I need more icons, I think. This one isn't even *remotely* appropriate.

[solaciolum]

Peter: "We all have our weaknesses. Kate's yours."

What went really obviously unsaid there was "And you're mine." Granted, later in the episode the implication is that Elizabeth is to Peter as Kate is to Neal, but I don't think that negates the fact that Peter's relationship with Neal is as meaningful to him as his relationship with Elizabeth.

It's really, really good for me that Peter knows Neal so well, and keeps tabs on him so thoroughly- not only does it allow for adorable hilarity like the opening scene with the coffee, but also because it's a reminder that yes, Peter is very good at what he does- and what he does, in addition to keeping track of Neal, is being a good FBI agent. Objectively, Peter's stalker-ish tendencies are horrifying- the show presents his behavior while courting Elizabeth as cute, which is deeply problematic- but at least in Neal's case there's the justification that he's doing it because it's his job. I...honestly can't decide if that makes it better or worse.

(How awesome was the coffee scene, though? So awesome. The team! Being teamlike! So good.)

It does make me wonder if Peter knew Elizabeth in the early years of their relationship as well as he knows Neal now. (Where did I put the White Collar Valentine's fic with Peter getting Elizabeth the waffle iron? >_< EDIT: Found it! Four Cups of Tea and a Waffle Iron.) I imagine Elizabeth never made it necessary for Peter to know her that well, not the way Neal has- it's not like Elizabeth is a reformed jewel thief that Peter caught ten years ago and kept having to recapture or anything. (...in another universe, I'm sure I wrote that fic.)

I do not know why Neal has to sculpt shirtless, but I certainly approve! Sadly, he apparently can't drink shirtless wine with Alex. *siiiiigh* I'm not really sure how I feel about Alex, in general; it seems like she's going to become a replacement for Kate- only with, you know, characterization. A personality. Screentime. But she doesn't play well with Peter, and I really don't feel any interest in watching Neal navigate another love interest who is antagonistic towards Peter, even if this one actually gets a personality.

Fowler going after Elizabeth is awful on so many levels, but Elizabeth's righteous ire is lovely, and Fowler's bloody, self-satisfied grin is just begging to be made into an icon. I just love a villain that I can freely hate, and Fowler is a shamelessly despicable character.

Diana! OMG. Oh, White Collar, thank you. Thank you so much for bringing back the awesome that is Diana. I hope she continues making appearances in the second season. That Peter engenders such loyalty in his subordinates is remarkable- and what's more remarkable is that I actually believe it. Peter really does seem like the sort of man who would be a good leader- disarmingly charismatic and sincere.

Why would Alex wait until the last minute to tell Neal which safe he was dealing with? Just- why would you do that? Wouldn't you want your safecracker going in as prepared as possible? *grumble* Not that I'm complaining about the inclusion of some straight-up heist shennanigans, of course. There's nothing quite like a good heist, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole Italian consulate scene, even if I kind of want to smack Neal when he wastes time admiring the music box. I agree with Mozzie- if Neal is behaving so unprofessionally, he either had the devil's own luck in his career, or he's lost his edge.

Neal's response to Peter asking if they're on the same side feels a lot like they're in a "my enemy's enemy is my friend" situation. I feel like Peter should be angrier at Neal for this- as much as Neal thought Peter had broken his trust at the mid-way point of the season, Neal actually broke Peter's trust here, in working with Fowler. And now they're teaming up together to take down Fowler, but how can Peter really trust Neal after this?

"It's above my paygrade." If that means what I think it means- that there are all sorts of wacky conspiracies and secret societies driving the overarching plot- I will be so pleased. I love little else like I love wacky conspiracies.

Oh thank god, Diana didn't get shot. I might have had to break up with this show for that- bringing back an awesome lesbian woman of color only to kill her? That's a firing offense. And how sad is it that I immediately expected her to die, and that I feel so grateful that she didn't? *sigh*

Also, "I'm not losing him again." Oh, man, Peter. Peter. It must hurt you so much to know that Neal loves Kate more than he loves you. "I'm here as your friend." *wibble* "You're the only one who could convince me not to go." *double wibble* This is the first real indication that Neal acknowledges how much Peter cares about him, and how much Peter means to him. <3 Up until this point, I'm not sure I was convinced that Neal really noticed or cared how often Peter went to bat for him, but now it seems like he has been paying attention.

I do think Neal has a very good point- the life he leads now, as an FBI stooge, is not his life. He is an internationally renown art thief, and as much as he may enjoy the thrill of the chase from the other side, every time he has to do something criminal- break a safe, run a con, forge a painting- he leaps right back into it. Eventually, his tenure as Peter's leashed criminal will be up- what's he going to do then, go into security consulting? The FBI isn't going to keep him.

Okay, seriously? All that drama over Kate, all that nonsense, just for her to explode? The whole final episode revolves around Neal pulling this heist so he can get her back, and we don't even get a conversation with her? We don't get to see her and Neal reunite? We just get a glimpse of her through a plane window and then an explosion? Ugh. I'm so upset by this- it's such a waste. Ten thousand points off, White Collar; that was practically a textbook refrigerating. You may regain them if it turns out that she didn't explode, and it was staged so she wouldn't have to shoot Neal in the back of the head once the plane achieved liftoff, because she's been the one running the show all along. It'll be minus another ten thousand if Neal hooks up with Alex within the first three episodes of the second season and Kate doesn't get mentioned again.


In closing, I would like to motion for some shirtless Peter to balance out all the shirtless Neal. And more Jones, Cruz, June, and Diana.

Comments

[bientot]

(feel free to use this icon when others don't work - it's a movement!)

I would like to motion for some shirtless Peter to balance out all the shirtless Neal.

Hear, hear!! What I've been saying ever since Tuesday - it's only happened ONCE and that's not even remotely fair.

(Friending you now!)

[solaciolum]

(Haha, that is an excellent icon. *yoinks*)

Welcome! Yes, there definitely needs to be some equal opportunity shirtlessness/fanservice- I mean, I'm not objecting to all the shirtless Neal, but a little diversity is always a good thing. :)

[yarngeek]

I suppose it would be greedy to ask for, say, a sauna scene?

o.o

But I'll settle for parity in nudity. Maybe some Peter-in-pajamas, cause we keep getting Neal's jammies?

[solaciolum]

I second the motion for sauna scenes! Especially if other members of the cast get to join in, too.

And oooh, Peter-in-pajamas. While he seems more like a boxers-and-t-shirt kind of guy, I imagine El has bought him a few pairs of extremely nice flannel jammies over the years that he wears when it's cold. Most of these are tasteful pinstripes or solid colors, but there's one pair of ultra soft, high end pajamas covered in baby ducks (they came from the same store she got those socks in the episode with the diminutive sock thief) that Peter will never admit are his favorite- but they're so much softer than anything else in his closet, and El is always more inclined to cuddle or pet him when he wears them. *is now thinking about this waaaaay too much*