White Collar – Recap & Review – Most Wanted

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White Collar
Most Wanted

Original Air Date: Jul 17, 2012

Jules – News Editor
jules@thetwocentscorp.com

Something I’ve always enjoyed about this show is the predictably unpredictable. There’s always a resolution and sometimes you see it coming a mile away and sometimes you see it coming, but how it works out is so complicated, you were happy you didn’t see that coming. This week’s episode was a mix of the two and a quite enjoyable one at that.

Last we left Neal, Agent Collins had a gun pointed to his face. Since Matt Bomer is a series regular, nothing major would happen, right? Let’s find out!

Can I just start off this recap by saying how the show manages again to not answer the most burning questions we have in the first frame? Argh!

We open with Peter and Mozzie finding from Maya that she dropped Neal off at Dobbs’. But why did he never make it to the marina? And is Neal alive or what? Thankfully, he’s alive! Hand-cuffed, gagged and put into a make shift holding cell like Peter back in season two. Neal figures to unscrew his way out, but can’t manage the timing before Collins returns, who then shoots Neal in the leg! Collins says that as long as Neal has two good legs, he could always run. Thinking ahead that Collins! Dobbs is not too happy about this playing out in his home and who would be?

Neal gets fixed up, but now can’t walk well. Dobbs is quick to usher Neal off the island and is a bit put off when he hears Neal recite the name of his model boats. Neal figures Dobbs isn’t interested in getting rid of him, he just wants the US law enforcement out of his hair. Why? We’ll soon find out, but first, Neal steals the key to Dobbs’ boat, while another plan is being set in motion by the great duo of Mozzie and Peter. Boy do I love it when these two work together. With help from Hector and lots of fruit and quick thinking on Neal’s part, Neal easily gets away.

Neal figures they can escape via Dobb’s boat, but which of the many is his? Neal remembers Dobbs’ model boats all had women’s names. The names click for Peter and now he’s thought of a way to get Neal off the island for good. See Dobbs, or really, Robert McLeish, has been on the FBI’s most wanted list 20 years. McLeish had a thing for women and it all makes sense now and Neal was right about Dobbs. Mozzie line of the night: Why did you just defile a nursery rhyme?

Peter calls Hughes asking what McLeish would mean to the bureau and if it would be enough to reinstate Neal to his old deal. Hughes hints at it, but wants to make sure it’s Dobbs first. Didn’t you love Neal being able to draw Dobbs and send it to the team in DC? How did they find a scanner or fax machine so fast?

Did you ever doubt Dobbs wasn’t the real McLeish? No? Me too. Now time for the plan. A rather complicated one at that with little time to prepare. Plan is to make it look like Dobbs is skipping town with the bribe money people have given him. Peter will be snuck in as a bartender (with some help from Maya) and Hector breaks a window to set up the “fake n’ bake.” The backdrop will be Dobbs’ monthly party where everyone will be at. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love seeing Peter, Neal and Mozzie working together.

At this point you’re wondering where Collins is and there he is marching in to Neal’s old hiding place, but this time only Peter’s there. He says he’s given up on convincing Neal to turn himself and is now ready to go home. Collins eats it up and the clue Peter leaves that point to Maya where Collins tries to convince her to reveal Neal’s location in exchange for half a million dollars. Don’t do it Maya!

It’s party time! Peter shows off his new found bartending skills while also spreading rumors that the regular bartender has been detained by the feds for seeing lots of money loaded onto Dobbs’ boat. Mozzie goes in as the window repair man, while Neal hobbles and climbs a tree!

The fake n’ bake part bit confused me, but basically, Neal’s painting of the empty safe was supposed to be projected onto a mirror in front of real safe. An open window and a breeze changes that. Luckily, there are other ways to make it look like Dobbs is leaving and it involves lots of suitcases. Dobbs sees it and is so confused and tries to defend himself when Neal walks out and says Dobbs set him up after Collins’ target changed when he realized Dobbs’ true identity. I actually didn’t get the whole plan until Neal said this.

Just as Neal is about to be taken in by Dobbs’ people, Collins arrives to arrest Neal. Perfect timing! Just before they leave for home, Collins learns he’s been set up. He barely believes them about McLeish, but he’ll take it. And now Neal’s going home, minus Mozzie. Mozzie and Peter handshake was a very nice moment.

Back at HQ, Neal’s welcomed back to the team with his anklet, while Peter’s told that he’s been reassigned and no longer working white collar. So just as everyone is reunited, we take the leader away from them! What do you think will happen to Peter now?

Then there’s Ellen. She’s there to welcome Neal back, but to also say she’ll be relocated in a few weeks (figures). Neal still wants to know about his dad and she promises to tell him and I hope it happens because I want to know, too!

So what did you think? I particularly liked how this whole storyline resolved itself (even if predictable at times), and happy that’s at least we get a wrench thrown in with consequences for Peter. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of Mozzie. I am guessing we have seen the last of Maya, which is sad because I rather liked her.

There’s my TwoCents, share yours below.

Next week: Diminishing Returns