What I’m Watching: White Collar (Winter Finale)

White Collar: Season 1, Episode 7 “Free Fall” (B+)

This is a strong finish for this show, and a great note for it to go out on until it returns in January. There have been a number of shows recently that have aired only a handful of episodes in their initial runs, like “Breaking Bad” and “Parks and Recreation,” and it’s hard to go out on a high, and more often than not, the shows receive mixed reviews and owhnly achieve positive critical acclaim once they start up their second runs. I’d give this one a hearty thumbs-up, and I think it’s the kind of show that go on for a long time based purely on its procedural nature, though it’s made considerably better by its stellar characters. This kind of episode, of course, isn’t the kind of thing that will keep it running since the successful dynamic is based partially on trust between Peter and Neal. Doubting Neal’s innocence and suggesting that Peter has more malicious aims, while both intriguing and entertaining, doesn’t do much to help solidify their partnership. It’s hard to believe that Peter is actively trying to deceive Neal, and it’s also a bit of a disappointment because he and Neal seemed like they were becoming so close. I still love the fact that Neal has such a deep bond with Peter’s wife, and I’m hopeful that she’s not in on it too. This arc can’t last for long, and ideally everyone will come out of it with a stronger sense of purpose and desire to work together. I don’t think having Kate join the cast would be beneficial for the show, and it would be better for Neal to move on and continue seducing every woman he meets. We’ll have to wait to find out. The show returns in its new timeslot on Tuesday, January 19th at 10pm.