mi casa es suit casa

[aria]

i. Things that are disconcerting and hilarious when rewatching X2 for the first time in years: [a] the discovery that Mystique is, in fact, played by Roxie from Eastwick, oh my god I have seen Roxie BLUE and NAKED, my life is a little more complete now; [b] Peter Wingfield is totally randomly Stryker's second-in-command? and my brain has just as much trouble computing him as a soldier as it does whenever I see John Sheppard's ridiculous face. Apparently, the more stuff I watch, the smaller the acting pool appears to be. I don't think I'm complaining, though.

ii. WHITE COLLAR. :D Okay, let's talk about how much I love Peter/El. How much do I love Peter/El? MORE THAN I CAN EXPRESS IN WORDS, I think. I love that they consciously make time for each other; I love how I knew that something was going to happen that would make Peter miss date night, and how I also knew that it wasn't going to upset Elizabeth. I think I want to watch a billion television marriages like this, because it turns out that when I love characters, I want them to be able to go home to each other at the end of the day and be okay. Drama from other quarters + good home life = happy telly-watching for Aria.

Mostly, though, I am BLOWN AWAY by the sheer amount of subtext in this episode. I was already delighted less than ten minutes in when Neal tries to invite himself to date night -- Peter, let Neal come to date night!! I mean, obviously consult with El first, but I think this could work out well -- and from there it JUST GOT BETTER. By which I mean that we not only got the conversation where Peter says that Franklin was in love with his CI and then adds that it'd probably be Neal's fault if he went on the run; we also got the ensuing competition between Peter and Franklin for who had the more awesome CI. I know that this is still in the realm of subtext, but goddamn.

Other things of joy: Neal has apparently permanently nicknamed Peter 'Mario' which I find adorable beyond words; I am really digging boss-boss and his happy outing to the art exhibit with Neal at the end of the episode; I am also really digging Peter in civvies, goddamn, Peter Burke, wear jeans more; I loved Mozzie having date night with El and them sharing their safewords, oh my god; I loved pretty much everything about Moz this episode (he has a LOFT! and a DOJO! and everything was MYSTERIOUSLY GONE at the end of the episode! /highlander); I want more Jones and Diana at all times, but they were well if sparsely used this time. Basically I am having the feeling that this show has found its groove, and is working it really well. Keep it up, show! <3

Lastly, in terms of arc-plot things: Fowler was no surprise, but dude, Neal has a key to his anklet now. I am very curious to see how that one pans out.

Comments

[oldstarnewshine]

ELIZABETH IS BACK! And she had a scene with Mozzie! That is everything that makes this show good. The other everything that makes this show good is the look on Peter's face when Neal won the CI-off, he's so proud of him. My heart ♥ I love Boss's Boss (I totally missed his name and my friend kept calling him Henry-From-Eureka the whole episode), and not just because he Took Neal To Art, but he's yet another character on this show who is totally unafraid to tweak the rules to get results, which is such a nice change from the billion other cop shows where everyone has to be by the book all the time, except the tricksy CI! who is too clever by half for his employers.

And, um, I think I'm a bit too excited about next week's preview. Neal rescuing Peter?! Yes, please.

[marina]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SERIOUSLY!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE this ep included Peter sharing his safeword with Mozzie as a code for El and Mozzie sharing HIS safeword with El. AND THEY CALLED IT A SAFEWORD. AND NEAL AND PETER AND OMGGGGG.

I just. I love how much this show is full of love. I love that that these characters all really, really care about each other, and are trying to work through their trust issues so they can be even be even better to each other. LOOOOOOOOOOVE.

[alpheratz]

Mozzie having date night with El and them sharing their safewords

WHAT. When can I go home and watch this?

[entropical]

Peter and El and their functional marriage make me endlessly happy. They make compromises! And are clearly still madly in love with each other! Why can't other shows get it this right, because I want this all the time.

I cannot believe that they aren't aware of the paralleling between CIs and the agents who love them. They have to see what they're doing. HAVE TO.

MOZZIE. Tuesday has no phones! ♥

[bibliothekara]

I had to resort to the internet to understand the "Mario" thing (because I am a bad fan) but once I did, GIGGLING for 5 minutes. And then melting at the genuine worry and affection in it. And I really believe (sans spoilers) that there is going to be a serious and melancholy callback to "Yeah, if I ever ran, it'd probably be your fault."

We forget it, because hey, there's Neal Caffrey around all the time, but Peter Can Wear Clothes, GodDAMN.

Yup, Neal has a key to the anklet, because even in the most Peter/Neal intensive/attentive ep in a while, nothing can ever be simple. We've gotta have "Neal can run but will he?" embedded in a McGuffin.