White Collar 5x12
Jan. 23rd, 2014 10:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
citrinesunsetI really, really liked tonight's episode. Unfortunately, I'm a bit sick and was kind of feverish during the episode, so I'm not sure I appreciated it as much I normally would have. Definitely will have to re-watch it soon.
- I love how Neal is trying to talk Peter out of DC. He's not showing it, but I'm sure he'll miss Peter if he goes. And DC doesn't seem like Neal's kind of city, even if he was born there.
- I like Neal asking to have his sentence commuted, and talking to a lawyer (who presumably isn't Mozzie?). Yeah, it goes back to him wanting to cut his strings. But it's just a sensible move. Except for negotiating his deal in the first place, Neal strikes me as someone who doesn't really challenge things much because he feels more comfortable gaming the system than working within it. Why try to get an early release, after all, if he can still more or less get the things he wants while he's on the anklet? That isn't to suggest that freedom isn't important to him, or that he isn't limited in what he can do right now. But I think doing something like trying to figure out if he could be released is going out of his comfort zone, and I like that as character development. My theory: I think Neal has gotten very comfortable with Peter, and Peter moving to DC is making Neal confront the possibility of taking more responsibility for his own fate.
- Hmm. Do they know that Hagen was Rebecca's client? Or are they just assuming that? The Hagen-Rebecca partnership isn't terribly clear to me, but I didn't get the impression that one was working for the other--if anything, I more got the impression that Hagen was working for Rebecca (and serving his own desires in the meantime).
- If Rebecca is a professional thief/assassin, I'm surprised no one knew about her already.
- Yay! Diana! She's back and just as badass as ever. It's kind of a neat mirror of season 1, too, how she's coming back at the end of the season to help Peter.
- LOL at Mozzie wanting to build a criminal empire. Interesting that he refers to the theoretical profits from the diamond as "legitimate," though. It sounds like they're expecting to have a legal claim over it, though it's hard to tell if that would be the case without knowing where the darn thing is.
- And I love Mozzie worrying about baby Theo. I love that he thinks he'd be the best influence.
- I really don't know how to read Rebecca now. She's gone full-on Fatal Attraction now. Is it real? Is it another act? Does she really believe that she and Neal are meant for each other?
- I like the twenty questions game between her and Neal. I really like his comment about believing he's smarter than Peter, and Peter believing he's smarter than Neal. That sums up their dynamic perfectly.
- Diana is really the perfect person for this undercover role.
- Okay, so to be honest, a lot of the case this week is lost on me. I'm afraid the stock market isn't my forte.
- Poor Neal, Diana making him get up early. Another reason for him to want a commutation. :P
- I'm kind of surprised that Diana lets him break into that place.
- Think this is the first time we've seen Neal unzip his pants. Almost as good as seeing him in a robe.
- Part of me so wishes that Neal had pretended to be another one of Ian's lovers, instead of the wife's (actually, when he first mentioned him and "Fluffernutter" being double-booked, my first thought was that she was a escort and that Neal was pretending he was, too. That would've been great). But since the mistress seemed quite into Ian, Neal's actual strategy was much smarter. Better to get the mistress to work with him than make himself her competition.
- Lucky for him the woman didn't notice his tracking anklet.
- Oh, man, I love Mozzie checking up on Theo. And blaming the poor nanny for believing he was really with the gas company.
- Yay! It's Jones the computer geek.
- I'm not terribly surprised that Rebecca managed to send that text. Diana is right--it's not like it's impossible to smuggle a mobile phone into prison. And though Rebecca may be high-security, she's definitely capable of getting contraband.
- Diana appears a little bit shaken, and I wouldn't be surprised some of it has to do with her having Theo. I was/am a little worried that they were going to make a big deal about it, because I like her determination to be both a mother and an FBI agent and would rather not see a bunch of conflict about that. But I can totally buy her being shaken, too, both because she wasn't expecting the operation to go south and because she has a child who's depending on her now.
- I love Mozzie the nanny. He actually is pretty good with babies. And I love that scene because it confirms my headcanon that Mozzie would try to introduce a baby to conspiracy theories.
- Seeing the Burkes packing is so sad. I'm still hoping that Elizabeth's ambivalence is a positive sign that they won't really leave. And where's Satchmo? He should've been in that scene. :(
- Peter seems strangely surprised that Neal doesn't want a handler. I mean, what reason does he have to think Neal wants to be in the custody of the FBI? His argument about Neal needing rules right now is a little condescending (c'mon, Neal isn't a toddler), but...it's also kind of accurate. Neal tends to go off the rails when bad stuff happens in his life, so I can see Peter's concern. I'm actually surprised Neal's handled this as well as he has. He hasn't run, or stolen a gun to hunt someone down. Yet.
- I really like Peter and Neal's conversation. I like that Peter realizes (and admits) that he's allowed Neal to bend (and break) the law a lot, and that this probably wasn't the greatest approach for helping Neal start a new life. First of all, this makes me feel better because I think Peter has been a little bit hypocritical (having a problem with what Neal did to free him, but not really recognizing the pattern that he's permitted by encouraging Neal to break the law to solve cases). But also, I do think that Peter has, unintentionally or otherwise, given Neal the impression that he can get by with a lot. And if Neal is right, and conning is an addiction, then encouraging Neal to do it...probably isn't a great idea, if Peter's goal is to help him live a law-abiding life. However, I really like Neal's assertion that he can go straight if he's freed.
- Rebecca's escaped. What a surprise.
- I knew it! I knew Mozzie was in danger as soon as he said that he was the codex now. I knew this would all come back to bite him and Neal.
- The preview for next week is intense. I was going to say that I hope the cliffhanger isn't whether or not Mozzie survives...but actually, if they did that I'd feel pretty confident of Mozzie's survival (they're not going to go on hiatus and then kill him off in season 6). Also, I'm expecting a more unexpected cliffhanger, which I'm nervous about because right now, I don't really know what it might be.
- Also, I like Rebecca's hair in the preview. It looks good.
- I love how Neal is trying to talk Peter out of DC. He's not showing it, but I'm sure he'll miss Peter if he goes. And DC doesn't seem like Neal's kind of city, even if he was born there.
- I like Neal asking to have his sentence commuted, and talking to a lawyer (who presumably isn't Mozzie?). Yeah, it goes back to him wanting to cut his strings. But it's just a sensible move. Except for negotiating his deal in the first place, Neal strikes me as someone who doesn't really challenge things much because he feels more comfortable gaming the system than working within it. Why try to get an early release, after all, if he can still more or less get the things he wants while he's on the anklet? That isn't to suggest that freedom isn't important to him, or that he isn't limited in what he can do right now. But I think doing something like trying to figure out if he could be released is going out of his comfort zone, and I like that as character development. My theory: I think Neal has gotten very comfortable with Peter, and Peter moving to DC is making Neal confront the possibility of taking more responsibility for his own fate.
- Hmm. Do they know that Hagen was Rebecca's client? Or are they just assuming that? The Hagen-Rebecca partnership isn't terribly clear to me, but I didn't get the impression that one was working for the other--if anything, I more got the impression that Hagen was working for Rebecca (and serving his own desires in the meantime).
- If Rebecca is a professional thief/assassin, I'm surprised no one knew about her already.
- Yay! Diana! She's back and just as badass as ever. It's kind of a neat mirror of season 1, too, how she's coming back at the end of the season to help Peter.
- LOL at Mozzie wanting to build a criminal empire. Interesting that he refers to the theoretical profits from the diamond as "legitimate," though. It sounds like they're expecting to have a legal claim over it, though it's hard to tell if that would be the case without knowing where the darn thing is.
- And I love Mozzie worrying about baby Theo. I love that he thinks he'd be the best influence.
- I really don't know how to read Rebecca now. She's gone full-on Fatal Attraction now. Is it real? Is it another act? Does she really believe that she and Neal are meant for each other?
- I like the twenty questions game between her and Neal. I really like his comment about believing he's smarter than Peter, and Peter believing he's smarter than Neal. That sums up their dynamic perfectly.
- Diana is really the perfect person for this undercover role.
- Okay, so to be honest, a lot of the case this week is lost on me. I'm afraid the stock market isn't my forte.
- Poor Neal, Diana making him get up early. Another reason for him to want a commutation. :P
- I'm kind of surprised that Diana lets him break into that place.
- Think this is the first time we've seen Neal unzip his pants. Almost as good as seeing him in a robe.
- Part of me so wishes that Neal had pretended to be another one of Ian's lovers, instead of the wife's (actually, when he first mentioned him and "Fluffernutter" being double-booked, my first thought was that she was a escort and that Neal was pretending he was, too. That would've been great). But since the mistress seemed quite into Ian, Neal's actual strategy was much smarter. Better to get the mistress to work with him than make himself her competition.
- Lucky for him the woman didn't notice his tracking anklet.
- Oh, man, I love Mozzie checking up on Theo. And blaming the poor nanny for believing he was really with the gas company.
- Yay! It's Jones the computer geek.
- I'm not terribly surprised that Rebecca managed to send that text. Diana is right--it's not like it's impossible to smuggle a mobile phone into prison. And though Rebecca may be high-security, she's definitely capable of getting contraband.
- Diana appears a little bit shaken, and I wouldn't be surprised some of it has to do with her having Theo. I was/am a little worried that they were going to make a big deal about it, because I like her determination to be both a mother and an FBI agent and would rather not see a bunch of conflict about that. But I can totally buy her being shaken, too, both because she wasn't expecting the operation to go south and because she has a child who's depending on her now.
- I love Mozzie the nanny. He actually is pretty good with babies. And I love that scene because it confirms my headcanon that Mozzie would try to introduce a baby to conspiracy theories.
- Seeing the Burkes packing is so sad. I'm still hoping that Elizabeth's ambivalence is a positive sign that they won't really leave. And where's Satchmo? He should've been in that scene. :(
- Peter seems strangely surprised that Neal doesn't want a handler. I mean, what reason does he have to think Neal wants to be in the custody of the FBI? His argument about Neal needing rules right now is a little condescending (c'mon, Neal isn't a toddler), but...it's also kind of accurate. Neal tends to go off the rails when bad stuff happens in his life, so I can see Peter's concern. I'm actually surprised Neal's handled this as well as he has. He hasn't run, or stolen a gun to hunt someone down. Yet.
- I really like Peter and Neal's conversation. I like that Peter realizes (and admits) that he's allowed Neal to bend (and break) the law a lot, and that this probably wasn't the greatest approach for helping Neal start a new life. First of all, this makes me feel better because I think Peter has been a little bit hypocritical (having a problem with what Neal did to free him, but not really recognizing the pattern that he's permitted by encouraging Neal to break the law to solve cases). But also, I do think that Peter has, unintentionally or otherwise, given Neal the impression that he can get by with a lot. And if Neal is right, and conning is an addiction, then encouraging Neal to do it...probably isn't a great idea, if Peter's goal is to help him live a law-abiding life. However, I really like Neal's assertion that he can go straight if he's freed.
- Rebecca's escaped. What a surprise.
- I knew it! I knew Mozzie was in danger as soon as he said that he was the codex now. I knew this would all come back to bite him and Neal.
- The preview for next week is intense. I was going to say that I hope the cliffhanger isn't whether or not Mozzie survives...but actually, if they did that I'd feel pretty confident of Mozzie's survival (they're not going to go on hiatus and then kill him off in season 6). Also, I'm expecting a more unexpected cliffhanger, which I'm nervous about because right now, I don't really know what it might be.
- Also, I like Rebecca's hair in the preview. It looks good.
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no subject
Date: 2014-01-24 08:39 am (UTC)Love this episode :)
I really like Neal lasking to have his sentence commuted - and I think it is time. I know that things aren't ideal now with Rebecca, but... honestly, bad stuff seems to be happening to Neal all the time. If they wait for the "right moment", he'll never be free of the anklet.
I was a tad peeved at Peter's question: "Do you think you can go straight? Becase after all this, I'm not so sure." - To tell the truth, I'm not sure if Neal can go straight or not. However, after all that has happened... I don't think more time on the anklet can help him, at least not with the approach that allows Neal to commit more crimes while working for the FBI. I do wonder what would happen if Neal had a different handler (if Siegel hadn't been killed, for example) - it could go both ways for him, really good or spectacularly bad. But at this point, I don't think Neal can do any personal growth while on the anklet. He has to accept responsibility for himself and figure things out on his own - and Peter (Jones, Diana...) can be there for him, but they can't do the job for him. And in the end, it is not Peter's place to decide what life Neal should live - he can try to guide, but the final call is Neal's and it will always be Neal's. If he wants to go back to crime and maybe spend the rest of his life in jail, it's sad, but he is a grown man and Peter can't try to protect him for the rest of his life. Neal's at a crossroads - let him choose his path on his own.
Episode stuff - I really loved to see Diana back - I missed her so much!!! And she was exactly what the office has needed for so long. Every moment on the screen, every word - Diana was perfect. ("I'm good with multitasking" - heeee :D But also, her moments with Peter, Theo, Neal and Mozzie - and undercover being so badass - that's my girl! So awesome.)
Rebecca is getting creepier and creepier. What a perfect evil character!!!
Actually, if Hagen had hired Rebecca to take revenge on Neal and peter... that would make sense. Only Rebecca being so good as she was, she eventually flipped the tables on him and took control.
I am still waiting for more reconciliation between Neal and Peter. They've obviously reached a truce, but the rift is still there. Their conversation has probably helped, but there's a long way still to healing.
So looking forward to the next episode!!!
no subject
Date: 2014-01-24 05:21 pm (UTC)Good point about Rebecca and Hagen. It would explain why she was so focused on Neal and the FBI. I bet that's what happened.
I agree about Peter. I'm really glad he acknowledged that he's encouraged Neal to break the law, but the way he infantilized Neal bugged me. His anger toward Neal hasn't really bothered me, but suggesting that Neal isn't ready to go free did. I wish he remembered his conclusion at the end of season three, that Neal deserved the chance to make his own choices. It's like you say--there will never be a perfect time, and if Neal decides to go back to crime, that's his choice.
I'm really glad Neal asked for a commutation, and I wish I thought the show would actually take that direction. I agree--Neal can't grow much more while he's on the anklet.
no subject
Date: 2014-01-24 07:56 pm (UTC)This. This is exactly what I was thinking during the episode. I wanted to quote his own words at him - "As long as we treat him like a criminal, he'll always think he is one. ... I say that Neal should be free." I know that Peter has been influenced into this statement by Kramer's actions, but it was also a brilliant insight into Neal. I really don't know if Neal will go straight or not, but I do believe that it's a choice that he has to make himself - and the fact that Neal has actually asked for it makes me think that he is ready to stand on his own and make that call.