White Collar and the Squee Heard Round the World

[kriadydragon]

Yes, I know, I said no more reviews but... can you blame me?

OMG I want to hug this episode! And I think it's safe to say it had everything we all wanted - distraught Peter, shaking and on edge but still in control and reasonable. Neal telling Peter he stayed. Homing pigeons! Mozzie coming back for El. Peter, Mozzie and Neal having to work with Keller to save El. El being so awesomely in control and sneaky and getting herself out. Neal whump, Neal kidnapped, Neal and Keller face off, Peter and Keller face off. Bloodied Neal! Peter and Neal with owies still on their faces! Keller takes the blame/credit for the treasure.

Neal possibly getting off the anklet sooner was quite the surprise, especially considering all the certainty that the best case scenario would be Neal staying on the anklet longer. I also felt Keller taking credit for the treasure to save his own neck, and thus saving said neck, was quite the twist as well. I know there was much discussion of Keller being blamed for taking the treasure, thus getting Neal off the hook, but this was definitely a surprise. So Keller will be back to be the bad guy another day.

And the previews - for all those who complain about WC not being good at fall out, we have fall out! The treasure debacle has not been wrapped up all nice and tidy in a single episode.

But most importantly, the friendship is still intact and Neal did not have to go back in jail or sacrifice himself to Keller. But I liked that, in a way, Neal did - or technically, Neal was willing to sacrifice himself in order to put Keller away. That, too, I thought was unexpected and interesting. So we have the sacrifice to further prove to Peter that Neal is becoming a changed man, but subtle.

Personally, I think this is the show's best wrap up of a particular arc thus far. It was very unexpected, I thought, and it worked.

If I had to make a complaint, and it is a very small one, it would be the story Keller told about Neal being found with/near some princess buck naked. It's just... such a cliche, I guess. The kind of back story I always had a feeling might crop up but was hoping never would because, again, painfully cliche. On the other hand, I think they managed to leave it open to interpretation. Still, I think "remember that time that princess caught you stealing her jewelry and she tried to kill you?" - for example - just to be interesting ;)

Comments

[octoberdreaming.livejournal.com]

NEAL WITH A GLADIATOR SHIELD

Also, Neal making a perfect shot shooting Keller in the leg through Peter's pants leg. And Peter being all, WTF WHERE DID THAT COME FROM and Neal being all, eh, long story, no big deal.

I loved this ep SO MUCH. I really did get every single thing on my wish list. Up to and including Elizabeth sending secret messages to Peter and then rescuing herself (almost entirely). Total amazement. Yay, show writers!

I do not understand why LJ is not showing my userpic. :(

[sholio]

I'm just about incoherent with squee. :D :D :D At the end of last season, I said that what I wanted most (and didn't believe I'd get) was everyone being the best people they could possibly be -- and that is EXACTLY WHAT WE GOT. Peter being willing to look past his anger and hurt to see that Neal really didn't want to leave, and really does want the best for Elizabeth. Neal being willing to give up everything, not just the treasure, but his freedom and even his life if that's what it takes. Mozzie coming back in a heartbeat, not even having to think about handing the treasure over, because he's a good person too (and admitting he cares!). Elizabeth being brave and resourceful and managing most of her escape on her own, but not in a way that takes away from everyone else's efforts. THE FIGHT AT THE END.

Oh, show. I'm so sorry I doubted it! This was so worth the wait, and so much more than I was expecting, and just ... my faith in the show is so, so totally BACK.

If I had to make a complaint, and it is a very small one, it would be the story Keller told about Neal being found with/near some princess buck naked. ... Still, I think "remember that time that princess caught you stealing her jewelry and she tried to kill you?"

I agree! Actually, I remember thinking at that point in the episode "Poor kriadydragon, she's not going to like this". Because I agree with you, really, that Neal doesn't come across as someone who is a genuine womanizer -- he's flirty, yes, but when it comes right down to it, he's very much a falling-in-love kind of guy, not a one-night-stand kind of guy. On the other hand, this is Keller, the guy who taunted Neal about Kate (maybe) running around on him, and Keller is seeing the situation through his own lens, which means that anything could have been really going on when that happened!

(ETA: Also, I think this is one of the few times ever that I've spent a lot of time imagining and guessing about the second half of a two-part episode, and what they've come up with is actually better than anything I imagined or reasonably hoped for. Oh show!)

[ladyrose42.livejournal.com]

Just the fact that Neal "never confesses" and is now ready to spill the beans with great self-sacrifice shows a much more mature Neal than the Peter Pan side we usually see. Liked the fact that Neal and Peter actually talked (and without the FBI shield face down on the table). Neal did say he got really good with guns, demonstrated 1st in Hard Sell and now.

[micheleeeex.livejournal.com]

I think when Keller said "princess," he was referring to Kate. I loved everything about this episode!

[tridget.livejournal.com]

It was a great show last night. It was so full of the kinds of scenes we were hoping for and the best of all the characters shone through. Definitely a favorite episode.

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

No squee harshing from me. I loved every minute of it. El saving herself. Neal being open with everything, even to the point he's willing to give up everything to protect them. Mozzie not only returning but entering the federal building willingly and then apologizing to Peter. Peter not letting Neal confess.

And there was whump!!!!

So much love!

[rabidchild.livejournal.com]

I will not harsh your squee, because I am so very squeeful myself. Though to be fair, I'm always squeeful for this show. Anyone wanks on my LJ or yours, and I'ma open up a can o' whupass. Just sayin'.

Also: ESTELLE!

And: GLADIATOR SHIELD!

OMFG - I forgot the gladiator shield in my own squee. Must amend.

And I totally agree with you - what an unexpected way to wrap up this arc, and I loved every second of it.

[ladyniko.livejournal.com]

Yes, much squeeing from my corner too! I loved, loved, loved El being awesome and a) giving Peter a clue about Satchmo and b) saving herself!

This is why White Collar works - none of the characters are weak and the writers actually did a really good job with this story. (I wondered what El was up to at first with her ring - I was like, "Is she going to scratch out a message while he's gone?" Then, to see her use the ring to rescue herself - AWESOME! *g*)

I really can't wait to see how this parole board hearing goes - both Neal & Peter have to watch what they say because they could destroy the other and I don't think they want to do that.

[tj-teejay.livejournal.com]

I just watched the ep, and I loved it too. Will need to write up my own ep reaction at some point. But I just quickly wanted to comment on the anklet thing. Cause I'm actually expecting for Neal to mess up with something, so that he ends up back with the anklet in a not too far in the future episode. Just a gut feeling. It would be difficult to keep the show as it is with Neal being a free man. Then again, Mr. Eastin is always good with the surprises, so let's see.