White Collar

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White Collar is a USA Network crime comedy-drama television series created by Jeff Eastin, starring Matt Bomer as con-man Neal Caffrey and Tim DeKay as Special Agent Peter Burke. It premiered on October 23, 2009. White Collar concluded its Friday episodes on December 4 and is on a brief hiatus before returning on Tuesday evenings, beginning January 19, 2010.^[1] On December 18, 2009 showrunner Jeff Eastin posted on Twitter that season two of White Collar is official, but it isn't known yet how many episodes were ordered.^[2][3]

Overview

Neal Caffrey is a con-man who was captured after a three-year game of cat-and-mouse. With three months left while serving a four-year sentence, he escapes from a maximum security federal prison to find Kate, his ex-girlfriend. Peter Burke, the FBI agent who captured Caffrey, catches him again. This time, Caffrey gives Burke information about evidence in another case; however, this information comes with a price: Burke must have a meeting with Caffrey. At this meeting, Caffrey proposes a deal: he will help Burke catch other criminals as part of a work-release program. Burke agrees, after some hesitation. Within a day of being released from prison, Caffrey already lives in one of the most expensive houses in Manhattan, after persuading an elderly widow to rent him her guest room. After catching the elusive Dutchman, Caffrey has proven to Burke that he will help him, and that he will not try to escape again. However, at the same time, Caffrey is still looking for Kate, whom he believes is in trouble.

Characters

Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer):^[4] Neal Caffrey is a skilled forger and thief who was imprisoned after being captured by FBI Agent Peter Burke. After his girlfriend visits him in jail and ends their relationship, Neal escapes from prison in order to find her, but Peter quickly recaptures him in his now-empty apartment. Back in prison, Neal proposes he become an FBI informant, but Peter declines, then changes his mind, leading to Neal's release with an ankle bracelet monitoring his movements. Now free on a limited basis, Neal has one chance to prove himself to the FBI or return to prison. Neal's charm and street-smarts soon gain him both the guest room in a wealthy woman's home, and a consulting position with the FBI, working with Peter to catch white-collar criminals. However, Neal also uses his new position with the FBI to search for Kate, who he believes is in trouble. He must now follow a series of clues that leads him to believe she is being held by someone who wants something he has. The only clue Neal has on the man's identity is a picture of the his right hand with a distinctive ring on the pinky finger, holding onto Kate's shoulder.

Special Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay):^[5] Agent Peter Burke is brilliant at what he does, due to his knack for getting into the criminal mind. He caught Neal Caffrey, and is the only one to have ever accomplished this feat. In the pilot, when Caffrey escapes with three months left on his sentence, Burke knows that something happened. He apprehends Caffrey and, in return for Caffrey helping him on a difficult case, he later has him released to assist him in catching white-collar criminals. Peter must keep Neal on a short leash as well as making sure Neal doesn't slip to his old ways.

Elizabeth Burke (Tiffani Thiessen):^[6] An event planner and the wife of Peter Burke. She is supportive and understanding of his work and long hours away. An intelligent woman herself, Elizabeth is able to discuss Peter's cases with him, and at times makes a meaningful contribution to them. She has on occasion, been shown to be supportive of Neal, and willing to listen to his ideas.

Mozzie (Willie Garson):^[7] A con-man himself, Mozzie is Neal's friend, informant and confidante. He provides a variety of help to Neal, including supplying information, analyzing evidence and impersonating various law enforcement agents. Mozzie is the only other person who knows the whole story of Kate's kidnapping, and the clues leading to her. He is also Neal's lawyer. He is known for his sarcastic humor as well as a running gag at being bad at impersonating law enforcement.

Special Agent Lauren Cruz (Natalie Morales):^[8] A junior agent transferred to Peter's team, she made a study of Neal while a student at Quantico.

Supporting Characters

Kate Moreau (Alexandra Daddario): Neal's girlfriend, who may have been kidnapped by a mysterious man, identifiable only by his ring, shortly before Neal was to be released from prison. Kate has left a series of cryptic clues to her whereabouts, which Neal must decode and follow. Now in contact with Neal, she continues to provide cryptic clues, but may not be in as much danger as Neal believes.

Special Agent Clinton Jones (Sharif Atkins): An FBI agent working with Peter.

Special Agent Reese Hughes (James Rebhorn): Peter's boss at the FBI, who is less than impressed with Neal.

June (Diahann Carroll): An elderly woman who allows Neal to stay at her house.

Episodes

Reception

The New York Times praised the series saying the pilot was "a winsome, quick-paced caper that is part Catch Me if You Can, part Shampoo." Overall saying "White Collar is a witty advertisement for the value of knowing, well, everything — and an object lesson, perhaps, in the benefits of moving on."^[9] USA Network spent US$10 million promoting the show.^[10]

The Boston Globe TV critic Mathew Gilbert thinks he overpraised White Collar and writes^[11]

But after the nicely done pilot, “White Collar’’ lost its charm. The crime plots, in particular, failed to hold any mystery or offer any satisfying turns. The fall finale did forward an interesting twist regarding the main characters, though, so improvement is still possible.

— Mathew Gilbert ,  The Boston Globe

References

External links

• Official Website
• White Collar at the Internet Movie Database