White Collar Season Two Review
The first season of any television show is often filled with pitfalls. While the creator of a series may have crafted an effective pilot episode, the task of sustaining the premise of that initial installment is trickier. Is there a strong enough narrative to keep the story fresh and entertaining in the long haul? Do the characters live up to the promise of the pilot? Is there a proper amount of chemistry between the lead actors? Can the writing staff deliver the necessary scripts on a weekly basis? The answers are basically unknown until production fully revs up.
While the first season of the USA Network drama White Collar responded in the affirmative to such potential obstacles, the series obviously took advantage of the inherent learning experience of its inaugural effort. The plot of White Collar is relatively simple—convicted felon Neal Caffrey agrees to assist the FBI agent who put him behind bars in lieu of not having to serve out the remainder of his jail sentence. Each week the debonair Caffrey, an expert forger, master thief and cunning conman, teams up with the middle class Peter Burke in solving art and jewelry thefts, insurance frauds, corporate scheming and other “white collar” crimes.
The first season benefited from the considerable charm of the two lead actors. As portrayed by Matthew Bomer, Neal Caffrey had an air of suave sophistication that harkened back to the Rat Pack days of yesteryear and a silent innocence that made him a likeable character despite his dubious past. Tim DeKay, meanwhile, instilled in FBI agent Peter Burke the right mixture of professionalism, expert crime solver, loving husband and down to earth nature to make him the perfect counterpart to the more stylish and upscale Caffrey. Together they formed an unstoppable team as Neal Caffrey used his conman background to go undercover while Peter Burke kept it “honest” as the two closed in on the criminal element of New York City.
Their personal relationship, however, was often rocky as Burke kept Caffrey on an ankle bracelet monitor leash. On numerous occasions, Burke was even convinced that Caffrey was behind the crimes that they were investigating. The convicted felon, meanwhile, kept secrets from his FBI partner, especially when it came to tracking down the lost love of his life, Kate Moreau. The two worlds of Peter Burke and Neal Caffrey eventually collided when it was revealed that Kate was trapped in an FBI conspiracy involving an antique music box and the season ended with her being killed in an airplane explosion.
Having already established the premise, characters and overarching narrative of the series, the sophomore effort of White Collar feels more comfortable and confident while further expanding the genuine chemistry between the two leads. The relationship between Neal Caffrey and Peter Burke thus finds a more trusting mutual bond and while the duo still keep their secrets, they both exhibit obvious guilt afterwards.
The cases in season two likewise add to the growing understanding between the cop and criminal. A manhunt for a rogue FBI agent, for instance, leads to Peter Burke going on the run despite telling Caffrey earlier in the episode that it was something he would never do. When Burke is later suspected of planting evidence, Neal Caffrey assists the disgraced law enforcement officer in an elaborate con to prove his innocence. In another installment, the duo is forced to switch identities with Peter Burke masquerading as Neal Caffrey and vice versa, giving them a first hand look at what it is like to be in the other’s shoes.
For Neal Caffrey’s part, the convicted felon became torn between the need for revenge against those responsible for Kate’s death and the form of justice Burke insisted could be found within the legal system. He witnesses first hand, however, how the thirst for revenge can backfire when Burke almost dies from poison at the hands of a similarly grieving victim in the episode “Company Man.” When Caffrey does indeed corner the suspected killer of Kate Moreau, he is inevitably “talked down” from shooting the man by Peter Burke.
In a later episode, Neal Caffrey befriends a retired thief looking for that one last score and wonders if he’s seeing an older image of himself. “If ever you do decide to grow up, you should realize this one thing,” Peter Burke tells his convicted colleague. “You can either be a con or a man—you can’t be both.”
In addition to crafting narrative twists that both further developed the personas of the main leads and enjoyment value of the series, the second season of White Collar also saw an increase in screen time for supporting character Mozzie (Willie Garson). The conspiracy-believing, Beatnik-quoting sidekick of Neal Caffrey primarily served as the comic relief of the show during season one and while that role continues in season two, his knowledge and criminal expertise plays a key part in numerous episodes as well. When Peter Burke goes on the run, for instance, it is Mozzie who hides the FBI agent in one of his many secret safe houses. It is also the turtle-esque looking con artist that trains Burke in the fundamentals of pick pocketing and breaking and entering during the “suits” short stint as Neal Caffrey.
While actress Tiffani Thiessen’s real life pregnancy limited her role as Peter Burke’s supportive and understanding wife Elizabeth, Marsha Thomason joined the cast full-time during season two as FBI agent Diana Barrigan. Master cat burglar and fence Alex Hunter (Gloria Votsis) likewise returned for a handful of episodes and new character Sara Ellis (Hilarie Burton) was introduced, giving White Collar numerous female supporting characters to counter balance its male leads. Although insurance investigator Ellis was initially at odds with Neal Caffrey, an attraction developed between them by the end of the season.
In addition to several high-quality stand alone episodes, the series also further advanced the overarching narrative of the show during its sophomore effort. It turns out that the music box from season one contained a hidden code and with the assistance of Mozzie, the White Collar team uncovers a Nazi treasurer lost deep in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The flashback episode “Forging Bonds,” meanwhile, details Neal Caffrey’s early days as the criminal conman he would eventually become and his connection to the evil villain responsible for Kate’s death. Alex Hunter’s role is likewise revealed and while the music box mystery is resolved in the end, the season concludes with Neal Caffrey being tempted with his own “one last big score” and his relationship with Peter Burke strained once again.
White Collar had a successful inaugural debut and season two not only continues that trend but builds upon it as well. By taking advantage of the conflicting dynamics of the two lead characters and further developing the supporting cast of the series, White Collar has evolved from entertaining to quality entertainment—and that’s no crime.
Anthony Letizia (March 16, 2011)
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