![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
I'm mario!
I haven't pinpointed exactly what it was about this episode, because it certainly wasn't as shippy as it's sometimes been, but goddamn, tonight's White Collar was great.
Of course, just because it wasn't as shippy as it's sometimes been, that doesn't mean it wasn't: we had Neal impressed with Peter's bad cop look, Peter saying "You don't get to 'shh' me," and, possibly my personal favourite, the offhand observation that working for a senator meant Neal would have to go tracker-off. I remember what a big deal cutting the tracker was last season! Now it seems like -- okay, there's this legal formality they have to deal with, but, possibly because Neal said last episode that he would stay, Peter knows he can keep track of Neal whether or not there are electronics involved.
Perhaps relatedly, I am sad that Elizabeth is out of town, but over the moon that it results in things like Neal mentioning that, hey, since Elizabeth's out of town, does Peter want to get a drink with him? He knows Peter mentioned that he doesn't sleep as well without El around, and Neal's immediate reaction is to offer him company. I just -- I assume there must exist some alternate reading in which they're not in love and deeply attentive to each other's needs, but I have no idea what other reading there could possibly be.
Also El still manages to be on the show! She is biking on the Bridge, bless. <3 And I love, love, love how often she catches Peter in compromising positions. I don't think I'd love it at all if I thought there was even the slightest doubt she'd misinterpret or doubt Peter, but as is, every time he ends up in a hotel room with Frenchwomen or has to flirt with a mark or ends up on websites full of softcore porn, I sit there laughing fondly because I know it's all right and is therefore hilarious.
I am intrigued by Neal's assessment of Peter as a control freak, because -- well, yes, but I'm still a little surprised they said it. Also, since it came up in the context of the supposition that Peter was sleeping with a prostitute, I found the problem of Neal and Peter's relationship suddenly underlined: it doesn't matter whether or not Neal is actually in Peter's charge if/when they become involved; it doesn't matter whether Elizabeth knows/is involved; Peter rocks enough boats that people would absolutely use Neal to get to Peter. I mean, of course they do already, and it's not as though Fowler wasn't above using El to get Peter suspended, but their being sexually involved with Neal would be so potentially damaging. And now I want a billion fics.
And, in the last of our shippy news, more solidification of the Neal-was-going-to-stay text: Neal has never told Peter an actual lie. I kind of desperately need Peter to tell Neal what he and Diana are up to, because Neal might understand intellectually that Peter is protecting him, but I think -- this is the part of their relationship where Peter has to start showing Neal that the trust is reciprocal, or he's going to panic all over again. (I WANT A BILLION FICS. Also I am finally seeing the shape of their relationship, so I may want to write all the fics! Ahhh.)
In other news, DIANA. I LOVE DIANA MORE THAN WORDS CAN TELL. I am so damn relieved that Peter knows Diana has the music box; I like it as a one-episode cliffhanger, but I appreciate that they moved on and didn't keep Diana ambiguous. I love how fucking hardcore Diana is, and that, although her girlfriend is offscreen, she's still mentioned; my god, I just had my onscreen black lesbian coolly rescue herself a good thirty seconds before the dudes came to her rescue. And she has a backstory -- possibly the most articulated backstory of any character now! -- about being a diplomat's daughter raised by her bodyguard. I love that she and Neal are friends, that she is immune to and amused by him, that she knows about the secret art-behind-paintings and pencils in the drawing of a window to another place. <3 (All of it makes me retroactively grieve a bit for Cruz, because look what the writers can do, but I'm glad they at least are doing it now.)
Lastly: Look at Neal! He got a park built!
I LOVE THIS SHOW.
Of course, just because it wasn't as shippy as it's sometimes been, that doesn't mean it wasn't: we had Neal impressed with Peter's bad cop look, Peter saying "You don't get to 'shh' me," and, possibly my personal favourite, the offhand observation that working for a senator meant Neal would have to go tracker-off. I remember what a big deal cutting the tracker was last season! Now it seems like -- okay, there's this legal formality they have to deal with, but, possibly because Neal said last episode that he would stay, Peter knows he can keep track of Neal whether or not there are electronics involved.
Perhaps relatedly, I am sad that Elizabeth is out of town, but over the moon that it results in things like Neal mentioning that, hey, since Elizabeth's out of town, does Peter want to get a drink with him? He knows Peter mentioned that he doesn't sleep as well without El around, and Neal's immediate reaction is to offer him company. I just -- I assume there must exist some alternate reading in which they're not in love and deeply attentive to each other's needs, but I have no idea what other reading there could possibly be.
Also El still manages to be on the show! She is biking on the Bridge, bless. <3 And I love, love, love how often she catches Peter in compromising positions. I don't think I'd love it at all if I thought there was even the slightest doubt she'd misinterpret or doubt Peter, but as is, every time he ends up in a hotel room with Frenchwomen or has to flirt with a mark or ends up on websites full of softcore porn, I sit there laughing fondly because I know it's all right and is therefore hilarious.
I am intrigued by Neal's assessment of Peter as a control freak, because -- well, yes, but I'm still a little surprised they said it. Also, since it came up in the context of the supposition that Peter was sleeping with a prostitute, I found the problem of Neal and Peter's relationship suddenly underlined: it doesn't matter whether or not Neal is actually in Peter's charge if/when they become involved; it doesn't matter whether Elizabeth knows/is involved; Peter rocks enough boats that people would absolutely use Neal to get to Peter. I mean, of course they do already, and it's not as though Fowler wasn't above using El to get Peter suspended, but their being sexually involved with Neal would be so potentially damaging. And now I want a billion fics.
And, in the last of our shippy news, more solidification of the Neal-was-going-to-stay text: Neal has never told Peter an actual lie. I kind of desperately need Peter to tell Neal what he and Diana are up to, because Neal might understand intellectually that Peter is protecting him, but I think -- this is the part of their relationship where Peter has to start showing Neal that the trust is reciprocal, or he's going to panic all over again. (I WANT A BILLION FICS. Also I am finally seeing the shape of their relationship, so I may want to write all the fics! Ahhh.)
In other news, DIANA. I LOVE DIANA MORE THAN WORDS CAN TELL. I am so damn relieved that Peter knows Diana has the music box; I like it as a one-episode cliffhanger, but I appreciate that they moved on and didn't keep Diana ambiguous. I love how fucking hardcore Diana is, and that, although her girlfriend is offscreen, she's still mentioned; my god, I just had my onscreen black lesbian coolly rescue herself a good thirty seconds before the dudes came to her rescue. And she has a backstory -- possibly the most articulated backstory of any character now! -- about being a diplomat's daughter raised by her bodyguard. I love that she and Neal are friends, that she is immune to and amused by him, that she knows about the secret art-behind-paintings and pencils in the drawing of a window to another place. <3 (All of it makes me retroactively grieve a bit for Cruz, because look what the writers can do, but I'm glad they at least are doing it now.)
Lastly: Look at Neal! He got a park built!
I LOVE THIS SHOW.
no subject
Not that I am even remotely caught up or anything, but this does not negate my desire for fics.
no subject
no subject
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! \o/
That is all. :-)
no subject
no subject
I love this show so much.
no subject
no subject
DIANNNNNNNNNNNNNA! OMG!!! I saw flailing but I NEVER THOUGHT I'D GET THIS! A woman, A POC, WHO IS A COP, WHO IS GAY, WHO IS GOOD AT HER JOB, WHO IS NOT OBJECTIFIED ALL TO HELL (FFS THEY DON'T EVEN GIVE HER CLEAVAGE IN IN HER OFFICE CLOTHES), WHO HAS BACKSTORY, AND A REAL CONNECTION WITH THE MAIN CHARACTERS. BE STILL MY HEART. I... I am so afraid we'll like, never see any of the gorgeous, wonderful things they did with her this episode repeated or expanded on in the show ever again D: I am not used to trusting writers with this.
no subject
DIANA. <3333 I love love love all the things you mention, plus she is not a lesbian for titillation, but just because she is, and it all makes me kind of WEAK IN THE KNEES WITH JOY. I am afraid we'll never get this much concentrated Diana awesome again either, but one can live in hope! Really all that's missing is Diana and El having scenes together and being BFFs (although I wouldn't take it so far as to suppose they'd pass the Bechdel test, because there's no way they wouldn't be talking about Neal or Peter, sigh) -- I'll hold out hope for that too, although obviously we have to wait until El is off greenscreen and back on the show proper.
bechdel compliant Diana-El
(Anonymous) 2010-07-24 02:40 am (UTC)(link)Diana and Christy are going to want to get married at some point, right? And El is a very good event planner.
I'm just saying.
Re: bechdel compliant Diana-El
God, this had better happen now.
no subject
And if they put Diana's girlfriend on screen and actually, like, showed their relationship, I might die of happy. Diana is so amazing, the scene where they had to tell her she was going to be a hooker is one of the reasons I love this show so much. Any other show they would've gone for the cheap laugh and have her get huffy about it.
I am worried, though, for what will happen when Neal finds out that Peter knows where the music box is, because the last time Peter thought Neal wasn't ready for Kate-related information, Neal decided being willing to choke to death for Peter was the best way to prove he was trustworthy (jesus christ, that's canon. WHAT IS THIS SHOW).
no subject
I may have also read something about Diana's girlfriend being onscreen at some point? I am chalking this memory up to wishful thinking, though.
Oh god, you're right. AHHHHH <3 I think -- I think I want the fic, but I want the show more? Because often it does something more awesome and crazy than we the ficcers can think up.
no subject
The thing about fic is that it can always go to a crazier place. My favorite White Collar fic I've read so far is an AU where Peter runs the Globe Theater in the Elizabethan era and Neal plays Ophelia. Which is just EVERYTHING GOOD IN THE UNIVERSE, in convenient fic form. I love the show to pieces, and given the choice I would choose the show, but sometimes you need fic for crazy-ass period acting troupe AUs.
no subject
no subject
no subject
*is dead*
no subject
WHY DO I NOT HAVE A DIANA ICON YET
no subject
And Peter needs to tell Neal what's going on, for the sake of Neal's heart. Also, Peter and Mozzy in Queens was hilarious. LOL Queens.
Also, um, this show is amazing. I need an icon.
no subject
I'd say "I hope Peter gets around to trusting Neal soon" except that according to Tim DeKay that would mean Neal and Peter would immediately leap into bed together. So ... no, I still hope Peter gets around to trusting Neal soon. :D
no subject
(Anonymous) 2010-07-24 02:44 am (UTC)(link)in DC, Diana and Christy could have gotten married, in NY, not for a while yet. Of course the move was a sacrifice for Christy, but Diana's career is what it is. (see my comment above re bechdel-compliant Diana-El possibility).