Four More Shows I Won’t Be Watching (Anymore)

This past October, facing an ever more crowded fall TV season, I decided to give up on five shows which were inciting anger in me for various reasons. Now, as midseason is fully in swing, I find myself coming to a similar decision again, though the fact that I’m giving up on these four particular shows is less about resentment towards them and more about the fact that other shows are just better and more consistent. I’m proud to say that I haven’t checked in with any of the five I swore to give up in October, and I’m not sure that I’ll be following along with these four either. Effective this past week, I am longer reviewing the following shows.

1. Arrow: I stuck with “Smallville” for ten seasons in the hope that it would only again return to its original quality. This CW superhero show was never terrific, and my hopes that it would improve have been dashed, as lead actor Stephen Amell continues to be unenthusiastic and the show heads in unexciting directions.

2. Nikita: I was as surprised as anyone that this show got renewed for a third season. The events of the second season finale set up season three to be something wholly new, and what has resulted is a disorganized mess, with so many agents on call and alternately appearing in episodes that it’s hard to keep anything straight. And the writing is, unfortunately, still terrible.

3. Suits: I always enjoyed this show, and watched it through its first season and the first half of its second season. But I’m growing tired of its eccentric plotlines and exaggerated characters, particularly Louis, and I feel that this might be more worthwhile as a quick marathon to catch up at the end of the season rather than essential weekly viewing.

4. White Collar: This one is actually my most lamentable drop, I think, since I didn’t even realize that I had missed the midseason premiere until a few days after it aired. Worse still, I didn’t particularly care, which is a shame since this show was always entertaining, if nothing else. Like its USA companion Suits, this is a series I might return to via marathon one rainy day.

Are there any other shows I watch you think I should stop watching?

What I’m Watching: White Collar (Mid-Season Finale)

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 10 “Vested Interest” (B+)

I did enjoy the episode throughout, but that final obvious revelation killed it a bit only because it was so clear, almost from the very start, that Sam was Neal’s father. Even with that being true, he’s acting awfully suspiciously and stirring up unnecessary trouble by making a big stink about Peter and then going to Mozzie’s safehouse alone. I liked that Mozzie’s pet rat had a part to play in enabling Neal’s plan to set the trap, and that Jones was the one most freaked out about the rodent’s presence. Sam and Mozzie have a fun dynamic, but I suspect that will change dramatically now that Sam’s true identity has been revealed. After last week’s memorable ending, Neal’s anger towards Peter faded quite easily and uneventfully, though it did look for a moment there like Neal had caught a bullet. It’s no surprise that he couldn’t resist putting on the immensely bulletproof vest, and he and Peter proved to be an excellent team in action. Their camaraderie in the second interview, while much improved from the first, was perhaps too friendly for the other agents, but it didn’t seem to be a problem. I liked the identifying quality of FBI agents, that they immediately pat their pockets when asked about their badges, and how that helped the team to root out the impostor in their midst. This season has come a long way from Neal on the run and Peter working a terrible job, and it’s been a fun year full of great guest stars like Laura Vandervoort, Michael Weston, Rebecca Mader, and Mircea Monroe. The season will likely continue in November, and I’ll be back to tune in for more then.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Matthew Bomer

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 9 “Gloves Off” (B+)

Neal and Peter have been at odds before, but it’s rarely Peter who is almost entirely the only one in the wrong one. To his credit, it did seem like Neal had shown Sam the video after explicitly promising not to, but Peter did do exactly what Neal had begged him not to, which managed to scare off Sam and rob Neal of his one lead in the search for the truth about his father. There wasn’t a worse time for Neal to find out about Sam’s impending departure, and even Mozzie looked worried as Neal came in swinging for his supposedly staged fight with Peter. Neal’s aggressiveness proved to be his downfall, of course, as Peter still felled him in the bout. The damage to the relationship is much more worrisome, and this seems like it will prove a bigger deal than in any time in the past. That said, the upcoming season finale may produce some surprising turns that could put Neal in harm’s way with only Peter to rescue him. Kudos to Elizabeth for taking some investigative initiative after her gelato delivery to Neal, though the extended shot of her car parking itself wasn’t at all necessary. In the preparation for the fight, it was fun to see Mozzie and Jones coaching their respective assets on how to combat each other. This show has developed a fondness recently for amusing pretenses for pretending, with more than just the obvious players involved in the staging of the superb spectacle.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 8 “Ancient History” (B+)

It’s hardly a surprise that Neal flaunting his confidential informant status would come back to haunt him. After loudly squealing about being arrested with his fellow thieves by the police at the start of the episode, he got himself conned by Alex, who was back for the first time since season two. He’s getting sloppy, so flustered by the sight of Peter and Mozzie in Alex’s bathroom that he didn’t even bother to clean off his sleeve after purposely causing a wine spill. When Neal lets his guard down, he’s very easy to fool, and that’s just what happened in this hour. Watching Neal and Peter argue about friendship and fidelity was both entertaining and unsettling, especially with the rest of the team watching and Diana and Jones commenting to each other about what was going on. It’s a good thing that Neal wised up and decided to place his trust in the two men who have proved over and over again their loyalty to him, no matter how dishonest he may have been with them in the midst of a personal or professional con. Short of Neal’s father actually appearing, I’m not sure where this mystery plotline with the contents of the very out-of-date tape is headed, and we’ve got just two episodes to go before this season closes for the fall before returning sometime this winter. I expect a big reveal next week stemming from the contents of the tape, and then maybe we’ll get a glimpse of dear old dad before the end of the penultimate episode.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 7 “Compromising Positions” (B+)

It’s always great to see familiar faces in fun roles on this show. Perrey Reeves, best known for playing the anger-prone Mrs. Ari on “Entourage,” was fierce and manipulative as professional fixer Landon Shepherd, who didn’t seem to like anyone except for Sara, to whom she was fiercely loyal. I’m glad that Hilarie Burton, no longer a series regular, is still just a phone call away to reprise her role as Sara. This episode made things really awkward as Neal hatched the idea to take incriminating photos of Peter and Sara together, to get Landon to drop Delancey as a client. The most uncomfortable part of the whole situation was Elizabeth watching with a glass of champagne in her hand, stepping in to encourage Peter to be more forceful, while Neal offered his own advice to Sara. It was entertaining to see Peter and Mozzie work together, with Mozzie providing his favorite Suit his voice diary to keep him busy while he was in the midst of illegal activities. Landon’s takedown was actually quite brief and easy, though she’ll likely have an easy time getting off due to her legal prowess. Neal getting to testify was a blast, and, though he does welcome it a bit too much, it’s nice to see him earn some well-deserved recognition for his expertise. We finally got to meet Sam in this hour, who was played by Treat Williams of “Everwood” fame, and it looks like he may finally be willing to help Neal, just as long as Peter doesn’t mess everything up by following them.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 6 “Identity Crisis” (B+)

There’s nothing like a Revolutionary War treasure hunt to distract from the search for the truth about Neal’s father. Mozzie’s enthusiasm is unsurprising, and this episode even attempted to pull at the heartstrings with some puppet theatre written by an eight-year-old Mozzie about how his parents were Cold War spies who had to give him up for his own protection. His excitement, however, was a lot of fun, and, along with Peter’s mockery, it’s what made the episode interesting. The “secret in her eyes” from the painting made me think immediately of the Oscar-winning Argentine film of the same name, though that produced much darker results. This secret led to Neal posing as George Washington, which, as expected, was a hoot, complete with Jones as a descendant of Thomas Jefferson. Damian Young, probably most recognizable as Karen’s humorless beau Bill from season one of “Californication,” was perfectly detestable as the author of the Culper exposé, who proved to be less than subtle by waving a gun around at every turn. It was also great to see Mircea Monroe, currently portraying the ageless Morning on “Episodes,” as the female spy with whom Mozzie had the pleasure of interacting, who, to his eternal delight, turend out to be a real member of the Culpers who was able to procure the flag for them. Neal and Peter may never believe it, but they clearly care enough about Mozzie to take a big chunk of time out of their otherwise busy days to save his life.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 5 “Honor Among Thieves” (B+)

This episode was a lot of fun because there were a handful of cons going on, and a whole lot more truth than might usually be expected amid all the deception. Rebecca Mader, best known for playing Charlotte on “Lost,” was a great choice to play Abigail, who pegged Diana as a lesbian and even managed to identify Neal. Offering him the marshal file in exchange for the Pascal was bold, and stealing it preemptively so that she could blackmail him was even more daring. As usual, Neal managed to thwart Peter’s trust once again, and it’s a good thing that he thought to call Peter as soon as he made the exchange, and that he turned down the information. After risking his career to rescue Neal when he fled the country, Peter is now going to be plagued by doubts about Neal’s true nature, which is sure to be detrimental to their relationship. I liked seeing Diana come over to talk about cons and relationships with Neal, and a peek into the supporting characters’ personal lives is always a treat. I enjoyed Mozzie’s presentation of his exciting new gadgets, the most useful of which was definitely the face-blurring hat, though it did present the problem of leaving Neal unaccounted for during the heist that he pulled off rather strategically with Peter just moments away in the next room. Art thievery is sure to be the last thing on Neal’s mind in the coming weeks, however, as he turns to find Sam and figure out just who his father was.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 4 “Parting Shots” (B+)

This show managed to systematically return everything to its natural order in just four episodes, which is quite impressive, especially considering they were all intense and invigorating hours. It’s great that Peter was too enticed by the notion of helping close this case to care about ruining his evidence gig, which means that we probably won’t see any more of Brett Cullen’s humorless supervisor. The familiar face in this episode was Laura Vandervoort, best known from her roles on sci-fi series “Smallville” and “V,” as the grieving widow who didn’t so much mind the loss of her husband and was immediately attracted to Neal and his hat. It’s interesting to see Neal hesitant to seduce a wealthy widow, though he pulled off the feat quite well – and speedily – after deciding that it was an acceptable course of action. Neal’s excellent improvisation skills saved her life, giving him and the White Collar division yet another win. Sara’s return was a fun surprise, and while it might be nice to have her around on a full-time basis again, it is awfully entertaining to see her at odds with Neal. The thought of Mozzie spending the day gardening with Ellen was extremely amusing, and it’s a shame that we went straight from that to the sight of her being wheeled out on a stretcher with the marshals assigned to her shot dead in their car. Hopefully Sam can help Neal find out more about who his father was before he too becomes a target.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 3 “Diminished Returns” (B+)

There’s really not much worse than being stuck in an evidence room all day, especially when the guy you’re working for clearly got punished for something and wants to take it out on his underlings. The always excellent Brett Cullen wasn’t ready to give Peter a break at all for coming in even a minute late, but it seems that the kind work done by Neal and crew to help Peter get his cell phones sorted helped get him on his good side so that he might now have a more pleasant daily office experience. His role in catching the elusive diamond thief played by the real Michael Weston, not to be confused with the character of the same name on “Burn Notice,” could help get him sprung back to his old job, but I suspect that will take some time. It was entertaining to see Neal and Peter essentially switch roles, and to have Peter go undercover and improvise a $5,000 squash bet and then undercut his supposed friend to steal his deal. The contributions of Diana, Neal, and Elizabeth to narrowing down which jewelry store he planned to hit were entertaining, and it’s great to see them all working together so well. The method of distracting the appraiser by using the word blue over and over and words that rhyme with pink was quite cool. The ending of the episode prepares us for a whole new direction, as Neal reveals a childhood spent in Witness Protection and a burning desire to know more about his father.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 2 “Most Wanted” (B+)

I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take for this to play out, and how it was going to be resolved, but this was an exciting and efficient way of getting things back to normal before dropping another enormous bombshell in the episode’s closing moments. Neal quickly deducing a way to escape was met with an unusually harsh response, a gunshot to his knee, which managed to hinder the brilliant and entertaining rescue plan that Mozzie and Peter had already concocted. Fortunately, it worked, and Peter’s nursery rhyme-aided discovery of Dobbs’ true identity helped them to get to the next stage of their plan, which hilariously involved Peter learning how to be a bartender in just a few hours and then blabbing to all the guests about Dobbs being halfway out the door. The installation of a fake safe was a fun idea, and Neal and Mozzie always seem to have a blast pulling off their cons. Collins was dead set on bringing Neal back, but Peter’s bargaining paid off, since Dobbs was an even bigger get than Neal. Unfortunately, Peter’s meddling netted him a transfer, something that surely won’t be permanent but will certainly affect how Neal operates since he’ll be assigned a new handler, one who is less likely to be so trusting and have an affable relationship with him. I look forward to seeing how Peter manages to get back to white collar, and I hope for some drama and intrigue along the way as well.

What I’m Watching: White Collar (Season Premiere)

White Collar: Season 4, Episode 1 “Wanted” (B+)

Shows tend to default to a sense of urgency when its main characters are on the run, yet this premiere managed to handle it rather smoothly. The sight of Neal and Mozzie, better known as James and Barry, living it up in Cape Verde, was quite serene, and they seemed to be having a blast. In fact, they might have been perfectly safe had Peter not gone to such lengths to locate Neal to warn him that a determined FBI agent was after him. Gregg Henry never plays trustworthy characters, and therefore it wasn’t much of a surprise when the man who makes things happen sold out Neal for a $500,000 reward to Mekhi Phifer’s determined Agent Collins. Peter, Diana, and Jones worked hard to pinpoint Neal’s location after getting the call from Neal in response to the beeper, but they could have a bit subtler than circling it on a map. It’s good, at least, that Mozzie is determined to stick by Neal’s side (“You run, I run, that’s the deal”) despite not having the same charges leveled against him. Before everything fell apart, this hour was full of amusing snapshots of the boys’ new life, highlighted by Neal making a New York City landscape sand castle to impress Maya and Mozzie unionizing her café workers. Peter working to help his good friend Neal out will only go so far since Collins is clearly willing to go above and beyond to get what he wants, and I’m not quite sure how this is all going to pan out so that everything can get back to some sense of normal.

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

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 16 “Judgment Day” (B+)

This whole season, or at least its back half, has been building to Neal’s hearing. It’s great, therefore, to have snippets of each person testifying, with a wild city-spanning adventure thrown in for good measure. June and Sara did a particularly good job of throwing the judges for a loop by presenting unconventional arguments for why they like Neal, whereas Elizabeth found herself somewhat flabbergasted and not saying what she meant to at all. Jones’ testimony was to the point and honest, citing Neal’s character but stating that he should serve out the rest of his sentence. Neal gave a great closing statement for himself, though that’s sure to be negated by the events in the episode’s final moments. It’s a shame, really, considering how daring Neal was to make that leap between tram cars and then get saved by Mozzie in the ambulance and Diana in the car. And Sara and Peter had the perfect plan to get her boss to buy the painting so that it wouldn’t be stolen, but Kramer is just vindictive and wants Neal all to himself. Like any good friend, Peter tipped Neal off as best and subtly as he could, and now, for the first time, Neal is fully and truly on the run. I’m not sure where the show goes from here, but I’d love to see all the familiar faces, maybe excluding do-gooder Jones, helping Neal to survive in his new state as a presumably wanted fugitive. This shaped up to be a great season overall, and the fourth season, which was commissioned last August, is sure to be a blast as well.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Matthew Bomer as Neal

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 15 “Stealing Home” (B+)

This show is always at its most fun when there’s a caper afoot. Things got especially complicated in this hour because of Neal’s impending hearing. I’m happy that Sara continues to be incorporated into the main plotline, and I enjoyed that Peter was the one who brought her back by talking her about testifying on his behalf. Her conversation with Neal appears to have been fruitful, and I hope that means she’ll be sticking around on a more regular basis going forward. Neal did alright resisting the temptation to run a con, but Mozzie’s criminal conscience may get them both into trouble. The fact that he was already in with Taylor before they began the operation means that he’s hardly lying low, and he seemed truly thrown when Taylor asked him about the future job in Paris. The heist was clever, with Neal posing as a security guard and then tossing the ball to his accomplice, but it’s hard to beat the plan to sew a note for Peter into the stitching of the fake baseball. Peter and Neal’s conversations about the meaning and worth of baseball bats and paintings was entertaining, with valid points being made by both parties. Unfortunately, such casual chatter is going to give way to Peter having to tell Neal, or allow him to be blindsided, about his letters to Kate that Kramer and his people have been decoding. Both Diana and Peter are looking out for their friend Neal, but I’m not sure even they will be able to adequately protect him.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 14 “Pulling Strings” (B+)

I was just thinking that it’s been an awfully long time since we’ve seen Sara, and it would be really great if she were to return. Having her back in this new role as Neal’s official boss was a lot of fun, especially due to fact that she was involved with her own boss, the man they were investigating. Debriefing their failed relationship and talking about her new romance proved highly entertaining, and Sara did a good job improvising when they got caught in his apartment. Peter’s in-laws coming to visit for Elizabeth’s birthday was a great way to keep him occupied, and though Neal tried his very best to insert himself into their reunion, distracting Peter with a therapy session, Peter was pretty much on his own this time. While Debra Monk and Tom Skerritt were fun as Elizabeth’s parents, this installment was really about Peter and his own discomfort and subsequent panic when he realized that the wrong gift had been delivered. Mozzie stepping in to save the situation was a real treat, and I also enjoyed Peter brushing the doll onto the floor so that the dog would destroy it. Diana’s engagement came a bit from out of nowhere, but that should be a fun plotline when it comes up again. Beau Bridges’ return as Agent Kramer means that Neal isn’t nearly as close to being off the hook and in the clear as he might think. I do like when this show returns to its greater mythology, and I’m eager to see what happens next.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 13 “Neighborhood Watch” (B-)

So we’re not back to Keller territory, but this episode was far too light for my tastes. Elizabeth isn’t necessarily a bad character, but I just wish she was a bit more serious than she’s been in recent weeks. Neal was always the more interesting of the two leads, and I enjoyed the dynamic between him and Peter, and also how both he and Mozzie interacted with Elizabeth. What’s happening here, however, is that she’s becoming too central a player, utilized in scenes where she needn’t be. I was pleased to see Joe Manganiello, best known as Alcide on “True Blood,” as bad guy Ben in this hour, but apart from intimidating Elizabeth in her own home after noticing that her kitchen was not in fact being remodeled, he didn’t have all that much to do. This show does best with capers, and while this installment did permit Elizabeth and Mozzie to pose as FBI agents, it was just a bit too unreliable and unfocused as a whole. The device of Elizabeth overhearing a crime on the police scanner that Peter just happened to leave on also felt forced, and this show shouldn’t need to resort to such familiar setups. I’ll point out as I did a while ago that Neal isn’t being too smart about all the criminals he’s conning, setting himself up to get seriously hurt if any one of the many people he’s put away by pretending he’s just like them and then selling them out to the FBI ever gets out of prison.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 12 “Upper West Side Story” (B+)

The fears that I expressed last week have been fully assuaged by this fantastically fun hour, in which the rapport between Neal and Peter is generally back to normal, with only fleeting and flickering mentions of Keller. To kick off this week’s especially terrific plotline was Graham Phillips, best known as troublesome child Zach Florrick on “The Good Wife,” here considerably more buttoned-up but ready to raise trouble by revealing an illegal side operation within the bursar’s office at his prep school. He also brought with him an Emmy-nominated guest star from that show, Dylan Baker, to play the suspicious party, and it’s always a pleasure to see Baker on screen, albeit this time in a much less vicious role than the one he recently played on season four of “Damages.” Neal’s decision to pose as a substitute teacher was great, and I loved Peter’s layered back-and-forth with him in front of the class. Pulling off a caper – or rather, not quite pulling it off – during the tutoring session with Chloe was a superb use of this cast, and I fully enjoyed every moment of it, especially the incorporation of Evan. With the treasure out of mind, Mozzie was much more fun than he’s been in a while, excitedly running off to get his quill and then refusing to admit that he was in the room when Peter was there. His comments on Evan’s presentation style (positive) and clothing style (negative) were amusing as well. A thoroughly entertaining and worthwhile installment!

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

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 11 “Checkmate” (C+)

I’m not sure what it was about the return of this series that didn’t do it for me. In its absence, what I came to expect from USA was mainly action and danger, in the form of “Burn Notice” and “Covert Affairs,” and perhaps that’s why this premiere was disappointing. USA had this whole “Where is Elizabeth Burke” campaign, and to see her sitting comfortably with Keller solved what could have been a compelling, enduring mystery in less than five minutes. And she also managed to pull off the most effortless escape ever, tricking her captor into going to the drugstore – where he used a credit card! – and then actually putting in some work to break the glass with a chair and escape. The themes in this episode didn’t mix, as Elizabeth was never really in harm’s way but Neal had to work extra hard to ensure that Keller wouldn’t kill anyone. It looked like Neal might be in trouble as soon as Elizabeth was free, but, despite an aggressive move with a Raphael painting, Peter came to Neal’s aid so that Neal could then shoot Keller in the leg, again preventing anything severe from actually happening. Fortunately, Keller’s confession was good for everyone, and now Neal might be free of his anklet, which could change the show in interesting ways. After this lackluster premiere, I’m not sure I want to stick around given how unexciting this show is in comparison to the other Tuesday night fare on TV, but it may just have been that the Keller storyline dragged on way too long, so I’ll give it another week.

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

White Collar: Season 2, Episode 10 “Countdown” (B+)

This is a mid-season finale if I’ve ever seen one. For all their clandestine activities together, Mozzie and Neal haven’t actually spent much time discussing what will become of their lives once they decide to skip town. Neal’s right in saying that, though Mozzie can come back to New York, he can’t. Mozzie’s use of a giant hourglass on Neal’s table to snap him back to reality was rather blunt, but the message wasn’t lost. As Neal and Mozzie were conspiring together to execute their operations right under Peter’s nose, it was interesting to see Peter being poisoned against Neal by his mentor Agent Kramer, played by the reliable and seemingly omnipresent Beau Bridges. Requiring an outside presence to gauge Neal’s complicity makes sense, and Kramer makes a good point when he says that Peter has too much faith in his friend Neal. I liked how Neal was able to contain the situation of Melissa being in the same room with him by making up a cover story and then essentially blackmailing her once she figured out the ruse. Neal was also clever enough to purposely get locked in the room by Peter and plant the fake Degas, and it’s not often that we get to see Neal parachute down the side of a building in Mozzie’s operation “Fedabuster.” Planting such a good fake may have set off warning bells for Peter, though he’s going to have other things on his mind now. As Mozzie and Orson Welles put it, if you want a happy ending, it depends on where you stop the story. Keller’s abduction of Elizabeth came as a huge, unexpected shock, and things are definitely going to be a bit more serious when the show returns this winter.

Season grade so far: B+
Season MVP: Matthew Bomer

What I'm Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 9 “On the Fence” (B+)

These USA split seasons really have a way of sneaking up on you. Somehow we’re only one episode away from the end of this half of the season, and it feels like we’ve just started. There’s plenty of duplicity to be had, and it’s much more within our inner circle than ever before. Neal’s decision not to tell Mozzie that he found the list proved to be a horrible mistake, as Mozzie used the Degas to put out a hit on Keller for the six million dollars that it netted him. Sara also seemed quite upset about Neal lying to her, but Mozzie seems to have convinced her that Neal had only the best of intentions. It was entertaining to see Eliza Dushku pop up as Raquel. She demonstrated on “Dollhouse” that she can’t really act, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still fun to see her try. I liked the instant attraction that developed between her and Neal resulting in that passionate post-arrest kiss, and Peter’s description of why Neal might like her was funny. Neal yelling “FBI raid!” as the agents approached was a superbly clever diversion. Keller’s creation of a replica warehouse was smart, as was his posing as an Interpol agent to interrogate Sara and get the IP address for the warehouse camera from her. Neal and Mozzie improvised well, taking him to a different location, where there ended up being an awful lot of uncontrolled firing. Presumably, Keller won’t be in the mind for long, and now Mozzie and Neal will have to deal with a much more serious and immediate problem.

What I’m Watching: White Collar

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 8 “As You Were” (B+)

This episode isn’t as fun as last week’s, but it’s still decently enjoyable thanks to a smart cast and some fun plotting. Jones isn’t the most intriguing of characters, but it’s always fun to delve into the back story of any supporting player, even if Diana proved to be considerably more interesting. What I found most memorable from this episode and from the spotlight on Jones was their conversation about what having it all means, with Jones telling Neal that he’s already living the dream and Neal responding that Jones’ life isn’t so different. I forgot to mention last week that the opening credits have officially switched back to the typical season one and two suite after fans spoke up online, though I found the newer, sleeker credits quite cool. It’s sad to see Sara leave so soon after discovering Neal’s duplicity, though Neal didn’t offer much of a defense for himself by saying, “Come on, Sara, you’ve always known who I am.” Neal asking Mozzie to promise not to speak at his funeral was amusing, and I also liked the shot of Neal with the bow and arrow’s green target pointed at his chest. It’s rare that he looks that scared and unable to control the situation around him. What was most stirring about this episode was Peter calling Neal to offer him relationship help while Neal was inside his house breaking into his safe. Let’s hope Peter doesn’t find out, because the ice is getting very, very thin.