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White Collar – “All’s Fair” Retrospective. Separation Anxiety.

Season 6, Episode 4

Air Date: Thursday, December 4, 2014, 9/8c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“It occurs to me now there’s something I may have failed to mention. ” – Mozzie

Mr. & Mrs. Mozzie?

When a message shows up at one of Mozzie’s (Willie Garson) secret drop locations asking to meet, Mozzie assumes it’s the legendary Pink Panther gang trying to recruit him. Neal (Matt Bomer), on the other hand, isn’t as convinced. When the two arrive at the designated location, they discover it isn’t the Panthers but rather Eva Perkins (Megan Dodds), a woman Mozzie immediately recognizes.

Neal: “Moz, who is she?”

Mozzie: “She’s my wife.”

I couldn’t help laughing as Neal finds himself at a complete loss for words over this sudden revelation of Mozzie’s past. Bomer’s perplexed expression is priceless.

Episodes that focus on Mozzie often have a lighthearted feel, making them especially entertaining to watch. There’s a family feel with “All’s Fair” that I find very comforting as we get ready to say goodbye to these beloved characters. I especially enjoyed the scene at the Burke residence as Mozzie tries to convince a hesitant Peter (Tim Dekay) to investigate Eva. Peter’s wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) chimes in, telling Peter, “Do it for the kids,” referring to Mozzie and Neal.

Scenes with Mozzie, Peter, and Neal are always delightful because of the various character dynamics. “All’s Fair” is no exception, especially when the three go on an awkward stakeout together. Needless to say, Mozzie ends up making matters worse by creating a very public scene. Just when it looks like things can’t get any stranger, Peter tells Neal, “I think Mozzie could be right.” Once again, Neal is at a loss for words.

Already feeling separation anxiety.

I doubt I was the only one surprised when Eva’s fiancé Jack (William Ragsdale), the head of a local charity, pulls a ‘Keyser Soze’ revealing he isn’t what he claims to be. While the episode focuses on Mozzie, I would have enjoyed seeing a little more backstory about Jack.

Mozzie’s true intentions complicate matters as the lines become blurred, causing Neal and Peter to wonder whether Mozzie is doing this to protect innocent victims from Eva and Jack, or if Mozzie still has feelings for Eva. Turns out to be a little of both and while

Mozzie may not get the girl in the end, he does learn a valuable lesson in friendship even if is with “The Suit.” 

It’s only a matter of time before Woodford (Gavin Lee), the leader of the Pink Panthers, shows up again. Could Woodford be onto Neal? Watching the scene in his apartment, I kept thinking that Neal’s tracking anklet has been off for some time yet Keller’s (Ross McCall) tracking chip is embedded just under his skin. If push comes to shove, will Neal reveal Keller’s identity by mentioning the chip? On the other hand, maybe the Panthers have already figured out about Keller’s chip the same way Neal did. Will Neal and Peter find themselves in a position where they have to save Keller’s life?

The talented Willie Garson.

Garson gives an outstanding performance as Mozzie and I applaud the writers for allowing what began as a minor character to grow into the role we see today. As much as Bomer and Dekay are the stars, it’s hard to think of White Collar without Mozzie. “All’s Fair” is a testament to the wonderfully entertaining character Garson has created, especially as the series winds down.

One of the funniest moments of “All’s Fair” has to be when Mozzie becomes convinced that Peter and Neal have bought into a harebrained conspiracy theory. There are so many little Mozzie-esque things in this episode that make it gratifying to watch, from the mention of his taxi to him showing up to a fancy charity event on a Razor scooter. Let’s not forget these memorable lines from Mozzie.

 

“The Suit and I have our own understanding about truth.”

***

“You miscalculated if you think flattery is my weakness anymore.” 

***

“I can’t be the fall guy for a crime I’m not going to commit.”  

I enjoyed “All’s Fair” but it reminds me a little too much of the season two episode, “By the Book,” when Mozzie is convinced that Gina (Diane Farr), the woman he has a crush on, has been kidnapped. In this case, Gina is replaced by Eva and the kidnapping is replaced with a con. In both episodes, however, Mozzie is forced to rely on Peter’s help while constantly meddling, creating chaos wherever he goes.

Don’t get me wrong; “All’s Fair” is a very entertaining story that makes for an enjoyable mid-season filler episode, especially since it has the feel of a standalone episode. With only six episodes in this final season of White Collar, it’s difficult to accept we’re past the midway point. As we approach the final two episodes, the theme from Jaws, by John Williams, keeps playing in my mind. Fans have been promised a shocking ending. I’m just not sure I’m ready for it yet.

Let me know what you think of “All’s Fair.” Leave your comments below or tweet me @StaffaRoadTrip.

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

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All photos © 2014 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.