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White Collar 3x15
I'm putting a couple of requests at the top and outside the cut, rather than burying them in the post this time. /o\
First: please don't harsh on my squee! If you didn't like the episode, if you are not fond of the show or the characters, that's fine! Nothing wrong with it. Just please don't talk about it in the comments here. There are plenty of places where you can do that: your own journal, for example.
Second: I didn't watch the previews, I am completely unspoiled for next week's episode, and I'd like to remain that way. Please don't reveal anything you know, and help me stay unspoiled!
Thank you! And now ...
Awwwwwwwwwwww show!
Maybe not my favorite episode of all time (some of the baseball stuff was a bit on the heavy-handed side), but just ... awwww. I really love how they're handling the character stuff in the back half of this season: the subtle tension between Neal and Peter, between Neal and Mozzie, between Kramer and Peter and Peter's team; the low-key and ambiguously friendly relationship between Neal and Sara - just, everything. This episode was a little light on El, but the kitchen scene was suitably adorable (actually I literally LOL'd at Neal's reaction to Peter's accidental TMI regarding El's perkiness - poor Neal) and it was such an interesting contrast to the scene way back in 1x10 when Neal shows up for breakfast and Peter is disgruntled to have him there. This time, they just invite him in and feed him, because that's what they do now. :D Also, Neal needs to get out of his suits more often. *g* I miss the more diverse wardrobe that he had in season one, because the boy looks very good in black.
NEAL BACKSTORY OMG. Pool hustling in St. Louis! (Is everything he's told June and Mozzie about his past true? I'm inclined to think so - I don't get the impression that he's dishonest with them about that sort of thing, so he really is from St. Louis. But it's hard to know for sure.) And his answer to Sara about his name is ... innnnteresting. (Aargh! Evil writers, not showing us what he and Sara talked about! I think it was a good dramatic decision, just, aargh!)
"Any family in the area?" "None to speak of." That's ... not actually a no.
Peter backstory too! Lots of it! With interesting connections to the current Neal situation. Oddly, it does explain a lot about modern-day Peter and his expectations for Neal, that he gave up a dream because the cost would have been too high, and found another dream to replace it. But it also says a lot about how painful that whole episode was -- that this is the one thing he never talked about with Neal, when he's never held back about discussing any other aspect of his life.
Is it just me or does Peter's "I never would have caught you" in the Burke kitchen carry a very heavy subtext of "... I never would have met you"? And Neal seems to react to it more or less as if he'd said that. (Also: "The board is deciding whether to release you from your anklet - from me." Separation anxiety much, Peter? XD d'awwww ...)
Possibly those who guessed evil!Kramer are right. I still hope it doesn't go in that direction, but Peter certainly seems surprised, and a little hurt, that Kramer has cut him out of the loop, and Kramer does seem to be angling to divide Team Burke on the Caffrey issue. I am really baffled as to what could possibly be in letters written years ago to Kate that would have a significant impact on Neal's commutation hearing now, though. (Also, did anyone else read Neal's letter to Kate when Diana was holding it? It was all Neal fantasizing about his and Kate's future children. OH NEAL. ;_;)
Peter not asking Neal about Kate's letters is ... um. HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING FROM THE LAST THREE SEASONS, PETER. *facepalm* On the other hand, Peter is having to walk an incredibly fine line right now, regarding his position with the Bureau, Kramer and Neal -- he's got to be under a huge amount of stress, and having to think very carefully about every decision he makes.
Neal's gift is really very thoughtful -- although it can also be seen as a goodbye present, depending on what Neal's plans at the moment are. The final scene with Neal and Peter playing catch and its callback to Peter talking about throwing a baseball with his dad ... *grins* NOT AT ALL SUBTLE. But Peter's advice to live in the moment is ... pretty good advice, actually, when it comes to the two of them and the inherent volatility of their friendship. In fact, the final scene really encapsulates one of the things I love most about the show: the two of them snatching this moment of happiness and companionship, not being sure what the next day is going to bring.
I am SO ready for next week's episode. *goes into spoiler-avoidance lockdown* *g*
First: please don't harsh on my squee! If you didn't like the episode, if you are not fond of the show or the characters, that's fine! Nothing wrong with it. Just please don't talk about it in the comments here. There are plenty of places where you can do that: your own journal, for example.
Second: I didn't watch the previews, I am completely unspoiled for next week's episode, and I'd like to remain that way. Please don't reveal anything you know, and help me stay unspoiled!
Thank you! And now ...
Awwwwwwwwwwww show!
Maybe not my favorite episode of all time (some of the baseball stuff was a bit on the heavy-handed side), but just ... awwww. I really love how they're handling the character stuff in the back half of this season: the subtle tension between Neal and Peter, between Neal and Mozzie, between Kramer and Peter and Peter's team; the low-key and ambiguously friendly relationship between Neal and Sara - just, everything. This episode was a little light on El, but the kitchen scene was suitably adorable (actually I literally LOL'd at Neal's reaction to Peter's accidental TMI regarding El's perkiness - poor Neal) and it was such an interesting contrast to the scene way back in 1x10 when Neal shows up for breakfast and Peter is disgruntled to have him there. This time, they just invite him in and feed him, because that's what they do now. :D Also, Neal needs to get out of his suits more often. *g* I miss the more diverse wardrobe that he had in season one, because the boy looks very good in black.
NEAL BACKSTORY OMG. Pool hustling in St. Louis! (Is everything he's told June and Mozzie about his past true? I'm inclined to think so - I don't get the impression that he's dishonest with them about that sort of thing, so he really is from St. Louis. But it's hard to know for sure.) And his answer to Sara about his name is ... innnnteresting. (Aargh! Evil writers, not showing us what he and Sara talked about! I think it was a good dramatic decision, just, aargh!)
"Any family in the area?" "None to speak of." That's ... not actually a no.
Peter backstory too! Lots of it! With interesting connections to the current Neal situation. Oddly, it does explain a lot about modern-day Peter and his expectations for Neal, that he gave up a dream because the cost would have been too high, and found another dream to replace it. But it also says a lot about how painful that whole episode was -- that this is the one thing he never talked about with Neal, when he's never held back about discussing any other aspect of his life.
Is it just me or does Peter's "I never would have caught you" in the Burke kitchen carry a very heavy subtext of "... I never would have met you"? And Neal seems to react to it more or less as if he'd said that. (Also: "The board is deciding whether to release you from your anklet - from me." Separation anxiety much, Peter? XD d'awwww ...)
Possibly those who guessed evil!Kramer are right. I still hope it doesn't go in that direction, but Peter certainly seems surprised, and a little hurt, that Kramer has cut him out of the loop, and Kramer does seem to be angling to divide Team Burke on the Caffrey issue. I am really baffled as to what could possibly be in letters written years ago to Kate that would have a significant impact on Neal's commutation hearing now, though. (Also, did anyone else read Neal's letter to Kate when Diana was holding it? It was all Neal fantasizing about his and Kate's future children. OH NEAL. ;_;)
Peter not asking Neal about Kate's letters is ... um. HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING FROM THE LAST THREE SEASONS, PETER. *facepalm* On the other hand, Peter is having to walk an incredibly fine line right now, regarding his position with the Bureau, Kramer and Neal -- he's got to be under a huge amount of stress, and having to think very carefully about every decision he makes.
Neal's gift is really very thoughtful -- although it can also be seen as a goodbye present, depending on what Neal's plans at the moment are. The final scene with Neal and Peter playing catch and its callback to Peter talking about throwing a baseball with his dad ... *grins* NOT AT ALL SUBTLE. But Peter's advice to live in the moment is ... pretty good advice, actually, when it comes to the two of them and the inherent volatility of their friendship. In fact, the final scene really encapsulates one of the things I love most about the show: the two of them snatching this moment of happiness and companionship, not being sure what the next day is going to bring.
I am SO ready for next week's episode. *goes into spoiler-avoidance lockdown* *g*
no subject
I like having Kramer as a good-guy antagonist; makes things more interesting.
I miss the old section chief that we used to see so much in season 1 -- whatever happened to him?
And Neal and Taylor were TOTALLY FLIRTING.
Copracat noted how much fun it would have been if Taylor had recognized Byron's pool cue. LOL.
I really loved this ep. And I'm a huge baseball fan, and Peter is So Damn Sincere that all the baseball stuff actually worked for me.
Mozzie has totally grown on me. I love him now.
Oh -- regarding the codes.... Maybe Peter chose to not talk about them, because bringing them up now would just create more areas that he'd have to lie about. I know he's sweating the questions he might be asked at Neal's hearing because he and Team Burke have stretched the regs for Neal A LOT and MORE THAN ONCE. So that's fascinating.
This ep made me VERY HAPPY.
no subject
I miss the old section chief that we used to see so much in season 1 -- whatever happened to him?
I don't know! Perhaps they couldn't get the actor? I miss him, too.
Copracat noted how much fun it would have been if Taylor had recognized Byron's pool cue. LOL.
hahahaha. I like that idea!
Oh -- regarding the codes.... Maybe Peter chose to not talk about them, because bringing them up now would just create more areas that he'd have to lie about. I know he's sweating the questions he might be asked at Neal's hearing because he and Team Burke have stretched the regs for Neal A LOT and MORE THAN ONCE. So that's fascinating.
That's what I'm leaning towards most of all ... that he's thinking in terms of plausible deniability, because I don't think Peter would directly lie under oath, even for Neal, and he's taking a gamble that it's not anything too bad and the risk of not asking/warning Neal about it is offset by the fact that he won't have to lie about it.
I am really fascinated by how things are shaping up, and really eager for the next episode!