I would think of a clever title but I am distracted by a HUGE SPIDER

[aria]

I haven't talked about White Collar in a while! So I think it is time for some talk of that.

First of all, something obvious: I REALLY LOVE MOZ. Last season I was fond of him, of course, but now -- now we know things like how completely amazing (if completely awkward and slightly stalkery) he is when in love, and that he spent his childhood in the foster system. I just. I want to hug him and bake him cookies.

I really, really like Sara, something I would have mentioned last week if I'd talked White Collar then. I like that she is a competent person who really doesn't like Neal very much, and that, thank god, just this one time the show does not telegraph that disliking Neal = BAD PERSON; in fact, this season they're being really good in the "competent professional women who are not Elizabeth are as awesome as El" department, which they were pretty rubbish at last time. Anyway, I really like Sara! (This may have something to do with the fact that the actress reminds me slightly of Maggie Gyllenhaal? IDK.)

I am mildly disappointed that they implied Neal/Sara 'sparks' this episode, though, because ... I was slightly inclined to ship them last week? when nobody textually demanded I care about whatever chemistry they had? I have this awkward problem where, if someone tells me about Neal's CHEMISTRY WITH THE LADIES, I just want to laugh; Neal is so, so queer. This does not mean I don't buy his love for Kate, or that I don't think he has fabulous chemistry with El; I just don't buy the Neal-is-straight!! agenda. Ah well.

While we are talking of Kate, I would like to note with some mild surprise that I'm actually intrigued by the through-plot this season. I've always been interested in Fowler-and-the-music-box, but now, for the first time, I care about Kate. It's odd, because it's not as though the recording from the plane actually tells us any more! I just so, so desperately want Kate to be evil and not dead, because both of those things make her much, much more interesting. (If we don't have answers to the contrary by hiatus, I am going to try to write the fic where Kate is evil and not dead. Also the fic where Neal is sleeping with Peter and El, obviously, but that goes without saying. WHY AM I ALWAYS TRYING TO WRITE THINGS WITH PLOT.)

Hm. I am still intrigued by Neal's huge aversion to guns. I love that everyone Does The Right Thing when there are kids involved. I was mildly uncomfortable with the way they tricked the adoption agent in this, because it felt a little too Leverage to me, but I was not even a fraction as uncomfortable as I was when they pulled something similar but worse on that doctor last season. And I am delighted that Peter actually took Neal's tracking anklet off himself this time! I still sort of wish that the Neal/Peter was as breathtakingly amazingly kinky as it was last season, but eh, it's still pretty great.

I think El is back for reals next episode! JOY AND CELEBRATION. :D


In other news, THERE IS A JUMPING SPIDER FROLICKING ON MY BED. IT IS HUGE AND AWFUL. I am therefore now going to escape the house, get brunch, and hope like hell that the huge jumping spider has frolicked off somewhere NOT MY ROOM by the time I return.

Comments

[sahiya]

I'm looking forward to having El back. Sara is awesome, I will totally agree with you there, but I miss El! Though I've been sort of amused by the ridiculous chest-up green screen shots this whole first half of the season.

[gehayi]

I am convinced beyond words that Neal is about as straight as Jack Harkness. This does NOT mean that Neal cannot love women. It does mean, however, that I would define Neal's sexuality as "yes, please." I would say that he's bisexual but I don't think he's into labels.

Also, I have this scene in my head where Neal (who may or may not be Immortal) walks into this bar in New York and spots Methos (who is in New York because Duncan is visiting cousin Connor--it's a family thing). And they spend the whole afternoon sampling different kinds of beer and talking about their respective Boy Scout boyfriends. (And possibly mourning for dead girlfriends in an "I'm going to miss her forever, but I'm okay" way.) And Methos seduces Neal and tells him that he knows how to get the ankle bracelet off, and Neal says thank you, but no--he promised Peter that it would stay on, and well, he's kind of a sucker for good guys who trust him. And Methos grins and says he knows how THAT feels.

Keep in mind that I've seen maybe two eps of White Collar.

[aria]

Yes, this! Although, it is more like Jack Harkness, except ... romantically? I think Neal is attracted to a lot of people without actually sleeping with most of them, whereas Jack, well. :D

...I may have to write this. RIGHT NOW. I'm not even kidding, it's just TOO AMAZING to not be rendered as fic. (Also, okay, now I want ... backstory fic? I don't know if that's the right term ... in which El is organizing the venue for one of Tessa's gallery showings. Except I'm not sure the timelines match up. But I really, REALLY want Tessa and Elizabeth to be friends.)

[aria]

Yes! I mean, I forgive the green screen because it means they found a way to keep El in the show, but I am so, so delighted that we get MORE ACTUAL ELIZABETH soon.

[alpheratz]

I have to dispose of all manner of crawling fauna in my house immediately, because if I ignore it and hope it leaves of its own accord, I won't know if it's actually left or is hiding under the pillow.

[aria]

True! Happily someone came and dealt with the spider for me. On the other hand, the other night's centipede seems to have disappeared without a trace ...

I have decided to be Zen about it. There are bugs. There will always be bugs. *sigh*

[gehayi]

I would love to read that fic. I truly would.

Also, I have no doubt that El and Tessa were wonderful friends (El having met Tessa when she, El, was just starting out with her business and she got to meet this fantastic French sculptor), that Tessa introduced her to Duncan, and that El was devastated when Tessa was killed.

I don't think she'd suspect anything about Duncan looking 35 in 1992 and still looking 35 eighteen years later. Some people just age slowly.

[oliviacirce]

Kinky things I enjoyed in this episode: NEAL CHEATING THE POLYGRAPH BY POKING HIMSELF WITH A TACK. PETER'S FACE while Neal was getting "beaten up" by the mobsters and making pain noises. Also Peter GIVING DIRECTION for the fake beating. Peter taking off Neal's anklet and then holding it, and not putting it down. It was totally the little things, but they were great little things.

El is back next week! Diana and Sara were awesome IN THE SAME EPISODE! Jones had lines! Peter randomly thinks Jones is hot! Mozzie is the greatest! Maybe Kate will actually be evil. *holds out desperate hope*

[shadowspirit]

Because things with plot are awesome?

Also yes! El is back for real next ep!

[bientot]

I see Neal as more of a compulsive charmer than either gay or straight - he needs to enchant everyone he meets, not necessarily with any other goal than simply to do it. It's only with Peter and Elizabeth that there's more to it - he knows Peter sees beyond the charm to the intelligent and flawed man he really is.

And I would love to see this fic. (I would love it even more if Neal were to turn out to be immortal as well - because so much pretty forever = a genuine Good Thing.)

[aria]

oh god oh god the fake beating. fsjdfkhfds. CAN YOU GUYS PLEASE SLEEP TOGETHER ALREADY.

I really, really want El, Diana, Sara, AND JUNE to all hang out in the same room and be awesome. I suspect that this possibility is even more vanishingly small than that of Kate being not dead. (Kate being evil is, I suspect, a definite possibility.)

[aria]

...You make a very compelling point.

I hope there is LOTS OF EL next ep. :D