Airdate: Tuesdays at 9/8c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

In the most entertaining episode yet this season, the natural partnership between Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) and Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) is showcased from an unexpected angle: Peter Burke, undercover bachelor on the prowl. The Hanratty/Abagnale-esque connection between these two leads is shifting to an almost respectful friendship.

The snappy writing of this show never lets us forget that we are, in fact, dealing with a Federal Agent and a (presumably) ex-con. It’s an often precarious balance where neither side ever truly lets down his guard, even as there is no doubt each would take a bullet for the other.

"For those about to date...we salute you."

But in “Veiled Threat,” we are treated with not only several laugh out loud moments, we’re also allowed to forget for an episode that there’s a warehouse of Nazi treasure stashed somewhere in New York. And that Mozzie (Willie Garson) and Neal know where it is and are one manifest away from selling it and bailing.

We all know it’s only a matter of time before that fact gums up the works. As Neal says, “It’s not magic; it’s math.” Or, the savvy pacing of a well-told story.

The case this time – a Black Widow named Selena (Twin Peaks’ Mädchen Amick) who has gone through four wealthy husbands without a clear path linking her to their cash – calls for an all-hands-on-deck approach from the Bureau to catch her. There are three open spots at a Bachelor Auction she’s attending and Neal, of course, isn’t given a choice about participating (the “do as I say” approach is one of Peter’s habits that could keep their friendship at almost) but it’s the other two ‘playahs’ who are grin-inducing: Agent Clinton Jones (Sharif Atkins) and Peter “Bringing Sexy Back” Burke, himself.

Good ol' Texas charm....

The emcee of the speed-date auction, Gerald Jamison (Jonathan Silverman, who in my eyes will never live down his Weekend at Bernie’s), gives each bachelor mere minutes with the wealthy bidders and each of our guys has a different tactic. Neal and Peter being ‘coached’ by their significant others prior to the event is both adorable and fitting. The entire event is peppered with witty dialog and pointers that should have men everywhere taking note, such as Neal’s suggestion that Peter hold his drink in his left hand so his right won’t be cold when shaking his date’s hand in greeting. Any woman appreciates a gentleman.

When Jones finds out Selena likes tall, dark, and handsome, his comment, “How dark are we talking” is velvety smooth. Neal’s alter ego in this caper speaks with a knee-weakening Texas drawl and plays up a take-me-now grin, but it is Peter’s shrugging honesty that nets the mark.

Much to his beautiful wife El’s (Tiffany Thiessen) chagrin, Peter is forced to continue the undercover Op/date in order to get the evidence they need to pin the deaths on Selena (and her partner). El is, as always, the supportive spouse, but this case hits a little close to home—her home, where her heart lives—and she’s not a fan.

Best date ever? Not so much....

But Peter is a natural. He not only channels Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman  when dancing an impromptu tango with Selena, he also crashes Neal’s first real date with Sara Ellis (Hilarie Burton)–dubbed by Diana (Marsha Thomason) as “Insurance Investigator Barbie,” aka The Best Nickname Ever–when Selena insists Peter take her to his place. Neal makes good use of the apartment’s former life as a speakeasy and shuffles Sara (and a bottle of wine) through his closet to a spy mirror to watch.

In what is possibly the best scene of the episode, Selena puts Peter in a hilariously awkward position by asking him to draw her after she sees Neal’s art around the apartment. When a desperate Peter writes “Help Me” on the sketch pad, Neal immediately begins an amazing pencil sketch through the spy mirror. Sara wins bonus points by proclaiming, “Any guy can make a girl dinner, but only you could sketch a Black Widow from a hidden back room.” Mozzie’s turn as Peter’s “man” Haversham is one part inspired and three parts amusing as he helps Peter preserve his cover with Neal’s sketch of Selena…including a tiny addition to help speed the Op along.

The impeccable timing of Neal and Peter’s partnership is given a momentary backseat when Peter focuses on his true partner: his wife. El’s assistance as a wedding coordinator for Selena and Peter is both supportive and sentimental, offering Peter a precious glimpse into her strong, composed elegance. True to his nature, Peter doesn’t forget that.

When Neal comes through once more with a clever and effective plan that forces Selena to show them the money, the team nabs their woman—and man—and Peter puts El’s work planning a fake wedding to good use.  Mozzie “Of Course I’m An Ordained Minister” presides, Neal witnesses, Peter grins, and El glows. It’s a smile-worthy end to a thoroughly entertaining episode.

But even with the unmistakable camaraderie and teamwork, there’s a thinly veiled backbeat of suspicion between the leads. We want them to work as friends even as we appreciate who they are: the agent and the con. Changing either would alter their dynamic; it’s an intriguing Catch-22 that will keep us hooked.

Tune in to White Collar, Tuesdays at 9/8c on the USA Network.

All photos courtesy of Barbara Nitke/© 2011 USA Network. All rights reserved.