WHITE COLLAR: Prisoner’s Dilemma

Last night’s episode was full of finger pointing, pot roasts, safe houses and agents on the run. Let’s dive in.

Case of the Week

We should have known – and most of us probably did – that mayhem would ensue when Peter promised Elizabeth he’d be home for a date night (a.k.a. pot roast dinner) and work would absolutely not interfere with these plans.

How long has he been in law enforcement? Did he really think this would work out?

It turns out that Peter and Neal have been [inconveniently] called into the office on a Saturday because a fellow FBI agent is on the run. The U.S. Marshals can’t find him, and they’ve been instructed to team up with the Bureau.

Neal: Do all the higher-ups do the double finger point?

Peter: They teach it at Quantico.

After an investigation that includes Peter driving his dream car and Neal selling someone else his dream car, the team realizes that the agent on the run, Jack Franklin, might not be guilty of the things he’s been accused. Peter gives Jack’s former informant (and girlfriend) the message that he will listen to Jack’s story with an open mind.

The rogue agent shows up at Peter’s house, just as he’s about to take his date night pot roast out of the oven, and after some negotiation, they both put their guns down and talk. It turns out that the Marshal in charge of the investigation, Agent Deckard, has been selling witness locations to the bad guys – and Jack Franklin figured it out.

[Side note: I’m all for Neal and the abs and the blue eyes and the charm. But honestly? I’ll take Peter with the black t-shirt and the jeans and the cooking any day.]

Jack and Peter go to recover evidence from an attorney’s office, but Deckard beats them there. He shreds paperwork revealing his crimes while shooting at the FBI agents until they escape to the building’s garage.

Where they discover two shiny Lamborghinis. They each jump into one and call their informants for help getting the cars started. Jack calls his ex-girlfriend who works at a high-end auto dealer, while Peter calls Neal.

Peter: I need to hotwire a Lamborghini.

Neal: Theoretically?

Of course, Neal knows where a spare key might be located, giving Peter the perfect opportunity to say, “My CI beat your CI.”

Peter and Jack meet up with the rest of the team, and they develop a plan. Mozzie takes the agents to one of his many safe houses (“Mi casa es suit casa.”), while Jones, Diana and Neal distract the Marshals.

Mozzie: Don’t think this is my only safe house. I like to call it Tuesday.

Peter: Why?

Mozzie: Because I’m usually here on Wednesday.

At some point, Peter finally remembers that he’s missing date night, so he sends Mozzie in his place. Love the friendship between Moz and Elizabeth. (And I’m so glad to have Real Elizabeth back instead of Green Screen Elizabeth.)

Eventually, the whole team catches Deckard with “a government-sanctioned con” and a round of prisoner’s dilemma. I especially loved the way everyone had a part, from Neal and Mozzie to Peter, Jones and Diana to Bancroft, the boss’s boss.

Music Box Mystery

Even though Neal remains nervous about actually solving the mystery of who killed Kate and where did the pesky music box go, Mozzie is relentless. He traced Kate’s call, and though he only knew it was sent to a disposable cell phone at first, he eventually learns her call went to Agent Fowler.

Is anyone surprised by this?

Banter of the Week

I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one who loved the rapid-fire banter between Neal and Peter a few weeks ago, since every subsequent episode has had at least one similar conversation. Smart move, White Collar.

Neal: C’mon, Peter. If you were on the run –

Peter: I wouldn’t go on the run.

Neal: But if you did…

Peter: Yes, I’m sure it’d be your fault.

They really played up the relationship between these two characters this week. Not only was Neal clearly concerned about Peter (“Careful, Mario.”), he also tried to cover for him with Bancroft.

Bancroft: Get Peter on the phone.

Neal: He tossed it.

Bancroft: So he’s not asking permission.

Neal: I guess it was more of an FYI.

I guess working with the big boss paid off, because after whining for an entire episode, Neal finally found an FBI agent to escort him to the art show located just outside his radius: Bancroft.

Neal: I believe the cars come with a tracking device.

Peter: Oh-ho-ho, just like you!

Neal: Just like me.

All right, White Collar fans, tell me what you thought about this episode. Do you think Kate was in on some bad stuff with Fowler? Are you surprised by that at all? Are you a fan of Peter in a black tee and oven mitt? And just how many safe houses do you think Mozzie has?

Mary is a soon-to-be PR freelancer, a wife and a mom to a toddler who she describes as “VERY two.” And while you might think her busy life would get in the way of an ambitious TV schedule, she’s way more organized [AHEM, addicted, AHEM] than that. Also, a clean house is overrated. Mary blogs about an imperfect life at Giving Up on Perfect, writing about family, faith, books, food, celebrity look-alikes and chick flicks. You know, the important stuff.