 |
| Alex brings excitement and trouble into Neal's life. |
It was a particularly fine episode for Mozzie, who redeemed himself after leading Neal so far astray last season. When Neal received an old Betamax tape bequeathed by Ellen, he’s determined to watch it with Sam and only Sam. Mozzie, who trusts Sam even less than he trusts the FBI, chose an “unholy union” with the Suit rather than see Neal duped by someone who might mean him harm.
This ‘betrayal’ soon came to light—in hilarious fashion, as Mozzie and Peter were trapped in Alex’s hotel room—and Peter ended up apologizing to Neal for investigating Sam behind his back. Neal, in turn—after being duped by Alex—decided that he was better off watching the tape with Peter and Moz then the unknown Sam. (Presumably we’ll find out what’s on that tape next week.)
Meanwhile, tonight’s plot was tight and smart—and we all like smart, right? But this plot was so smart that one key element sailed over my head. When Alex and Neal pulled their big heist, I had no idea who Neal was impersonating, or what piece Exit Through the Gift Shop referred to. Fortunately, Elrhiarhodan, my good friend and co-writer here at White Collar Fixation explained it: Neal was posing as a crazy talented graffiti artist named Banksy, who prefers to keep his face hidden. (That explains the hoodie, the sunglasses, and the spray paint.)
So no complaints from me about tonight’s episode, but it did leave me pondering a few things. I’d love to hear your opinion on these questions, Collars:
1. Peter revealed some of Neal’s background to Diana. Was he justified in doing so?
2. Should Peter have involved Neal in an investigation surrounding Alex, when he knew how rough that would be?
3. Wasn’t Alex feeling awfully entitled to a stolen treasure that never rightfully belonged to her or anyone in her family?
4. Should Neal have turned Alex in at the end?
5. I’ve always liked Alex as a character, but I’m not a Neal/Alex shipper. I think this episode confirmed that for me; it seems she’ll always be wearing a mask to disguise her true motives and encouraging Neal to do the same. How do you feel about them as a pair?
Feel free to answer any or all of these, or just to tell us what you thought of the episode. And now excuse me as I buckle up early for next week. Judging from the preview, it will be a rough one for the bromance . . .
8 comments:
I loved this episode. Alex is always a delight, and I was positively delighted to see that she outsmarted everyone in the end. I adore her character, because we always know where we stand with her -- without knowing exactly where we stand with her. Every twist and surprise with Alex's character feels welcoming and interesting, and I don't feel as if she is rewritten every episode she's in.
I wish the writers would use the same care with the other characters of the show, who tend to be all over the map.
Onto your questions:
1. Peter revealed some of Neal’s background to Diana. Was he justified in doing so?
Yes. Diana has a right to know why she is potentially putting her career on the line (again) for Neal. Peter doesn't have a ton of information about Neal's past, but he didn't give up tons of info to Diana -- just the basics so she understands why the not-really-a-case is so important.
2. Should Peter have involved Neal in an investigation surrounding Alex, when he knew how rough that would be?
Yes, he should have. He probably figured that if Alex was involved, Neal would find out anyway. By having Neal involved, it maybe lessened the chance of Neal going rogue on him, or accidentally being dragged in later.
3. Wasn’t Alex feeling awfully entitled to a stolen treasure that never rightfully belonged to her or anyone in her family?
She's a thief. Notice that neither Neal nor Mozzie seem concerned with the art's previous owners either. It's who they are as people, bless their little criminal hearts. It's an ugly characteristic, but they have other fun qualities that make up for it. ;-)
4. Should Neal have turned Alex in at the end?
Yes. Of course he should have. She's a criminal, he's working for the FBI, and Peter seems to almost like her, so she would have probably gotten a deal.
But also, no. Because now we have the chance that Alex can pop up again later. And that's always a plus. \o/
5. I’ve always liked Alex as a character, but I’m not a Neal/Alex shipper. I think this episode confirmed that for me; it seems she’ll always be wearing a mask to disguise her true motives and encouraging Neal to do the same. How do you feel about them as a pair?
Because I never see Alex and Neal as settling down (despite Neal trying to say that he totally wants that), I like them as a pair. Things will never be quiet with them, but there is fondness and respect, and they do care about each other.
There is an honesty in their relationship -- which is weird, I know, given how much ISN'T honest between them. I love the push and pull between them. They feel genuine, they look like they have fun together, even when things are unsettled, and on a shallow note, they are just hot together.
Do I want Neal to be paired with her till the end of time? Not at all. They aren't those kind of people. I like the idea of them flitting in and out of each others' lives, being friends, being lovers, being more sometimes, and even sometimes being enemies.
Their relationship should be fluid and open. They sizzle on screen together, and everything they do is engaging and fun, from their sexy times to their fights. I love every moment of Neal and Alex together, and while I think the chances of seeing her again are slim, I hold out hope that we might yet catch another glimpse of her at another time.
~Surreal
@Surreal ~ Even though I never shipped them, I used to be ok with the idea of Neal and Alex as friends with benefits or as occasional love interests for each other. But while they have good chemistry together, I don't want to see them as a couple at all anymore. To me, she's too busy encouraging Neal to be the con rather than the man. :/
That said, I still love her character and hope she turns up again. She keeps everyone on their toes!
I don't know what you mean by "be the man". Be more like Peter? Be law-abiding and domesticated? Doing everything by the book, or at least closer to it? Meh.
I like Neal just fine how he is. Although I appreciate Peter's attempts to save him (and I often defend Peter, since other fans tend to be so hard on him), I rather disagree with his attempts to tame Neal.
I like Neal how he is (or at least how he was, before the writers decided he needed to go through this). I don't want him to be domesticated. I already feel like we've lost Neal to a certain extent. I don't really care for it. :/
~Surreal
@Surreal ~ I agree with EVERYTHING you wrote! I hope Alex will be back soon, but if this should really have been her last appearance then I'm (almost)good with it. At least she went out as a winner in a flawless episode. :D
@Surreal By man as opposed to con, I think I mean what Peter did in Countermeasures: I want to see Neal leave his criminal past behind him--which I think he's well in the process of doing. And I'm glad; I don't want to watch a show where the characters stay static, never growing.
Tonight was a great example of how far he's come. In that last scene, he wanted just to be himself with Alex, without any masks or cons or trying to get the better of each other. But to Alex, that wasn't a possibility. In her mind, apparently, there will always be lies and games between them.
And that's why, as much as I like Alex, I don't ship them at all. She doesn't seem to see anything more than a fellow con artist in Neal--and he's so much more.
1. I'm mostly unhappy that Peter is involving Diana yet again. She has put her career on the line for him so often, he shouldn't ask more of her.
2. He was very insensitive about the subject, imho.
3. Alex was the one who did all the groundwork for discovering the treasure. She is certainly more entititelt to it than Mozzie or Neal. But the "villa" story bothered me, because Alex officially "gave up her obsession" at this point.
4. No - when he can hang around with Mozzie, knowing fully well what he does, there is no reason to turn in Alex.
5. I'm not necessarily a Neal/Alex shipper either, but between all the women represented in the show, she might be the one who works the best, because she is the only one who can really keep up with Neal. That's the second time she conned him. And she always has an easy time to read him. Neal needs either a woman like that, or the other extreme, someone like Sophie, who will trust him no matter what, and therefore will inspire him to raise to that trust. For a casual relationship, Alex is certainly perfect, because she doesn't have to be around all the time, being who she is, so there is no need for the writers to shoehorn her into the episodes. Plus, I like Alex as an isolated character. I think every love interest on TV should be more than just the love interest.
1. Peter revealed some of Neal’s background to Diana. Was he justified in doing so?
Yes, if Diana is going to be involved in the "not an investigation" then she should know why.
2. Should Peter have involved Neal in an investigation surrounding Alex, when he knew how rough that would be?
Yes, I'm also a bit more cautious with Neal here. I think Peter should do it to keep Neal close, otherwise there might be a risk that he and Alex teams up. I don't see that as Peter distrusting Neal, just making sure that he doesn't get into trouble with Alex again.
3. Wasn’t Alex feeling awfully entitled to a stolen treasure that never rightfully belonged to her or anyone in her family?
Without her it wouldn't have been found, and she's a thief. I understand her.
4. Should Neal have turned Alex in at the end?
No, you don't do that your friends, and I consider Alex and Neal friends.
5. I’ve always liked Alex as a character, but I’m not a Neal/Alex shipper. I think this episode confirmed that for me; it seems she’ll always be wearing a mask to disguise her true motives and encouraging Neal to do the same. How do you feel about them as a pair?
I'm in the same boat. I love the two together, but not as a pair. Alex plays to Neal's darker sides, and now when even Mozzie seems to have accepted Neal's work with the FBI, then it's good for the story to have someone else to tempt him and remind him of his old days. I think of them as friends, sometimes with benefits, and I think both of them know that they wouldn't be able to stay together for long. They both bring a bit of spice into the other's life. And I love that Alex seems to have the upper hand when it comes to conning Neal.
I also must say that I loved seeing Neal in handcuffs again in this episode!
@Bandykullan - I hear you (and Surreal) about Diana. It isn't fair to ask her to do these things, ah, 'under the radar,' so to speak, and not fill her in on why. I think that's why I wasn't furious with Peter for telling her.
That also brings up the question of how much Peter should be investigating 'behind Neal's back'--I understand why Neal was upset, and it was interesting to see him take Peter to task for it, but I understand Peter's reasons also (especially when Neal was putting so much as-yet-unjustified trust in Sam.)
Meanwhile, I see we're on the same page with Neal and Alex. :)
Post a Comment