White Collar, S4, E02: “Most Wanted”

Airdate: Tuesday, July 17, 2012, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“You run, I run.” – Mozzie

In what I believe may result in one of the best seasons of the show thus far, White Collar has kept the storyline of its highly entertaining characters fresh and moving with the twists and turns of “Most Wanted.” In the season opener, Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) was a wanted man, hiding out, on the run, and hoping to reinvent himself so thoroughly even the most tenacious of federal agents wouldn’t be able to catch him. Unfortunately, it seems the luck he’s banked on to keep him just out of karma’s reach isn’t with him.

Butch & Sundance…or Laurel & Hardy?

Having Neal betrayed by island mogul Henry Dobbs (Greg Henry) and then subsequently captured by the mercenary-like federal agent, Kyle Collins (Mekhi Pfifer), produces two intriguing situations for us to watch:  1)  Neal versus his captors in a physical bid to survive and escape, and 2) Peter (Tim DeKay) and Mozzie (Willie Garson) working together to save him. Both offer highly entertaining views into the lengths these characters will go for freedom and to help a friend; I think it’s the second situation that has the biggest ramifications to the storyline as a whole, due to the ways the characters change.

Agent Collins has a laser focus on capturing Neal.

But first, Neal – handcuffed and gagged in an island cell – has to outwit Collins in order to escape. Neal’s good, but unfortunately he trusts the agent to be a decent person who operates inside the letter of the law. Collins proves he has no such scruples when he shoots Neal in the leg! Yeah, you heard me. Collins punctuates his action with a smug, “No more running, Caffrey.” My teeth hurt a little watching Neal cry out in pain, staring up at Collins in shock. That unbelievable act pretty much sinks any of Neal’s usual climb-out-the-window-and-repel-to-the-ground-using-nothing-but-palm-fronds-and-a-Ferragamo-tie escape plans.

While Neal is busy with Collins the Conqueror, Peter and Mozzie discuss “catching Neal Caffrey 101” (which you know would be an instant best-seller) and formulate a plan to get him out of Collins’ clutches. This unlikely pairing is a little Butch and Sundance, a little Laurel and Hardy, but at this point in his story, Peter has gone from a straight-by-the-book agent to a lawman willing to bend the law for the sake of a friend; putting his job on the line to this extent resonates for me. It also softens Mozzie; his deeply-ingrained suspicions of all things “Suit” give way to the realization that Peter truly cares about Neal as a person, not just an asset.

Catching Neal Caffrey 101, Step 1 – Follow the girl.

It’s evident Neal’s pretty much the most important person in Mozzie’s life right now, so when Peter makes a critical discovery about who is truly the “Most Wanted” man on the island, Mozzie is willing to go along with the con, despite the fact that it will ultimately mean this time when Neal runs, Mozzie won’t run with him. Seeing Mozzie stay behind is bittersweet – but I know he’ll find a way back to New York. For all Mozzie’s quirks, he’s a true friend and it’s apparent he needs Neal in his life.

Hampered by Neal’s wounded leg, the trio hatches a plan that puts Peter front and center in the con while the dynamic duo handle some smoke-and-mirrors in the background. My favorite part of the con is Neal giving Peter Cocktail-like coaching on how to be a bartender. Mozzie imploring Peter to “Pour like it’s Hemingway’s last call” may become my new favorite line.

The show is at its best when it leaves viewers to wonder until the very end who was in on the con all along. For example, the look on Neal’s face when Maya (Mia Maestro), a woman he obviously has feelings for, betrays him broke my heart a bit – until I saw the slight, sly smile in Neal’s eyes as he furtively meets hers in the rear-view mirror of Collins’ Jeep as the agent hauls him away. And Peter is incredibly smooth as he plants doubt in the minds of the local shady population, stirring up trouble for Dobbs and Collins, and slips away unnoticed as chaos builds. He’s getting better and better at this game. Makes me wonder what might be in store for him down the road with the way this storyline is progressing.

Maya’s willing to let Neal go, but will he be back for her?

One of the more honest moments of “Most Wanted” is Peter coming clean to Mozzie and Neal about his “intentions for getting Neal back to New York.” He feels responsible for everything that happened after he called Agent Kramer (Beau Bridges) in on the Nazi treasure case from last season. Peter admits that because of him, Neal would be “running forever” and he wants to set things right. The look in Neal’s eyes as Peter confesses this is perplexing. He looks moved and appreciative, but also almost…shocked. That Peter would take on such a personal burden as Neal’s freedom – or at least not having to live life as a fugitive – seems a bit overwhelming to the conman. Bomer’s ability to convey such conflicted emotions with a simple flinch of his eyes is wonderful.

This season’s theme looks to be about ‘change’; while the Agency agrees to Peter’s bargain and allows Neal’s return to New York and his old desk – tracking anklet affixed – the credit for the capture of one of the FBI’s Most Wanted goes to Collins, which means we’ll probably see him again, unfortunately. Pfifer’s portrayal of an agent willing to break the law to get his man is intense, but I feel more irritation than admiration when it comes to his character. I’m not particularly looking forward to his return.

Peter’s unsanctioned trip to rescue Neal hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Most Wanted” leaves us deliciously unbalanced on two fronts: Neal asking questions about his past that we didn’t realize he had, and Peter being removed from the White Collar unit due to his actions (leaving Neal with potentially a new handler).

What Neal finds out (and how that will change him) and how Peter gets his job back, if indeed he does, are pieces of this season’s story I can’t wait to see play out.

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