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| Emily Procter |
I'm a long-time fan of Emily Procter, so I'm looking forward to her two episodes. I hope there's some real meat to her part, and that her character is someone I'll like and respect, even if she gives Peter and Neal a hard time!
2. Here's a scathing review of Honor Among Thieves from BuddyTV. Well, maybe 'scathing' is overstating it. But the reviewer aptly brings up my concerns about whether or not Neal's actions were believable:
Over the last four years, the friendship between Neal and Peter has seen its ups and downs for sure, but it seemed like we were now at a point where they trusted each other implicitly. Peter, in particular, has laid his job on the line multiple times for Neal in the last year or so, because he felt that Neal had earned that trust.
But Neal throws it all away in tonight's episode. And I don't believe it. As in, I feel the producers are asking us to make a huge leap, and it just doesn't make sense from a story/character perspective.
As we've mentioned here before, it looks like the premise of White Collar is to keep Peter and Neal's trust in each other from becoming complete; to keep that tension between them. Yes, these two would lay down their lives for each other, but they still can't bring themselves to lay all their cards on the table. But considering everything Peter and Neal have been through together, is that tension sustainable? As viewers, will we keep believing this nagging lack of trust between them?
3. And now for a little fun: Thank you to Dorothy for pointing out this article about TV's best sidekicks. Mozzie made the list!
9 comments:
I think this attempt to keep tension between them is starting to get really old and strained. After everything they went through at the beginning of this season, it feels completely wrong. I hope they give up on it and realise that we'll still love the show even if there's no tension between Peter and Neal. That doesn't mean there can't be external tension which they face together.
I certainly wouldn't stop watching. I've thought up till now that they can keep the trusting-not-trusting tension going--but I'm starting to waver on that. I think I'd prefer to risk that 'Moonlighting' moment and let their trust in each other become thorough.
I wouldn't stop watching if that happened, but I'm not exactly looking forward to it either. If Neal becomes too reliable (and how can Peter trust him if he's not?) then the story will loose a lot of it's charm - at least for me.
The concern among many viewers about the never-ending tension between Peter and Neal (a concern which I share, by the way) reminds me how I stopped watching House on a regular basis when I realized they could never allow him to change in any substantial way. I understood why -- just as I understand why there must always be tension between Peter and Neal -- but I grew weary of knowing that it could never change -- it was a kind of hopeless feeling that despite my love of House and Hugh Laurie depressed me. Same thing here.
I think it was a mistake to let Peter leave the Cave -- that table where he and Neal had lunch in the Yard (sorry, Peter . . . Picnic Area) seemed to be a good spot for the two of them to actually talk to one another -- really talk. It was a sort of tension-free zone where they could meet each other as equals. Maybe they could go back there once in awhile - and we'd get to see Patterson again -- I miss him.
It would be a huge risk to let Neal and Peter move to a different place in their relationship, but it's sad for me to think of them going on like this for much longer. They seem stuck -- which means I'm stuck, too, since this time I don't think I can just stop watching. I love these characters and the two actors too much.
I'm with you all the way anon 9:50. I would elaborate on what you said, but there's really no need. It's like the show has been written into a corner and can't get out. And I don't think I can stop watching, but it'll always be unsatisfying.
Honestly, I'm torn about the whole mistrust thing. Neal and Peter would absolutely lay down their lives for each other. And they have made progress on the trust front, but I don't think they're fully there yet.
Historically, I think Neal has reason to wonder if Peter would believe him about the blackmail. Were they getting along just fine in the last couple of eps? Sure. But go back to the end of Season 2. They were best buds, Neal gave up a $2.5M ring - KATE'S ring - for Peter. And yet how quickly did Peter turn on Neal in Under the Radar? Peter has repeatedly lied to Neal and/or withheld information. Music box, anyone? Or end of Season 3 - Peter had that coded prison letter when Neal made the incredible gesture of taking him to Yankee Stadium. So maybe they go out for a beer afterward and Peter shows him the letter, says what's this... it's been 6 years since Neal was arrested, so not likely that it's evidence of some new crime not excluded by the statute of limitations. Neal would have had a chance to return the Raphael before Kramer got involved. Or even this season in Wanted - Peter says he understands the phone call with Neal has to be their last contact. But he lied, went ahead and tracked Neal down, thereby leading Collins to the hideaway and getting Neal shot.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying Neal is blameless by any means. But I can understand his trepidation. No one lets him forget that he made a living lying to people. And, of course, he has that little devil/imp on his shoulder...
The good thing is that the effects didn't seem to be long-lasting in this episode. Peter's disappointed, but he understands where Neal was coming from. I think Neal's a little disappointed in himself too - he expresses it to Mozzie. But he hasn't fully escaped from the old "fight or flight" habits.
So, even though this episode was something of a set-back in the trust department, I see hopeful signs. The distrust lasted a briefer period of time, and the guys actually talked about it. (Well, sort of, the way guys do.) I don't think we'll ever see the distrust disappear totally - but hopefully this heralds a new era of shorter duration.
And I REALLY hope that whatever this season's cliffhangers may bring, it's a common threat that Neal and Peter have to face together - not something that drives them further apart again.
Anon 12:22- I couldn't agree more with everything you said! I'm so tired of all these "Peter risked his career, Peter risked his life, Peter risked his everything etc etc for Neal" comments. It's like Neal didn't do the same for him! The way Peter acted in the last ep of S2, and S3 mid-season finale, and even in this ep. (keeping a copy of the flash-drive without letting Neal know), I don't see why Neal would tell Peter about the blackmailing. After this ep. I thought everyone's going to talk about how Neal changed, how he worked so hard to keep Peter's trust, how he refused again & again the info's he wanted so desperately to find out the killer of someone who was like his mother. But no, somehow, it's still Neal's fault!!!
I was so disappointed at Peter & El after that last scene. Even if Neal manipulated the situation, couldn't Peter just let it go? It's Ellen we are talking about, the same person who raised Neal with mother's love. It's very normal that Neal would do anything to find her killer. Think Peter, what'd you do if somebody killed El? Guess you're above all rules, aren't you?
Although I wish Neal could've trusted that Peter would believe he was being blackmailed, given all the times Peter's gone IMMEDIATELY to distrust and suspicion, I don't blame Neal here. If Peter ever did put Neal back in prison, he'd have to be in under the same sort of administrative segregation as crooked cops and child molesters, or he'd be dead within a week, killed by his fellow inmates as a "snitch". He put his LIFE in jeopardy as soon as he started working with Peter and the FBI to catch other criminals.
I don't like Eastin's idea of keeping the distrust vibe going until the end of the proposed 8-year "run" of the show. Especially after Peter risked his job to go after Neal (even if, as was pointed out above, it's largely Peter's fault that Neal's in danger from Collins The O.T.T.-EEEVIL Bounty-Hunter), there should be more trust between them. Peter should know by now that Neal's trying to go straight, and be more supportive...
I'm interested in the bit about Emily Procter: it sounds like she's taking over Hughes' job. Does Hughes finally have to retire? (Is he forced into retirement by higher-ups who think he's given Peter and Neal too much slack?) Also, given that Procter is younger than Tim DeKay (5 years, but she LOOKS younger than that), I'm guessing that Burke's still in some trouble, or HE would've been promoted into Hughes' place.
I like Procter, though (she was by far the best actor on "CSI Miami", and I liked her a lot on "West WIng", too), so I look forward to seeing what she does with our guys...
@ebeneezerdark I still haven't heard anything re Hughes, but I don't think EP's character is taking his job. I guess we'll find out . . .
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