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It All Comes Together. Review: White Collar – “Live Feed”

Season 5, Episode 10

Air Date: Thursday, January 9, 2014, 9/8c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“”We’re going after the Dutchman again.” – Peter

Hagen (Mark Sheppard) ups the stakes by kidnapping Rebecca (Bridget Regan), forcing Neal (Matt Bomer) and Mozzie (Willie Garson) to decode the puzzle hidden within the Codex. Meanwhile, Peter (Tim Dekay) is called upon to investigate a forgery where all signs point to Hagen—or do they? With Peter closing in on Hagen, will Neal be able to rescue Rebecca in time? And, if Hagen is captured, will he use the evidence he has against Neal in the gold theft? It’s a race against time where nothing is what it seems.

Any time you see an episode was written by Jim Campolongo, a Writer/Supervising Producer for White Collar, you know you’re in for a great hour of drama and excitement. One of the things I like about Campolongo’s writing is the way he writes one-on-one scenes and simple conversations. Some good examples would be Peter and Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) in the park; Peter and Jones (Sharif Atkins) in the office; Peter and Neal in any scene; Mozzie and Hagen in the hideout; and last, but certainly not least, Mozzie and Neal in any scene.

It’s clear Campolongo gets these characters and his writing style makes the quiet moments in the show more enjoyable to watch. I have written in the past about being a big fan of Campolongo’s work, and with the recent departure of Joe Henderson and Jeff Eastin so focused on Graceland, I hope Campolongo stays on if White Collar is picked up for another season—which, for whatever reason, has yet to be announced.

Before I talk about what happens in “Live Feed,” I want to talk about New York. Last October, I had the privilege to interview Bomer and Dekay, and one of the things we discussed is how the city of New York is almost a character of its own on the show. “Live Feed” is no exception as once again, hidden gems within the city are highlighted in this episode, like the old Cunard Cruise Line Building where Hagen sets up his hideout. Built in 1921, the building was known for its grand ticket area where passengers would buy tickets to legendary ships like the Queen Mary. The building is visually impressive, especially when Neal and Mozzie go inside. Did you see that ceiling? We also see Elizabeth meeting Peter next to the iconic Bow Bridge in Central Park. Things like this set White Collar apart from shows like Suits, which films in Toronto while pretending to take place in New York. Filming in the actual locale adds an element you don’t get from building a set. On a side note, you can read the full interview with Bomer and Dekay here.

Until “Live Feed,” I didn’t think Hagen was given the respect he deserved as a white color criminal. After all, he is the reason Peter made the deal with Neal in the first place. While the banter between Neal and Hagen is entertaining, it is the dialogue between Mozzie and Hagen that really captures my interest. I love how Hagen uttering Mozzie’s real name suddenly changes the tone of things, causing Mozzie to suddenly appear concerned.

If you have read any of my White Collar reviews this season, you know I have been skeptical of Rebecca from day one. As time passed, many fans also became leery of her, wondering if she was working with Hagen. In my “Digging Deeper” review, I questioned whether she was the real mastermind behind everything. I even took it a step further by asking whether Rebecca killed Agent Siegel (Warren Kole). Despite laying out my reasoning for such a bold claim, this idea was not well received by readers. Turns out Rebecca appears to be the mastermind behind the Codex and the events surrounding it after all. While we have yet to see a gun in her hand, by all appearances Rebecca is the one behind not only Siegel’s death but now Hagen’s as well. My only lingering question concerns whether someone else was in the room helping Rebecca. When she is released from the room she is being held in, we see a light as if a door is being opened. Is someone else there, or does Rebecca use her feet to turn the light behind the camera, giving the appearance of a door opening?

“Live Feed” is an episode that could have easily gotten away from the writers due to the many pieces in motion and everyone seeming to have their own agenda. What makes “Live Feed” enjoyable for me is even though a lot was happening with a good deal of twists, I still feel like I knew what was going on. And, I was able to come to the same conclusions as the characters at or around the same times they did.

It’s clear the writers wanted the entire season to come to a head in “Live Feed.” I really enjoyed the pacing and how the story unfolds, which I credit to Campolongo, but I think some of the build-up hurt some of the overall season’s story arc. Siegel’s death was, for the most part, ignored for most of the season, and Hagen disappeared for several episodes. It’s almost like the writers were hoping we would ignore these things until they were ready for the big reveal when everything comes together.

Neal getting his heart broken could be a good thing for both him and Peter. Neal, now more than ever, could use a father figure, and Peter needs to see a more vulnerable side of Neal, with less of the “once a criminal always a criminal” mentality Peter has had all season long. The two men needed a shake up after the way they have been acting this season, and maybe this betrayal will force both men to reevaluate things when it comes to the value of true friendship. While the word “criminal” may describe what Neal is, it does not define who he is. Either way, Neal and Peter need to work this arrangement out fast. Perhaps Elizabeth says it best:

Elizabeth: “You said you made your peace with what he did.”

Peter: “That’s right.”

Elizabeth: “Have you actually made your peace with him?”

Peter: “When it comes to work, I can’t let emotions cloud my judgment.”

Elizabeth: “I think you already have.”

Like the stars of this season’s Castle and The Mentalist, could Peter and Neal be going to Washington, D.C? Could be an interesting way to reboot the series but I find it doubtful that Peter will leave New York. Ever since Peter took the new position, he has changed and as much as he wants to blame Neal, he also needs to be accountable to himself. A better paying job does not necessarily equal happiness and I’m hoping Peter will realize he was more content as an agent.

With most of this season’s lingering questions answered in “Live Feed,” it now becomes a sprint to the finish to see who finds the twin to the Hope Diamond that is hidden somewhere in New York. Did Rebecca overhear Mozzie telling Neal, “I am the Codex” after memorizing the clues? With only two more episodes left before the season finale (and possible series finale given no announcement yet), all signs point to an explosive finale.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Live Feed.”

 

For more on the show, visit the official website at http://www.usanetwork.com/series/whitecollar/.

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All photos © 2013-14 USA Network, a division of NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.