White Collar – Women sweat too

Two words I’d wished to never hear again on White Collar: “Keller,” and “treasure.” Even given where we left the series at the mid-season three break — Keller ransoming a kidnapped Elizabeth in exchange for the treasure — I was holding out hope that we’d never hear those two words again. Oh well.

I seriously considered not even bothering to review the mid-season premiere. I found it that bad. Even just the mini-feuds — Neal and Mozzie, Neal and Peter — were too much. Obviously Mozzie wasn’t (and isn’t) going to disappear on Neal; just as obviously, Mozzie wouldn’t sit by as Elizabeth’s life was in danger (although I did really enjoy his expressed and unexpressed sentiment toward her). And while Peter’s anger toward Neal is well-founded, it’s enough with their trusting/untrusting story line. Enough.

Ultimately, however, I felt like there was a reason to discuss the episode, even if it is two days later. And that was the revelation at the end that Neal’s sentence might be commuted. Because the obvious question is: what happens to the foundation of the show if Neal’s no longer forced to do this, um, work study?

Actually, the revelation goes a long way toward explaining why the show went to great lengths to show us that Neal was ready to choose his new life over his old one if push came to shove. The way he passed down running with Mozzie and the treasure made that much clear. But I don’t think that that ever really touched on the heart of the question: if he were a free man, would Neal really choose to remain apprentice to a white collar FBI investigative team?

Forget for a moment that Neal leaving Peter’s side would destroy the show. If Neal were no longer forced to pay for his freedom by working with the FBI, why would he choose to do it? He’s never going to be an FBI agent — unless the writers go the Ziva on NCIS route and pound the boundaries of reality into mush — and he’s always going to be working under the veil of suspicion. If Peter still doesn’t trust Neal — and that’s Neal’s fault, too — he never will. Which means that Caffrey will be a con doing honest work who’s always looked at like a con. ‘Tis the life of a former convicted felon, but most don’t choose to work alongside those that regularly suspect them.

Besides, instead of unwinding cons, Neal could be working on his own … and getting paid much better for it. One thing I don’t think he’s ever proven to be is reformed; his feelings for Peter and his new life have held his inner thief at bay plenty of times, but he hasn’t tamped down those urges. And I don’t think he wants to. So when he’s anklet-less and free to roam the world, will he choose to remain tethered to the very people who keep him from being himself?

If there was no show, I could see him trying the straight life but eventually throwing in the towel. This being television, it’ll probably work in the reverse: Neal will feel the pull of going back to a life of crime before eventually choosing to remain housetrained. But imagine if he had the freedom of choice? What do you think he’d do?

And don’t forget to enter our great White Collar giveaway! You could win a cool Leisure Pack, Neal Caffrey-style. Contest closes next Wednesday, January 25th, at Midnight ET.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 19, 2012 @ 18:55 EST5EDT