(no subject)

[cblj_backup]

It's Wednesday, and I did in fact stay up to watch mah show last night, which means it's time for Sam's Three Things About White Collar!

Spoilers for Episode 3.03: FDA, DO YOU HEAR ME? FDA!

1. I spent most of this episode vastly confused about what was going on, but I kind of don't care, because we got Peter in Neal's dork glasses doing his I'M TALKING REALLY LOUD BECAUSE I'M EVIL routine, plus we got to meet Christie, plus we got Sara/Neal makeouts, plus Diana being awesome, plus El's coat. El's pretty coat. I want to pet it. She doesn't have to be in it, though that would be ok too. I think cutting some of this episode's lulz would have given the show more room for the plot to make sense, but the lulz were just so great. GREAT LULZ.

2. This went right over my head, but apparently Mozzie's remark on The Sheagle's Nest (which, "sheagles" in itself made me make a WTF face) is possibly a reference to Kehlsteinhaus or Adlerhorst, which were Hitler hangouts. So I don't even know what to make of that, I have to rewatch to get some context.

2a. Also he's a dreadful cockblock. Mozzie, what have they done to you?

3. When I was rewatching last week's episode I noticed a cut from Peter and the DC agent just as he was going to tell her what he wanted her to do, which made me suspect we're not supposed to know what he wanted her to do. My theory is that Peter told her that Neal would come after her, and asked her to let slip about the manifest. If Neal went after the manifest, which he did, that would be proof for Peter that Neal was associated with the theft. So now Peter knows Neal has access to the loot even if he didn't actually steal it. I think Peter's playing a long con on Neal, which is just fucking delicious, especially since I think it's a very long con that involves getting him or Mozzie to reveal the art's location, checkmating them with regards to selling the art, and then ruthlessly forcing Neal, again and again, to face the consequences of a potential betrayal -- so that Neal finally cracks and returns the art and still ends up safe. Which means Neal might be running a con, but Peter is running circles around him while he does it. If it's true, I've rarely seen such a well-executed game. Once more, if this weren't about Nazi loot, it would be 100% awesome, especially since I love that Peter isn't The Dumb Sidekick, it's one of my favourite things about White Collar.

As it is, the brilliance leaves something of a bitter aftertaste. And yes, I'm aware of the whole "it was stolen from museums" thing, and if you bring it up again I will cut you. You can see all the reasons why I will cut you in the comments to last week's Three Things. I'm not playing around, don't talk to me about the museum thing.

3a. Apparently wardrobe has decided to stop hating on Sara (that white suit, omg hot) and instead is channeling their rage into dreadful outfits for single-episode cast. My goodness that was some ugly clothing they put on the magazine editor.

Comments

[ak-alterego.livejournal.com]

I'll have to go back and watch, but there was a cut where Neal was talking to Diana and Christie and Mozzie was in the plant, and it looked like it was a cut from behind something, it looked like slitted window shades to me, but I could be way wrong because it was only a split second and I was trying to pay attention to the other stuff.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I think it was just a long shot of Mozzie, but I'll have to go back and check.

[minkrose]

I felt like I followed this episode pretty well, especially since we missed the first five minutes (which my parents taped; we watched them one minute at a time during commercial breaks). Then again, I worked in a doctor's office for 6 years, so a lot of the drug sample/trial/etc stuff was familiar to me. I found the drug scandal plot to be really interesting.

I was SO excited to have a Diana-centric episode. I love Diana, and I loved that Marsha Thompson got to use her real accent throughout the show (she is from Manchester, IRL). Hooray Christie! Hooray dinner party! I'm really looking forward to watching this episode again.

I was similarly confused by cock-blocking Mozzie. Why doesn't he just leave? I wonder if he's trying to prevent Neal from making attachments so they can move on more easily? But I don't recall him having a problem with Sara before.

[phrenolepsy.livejournal.com]

I wonder if he's trying to prevent Neal from making attachments so they can move on more easily?

I think he's afraid Neal will get attached to her the same way he did with Kate, which would screw over any plans Mozzie/Neal made. Sara isn't a con-artist like they are, and like Kate was.

[blue_ant]

I wonder if he's trying to prevent Neal from making attachments so they can move on more easily? But I don't recall him having a problem with Sara before.
My thought was that Mozzie's pissed that Neal's forming all these attachments. My sister suggested that Neal is also equally annoyed with himself about having attachments he'll have to destroy. But I think Mozzie also wants Neal all to himself (in a slashy or non-slashy way, whichever floats your boat).

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's Mozzie aiming to prevent attachments as much as it is a bit of sibling-rivalry type behaviour -- Neal was HIS FIRST, and Neal's place is HIS PLACE TOO, sort of, so he's not going to let some chick push him out.

He hasn't had a problem with Sara, per se, but he has been sort of mildly discouraging -- remember last season, he gave her that speech about not getting involved with a con man.

[scarletscarlet.livejournal.com]

I airpunched with glee over finally getting visual confirmation of the existence of Christie. Though, dammit, I'd hoped to be psychic and have her look a *little* like the way I drew her, but fuckit, she finally got screentime and she was *awesome*.

And all the teasy fun stuff going on was rather fab - and the coin, eehee.

I am with you on Sara's white suit, actually, particularly with the heels and how her legs were so loooooong when she sat on the table and later when she wrapped them around Neal. SARA'S LEGS FOREVER.

A long con would be fantastic. God, I hope so.

[darthrami.livejournal.com]

I think this was possibly the first episode in which I didn't HATE what Sara was wearing.

Mostly, my thoughts can be summed up with: DIANA YAYZ.



I am so cranky with what they're doing with Mozzie.

And I'm right there with you on number 3. I wondered about that with last week's episode, and when Peter gave that look when Neal was on the phone with Mozzie, I knew there's got to be something bigger going on. I say to the staff, a la Ru Paul, "DON'T FUCK IT UP."

[blue_ant]

The look Peter gave Neal was the best part of that whole episode, and I liked it all right enough. I also think that the problem with Mozzie is that he hates that Neal has ties (wasn't he anti-Kate?) and he wants to sell the art for $$ and get away as fast as possible. And so I think that he's behaving stupidly because he's unhappy with Neal, which could be their downfall. Though I also like the idea of Peter running a long con.

[darthrami.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of those things in re: Mozzie, and I confess they make me feel a little less cranky about it all. Not uncranky. But.

[blue_ant]

I think this is the only way I can reconcile the way Mozzie's behaving now versus how he was in the previous seasons. I'm probably projecting, but I want to believe that Mozzie's focus has always been getting Neal free of the feds and now that he's found a way (which is why he stole all that art in the first place), Neal's coming up with excuses (to Mozzie, whereas to Neal it's smart/safe tactics) not to leave, because he's (in theory) happy where he is. And I see it as something that's really pissing Mozzie off. I still don't like what they've done, but this makes me feel better. Sometimes.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Mozzie was only anti-Kate as long as Kate wasn't aware of who Neal was -- he seemed to get on fine with her once she was part of the gang. He has seemed to be vaguely anti-Sara though, so I'm not surprised he's annoyed that his access to Neal's place is now curtailed/unappreciated.

[blue_ant]

That's right, I couldn't remember for sure. I also feel like Mozzie's being awfully possessive of Neal and I can't decide if I think that's different from previous seasons or not.

[bluebombardier.livejournal.com]

I am so so so so glad that you have this sort of "open door" policy on your journal that allows people to come in and squee about and discuss things, because I made the mistake of reading the comments on White Collar's Facebook wall yesterday and lordy, they are not as concerned with the problematic use of Nazi loot as a plot device as they are with OMG LEZBEANS KISSING ON MY TV. :/

Thank you for being a safe space. ♥

[clemgo3165.livejournal.com]

A big echo to that from me. I did the same thing. Not only OMG Lesbians! But OMG How DARE YOU SUDDENLY Make Diana Gay!!! And I'LL NEVER WATCH MY FAVORITE TV SHOW AGAIN!

Umm, Diana's been known to be a lesbian since the first episode, and she's talked about Christie before...

[phantmchic.livejournal.com]

Seriously? WTF? Have they just been willfully ignoring every time Diana talked about her girlfriend since the moment Peter told Neal she was a lesbian in the pilot?

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Remember: it's ok to be gay as long as you don't expect equal rights or kiss in public.

[bluebombardier.livejournal.com]

I KNOW RIGHT? Someone suggested a drinking game. I was like, Dude we are so dead after thirty comments.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Yeah, apparently Jeff Eastin was getting shit on Twitter, too. :( I may not be thrilled with him right now, but I'm glad he gave Christie a role and gave them that onscreen kiss, especially since it was just a casual "meeting my girlfriend for dinner" kiss and not a big deal.

People are assholes.

[lusse-kun.livejournal.com]

I also agree with the theory that Peter is conning Neal, specially after watching that delicious smirk he gave Neal at the end of the episode after Mozzie told Neal that Melissa left earlier than planned. So.awesome.

[ladyyueh.livejournal.com]

Because I have to say it somewhere...

My reaction:

OMG! DIANA IS CINDERELLA. THE FBI TEAM ARE THE MICE. (El, of course, is the pretty bird.)

I agree about the plot vs. the lulz. Though, I did manage to follow the plot, it just wasn't as interesting as the rest of the awesome.

Sara was smoking, and I really loved the interaction she had with Neal in the morning. It was intimate and sexy even though they weren't touching. All that flirtatious banter and sexy eye-contact. That's what selling me right now. (Yes, they are managing to convert me.)

Your long-con theory is intriguing. *strokes chin*

[dreamwaffles.livejournal.com]

Add me to the Diana fanclub! :D My mom and I watch the show together, and she commented that she really wants to see more Jones and Diana. Never enough side characters!

I was in *stitches* over the birthday party. They really pulled in all the big guns for Diana. Because Diana was awesome! Though I will admit to slightly hoping that it was Neal who was going to be Helen's assistant, just because...there would also have been lulz there.

Except Neal is not so badass with the guns and all. Diana is yay. :D

Whenever Helen was in the shot, though, I was super puzzled about her necklace. I'm *still* puzzled about her necklace. WTF was that? Wardrobe? where be you?

Next week is apparently Mozzie, so...hopefully we will get...less stupid Mozzie. I agree that Peter running a long con would be amazing. I would be so happy if he did that...

[samjohnsson.livejournal.com]

3> Did you perchance note the look Peter shot Neal at the end, when Neal was on the phone with Moz? That was a "I know exactly what time it it and have a really good guess what the freak-out's about" look. If it's true, it's one heck of a con he's playing on Neal.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Peter totally knows what's going on. If we didn't know Moz swept Neal's place on a regular basis, I'd suspect him of bugging Neal. :D

[(Anonymous)]

OF COURSE Peter knows what's going on.
If you remember the first episode, he can read lips - doesn't wait for a translator to read the surveilance prison tape which is sans audio. He knows EXACLTY what Niel is talking about every time he (stupid, Niel!) takes a call from Moz in the office.



.... and if the writer's FORGOT Peter can do that and I'm wrong, I am going to personally open a can of whoop-ass on 'em.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I think the lip-reading from the pilot was more about reading body language -- I don't think he could actually tell what she was saying. But your point is well taken -- it's not like Peter doesn't know how to "read" Neal.

[(Anonymous)]

He literally reads it, with dialogue: "Adios, Niel, it's been real".
I remember it because the other men gave him very, VERY impressed, "Oh, YEAH, boss" looks when he did it.

In other news, apparently I abuse apostrohpes at 2 in the morning. So sorry. Usually better on my game.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

See, but what I'm saying is I think that's just him translating her body language -- I don't really think she'd actually say that. That's just him putting a spin on the kind of speech she's giving him. At least, that's my interpretation. I suppose we could try and lip-read what she's saying and see if that's really it...

[ataralas.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I had coherent thoughts about this episode, and especially meeting Christie. Christie seems pretty awesome.

But then there were like a million shots of Diana where she was wearing sleeveless outfits, and I lost my train of thought.

[elucreh.livejournal.com]

Wearing sleeveless outfits WHILE BEING A TOTAL BADASS WITH A SMART MOUTH, I would just like to mention. And drool over.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

The tatt really draws the eye to her arms, too, doesn't it?

[elucreh.livejournal.com]

I had the same thought about the long con, actually! It was so astolat that it made me shiver with happy anticipation. (Except? There was a less disgusting bait for Neal in her story. Sigh.)


SO MANY LULZ AND GOOD COATS. I was overjoyed.

[mint-green.livejournal.com]

Sam, I am finally caught up with THREE SEASONS OF WHITE COLLAR and it is all your fault. Exquisite actually makes sense now!

I'm going to leave all the plot-discussion to everyone else and focus on SPACE COWBOY PARTY! I want an Elizabeth-planned Cowboys in Space party.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I hope you're right about #3! I want Neal to give back the art, though I'd rather he did so voluntarily. Still, Neal seems to show real reluctance to do anything final about it. He took the first chance he got to bail on Mozzie's plan. I'm still very unhappy about the Nazi art myself. Nazi art is a huge deal even to museums; some of the notable ones in the US researched the provenance of art acquired during or after WWII, even though it might lead to them losing the art. It's the right thing to do.

I love Peter being smart. I saw an ad for White Collar before the season began saying, "Choose sides." I've chosen. If only one of them can win, I want Peter to win. (I really want Neal to find a way out and do the right thing, though: return the art without implicating himself and Mozzie, but get it back to the right people.)

And OOH! OOH! about the "Sheagles" thing! I tripped all over that! Then my Brilliant Husband pointed out that FBI badges have an eagle on them. It's not "sheagles' nest" but "sheagle's nest": Diana is a "she-eagle" because she has an FBI eagle badge. I don't think it has anything to do with Nazis; it's just Mozzie on about the badge.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I really want that eagle explanation to be true, even as I'm skeptical. HOW BAD I WANT IT TO BE TRUE.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Why are you skeptical? It's not even a tortured explanation; Brilliant Husband came up with it immediately and paused the TiVo in the middle of the scene to tell me. (I looked up the badge myself, and then I was convinced.)

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

It's not tortured, no, but given how big a role the Nazis have played in the show to date, the phrase "eagle's nest" is very likely to have entered the show's creative consciousness somewhere. Especially since "adlerhorst" is another name for Eagle's Nest....

[debitha.livejournal.com]

SAM, I AM SO FAR BEHIIIIIINNNNDDD.

"I think Peter's playing a long con on Neal..." I concur. That little exchange of glances at the end? Gauntlet, thrown. Actually, I guess Neal already threw the gauntlet, so maybe more like, challenge accepted.

And yes, Sara's white suit = hot. Hello, legs.