WHITE COLLAR: Bad Judgment

Here’s a 476 for TV fans out there. You should be watching WHITE COLLAR. It’s sharp, it’s sophisticated and it’s a sassy throwback to the buddy cop crime shows from back in the day. Tim DeKay and Matthew Bomer are TV’s hottest bromance.

Last night’s “Bad Judgment” really hit on all cylinders. The ‘case of the week’ was strong. The dialogue was sharp and witty. Neal and Peter were in perfect lockstep in their pursuit to catch the bad guy(s). And there was just enough of the overarching Kate storyline to keep with the continuity of the show. It was one of my favorite episodes to date.

One of my complaints about this show has always been that the FBI cases that Peter and Neal have worked on were a bit too formulaic. It seemed for a while that too many episodes were centered around Neal going undercover as a rich and handsome businessman hellbent on infiltrating the bad guys. But last night we got to see Neal (and Mozz) doing some straight up shady con work, complete with fake costumes and all.

There was a fantastic rhythm to last night’s episode. Peter and Neal are so in sync that even when they’re not sure what the other one is doing it still plays out like a well choreographed dance. As a federal agent, Peter still needs to play by the book. Neal of the other hand thinks of the law as a set of suggested guidelines to follow. If he can tip toe around the rules and regs of it all without getting caught then it’s a job well done. It’s one of the reasons that Peter so desperately needs him on his team.

Peter Burke is a good guy. He’s well respected within the FBI. It was great to see how during a rather dark time, his friends and colleagues stepped up to help him out. For his fellow agents that meant coming in on a Saturday to help Burke find a way to pin down the judge. For Caffrey it meant breaking into her chambers and erasing an incriminating video tape. Hey, you do what you know.

The case of the week usually plays second fiddle to the bromantics of Peter and Neal, but I found this week’s ‘whodunit’ to be particularly interesting. It was a bit convenient that the shady judge was also in the pocket of Fowler, but it made Peter’s ‘gotcha’ moment that much sweeter. Two birds, one stone my friends. And while in no way do I think that’s the last we’ll see of Fowler, I’m ready to bid him a fond farewell…at least for a few episodes.

This is about the time I would complain about the lack of screen time and story for Elizabeth, but not this week. I rolled my eyes when she invited the guys (ok Neal) home to test out some catering samples, but on the whole her screen time was well spent – interacting with Mozz and asking Neal to break the law in order to help Peter – it was great that she had something to do other than being the doting wife waiting at home with dinner on the table.

Over the past few episodes it seems that the writers have figured out what to do with Willie Garson’s Mozz. The cute but affable ‘devil’ on Neal’s other shoulder has been much better utilized as of late. Peter and Mozz have a common denominator in their relationship with Neal, and it’s nice to see how they’ve been coming together and using each other for the greater good (the use of the word ‘good’ is left up to interpretation).

After the last few angsty, Kate-focused episodes, I was glad to have her arc be on the back burner. The Katervention in the cemetery was a nice touch. Both Peter and Mozzie, Neal’s two best friends, both have raised the idea that Kate could be working for Fowler. Is love that blind? Does he really refuse to believe she is capable of double crossing him? It’s had to at least cross his mind given all the evidence. At this point, if we are going to have to ensure all this Kate talk, why don’t the writers give us an episode where we get a little more of her back story. She clearly has an eye for the con. Is that how she met Neal? Did she learn her elusive ways just by watching him? I need a little something to work with here. (Note: If more on Kate & Neal’s relationship was covered in an episode that I maybe missed last season, just ignore the last few sentences and point me to the right episode.)

I’m so glad I rediscovered WHITE COLLAR this season. It’s a solid, good time on Tuesday nights.

Before we close this out and open up the discussion, I thought maybe I’d share a few more of last night’s memorable moments. Read on while I change into my courier uniform and practice Peter’s signature.

• Neal: “I love the Met. They have this fantastic Matisse I’ve always admired… Right near the fire exit.”

• I know I’ve said it before, but damn can Matthew Bomer wear a hat.

• Neal: You’re uncomfortable around the 6 year old?
  Peter: I don’t speak that language.
  Neal: I do?
  Peter: Yeah you do, Peter Pan. Come on.

• I think “You know what I meant” is the new “That’s what she said”Peter: We stop the judge from taking the Sullivan home, and then we get her disrobed.
  [On Neal’s look]
  Peter: You know what I meant.
  Peter: We lean on her hard enough and she’ll flip on Fowler. You know what I meant!

• Neal: “You can pin this one on me. You like pinning things on me, right?” Yes, I do, Neal. Yes, I do.

• Don’t even try to tell me you aren’t going to try to forge someone’s signature today.

• Kath’s random thought. I’m not one to force an unnecessary portmanteau where it’s not needed, but has anyone else noticed that Peter + Neal could equal ‘Petal’? Just throwing that out there.

• Peter: She offered me a bribe.
• Neal: Really. How much are you worth?
• Peter: A quarter million.
• Neal: That’s it?
• Peter: Yeah.
• Neal: If I had known you were that cheap I would have bribed you myself.
• Peter: No amount of money would be as satisfying as catching you the first time. Or the second.
• Neal: No one likes a braggart.

Thoughts on “Bad Judgment”? The tweets I was getting during the episode seemed to indicate that quite a few of you were really digging last night’s episode. What worked for you and what didn’t? The phone lines (um, comments) are now open.