WHITE COLLAR Recap: ‘Payback’

Does anyone else think we’re working up to a killer finale? What with Neal’s history playing such a prominent role in the past several episodes and the focus on his growing friendship with Peter, it seems like the show’s intensity is ratcheting up a few notches every week.

Last night’s episode had plenty of that emotion and depth, showcasing once again how close Neal and Peter are, as well as the dichotomy between the grifter Neal used to be and the “law man” he might be becoming.

The music box was, once again, not even mentioned – although we did have some talk of Kate. Mostly, though, the episode focused on the Case of the Week and that slimy, slimy Keller.

Seriously, does anyone else question Keller’s credibility as Neal’s big rival? I have such a hard time buying that the guy we see — despite his ability to pull off a clever prison break — is of the same caliber as Neal Caffrey. Where Neal is smooth, Keller is slick – and there’s a big difference between the two. I suppose that’s another illustration of Neal’s character and, possibly, his future on the right side of the law.

Regardless, I don’t like this character. Unfortunately, the end of the episode left his situation much too wide open for me to hold on to my hope that we won’t be seeing him again.

Case of the Week:

Neal’s rival, Matthew Keller (who we’ve seen before and who has some connection to Kate), is in prison and scheduled to be transferred to a super max facility. As he owes money to The Russians, who also reside at said facility, he says he wants to make a deal with the FBI in exchange for staying in his current, cushy prison.

Neal smells a rat, but Peter decides to follow through. They go to question Jason Lang, who Keller has accused of printing fake IDs. As if the USA promos weren’t enough to telegraph the impending doom, Peter’s promise to call and make up with his wife “as soon as we’re done here” pretty much sealed the deal.

Neal and Peter go to Lang’s place, Lang kidnaps Peter, and Keller calls with his demand: $2.5 million in three hours – or Peter will die.

Neal conveniently has a ring hidden away worth just that amount, and he arranges a trade. Despite the FBI’s insistence that he go home and stay out of the way, Neal meets with Lang and demands proof that Peter is still alive. That exchange helps Neal and the FBI figure out that Keller is going to attempt an escape while being transferred between prisons. They do everything they can to stop it – including driving very inefficiently – but it’s too late. Keller is loose.

Meanwhile, Peter pulls a few MacGyver moves, using a safety pin to get out of his handcuffs and later, breaking the lock of his cell with just a little help from Neal (on Lang’s phone after Peter managed to provoke and then knock out the kidnapper).

Peter is safely reunited with the team, Lang is arrested, and Keller is free to roam the streets without an anklet.

Thoughts & Questions:

• Peter and Elizabeth are officially my favorite couple on TV right now. Elizabeth said, “We’re not like other couples. We work.” And they do. I loved them trying so hard not to fight. To me, that was totally realistic – and made up for the super-duper sweet “hon” nicknames.
• Were you surprised that Neal had planned to propose to Kate? And imagined them having children someday? And do you think he’s really over her? (“Look, she’ll always be a part of me, but I have to move on. . . . I’ve moved past Kate. I have, Moz.”)
• Just when I think I can’t love Mozzie more, he goes and visits Elizabeth to reassure her and bug the Feds in her dining room. He was worried about “The Suit” – and Mrs. Suit. So cute.
• It was pretty clear in this episode how much Neal cares for Peter, from his distress at the initial kidnapping (yelling his name and running in slow motion) to the hug at the end of the episode. Not to mention he [basically] trades his past with Kate for a future with Peter (“Keeping Peter alive is more important than holding a candle for someone who isn’t.”). And, like Mozzie, he cares about Elizabeth, too, asking her what she wanted him to do to help. Of course, Peter reciprocated – or at least showed his appreciation for Neal’s talents, again – when he demanded the phone be passed to Neal instead of his boss.

So, White Collar friends, what did you think? Is Neal a Cary Grant? Do you think Peter is the husband who forgets to pick up the dry cleaning? Does “Uncle Mozzie” have a certain je ne sais quoi? And do you think Neal is, as Keller said, starting to act like a lawman?

Mary is embracing her new life as a stay-at-home mom, staying up late to rewatch the second season of Veronica Mars and catching up on How I Met Your Mother during [her daughter’s] naptime. Mary blogs about living 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.