White Collar Fixation

White Collar Fanfic Rec: The Never We've Been Told Before

2012-02-12T12:38:00.001-05:00

It was a throwaway line, wasn't it? Diana saying in Pulling Strings that she didn't get to go to her prom?

Sometimes the best fics are hung off just such fleeting moments, and frith_in_thorns' recent entry, "The Never We've Been Told Before" is just such an example.

The story details a young Diana Berrigan's experiences in High School as she comes to terms with her homosexuality, first love, and yes, homophobia. It's a touching and bittersweet tale, that offers a glimpse into what may have shaped the strong woman Diana eventually becomes, and one that brought a tear to my eye (though if you know me, you know how easy that is!). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Rated PG, and if you have sensitivities about homophobia, I will warn about that.

Three Clips from Stealing Home!

2012-02-11T16:08:00.000-05:00

Casual Fridays: Willie, Tim and Matt Lose the Suits

2012-02-10T18:06:00.000-05:00

Willie Garson, Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer after recording commentary on White Collar Season 3

Jeff Eastin tweeted this picture a few days ago; I've been saving it for Casual Friday!

Rabid Squee - Pulling Strings

2012-02-09T13:15:00.001-05:00

Where DID the prop people find
this nightmare-inducing thing?

I dunno if I can squee this week, fellow Collars. This week’s ep was just so… creepy.

Between El’s creepy dad creepily staring at Peter (like he's a zombie and he'd like to feast on Peter's frontal lobe), that creepy-ass doll (with gesturing hand!), and Kramer’s creepy obsession with Neal (WTF is up with that?), I almost had to shield my eyes.

Awww… who am I kidding? They’d have to feature some pretty disturbing stuff for me not to find something to squee about on White Collar. Like clowns!

Let’s begin!

Whee! Diana and Christie are gettin’ hitched! I love how casually they fit that detail in, and I have admired the show for this from the start. Diana’s sexuality is an important aspect of her life, to be sure, but the show treats it as just that – an aspect of her life. Yes, two gay characters are getting married on the show, and it’s not An Event With An Important Message. It gets as much play as any other secondary characters getting married would. This makes me happy.

Is it too much to ask of the production to show us a glimpse of the bachelor party that Neal's going to throw his new bestie, Diana?

Diana and Sara looking stunning as usual.

So pretty! Happy to see Sara Ellis’ return to the plotline, but man – the clothes they put on her (and Diana) were absolutely stunning! I want her as my own personal Barbie Doll.

Yay, Agent Jones! And June! Am I the only one who’s missed these two vital supporting players in the mix the last few weeks? I know we got shorted some Peter Burke this week, but I am here to tell you I didn’t mind it as much if we are given such great performances by the supporters.

Diana and Neal's friendship continues to develop, and that scene in the van was very affecting and touching. Perhaps another side effect of less Peter, but welcome nonetheless. These two snipe at each other like a pair of spoiled siblings, and I love it. Let’s see if Kramer can test Diana’s loyalty to her big bro, eh?

Moz = win! I have to pause a bit to enjoy how integrated into the Burkes’ lives Moz has become. Need help of a sneaky nature? Who’s Peter call first? Next time he scolds Moz or Neal for their schemes, Moz needs to hold up his coming through on El’s birthday prezzie as a get-out-of-jail-free card.

A sweater only Bill Cosby could love.

Befuddled!Peter is adorable! And the sweater – it matches the dog’s! Aw, man, just another bit of character development that the show gets to revel in now that it’s comfortably in a third season. Although all I could think about is the fact that the show is filmed in the summer, and poor Tim must have been roasting alive in that multicolored monstrosity.

Agent Wesley has a face! Yay, another minor character to abuse in fanfic.

Quotes of the Week:

“Afraid I’ll crash the Sears family portrait?”

HA! You said it, Neal - that sweater is hideous. But Peter looks good in khakis, so I’ll consider it a push.

“Sure thing, Dr. Huxtable.”

CLASSIC! I was thinking the same thing.

Diana: “You going to intervene?”

Sara: “No, I’m only concerned with one instrument here, not watching them swing theirs.”

*Snort* Anyone else shoot milk out of their nose at that line? I wasn’t even drinking anything!

OK, Collars- what were you squeeing about this week?

Ben Ryan, Alias The Dentist of Detroit

2012-02-08T22:47:00.001-05:00

In Season 1, the graphics department couldn't spell Neal's name right (in Free Fall, the shredded documents that Neal pasted together called him "Caffery"). In Season 2, we discovered that Neal stole $16 BILLION in art and other valuables (the Copycat Caffrey syllabus).

Now, we learn that Ben Ryan, the bad guy from Neighborhood Watch, was actually the Dentist of Detroit. I can't help but chuckle, since the real "Dentist" is about two feet shorter and has a lot less hair.

Now they're just messing with us. Really.

Picture of the Day

2012-02-08T18:13:00.002-05:00

Jones (Sharif Atkins) and Neal (Matt Bomer) planning Diana's bachelor party in Pulling Strings.

Pulling Strings: First Thoughts (Spoilers Ahead!)

2012-02-08T00:07:00.011-05:00

Neal has a corsage for Diana

Pulling Strings brings back Sara and Kramer, gives us a freshly-engaged Diana, and introduces Elizabeth’s parents. That should have been a recipe for brilliance. But the episode never quite lives up to its potential—largely because El’s mother and father never feel like real characters.

Another problem may be Peter’s unusually small part. Writer @Powell_Channing tweeted the reason: “Tim [DeKay] was prepping to direct the next episode and [therefore] had to have a reduced role in this one.” Since the next episode is the one shot at the new Yankee Stadium, I’ll forgive the show. (I have been waiting and waiting for the baseball ep!)

Meanwhile, there are some lovely moments here. Peter and Neal seem to be back in step with each other. Their bromance may not be unscathed, but it’s well on the mend. Neal even raises the possibility of sticking with the FBI as a paid consultant if he receives his freedom. He discusses this with Mozzie, not Peter, but that’s still progress.

Unfortunately, Neal implies that he might supplement his future income from the Bureau by unspecified means with Moz—so Peter might still have some work to do when it comes to reforming his boy.

Neal also does his utmost to meet Peter’s in-laws, teasing his partner along the way. And he recognizes Peter’s ploy to bring him back together with Sara.

That ploy—pairing Neal with Sara for a case—brings up some issues for the exes even while it reignites the spark between them. Sara isn’t over the fact that Neal hid the treasure, even if she knows that Peter is. Neal, meanwhile, is less than thrilled to discover that Sara once dated and just rebounded with her boss, who happens to be the man they’re investigating. He turns out to be more dangerous than expected, although Neal bests the guy when it comes to sparring, verbally or otherwise. (Well, he may have had some help from Sara and Diana for the “otherwise” part.)

The best part of the episode centered on Diana’s engagement to Christie. Now that New York has legalized gay marriage, Christie wants to tie the knot. Peter, Jones and Neal are all thrilled for Diana—but she’s discombobulated. As she confides to Neal, she never imagined herself being able to marry, and she hasn’t adjusted to the idea yet. (Neal probably never imagined the possibility of himself free and working for the FBI; an idea he’s no doubt still adjusting to.) It’s a poignant and realistic moment between the two, and one that cements their friendship.

Finally there’s Kramer. Sometimes I think he exists solely to make my stomach roil with concern for Neal. Despite the agent’s fake affability, he’s searching for damning evidence against Neal for the commutation hearing. True, I don’t want Neal to go off-anklet yet. I’d much rather see him remain in Peter’s custody for another season or two. But I still despise Kramer, whose plans may be larger than merely seeing that Neal serves out his sentence with Peter.

What did you think, Collars? What worked or didn’t work for you about this episode? Which scenes were your favorites? And are you looking forward to the baseball ep as much as I am?

Two More Clips from Pulling Strings!

2012-02-07T19:40:00.001-05:00

And one more here on The Hollywood Reporter. Thank you so much to the Anonymous readers who pointed these out!

Back to Work Mondays: Peter and Neal Suit Up

2012-02-06T17:04:00.003-05:00

How about that tense scene from Countdown?

GO GIANTS!

2012-02-05T13:33:00.003-05:00

Peter and El will be rooting for Eli!

Neal: Big plans for the weekend?
Peter: You know, I’ve got to fix the sink, catch a game.
Neal: With Elizabeth?
Peter: Yeah. She’s into it. How cool is that? She likes to watch the Giants.
Neal: Uh-huh. Even on your anniversary?

~From the Pilot episode of White Collar

There you have it: canonical proof that Peter and Elizabeth root for the Giants. No disrespect intended for fans of the Patriots--a scary good team--but since White Collar is a New York-based show, and since the writers of this blog are from the greater New York City area, White Collar Fixation is unabashedly cheering for the Giants!

Matt in the Celebrity Beach Bowl

2012-02-05T13:12:00.000-05:00

MattBomerFan.com has created a video of the highlights from Matt Bomer's participation in the Celebrity Beach Bowl in Indianapolis (see above). The site also has a number of stills from the game, so head on over to see more Matt!

Pulling Strings: Preview Clips One & Two

2012-02-04T11:05:00.000-05:00

Rabid Squee - Neighborhood Watch

2012-02-03T14:08:00.000-05:00

Ruh-roh, Raggy!

Hold on a minute… let me check my Program Guide… did I forget to DVR White Collar this week, and instead catch an episode of Scooby Doo?

Honestly, if the last two weeks’ episodes didn’t put you in mind of a typical outing for the Scooby Gang, I don’t know what else would. Not that I didn’t love them, mind you, because these two eps have been the light touch that will be needed as we ease into the final three episodes leading up to the finale to end all finales, I think.

So I guess my point is that I really enjoyed the caper on this week’s episode, but I can’t be the only one that half expected Joe Manganiello to moan, “those meddling kids” at the end of it all.

This week’s Squee-able moments:

You can’t stop Elizabeth Burke! This episode was all about her, and rightfully so. I enjoyed seeing Tiffani Thiessen given the chance to shine more than usual, and this was a great vehicle for that. First off, I loved that she didn’t want Peter to think she’s paranoid, but also that Peter’s relieved to see it’s typical for FBI agents’ loved ones to be this paranoid (Jones and Diana’s knowing looks were priceless). They are just the cutest, sexiest couple on television today – I love when we get scenes of them together.

But then we got Operation Dinner Roll, and El bringing in a support team of conmen to help her prove she’s right about her hinky neighbors. This whole sequence, though kind of clichéd, was still highly enjoyable. First of all: LOLs aplenty because Moz named their little caper. Second, I love to see El being “corrupted” by her friends Neal and Moz. And she picked her first lock! Neal looked so proud. And then Moz accuses her of being a bad influence – these are just stellar examples of what this show does right – the interactions among the characters, and the little developments that make them human.

The Wink.

Seeing El all flouncy and flailing and thinking she can pretend she’s an FBI agent was adorable in the extreme, though pretty ill-advised. “Don’t get any funny ideas!” she says to that Connor dude, like all she knows about law enforcement she picked up on old eps of Starsky and Hutch or Mannix.

But the best part of Operation Dinner Roll may have been Peter’s little frustrated moan when the Scoobies finally convince him to check Ryan out. He’s outnumbered and he knows it!

Neal and Moz arguing like an old married couple. Ha! First, the sequence outside the Ryans’ house:

Neal “I don’t know what that means!”

Moz: “It means to hide, obviously.”

Willie Garson’s delivery of that line alone ought to earn him an Emmy nomination. And awww – Neal is bordering on nostalgic on their stakeout.

Clever bit of Ford product placement, yes?

Neal in jeans – THANK YOU

Joe Manganiello and Matt Bomer, looking good in their jeans.

And finally, can someone explain Peter’s Viking reference for me? Was it just the looting and pillaging thing? Because he… recovers the loot?

Quotes of the week:

“Quin-what?”

Heh. But seriously, Rebecca's dinner looked gag-inducing. Who grills tofu without anything flavoring it? Blech!

“Peter gets apple juice.”

Double-heh. I love El taking care of her accomplices! Though I mean, technically, Croque Monsieur does not lend itself well to a picnic… just sayin’.

“Even when Neal’s not around, I end up eating dinner with grand larcenists.”

I can’t even express how much I loved this line.

But by far, the line of the night had to be this exchange:

Peter: “That’s a bright eyeshadow. What would you call that?”

Neal: “Kingfisher. It’s in the turquoise family.”

Peter: “Made yourself right at home at the Stardust.”
Neal: “When you do a rubbing at a strip club, your options are limited.”

Peter: “Oh, I’m tempted to make a rubbing-at-a-strip-club joke.”

Neal: “Floated it right across the plate for you.”

Peter: “You did.”

Neal: “I’m glad you’re above it.”

Peter : “I am.”

I wish you weren’t, Peter.

How about you, Collars – what were your fave moments this week?

Picture of the Day: The Baseball Cap

2012-02-02T15:08:00.001-05:00

Fedora, baseball cap--when it comes to Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), it just doesn't matter.

Love this cap of real life pals Joe Manganiello and Matt Bomer

Picture of the Day

2012-02-01T17:39:00.000-05:00

Peter (Tim DeKay) and Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) at the end of Neighborhood Watch

First Thoughts on Neighborhood Watch (Spoilers Ahead!)

2012-02-01T00:42:00.006-05:00

Elizabeth, Neal and Mozzie try to explain "Operation Dinner Roll" to Peter

When Elizabeth is convinced that her new neighbors are plotting a robbery, she proves to be almost as impulsive as Neal. She does the right thing first by alerting Peter, but when the evidence doesn’t pan out, she turns to someone who will believe her on any terms: Mozzie. They’re soon putting their heads together. Neal—yes, Neal—serves as the voice of reason, but he can’t help but fall in with Elizabeth either. So the three of them scheme to expose the crooks.

Their plan (Operation Dinner Roll) leads to my favorite scene in the episode: Neal goes on a stakeout with Mozzie. The pair sit right outside the neighbors’ house to keep an eye on things. Neal wants it to be exactly like his stakeouts with Peter—right down to the baseball game on the radio and Peter’s stories about past busts! When Moz points out that if his sentence gets commuted, he won’t have to worry about anymore stakeouts, it’s clear that Neal will miss spending long nights sitting in a car with Peter, deviled ham and all. Moz may be disgusted by this display of nostalgia, but it gives Neal food for thought about his future.

Elizabeth plays her part by dragging Peter to dinner with the new neighbors, hoping he’ll see something compromising. (She just doesn't mention their real purpose there.) When she proves too zealous for her own good, she ends up locked alone in an upstairs room. Neal tries to help her from the outside. He can’t get through the bars on the window, but he can walk her through picking the lock:

Elizabeth: “I can’t pick a lock!”
Neal: “It looks like a Birmingham, okay? It’s perfect for a beginner.”

Eventually Peter gets suspicious and comes to the rescue. He orders Neal to wait for him at home and gets Elizabeth out of the neighbors’ house. Then, in a brilliant nod to All In, we see him standing in his living room, glaring down at the sofa, ready to pass judgment again. But this time, Neal isn’t awaiting his wrath alone. Elizabeth and Mozzie are sitting right there beside him, looking like they’d rather not explain why they used Peter as their patsy.

Of course, Peter and Neal get to do some scheming of their own to take down the bad guys, leading to this exchange:

Neal: “Then I show up at the parole office as a fellow ex-con struggling to stay on the straight and narrow.”
Peter: “A role you were born to play.”

Meanwhile, this episode lets us see more of Moz’s chaste, chivalrous crush on Mrs. Suit, and the affection she holds for him in return. It also takes Elizabeth’s recent ordeal with Keller seriously; in fact, Elizabeth’s motivation is largely to prove to Peter that Keller hasn’t left her paranoid. And it emphasizes the strong, playfully sexy marriage between Peter and Elizabeth—although Neal is offended to see El get away with her shenanigans thanks to “spousal immunity.” (Apparently Neal has “pet convict immunity,” so he shouldn’t be jealous!)

Final Verdict on Neighborhood Watch? Lots of enjoyable moments, and it was fun to see Matt Bomer’s real life pal Joe Manganiello (of True Blood fame) playing the bad guy. Yet I don’t think this episode stands with the best of White Collar. Perhaps Elizabeth was just too gung-ho about proving her lack of paranoia?

But what did you think, Collars? Which scenes grabbed you—and how would you rate the episode over all?

Joe Manganiello & Matt Bomer

2012-01-31T18:21:00.001-05:00

Joe Manganiello & Matt Bomer

Check out this E! Online article--and the videos of the two pals that go with it. And, of course, we can look forward to seeing both men together on White Collar tonight . . .

Back to Work Mondays: Peter and Neal Suit Up

2012-01-30T16:34:00.001-05:00

In Upper West Side Story, Peter and Neal stroll outside 'Manhattan Prep,' the real life Union Theological Seminary.

Fic Rec: Love is as Rich as the Sea

2012-01-29T16:06:00.002-05:00

Elrhiarhodan has given us a gorgeous, magical story that will leave you breathless and enchanted:

Neal Caffrey is an ancient Selkie (a seal who can become a human) who has lost his skin, Peter has some very special talents, and Elizabeth is as awesome as she is in canon. Set against the background of Season Three (from On Guard to Countdown), Neal struggles against his need to find the other half of himself and the desire to stay with those he loves.

The story is complimented by the lovely cover art and pictures of Weaslett. You can check out her Live Journal for more of her work!

Love is as Rich as the Sea is a pre-OT3 story (that is, pre-Peter/Elizabeth/Neal) that doesn't shy away from violence, so please check the warnings. (It would probably earn an R rating.) It's also an engrossing, addicting tale that will keep you scrolling down--enjoy!

Poll Results:

2012-01-28T19:36:00.003-05:00

Neal's anklet.

We posed the question here: Do you want to see Neal set loose without the anklet? Will you enjoy the twist his freedom may bring to his relationship with Peter?

You took our possible responses and ran with them: we had 130 votes! Thank you so much for participating in this poll--and for all the thoughtful and insightful comments.

Full disclosure: I want Neal to keep the anklet for a couple more seasons! Then I'll be ready to see the change in dynamics when he earns his freedom.

Okay, here are our results:

I want to see Neal anklet free now.
37 (28%)

Neal should keep the anklet for a couple more seasons.
66 (50%)

The anklet should stay on for the length of the show.
27 (20%)

Other--please explain in the comments.
0 (0%)

Votes so far: 130
Poll closed

Casual Fridays: Peter loses the suit

2012-01-27T16:48:00.001-05:00

Peter (Tim DeKay) talking to El about how best to raise Neal in Upper West Side Story.

Matt Bomer to Guest Star on Glee!

2012-01-27T16:26:00.002-05:00

Matt Bomer

Oooh, I'm looking forward to this episode. Jeff Eastin tweeted a link to this Hollywood Reporter article, which has all the details. Enjoy!

Neighborhood Watch Clips!

2012-01-27T07:41:00.000-05:00

Three more under the cut . . .

Rabid Squee: Upper West Side Story

2012-01-26T09:47:00.004-05:00

Show of hands...who's hot for teacher?

What was not to squee about with this week’s episode of White Collar? It was 31 Flavors of awesome, yes?

Let’s not dawdle:

Evan is adorable. Best new character of this young half-season by a long shot, and who says they can’t do young characters effectively (I’m looking at you, Scott Free)? Graham Phillips, formerly known to me only as “that kid from The Good Wife” is absolutely winning in this role – all teen earnestness as he seeks out justice.

Aww..Moz and Neal Cyrano-ing for young Evan. And if you’re going to take fashion advice, young man, you could do worse than Neal Caffrey. Moz writing the sonnet and Neal giving the kid game is just too adorable. “I just did the equivalent of the hoisting of the boombox.” That you did, Moz. Makes me think he and Neal would make a couple of great dads someday.

Love the return of the bromance, and the banter and light-heartedness of seasons gone by. Welcome, old friend.

Peter is torn, yes? Peter’s being annoyed at Neal’s actions seems a bit much to me at first (and still), because isn’t this the kind of thing you keep Neal Caffrey around for? Should he be surprised? It’s this type of out-of-the-box thinking that helped them break cases in Power Play, Front Man, Copycat Caffrey, Payback, and oh – almost every other episode. I do understand Peter’s impatience with Neal here, don’t get me wrong, and I know they’ve just been through a lot. But the boy can’t help it, Peter! If you want impulse control, take Diana with you next time.

But Peter’s still obviously fond of Neal, isn’t he? His line when he’s discussing “Peter, Jr.” with Woods is telling: “I want to give him the best shot at life – I know it’s going to cost me.” D’awwww!

A great episode for Neal, too. The little glimpses of how much Neal regrets his actions may be the first time we’ve actually seen that, I think (if not, please remind me in the comments). His speech to Chloe at the end (“This could be an opportunity – a chance to start over. Maybe live the life you really want. I got that chance and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”) pulled at the heartstrings, and if ever I believed he never lies to Peter, it’s been shown in spades in this episode.

Diana is of the win. That’s all I have to say. Is it too early to call for another Diana-centric episode?

And we learn a new word – amanuensis

All the girlies say he's pretty fly...for an old guy

The funny kept coming. All the teenage girls making eyes at Neal put that scene at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark in my mind, when most of the students in Indy’s class are women, and one of them has written “Love You” on her eyelids with eyeliner. I think if Neal had stayed on at Manhattan Prep, he’d have seen that.

Dylan Baker – meh. Sorry – he didn’t give that effective a performance, which is disappointing, as I know he can bring it (if you don’t watch The Good Wife, he’s played this sociopathic wife-murderer that creeps up from time to time and come to think of it, that’s the perfect descriptor – that character is creepy). I lay the blame at the writers’ feet, however, not Baker's, but I’ll give them a pass on that for now, because the ep was so much fun otherwise.

Moz = Mr. Magwitch…heh. Going full-on Dickens, eh? Here’s hoping he doesn’t think Neal’ll sell him out like Compeyson in the novel…but at least he’s looking out for young Pip…er, Evan.

A pair of effective Cyranoes, yes?

Quotes of the Week:

Peter got the lion’s share this week, much to my delight:

“Ten points for Grffindor.”

Snerk. Nice to see Peter’s regained his sense of humor.

“It’s like you’re an alias savant.”

Double-snerk.

“I’m not surprised you like it here – even the kindergarteners wear ties.”

Seriously, book this man a gig at Caroline’s!

But Moz was keeping up his end:

“A battle won cancels every other bad action.”

Way to quote Machiavelli, guys.

“Hair gel – I’ve heard great things.”

Seriously: HA!

But my favorite by far:

Woods: “My daughter didn’t describe you as being so…”

Neal: “So bookish?”

Woods: “So symmetrical.”

I mean!

OK, Collars – what were your Squeeable Moments? Head to the comments and let us know.

Picture of the Day

2012-01-25T23:48:00.000-05:00

Neal waiting for Peter's decision on the Keller case in Upper West Side Story