Review: White Collar - Bad Judgment
by Bob Sassone, posted Jan 27th 2010 12:25AM
(S01E09) While watching Human Target (on a special night tonight) right before this episode of White Collar, I got to thinking how many old-fashioned, fun action shows there are on TV right now. This show, Burn Notice, Human Target. They're throwbacks to the 60s or 70s or 80s, the lone hero (or the hero with a partner) helping either an innocent civilian or the government take down the bad guys, using cleverness, gadgets, disguises and fighting skills.
That's not to say they're just fluffy, throwaway entertainments ... well, maybe to a certain extent they are. But Burn Notice and White Collar have a lot more going on than that, while at the same time not resorting to brooding, troubled heroes like a lot of characters on many other modern shows.
I think this episode started to raise some of the same questions that fans have: how did Peter know how to contact Kate, and can Peter be trusted 100%? I don't think the show is trying to say that the story Peter is telling is in any way false. I think what Peter explained last week is the real story. But they've left the window open just a touch for there to be some question as to what exactly is going on (is Kate working with Fowler or being kept by him, is someone else at the FBI involved, etc).
As for the "plot of the week" this week, sometimes I get the feeling that Peter and Neal run their own private investigations firm instead of working for the FBI. Sometimes they handle big crimes but sometimes you see these "clients" just come into the FBI office and ask them for help, like they're Thomas Magnum or Jim Rockford. I'm not complaining at all, it's just an observation. But I actually like how they're mixing the weekly plots with the overall "what's going on with Kate?" plot. A lot of shows would have entire episodes about Kate and then the following week have an episode that is just about whatever new case they're working on for that episode. Great to see them mixed together (and to have them mixed in such a definite way).
Though I'm not sure why Peter wouldn't assume that a bribe wouldn't be accompanied by a bug or a camera (especially after finding a bug in his house once again). And I'm not sure why the judge wouldn't assume that Peter would know the judge's chambers were bugged and would be lying about possibly wanting a bribe. The mortgage plot wasn't that interesting this week (the dad and his daughter seemed like an afterthought; bookends to the story and that's it), except for the fact that it was connected to Fowler.
As for Fowler: if Kate is working with him, wouldn't she have told him that she met with Peter and that he knows Fowler is the bad guy? And wouldn't that mean that Fowler wouldn't want to risk going into the FBI office every day? Or maybe that's the perfect cover. Peter and Neal can't really prove anything about Fowler or make a move on him, so he's going to be the bad guy who will be in their way all the time. I assume that Fowler will show up from D.C. here and there until the end of the season, when the whole thing will come to a head in some way.
More thoughts:
- The upside down signature-writing thing? Yeah, like everyone isn't going to try that.
- I love the Moz character, and especially enjoy the fact that he's now chummy with Elizabeth.
- Neal in the rain, wearing a hat and holding an umbrella. I thought we were going to get his version of "Singin' in the Rain," but that would turn this show into Glee.
- Speaking of music, this show needs a new theme song. The one it has now is not only too short, it's much too action-show generic.
- The endings of White Collar are starting to be some of my favorite parts of the show, because there's always one final quick scene that presents a little mystery or a little cliffhanger. I have no idea what the yellow flower means, but maybe we'll find out next week.
Comments
by Bryan, posted Jan 27th 2010
I didn't think it was as good as Hard Sell. But that's ok, it didn't have to be. I felt like this was a big setup episode that confirmed what we suspected at the end of season 1: Fowler's going to do anything he can to get at Peter and Neal. And in this episode in particular I started wondering...if Fowler thinks Neal has what he wants, why is he going after Peter? What does he have to gain by taking Burke out of the picture first? If anything, that would send Neal back to prison, since he'd be otherwise unsupervised, and then Kate would never get the music box.
I thought this episode still had all the stuff that makes White Collar great still: the charm, the suspense, Neal showing off new and interesting tricks that really sell his slick ex-conman persona. And I too loved seeing Moz and Elizabeth meet up. And the more I see Moz do, the more I'm convinced that at some point, someone is going to go after him to get at Neal.
Reply
by George, posted Jan 27th 2010
Hmmm... we're in the middle of the biggest recession in years, and there's been a resurgence in scripted shows about people who help "the little guy" take on corrupt corporations and evil rich white guys. There's a shock.
I don't buy Fowler as the Big Bad. I think it's misdirection.
Reply
by WhatI, posted Jan 27th 2010
Glad you mentioned Human Target - I really liked being able to sit and watch both shows back-to-back even though they are very different in many ways. As for this episode, it was good, but I thought it was interesting that we got a good, close-up view of Kate, after all the talk of her looking alot like Elizibeth - and yes she does! So, the sister thing might be in play, especially since it was so easy for Peter to get in touch with her, and it'll be interesting to see what comes of it.
Reply
by RT, posted Jan 27th 2010
One thing that bothered me was the little conversation that Neil and Peter had when they were entering the office after their weekend. When asked how his weekend was Peter said "Good New York won 4-3 in double overtime". If you are going to have a show based in New York at least be true to the city. I understand they dont want to pay royalties but there is no sport right now that would have a score of 4-3 that would be in double overtime. Just seemed odd they didnt just say NY won.
As for Elizabth and Kate looking alike they do resemble themselves very much. I am surprised Moz didnt say anything to Neil after meeting Elizabeth and if they do turn out to be sisters dont be surprised if this turns out bad for Peter. It might come out that he was actually "stalking" her because of her connection to Kate to catch Neil the first time.
by C.P. de Vera, posted Jan 28th 2010
I think the Flower from Kate at the end does indicate to Neil that Fowler is for sure the FBI agent that has her backed into the corner, and that he can trust Peter with their situation.
My "guess" is because when Moz asks him specifically, "Does that flower mean what I think it means?" he put emphasis on the word flower. If you rearrange the letters of Fowler's name, you can spell flower.
And to RT's comment about no sport having double overtime, it very well could happen if the Rangers, or Islanders for that matter, were in a playoff hockey game that went to double overtime. :)
Reply
by YouFaceTheTick, posted Jan 28th 2010
Yeah, these shows are fluffy. Dexter's goofy but still far darker than these cream-puff safe-at-8 shows. The Wire...there's depth. White Collar is Hardcastle and McCormick. Burn Notice... Equalizer or Sting Ray. And you know even then there were shows with more depth - Wiseguy's story arc is leaps beyond most everything from the 80s.
Reply
by Lisa, posted Jan 28th 2010
Kudos to Willie Garson who is magnificent as Moz, love him and love his part in this show. I liked this lighter episode. Loved how Elizabeth was able to rally Peter's people and how they all stepped up to support him. A good boss is worth it.
Reply
by decay, posted Jan 29th 2010
Did anyone notice that when Peter and Neal were setting up Fowler with their phone call about the bank, Fowler stopped listening right when they started talking about the music box? Almost like he didn't care or know anything about the box? Makes me think he is not the bad guy at all, just a mean guy out to get Peter and Neal.
Reply
by Steve, posted Jan 29th 2010
I think it was that fowler didn't want a conversation recorded that talked about the music box, thats why he was so quick to stop the recording
by decay, posted Jan 29th 2010
hmmm, good point, I didnt think about it that way, but you seem right. i will re watch it to see what his expression was, maybe he didnt want it to be recorded
Reply