![[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
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! \o/
That is all. :-)
no subject