps of the entire season - and given how weak the past two were and how repetitious the plot seemed - I was almost mortally worried.

We'll agree to disagree about the big reveal at the end. And maybe there can be a fix-it fic or two, up in the bedroom, to resolve your issues.

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

The atomizer had me raising my brows as well. But whatevers. I liked this episode.

Peter and El together were fantastic, from the packing scene, all the way to the end when they had their honest conversation. I adored the playfulness we saw in Peter regarding his surprise. I was delighted by it; it's a side we don't really get to see, and it was so much fun to get to know him this way. The way he packed so that El wouldn't be able to guess where he was taking her was one of the best moments from the episode.

I felt that Penny and Oz were a tad bit overdone, but they weren't horrible. I never actually grew to care about them, but the show did manage to make me feel mildly anxious that they would go and get themselves killed. I didn't think the show would go there, and I was right, but I admit, I wasn't totally certain at the time.

Moz and Neal scenes are almost always classics, and this was no exception. I love Mozzie's plan to plant a camera, and then his subsequent snooping.

The whole conversation about the mugshots cracked me up. My thoughts immediately went to the idea that there is an actual Neal Caffrey fanclub within the show's canon. Then I immediately decided that Peter was the founder, and El is the President. Very amusing. Could be fun crack to write sometime.

I felt bad for Peter when the kidnappers suggested that Peter must be boring...not only because they were poking fun at him, but because this is obviously a conversation he's heard before, which makes me feel bad for him. But I loved El's indignation for her man, and her strong defense of him.

And I have to say, the Burkes looked stunning. Peter in that white shirt, and El in that dress. They're so hot together. I greatly enjoyed having an episode where they got to spend more than three minutes of screen-time together.

I'm glad that Sara may be getting a promotion. It's nice that they are at least showing us her career progression, since they've dropped El's career plans entirely, it seems. So yay for allowing a female character to have some growth in her career. I certainly hope this isn't a tease and that they'll make her stay because of an Uber Love of Neal, or some such. That would be so depressing.

[elrhiarhodan]

Yeah - I agree that Penny and Oz were a little OTT. And Oz's turn from trigger happy escaped felon to schmoopy lover who trusts his kidnapped victim with an 8 inch chef's knife so she can help him make a home-cooked meal was a little ridonk.

I agree that El's career seems to be just for Peter's convenience these days. I was a little non-plussed with El calling herself a "caterer" when she's not. Okay - yeah maybe she was fudging for the situation, but...

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I was clear in my last sentence...I meant that I hope that they don't make Sara stay because of Twue Wuv. That would make me cringe in so many ways -- and no, it's not because I still don't like Sara. I just hate the idea that they would go to the trouble of giving her a career option and she "gives it up" for a guy.

[kerrylang.livejournal.com]

Soooooo, not much Peter & Neal, BUT I liked it!!! :D

I love Sara and Neal together, and I hope she doesn't take the job offer in London. The dialogue with the island was soooo great, I really laughed a lot watching the ep.

The thing with the file, well, the moment it was back on the kitchen counter I knew that Peter did that on purpose, he wanted Neal to see it. I liked Neal telling Mozzie not to snoop and he wasn't exactly comfortable taking advantage of the file. I don't know why Peter doesn't finally talk to Neal about everything but I hope that the writers have a reason for writing that childish behavior.

All in all I liked Peter & El and Neal & Sara, it was a fun ep, not so dangerous as the promos suggested but that we are used to by now. I'm just getting to watching it again :))

[elrhiarhodan]

I wish there was more Peter-Neal interaction here, too - but it was great to see Peter & El as more than ships passing in the night.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this one a lot. I loved seeing the Unisphere (Mr. Husband Man is from Forest Hills, Queens, so I know just where that is). I loved Sara and Neal's conversation on the balcony about her going to London. And I loved seeing El and Peter work together as a team, even if some of the whole scenario strained credulity. I'm glad that El and Peter aren't lying to each other anymore and that Peter knows Neal only lied because El asked him to. In all, a good episode, in my mind.

[elrhiarhodan]

Ah, your best beloved is from MY neck of the woods. Or should I say, my parents. They lived in Forest Hills until the World's Fair was under construction - one morning my mother (as she had told me) had walked out into the gardens behind her apartment to discover that there was a road crew ripping out trees. The road that's now I-495 runs right behind her old apartment building.

It's interesting to see how much of WC is now being filmed in the Outer Boroughs...Ancient History was shot mostly in Long Island City, they've filmed on Staten Island, they've been on location in Brooklyn. I don't think they've hit the Bronx yet, but maybe next season? The Taurus could get stalled out on the Cross Bronx Expressway and Peter thinks the tow truck's there to help, but it takes the car to a chopshop instead.

(Okay, sorry. I love ALL of New York).

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

This whole show is a love letter to New York City. It's one of the things that attracts me even to the less-than-stellar episodes.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

I absolutely loved this episode, though I'm a bit upset about Sara possibly leaving. I've always rather liked her, and in this episode she was magnificent and simply smart, plus they looked great together with Neal. "Friends with benefits" works great for me, or even simply friends - but I want her in the picture from time to time.

I raised an eyberow when El and Peter got kidnapped (again) "just by accident", but from that point the episode was stellar, so I'm willing to forgive them that.

Good point about the timing.

I liked the criminal couple and all the paralels to Neal/Kate. I couldn't help but feel some sympathy for them, and I was glad that things didn't turn out too horribly for them. I also really enjoyed Diana and Jones leading the case.

So many fantastic scenes... Neal not letting Moz mess around Peter's house, El "interrogating" Peter, Sara with her baton, all the Sara/Neal moments, El and Peter kidnapped together and all their talks with the kidnappers... and the best thing was that this time, the episode actually held together.

BTW - could someone please explain the "cake" joke with the perfume to me?

I think most of the great moments have already been mentioned... I really loved how light and funny this episode felt, with just the right amount of tension. This will definitely be one of my favorite episodes, maybe even my most favorite from Season 4 so far. Vivid, funny, smart, sexy, with just the right dose of emotion - exactly how I love White Collar.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

BTW - could someone please explain the "cake" joke with the perfume to me?

It's a widespread misbelief that Marie Antoinette said about the French people who were protesting the high price of bread, "Let them eat cake."

[elrhiarhodan]

I hadn't caught the Neal/Kate parallels to Oz/Penny when I was watching, but now I can certainly see them.

While the prior two episodes were a lot of really good moments strung together with a weak plot, this had a good plot with great moments, too. Just how I like my WC.

[cookiegirl]

And that line about having the upper body strength of a Norse God, GUH!!!!!!!!!
Mmmm yes, that definitely got my attention!! ♥ ♥

[elrhiarhodan]

Yeah. Yeah. And Yeah again.



Yeah. Yeah. And YEAH.

[embroiderama]

I've started to wonder if they've given Neal an upgrade on his radius and just haven't told us because he's definitely going pretty far afield without any worry. But anyway, I really enjoyed this ep (just watched it) and I was SO GLAD that El came clean.

[elrhiarhodan]

Ohhh - shiny new Sara icon...where'd you get it?????

Maybe Neal's been upgraded to full range during the weekdays?

[embroiderama]

The icon is from by darkpalace.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

[embroiderama]

HTML fail up here, sorry!

[joy2190.livejournal.com]

I loved all the romantic fiction references. Perhaps in response to the 50 Shades lobbying for MB. Although the professor/student Peter/Elizabeth was more 'Gabriel's Inferno'. Neal and Sara's back bending kiss would make a fine Harlequin cover! The girls were great this week. Good to see Elizabeth back in character and Baton Girl doing her thing. And as for Diana's new 'do' "Ooh, la la!" Definitely my favorite episode since winter break.

[elrhiarhodan]

I'm one of those peeps who doesn't want Matt to do 50 Shades... (*duck*)

But yes, there were a lot of interesting ties to romantic fiction (and I now sort of need to write Peter/Elizabeth as journalism professor/eager student AU).

[joy2190.livejournal.com]

I completely agree re. 50 shades. I really, really hope he does not do it. Although I think he would be a great Prof Emerson.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

Those poor, hapless thieves were so outmatched. I was perplexed by Peter's approach to "establishing rapport with your kidnapper" (Peter, they obviously think they won't get caught, so there's no use threatening them with the consequences), but El was definitely the star of the episode.

My favorite line, because of the way El said it, was, "This isn't even the first time I've been kidnapped. She gave it just the right combination of complaining, bragging, and brushing it off as no big deal.

Given that this episode made so much of El, I was perplexed that the Confession Scene didn't actually show El confessing; we just got Peter's response, and El's reponse to Peter. "It's all about El! Except it's not." WHUT?

[embroiderama]

My favorite line, because of the way El said it, was, "This isn't even the first time I've been kidnapped. She gave it just the right combination of complaining, bragging, and brushing it off as no big deal.

Yes! I felt like she was thinking, "OMG, Matthew Keller would eat these kids for lunch. WHATEVER."

[elrhiarhodan]

WHEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He so would! Literally.

(Wants Cannibal Keller fic now).

[embroiderama]

Hahaha! OMG, I need a Keller icon.

"Look, Caffrey, sometimes a man gets hungry. I was gonna kill them anyway, you want me to waste them too?"

[elrhiarhodan]

El was definitely the star of the episode.

*nod nod nod*

And in a very good way. She was the smart one throughout (not that Peter was slow on the uptake), but she thought about dropping her earring as a breadcrumb. It was a nice tie-in to Checkmate were she used her engagement ring to break out. This should be a lesson for significant others - give your lady the good sparklies, you never know when she's going to be kidnapped! Now we need El and rubies...

[maiac.livejournal.com]

Sapphires! To match her eyes. (I ought to love rubies, because they're my birthstone. But they're often so pink.)

[swanpride.livejournal.com]

I love Elizabeth, but I think a little bit of her goes a long way. If she is showcased all the time, she becomes annoyingly perfect. As much as I like her character, I prefer her in small doses - but than, that's true for more or less all the side characters. I love them, but I don't want whole episodes about them. Those are always my last favs of every season.

And I agree about 50 Shades, btw. The role is beneath MB, I would prefer to see him in something more substancial.

[swanpride.livejournal.com]

Glad that you liked the episode...I was bored out of my mind. The kidnappers weren't threatening enough, an episode in which Neal and Peter practically don't interact with each other is a waste of time, and I naturally didn't enjoy the Sara scenes at all.

But I think what bugged me the most about this one was the ending...I think for all the build up, we got a shitty pay-off (if you can even call it a pay-off when everything goes simply back to status quo). And now, after forcing Neal to lie to Peter, they don't even have the decency to tell him that Peter knows now the truth????? Instead they sneak him clues and leave him on his own? As much as I love sneaky Peter, I don't get why he seems to intend to keep up the charade now?


Plus, I'm still waiting for Hughes being gone actually having some sort of inpact on Peter's work.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

For all that Hughes' departure was a big deal, they're certainly taking their time introducing the new boss.

[swanpride.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the last two eps were basically filler episodes. Those can be good, but not if the show upped the tension just beforehand and you are left with no real solutions. It's like sitting in a waiting room.

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

I'm just now managing to see this, and getting caught up on the various reaction posts. I loved this - probably my favorite of the season's second half so far. Just checking in to say I enjoyed, as always, all of the Dish.