elrhiarhodan | Post Ep Dish - 6.02

Crossposts: http://elrhiarhodan.livejournal.com/494642.html

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Post Ep Dish - 6.02 - Return to Sender

Oy, two down, four to go. *sob*

Don't know if this is going to be a stream-of-watching type Dish or something more thinky. I always enjoy putting down my immediate reactions, but I also can lose track of what's going one. Unlike Peter - I'm not so good at multitasking when White Collar is on the line.

Aww - Neal is very confused.

And I forgot to note last week, that Moz is canonically a lawyer. Umm, YAY? (Or seriously?)

Peter is very confused by Neal's attitude. Why?

Where I can I apply for the job of patting Neal down?

And there he is, our misunderstood bad boy. Or murdering psychopath. Take your pick. Didn't expect him to show up quite like that - isn't he supposed to be in jail? Well, I guess we'll find out why he's not after the commercial break.

Well, I guess that Keller's not blowing Neal's cover - at least not quite yet?

Ooh, new FBI character to play with. Love Peter sticking up for Neal - no holds barred. He knows his career is on the line, and he doesn't care because he needs to do what's right for Neal.

Peter emoting all over the place - BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

And Keller appears - like a pimple on prom night.

Love how Neal's playing Keller like a violin. And I have to wonder, how much of his talk about Peter is really a lie. It seems like he really feels that way - and it's unfair, because Peter wasn't the one who fucked Neal over.

But at least we know he doesn't trust Keller (but the eye-fucking in that scene was EPIC)

"I don't hink exhilerating and stamp have ever been used in such close proximity."

Peter and his dad - stamp collecting. Awwwww!!!!!!!

El is preggers and she's drinking? Or not.

Awww - Moz hugging El. So delighted!!!!!

"I have delivered a baby or two" Just precious and perfect. Moz could start his own daycare facility!

Love Jones here - "The African-American thing is a tip-off." And him calling Peter on the father-son relationship.

Okay - Peter in glasses. And gray hair. Peter in cheaters has been my fantasy since Season 1. Thank you, Wardrobe, for making this a reality.

And Peter's speech about "Nathaniel" is as much a set of half-truths as Neal's comments about Peter.

"Access to your wine collection is well worth the sacrifice of my principles" So very Mozzie! And how many times have I written that.

Love the banter between El and Peter - and her momentary horror when Neal calls her mom and dad.

And here's a bit of speculation - El loses the baby. I don't know why but I have the feeling that this is not to be. Whether it's this ep or the next one, it all feels too perfect. Like Rebecca/Rachel. And there's one thing that White Collar is not - it's treacly sweet happily ever after. Now, I may be wrong, but I just feel like this is where it's heading.

It's also not wishful thinking. It just feels like that storyline is heading for tragic ending.

Love the caper and Neal acting like a total douche...but did Peter call Neal "Neal" in a fairly loud voice at one point? There seems to be something off between them - even in their worst S3 moments, even with the assholeness of S5, it never felt this stilted.

And I don't like the tension between them in the office - Neal is acting like a spoiled, petulant child.

But he does have his reasons - and like a child, it's easiest to turn on the ones closes to you.

Oooh, so Keller's on a tracker. Interpol. Mutually assured destruction.

The scene between Peter and Neal in the kitchen - Peter so proud of the risks Neal took. Then presenting Neal with the signed contract. But not telling Neal that if they don't catch the Panthers, he's out of the Bureau. Typical Peter - protecting Neal from the worst of the consequences.

I don't really condone smoking in any form but the cigars were a nice callback to the end of Pilot, when Neal's smoking one of Hagen's Cubans and offers Peter one.

While I usually won't comment on the Dish about Next Week On… - the feeling that El's pregnancy ends gets even stronger. I don't know… I like them childless, but I want their happiness, too.

Overall reaction to the episode…

Very positive.

1 - Excellent caper that makes sense. How often do these capers seem like they're made out of damp toilet paper.

2 - Love love love the scene between El and Moz. El's moved home, she's unpacking, she's back. Love Peter nesting and being so excited and El not trying so hard to talk him down.

3 - The visuals this week were stunning. Neal in bad-boy clothes, Peter in glasses, both of them in tuxedos. Keller in skin tight leather.

But…

1 - There's no real discussion why Peter isn't in DC. Isn't Neal the least bit curious about that?

2 - Neal acting like a 7 year old denied a promised toy. This overt acting out seems out of character for him. The Neal I know and love would smile and pretend and work the angles.

3 - The episode feels like a bridge. Which isn't bad, but with only six eps in the season, it's kind of unfair.

Okay, flisties...share your thoughts. The thinky ones, the not-so-thinky ones, the anger and the rage and the disappointment. Or the joy and flaily appreciation (for the glasses, the bad-boy clothes, the return of everyone's favorite villain). Whatever floats your boat, say it here!

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The way El and Mozzie have become friends is one of my favorite things about the show.

I always loved Keller. The actor brings the real every time, and he's a wonderful complex awful person. The villain you love to hate.

The episode just seemed to fly by, ending credits too soon. Sigh.
Peter going from garbage disposal to suit without changing clothes. Not in my experience doing DYI.
Hope your prediction is wrong, Imaging wee Burke and Theo playing together.
Nice touch about Neal saying he was in prison when contacted about new security system
Like the Interpol on the stamp. Where will Keller storyline go?
Neal's joke about furlough when off anklet.
Father/son by Jones. Big Brother by Peter. Ahhh.
There's something about the Pink Pather bossman that bothers me I can't put my finger on.
The contract: keep feeling there's a catch.
Peter's overprotectiveness and look at picture when he hear about Keller, but not telling Neal about El.

I just keep thinking they need to dedicate an episode to you, like XF did for Leyla Harrison. I mean, I don't want you to DIE! But you've been as important to this fandom and therefore this show. In their eighth (and next to last) season, XF dedicated an episode to Leyla Harrison, a fan and fanfic writer who died of cancer. They named a character after her and had her ship Mulder and Scully and also call the show out on canon inconsistencies in a sweet, tongue-in-cheek way. It's one of the few episodes of that season I really enjoyed:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_%28The_X-Files%29

Anyway! You're alive and well, and I'm unendingly grateful for that. But they should still dedicate an ep of WC to you... and name a character after you, too. <3

Edited 2014-11-14 04:08 (UTC)

I have a feeling that that contract is going to disappear right when Neal needs it.

Oh god, the Burkes losing a baby would hurt so much. For them and us.

Keller is going to ruin this thing for Neal, mark my words.

I don't know why this episode left me uneasy. Usually, White Collar episodes leave me happy for quite a while, but this one just... nope. Didn't last past the credits. Maybe it's Neal's wonky character, like you said (which may not be quite so out of character. See Neal's words about people like Keller getting so desperate that they don't notice the ground shifting beneath them. Both ominous and possibly already true. Neal's never had so much at stake for the sake of his freedom. Earlier, it was a commutation hearing, a request passed up through official channels. Now, it's quite literally in his hands. And I don't think he trusts himself with it. And his freedom being in his grasp has to have had an effect on him.)

...parenthetical remark got out of hand. Maybe I should turn that into a fic.

So, like I was saying. Maybe it's Neal's character. Maybe it's the relative absence of Diana (I don't recall seeing her much, correct me if I'm wrong.) Maybe it's just me and my wonky moods as of late. But this episode doesn't feel right.

Edited 2014-11-14 13:13 (UTC)

That was a little bit odd, because I once wrote a story about Neal and Peter being undercover as father and son, and I more or less wrote it exactly the other way around (with Neal making himself look younger and surprising Peter instead of Peter making himself look older and surprising Neal).

I think the episodes was less fun than it could be, because with Keller in the picture, everything was kind of tense.

I agree with what's been said above - I can't exactly put my hands on it, but something about the episode felt kind of ominous.

Neal's speech about wanting something too much - why do I have a feeling that it wasn't about Keller but the show foreshadowing about Neal?

Neal did come across bit bratty once or twice, but I get it. After all he's been through - well, it's not fair to put it on Peter, because it's not his fault, but I can see where Neal is coming from. Still, I think Peter knows Neal isn't angry with him but the situation, and unfortunately Peter is just there as the safe target of Neal's frustration.

BTW, was Neal's speech to Keller at the beginning supposed to convince anyone? Because I sure as hell wouldn't have been. The only reason why I think Keller might believe it is because yes, he would have done this in Neal's place... but I still think Keller knew Neal was conning him. Is Keller setting Neal up to take the fall for him? Is he setting up Neal AND Peter? And what about the Pink Panthers - so far, they've been kept as some vague strange figures in the background, and I don't like it. It's more worrying than if we'd been introduced to all of them right away.

And Neal's deal - I can't imagine Mozzie overlooking something, but then it's happened before (the "Perfect Exchange", remember anyone?). Either way, I don't trust it. And what will happen to Neal if he fails and Peter finds himself out of a job?

I also got some strange vibes about El's baby... but with only four episodes left, I hope that's just my paranoid overimagination.

I love the comparsions the show is drawing between Neal and Keller. And the Interpol and their chip - harsh. Is it bad that I actually do want Keller to screw them over? But then Peter's right - I don't really want a murderous kidnapping sycopath running on the streets. So can Keller screw the Interpol somehow and still be rendered harmless by Peter and Neal? Either way, I feel the Interpol have overplayed their hand badly - but then it wouldn't be wise to underestimate them. And another crazy thought - could Interpol somehow use this whole Panther thing to get their hands on Neal? I sure as hell hope not.

To sum it up, I really wanted to love this episode - there was so much awesomeness all around... but at the same time, not knowing what will happen is making me uneasy. Peter and Neal are battling at so many fronts - Kelller, the Panthers, the FBI... I just want them to come out of it at the top without another tragedy befalling them.

Great episode!!!

I think we must remember that whenever Neal is just about to get to his true goal, things fall apart. He wants his freedom and now he has a signed contract by the Attorney General (Schniderman or Holder? Probably Holder since he is a federal prisoner but who can tell.)

Actually, I can see Neal acting out because I think he's come to the end of his rope and being stressed to the max too. His freedom is on the line and he's gone "under" with a bunch of people who would only be too willing to kill him on a whim and then there's Keller. Can we spell "stressed out?"

I don't see El lossing the baby. I actually keep feeling that Peter is going to be losing Neal but he's getting a son.

I also keep thinking that either El, Neal, Peter or Mozzie is going to be killed off. Logical plot lines don't always work with this show because it is "everything is sunny" USA. Depending how they're playing the passage of time. One scenario I thought of was that El would die in childbirth leaving Peter with a baby son.

Another is that Neal would leave or possibly be killed and El and Peter name their child after him.

Call me a cynic but Neal is just not going to get the freedom of the type of freedom he wants and things are going to go sideways especially with Keller in the mix. (And Ross is going to be in all of the rest of the episodes.)

On the whole though I loved this one especially with Peter playing the father. That was great and yes, Jones was terrific. Also, what do they do,keep emergency costume make up and a fedora in the van now? Neal's emergency con kit?

On that note I'll stop.

Has Matt ever done the "Previously on White Collar" before? I don't remember. It stood out for me somehow.

Also I am wondering if he should not go completely deep cover. Don't they watch him? All those meetings at the FBI might tip somebody off?

Did Neal say something when Peter joined him with Bianca? We can see his mouth move but I hear no sound. Any lipreaders among us?

They both looked lovely in whatever they wore. Has Peter never worn glasses before? I thought he did. Or does "cheaters" refer to something else?

but did Peter call Neal "Neal" in a fairly loud voice at one point?

He did. That calls for an AU where somebody overheard them.

I kept waiting for Neal to do some con man trick with whatever he had in his mouth - was it an oyster? Don't know, at one point it looked like he did not swallow but keep it for later. Although for the life of me I cannot think of what it might be useful for LOL

Edited 2014-11-14 17:19 (UTC)

Has Matt ever done the "Previously on White Collar" before? I don't remember. It stood out for me somehow.

As far as I remember, twice. One is Withdrawal, the other a random episode somewhere S2 or 3? Can't remember. I've always found that odd. If they recorded both of them, why so few of Matt?

Ref: the contract. Remember Mentor and that contract, then line about Neal being best forger. This current contract needs to be signed, notarized, videotaped, xerox, fingerprint signed, posted in the cloud, signed in blood, etc.

Why would Interpol put the chip where the recipient could easily get to it? Wouldn't someplace less accessible make more sense? Ah, how my mind wanders.

I knew I'd read a fic like that. Glad I was remembering correctly. Good story, btw!

Thank you

This is what I love about WC. That lovely mixture of humour and Intensity.

I love Jones & his comment that Peter & Neal have a father - son relationship.

"And Peter's speech about "Nathaniel" is as much a set of half-truths as Neal's comments about Peter."

"the banter between El and Peter - and her momentary horror when Neal calls her mom and dad."

The scene at the end where Peter gives the signed contract to Neal and then they end up smoking cigars in the backyard gave me a really Ominous feeling. Especially the way the camera zoomed out into the house.

I feel that the FBI can't be trusted even with a signed contract. Maybe Peter will end up having to choose between the FBI and Neal and he will surprise TPTB & choose Neal.

Thank you very much! I have to check it out. I did a complete rewatch recently but had to skip season 2 as my friend was getting too much ahead of me and I had to catch up so I went straight from 1 to 3. And the last time I watched season 2 it was in a dubbed version on German TV, so no wonder I don't remember his voice (now I want to check whether they changed it for the German version as well, heh!)

I agree, that is odd indeed. With other shows I watch, it is usually always the same voice. You wonder what was so special about those few episodes that they decided to change it? Were they more Neal-centered than usual maybe? Them doing them equally would be more fair.

How about this scenario, it's Keller who brings down the Pink Panthers, not Neal, who somehow gets hurt in the process. The contract is worthless.

I agree that there was something ominous, but I doubt they're going to lose the baby. I think the baby is mostly there to up the stakes for Peter and Elizabeth this season - to give Peter more to lose, as he says. It can only play that role if it's a factor all along. I think it will also play a role in Neal's eventual decision about whether to stay or go. I can see him deciding that he's simply too dangerous for them to have around now that they have a baby . . . or that a life of glamor and crime as the head of the Pink Panthers is worth giving up in order to see Peter and El's kid grow up. I'm obviously rooting for the latter, but we shall see.

I've enjoyed both eps so far, FWIW.

I re watched the ep this afternoon and had a similar thought.

I think Keller will get what he deserves (either arrested by Peter or something worse) but unfortunately Neal will not get the PP and therefore no deal. I wonder what Neal would do if that happened?

I'm disappointed by Keller's return, especially since there's so much unreality about it: He was in prison in Russia? Really? For a crime committed in the U.S.? Or did Russia have other charges against him, and the U.S. agreed to his extradition? Also, I don't think Interpol works like that. And a microchip? Really? Keller has a lot of fans, but I'm not one of them, and if the show can't do better than to recycle its villains, this does need to be the last season.

As much as I'm unenthusiastic about the El Is Pregnant subplot, I'm going to be genuinely angry if she has a miscarriage. It would be unfair to everybody.

My favorite part of the episode was seeing Peter play the role of Dietrich Senior. He really nailed it, from managing to look old more by his acting than by disguise to playing on Bianca's family history to get her sympathy. Also, I love Bianca for telling Neal he failed the audition by flirting with her.

But -- Peter under the sink in a white dress shirt and tie? And he got the disposal unhooked without getting gunk or even water on himself? I'm amused that Peter must DO ALL THE PROJECTS because El is pregnant. That is so very Peter. But in a dress shirt? And El didn't stop him? Yeah, NO.

I like that Neal was set up to fail, only he didn't. Glad he got to use his forgery skills, too, though it was a big risk to assume that Keller would be called on to confirm the "authenticity". The Pink Panthers don't have any other forgery experts? Well, maybe that's why they recruited Keller. (Not the first time something worked out the way it did because it had to, not because it was at all plausible.)

Mostly, I liked that we got to see so much of Peter being Peter. We got to see him being protective, being flustered, out-undercovering Neal, standing firm for his principles, being adorkable, sharing a friendship moment with Neal. <3 <3 <3

I hope they don't kill Neal at the end of the show. That's the ominous feeling I'm getting (Jeff in an interview with Tim said the only way they could do a movie would be a prequel and he hoped the fans didn't hate him after the last episode).

With only six episodes it was a shame to have this one seem like a filler.

I did love the small bit of banter we got.

I'm late in catching up on these posts, but I'd love to read your fic -- is it posted somewhere, by chance??

Thank you! All my fic is here, on LiveJournal. All of my stories are noted in my Masterpost and you can explore what you want via my tags.

Thanks! I've read a lot of yours on AO3, but I was sure there was more elsewhere ;-)

Edited 2014-12-05 04:32 (UTC)

Swanpride, is your father-son fic posted somewhere? I'd love to read it, too! :-)

Yeah, naturally. My account is as FF.net, ´the story is called ConTender

https://www.fanfiction.net/u/852339/swanpride

Not sure if my last answer went through...so, I have a ffnet account under the name swanpride and the fic is called "ConTender"

Excellent! Thanks so much!

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Post Ep Dish - 6.02 - Return to Sender

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