White Collar - 4.03 - Diminishing Returns - Recap

To get people in the mood I guess, we open to a montage of Neal shirtless - present day Neal at a mirror, past tense Neal running on the beach. We flash back to the "going home" line and a shave and a suit later, he's ready for work. Neal smiles at himself in the mirror and I get a curious desire to poll fans about whether they like Neal better scruffy or clean shaven. Peter joins Neal on his walk to the office and I can't shake the image of a big brother walking his little brother to school on the first day. It's heartwarming. Neal's leg is better. Peter's career is not. He's about to find where he'll be reassigned. Neal acknowledges how unfair the situation is to Peter, but Peter says it's only temporary. He is unhappy with the timing though because he has a case he wanted to re-open. Neal says he'll look into it but Peter says it's complicated. Peter thinks he's going to organized crime or vice, but it's much, much worse. He's stuck at the evidence warehouse because he can't go anywhere near active cases until Justice finishes their review. Poor Peter, you got majorly screwed. Neal will be under Jones and Diana's supervision until Peter's back. Hughes warns Peter to keep his nose clean so he can return quickly. Apparently there are some head honchos in the FBI who are not thrilled with Peter and are looking for a reason to dismiss him. Peter: "Evidence. How bad can it be?" Oh Peter, you just doomed yourself. And me.

Peter enters the world's least interesting Sam's, a warehouse of never-ending boxes stacked on more boxes. His new boss, Agent Patterson, comes to greet him and I realize not just Peter is getting punished. I am too. To say this boss is a jerk is an understatement. More like he's a man who feels powerful by breaking other people and making them feel inferior. A stickler for the rules, he tells Peter he's late, makes him clock in and out, and gives him the "I've got my eye on you" speech. Apparently Patterson must write daily reports to the review board on Peter's activity. Peter might as well be wearing an anklet now. At least he takes this all better than I would. His first job is to catalog sim cards from stolen cell phones by Friday - an entire flat worth. Patterson: "Welcome to the cave Burke." Neal drops with lunch, but Peter says he's too busy with 2,000 more cell phones. Patterson interrupts to kick Neal out so Peter and Neal head to the picnic area. Neal: "The sun's shining, fresh air, barbed wire. It all kind of reminds me of.." Peter: "Don't say it." Neal: "The yard." Peter says it's not jail but it sure feels like it to Neal and me. Not making waves will get Peter out faster and for me it can't be fast enough. Peter reminds Neal that he owes Peter the truth about his history. Neal confesses that his dad was a corrupt cop and Ellen arrested him. Since we already know all this, I am incredibly irritated when Patterson interrupts again to have Peter clean up spilled ink cartridges. Grrr! My nerves are already grated. Don't you dare keep me from learning about Neal's past - the story line I am most excited about this season. Peter: "To be continued. Sunshine needs me." Neal and I both snark as Peter heads back inside.

Neal also goes back to work for an unpleased Diana and Jones. He realizes his charm is not going to skate with them and I'm glad. Neal shouldn't get away with this scot-free while Peter is punished. Neal wants to re-open Peter's case and since he already finished 2 assignments that morning (busy beaver), they agree. Neal: "Look, it's my fault Peter's been re-assigned. I know that. The least I can do is to try to help solve something that matters to him." Agreed. 3 boxes of files later, Neal's after a criminal 20 years in the making. In the conference room, Neal recaps the case to Diana and Jones who already know the score so it's definitely for our benefit. The thief commits a robbery every 5 years to avoid being prosecuted for multiple thefts . Now I'm calling foul. If the statue of limitations for theft is only 5 years, shouldn't Neal's capers now be unprosecutable? All of his crimes took place before he went to jail. He was in jail for 4 years, ran, but didn't steal anything before Peter caught him again. He then spent over 2 years as Peter's CI, also without a theft. That's more than 5 years folks. If this thief can't be tried for a theft worth millions of dollars from 5 years ago, why can Kramer hold the Raphael theft over Neal's head? This is going to bug me from here on out. OK back to the recap. The thief also leaves behind Turkish Harmony tobacco at each crime scene, which seems like a stupid thing to do for a criminal that's obviously working the system. Peter went undercover as Peter Morris after the bank robbery, so Neal goes to ask him about it.

Meanwhile Peter is packing up to go home but Patterson makes him wait a full minute before his shift is officially over. It's awkward and unproductive and he's simply being a jerk with an ego problem. Neal asks about Peter's day. Peter: "It's a thrilling tale of a man's battle with carpal tunnel syndrome." Neal makes a big production of needing his help on the case, deferring to Peter's expertise. Peter exposits his role but says nothing concrete came from it. Peter: "I didn't get any takers or find any suspects. It's pretty thin." Neal: "Runway model thin, but we might be able to get her a sandwich." Ha! They found a water delivery truck theft with the same tobacco at the scene. Diana had it delivered to the warehouse so Peter could examine it without breaking protocol. He says they don't have the keys so Neal Macgyver's a way in with a wooden slat, coat hanger, and a metal disc. (Neal apparently keeps plastic gloves in his coat pocket for the emergency break-in.) They deduce that the man is shorter than 5' 11" from the seat and left handed from the way he tied a knot. Neal goes to get a suspect list. Peter goes home to a very sympathetic wife. El: "Do they know how many criminals you've taken off the street?" Peter: "I think it's the one I left on the street that's the problem." Their smooch is interrupted by Neal, who has good news. El: "Hey enough chit chat. Who is it?" I adore Elizabeth and her no nonsense way. The suspect is David Cook, a former bank teller. Neal wants Peter's thoughts on the water delivery truck but he says it's not his case. Neal counters that it's Peter that lead to the suspect in the first place and picks Peter's brain on how to catch him. Neal does an excellent job of making sure Peter feels like the team leader still. It's heartwarming. Peter complies. Cook is a super competitive control freak who went to the gym daily.

The next day Neal calls Peter with an update. Hughes approved the surveillance and Cook plays squash weekly. Neal claims in 10 years Cook traded up from baseball to squash. Peter: "I like the guy even less now. Nobody trades up from baseball." Ha! Patterson plays Little Lord Dictator to bust Peter for making a private call. Annoying schmuck! He needs to go now. Later Peter waits for his phone to ring and El calls him on it. "Yes, you're off duty but you still have a badge." El tells him to go join the case. "You're an FBI agent, Peter Burke. Go get your job back." She is the most amazing, supportive wife on TV. I love scenes with the Burkes together. Peter heads to the surveillance van. As Neal texts Peter, he walks in and asks what's going on. Neal: "Just a convict and a FBI agent watching TV." Bwah! They tap into the health club's security and see Cook protecting his bag. Neal suggests Peter go undercover as Peter Morris again to approach Cook in the club. Neal: "What? You were busted for larceny. We're about to bust him for larceny. You two have a lot to talk about." Lots of great lines in this episode. Peter asks what he should talk about. Neal: "You could ask him if he's stolen any water delivery trucks lately?" Yeah…maybe not. Plan B is to challenge Cook to a squash game. Peter is rusty but it sure beats Plan A. Peter: "It's been awhile since I played squash." Neal: "Well I hear it's like riding a bike." Peter: "From who?" Neal: "I'm sure that someone said that once." Ladies and gentleman, we have classic Peter and Neal banter. Welcome back White Collar! After squelching Peter's final objection by purchasing ridiculously overpriced sweats at the club's shop, Plan B is a go.

Neal wants to join the club because it has exercise benefits. Peter: "So does flight from prosecution. Good cardio." Bwah! Watching Cook's impressive squash skills, Neal gives Peter tips on how to best rile him. It's a game of one-uppence. Neal breaks into Cook's locker while Cook challenges Peter to a game with a $5,000 wager. That may be hard to explain to Elizabeth. Luckily Neal finds Cook's unprotected cell phone complete with hidden water cooler camera. He's watching a diamond shop with it. Neal's still looking for info when Cook pulls a muscle and heads to the locker room for an ice pack. Peter signals Neal to back off and he manages to get the lock back on and slip out but he still has Cook's phone. Peter and Neal do that silent conversation thing where they tell each other what they need through head nods and gestures. It's fun to see them so in sync. Neal tosses the phone to Peter who tosses it in the bag while Cook is looking in his locker. Whew, that was close. Cook calls rematch and Peter claims, "Believe me, once I start something I always like to see it through." Back in the van Neal exposits the diamond shop to Peter who questions their game of "hot potato." By sketching the floor plan, Neal wants to narrow down possible targets. Peter and Diana go back to his house to check out which shops have water delivery service. Jones and Neal are at the office when Jones finds out Cook slipped surveillance. Diana crosses off one shop on the list and Neal crosses off three. Why? Both: "Ring shopping's not really my thing." Bwah! Elizabeth crosses off one too and they've got their target. I love when the whole team works together. Alas they arrive too late. Cook's already pulled off the heist.

Neal heads home after a disappointing day only to find his ice wines drained, his balcony invaded, and….Mozzie's back!!! I missed you sir even though it's only been 28 minutes. Neal missed him too. Aawww! Neal mentions Moz's clean shaven look and realizes, "You've retired from retirement." Mozzie: "Good partnerships are hard to find." Again, aaww! It's impossible to pick my favorite pairing tonight. It's all spot-on goodness. Neal asks about his new buddies and Moz tosses it off as just people he met along the way. He's currently winning the game they are playing although he has no idea what it is. Bwah! Classic Mozzie. After the game is over and the guests go home, Neal and Moz talk about the treasure (safely hidden) and Peter (not so good). Moz correctly surmises that "he returned from our balmy tropics to much harsher weather." Neal fills him in on Peter's cell phone duty. Moz: "Endless cages filled with contraband." Neal : "It's not as nice as it sounds." Ha! Peter's nightmare is Mozzie's potential treasure. Neal explains about getting Peter's job back and fills Moz in on the case. Cook has gone underground but Moz can find his fence. Neal: "It's good to have you back." Now that's an understatement.

Neal calls Peter with a plan and stresses that only Peter can catch him or the plan won't work. Peter waffles but Neal's plan is for off the clock hours. He gets Peter on board by reminding him that if they don't get Cook now, they'll have to wait another 5 years. Peter heads to Neal's place to hear how Mozzie, aka Neal's street contact, found the fence. Peter: "Hmm, do I know any of these reliable street contacts?' Neal: "You probably prefer not to." Good point. Neal suggests Peter make a play for the fence's business which will cause Cook to fast track his own deal with her. When Cook arrives with the diamonds, Peter arrests both Cook and Rina the fence hopefully resulting in Peter getting his old job back. Bonus- it can all happen before Peter needs to be at the warehouse. June, although sadly not on screen, pitches in too. She supplies 3 real colored diamonds and Neal adds 2 fake clear diamonds. Peter fears Rina won't be fooled but Neal trains him in the art of manipulation so that Rina concentrates on the real gems first. Cook should be there before she gets to the fakes. Peter has Rina call Cook to vouch for him, starting the rivalry. Once he is on his way, Peter leads Rina to check out the blue diamond through fiddling with his blue handkerchief and tie. The canary gets a thumbs up and the pink is all about rhyming words - think, drink, etc. I really hope people are not as easy to manipulate as this appears. It's kind of scary. Cook breaks in right on time and Peter escalates the competition until Cook flashes his score. The FBI heads in but Peter looks at his watch and disappears. They arrest Cook but can't find Peter. Sadly Patterson can and he's quick to point out that Peter is 2 minutes late. However he is willing to overlook it since the cell phones are finished ahead of deadline. Peter is surprised to see them all categorized…until he sees Mozzie walking out of the warehouse in an FBI jacket. Ha! I do love Mozzie.

I love Peter and Neal picnic conversations too and we join them as Peter explains why he walked away. Peter is glad to have closure, but I don't buy that it was either closure or his old job. I, like Neal, think he can have both but the point is moot as we begin a more interesting topic - Neal's past. Neal explains that Ellen was like a mother to him since his mom couldn't deal with his dad's betrayal. Peter pieces together that Neal was in Witness Protection. This shocked me because I never considered that but I admit it makes a whole lot of sense. Bang up job writers! This is better than anything I imagined. Neal entered Witness Protection in St. Louis when he was 3 after his dad admitted to murder. I would bet good money that his dad was framed. Neal says he never found out who his dad murdered but that's implausible, mostly because although he was Danny Brooks all his life Ellen told him his real name was Neal and his mom's maiden name was Caffrey. (Finally the origin of Neal's name.) He's one Google search away from the newspaper accounts and I find it hard to believe he didn't pursue it. Neal says he wanted to be like his hero cop dad as a kid and he guesses he did. Peter: "No you didn't. You're not a killer." Neal: "No…no but I'm a criminal." At 18, Neal Caffrey was born. He left without getting the facts and now he wants to know. Peter encourages him to talk to Ellen. I love that and Neal does.

Ellen and Neal are on his balcony but she's reticent to tell him the whole story, saying some things are better staying closed. Still Neal has to know and she begins. His father's name was James. A fellow officer requested backup from Ellen in a meeting with James. When Ellen showed up the officer was dead and James' prints were on the gun. He said he was innocent and Ellen investigated but as soon as she found something, James confessed and they were all whisked off to St. Louis. Neal: "Ellen I need to understand who he was. You said there were lines my father would never cross but he did. I need to know who I am." You don't have to watch cop shows to know he was blackmailed into confessing. My guess is he confessed to keep his wife and son alive. Finding out his dad went to jail to save him should rock Neal's preconceived world. I'm also betting Neal's dad is still alive.

While this episode was less packed than the first too, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It laid the framework for the rest of the season and I loved hearing about Neal's past. I only wish Ellen could stick around longer. She's awesome. Besides the back story, I thought there were nice parallels here. In the first two episodes, we clearly see how much Neal means to Peter. In this one we see Neal not only hellbent to get Peter's job back but also conscious of making sure Peter feels needed and still in charge as much as he can. He purposely keeps asking Peter for his opinion in order to make clear that he still reports to Peter no matter what the FBI says. I thought that was a nice touch. As always Elizabeth and Mozzie rocked every scene they were in and I am particularly fond of Mozzie doing Peter's job. Again it's a clear sign of respect and an effort to get Peter back to where he belongs. My biggest issue with this episode was the 5 year statute of limitations inconsistency and it still really bugs me in my third rewatch. I hope it get explained at sometime because I do not get it. I also agree with others who say the case was less challenging than most. This actually bothers me less because the focus was Peter and Neal's relationship instead of the case this time. A more complex case would have taken away from that dynamic and I think would have ultimately hurt the episode. All in all, I think this season has started out really strong and I look forward to seeing where Neal's dad fits into everything.

Screencap by Midnight Road

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Supernatural - Available prizes for various contests

Congratulations to everyone who won a Supernatural prize.  Look at the choices below and then tweet me (@dahne1) which prize you would like.  I will Direct Message you to get your address so I can mail it to you.  Again, congratulations.

If you would like to know about current contests so you can be entered to win a prize, tweet me @dahne1 for details.  This list is obviously always under construction so items will be added and deleted on a regular basis.  Not all prizes will be available at all times and item availability is subject to change without notice.


Magazines -

2012 TV Guide Com-Con special - Supernatural on cover - choose either Dean or Sam prominent cover
-includes interview with Jensen & Jared, wall of villains, s8 hints, BTS info, trivia

August/Sept 2012 Supernatural magazine #34 - includes interviews by Jensen & Jared, Changing Channels info, seasons 1&2 trivia & promo posters, interviews w/ Showalter & James Patrick Stewart (Dick Roman)

May/June 2012 Supernatural magazine #32 - includes multi-page Sam article, Best of Bobby, posters of Sam & Bobby, Jerry Wanke (director), Divine the series, Bobby's Guide to Hunting

April 2011 TV Guide - Fan Favorites special - Jensen & Jared on bottom left corner
-includes small snippet about #SPN winning Fav. Sci-fi Series, Actor, & Nonhuman Character

2011 TV Guide Com-Con special = choose cover: Chuck, Fringe, The Big Bang Theory
-includes Jensen & Jared fav epis, Jensen as director, anime, Castiel/Crowley/Bobby/Balthazar

Dec 2010 TV Guide - Supernatural wins first Fan Favorite cover (brothers on cover)
-includes article about SPN w/ actor quotes & why fans love the show / snippet on Castiel

2010 TV Guide Com-Con special - Smallville cover -includes graphic if who's who, must see episodes, spoilers for season 6, behind the scenes pictures, list of aliases


Books:   see Amazon for story details

Rite of Passage, Night Terror, One Year Gone, Witch's Canyon, or Coyote's Kiss


Clothing, etc.:

Promo t-shirt (large, grey): Has moon, crows, and says Supernatural Television Show

Temporary Tattoos = choose either Dean name, Sam name, or anti-possession tattoo

Keychain - says, "Driver picks the music, Shotgun shuts his cakehole."


Calendars:

2012 Sam calendar


Pictures:

Dean entering Impala with Sam next to car - 8X10 glossy

Dean and Sam in Impala - 8X10 glossy

Supernatural - Best Episode Title - Poll

Since there has been so much discussion over season 8 titles and since it's been a couple days since the Best Show poll, I thought I'd pull out the nominations from earlier this summer and have people choose their favorite Supernatural episode titles. Surprisingly given the overall comments that titles need to be shorter, longer titles were nominated more.

You can choose up to 2 episodes in each poll. The first two polls have one more title than the other 3 only because that's how nominating broke down. Remember you are voting strictly based on the title. You don't have to like the episode at all, as will be evidenced in my choices today. Voting ends at midnight tomorrow. Have fun and don't forget to tell us which ones you chose and why. Happy voting!
















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White Collar - 4.02 - Most Wanted - Recap

Previously….I hated Kramer, loved Ellen, disliked Collins, distrusted Dobbs, enjoyed Mia, idolized Mozzie, adored Peter, and watched a lot of shirtless Neal. Collins meanwhile turned the island against Neal and Mozzie was awesome. "You run. I run." It was Mia for the rescue and Dobbs for the betrayal in one packed episode.

Bickering about the AWOL Neal, Peter and Mozzie head to Mia's. Mozzie wants to stay at the rendezvous point ala Team Thieving 101 advice. Peter counters that Catching Neal Caffrey 101 suggests following the girl. I wonder if Barnes & Noble knows about these titles. Mozzie vouches for Peter so Mia tells them she dropped him off at Dobb's island citadel of betrayal. Mia is visibly shaken that they haven't left yet and requests to be kept in the loop. Peter reassures her, "One thing I know about Neal - he knows how to run." Meanwhile Neal is locked up in the prison cage a museum forgot. It might have come over with Columbus. I thought Collins was smart. Neal's already almost out of this and the camera guy hasn't even finished panning up. Nothing like a protruding nail lock pick. Even a closet with a desk in front of it would be more secure. Sadly Neal drops the bolt he's unscrewed right as Dobbs and Collins come in. Rur-roh Shaggy. Collins exposits his plan to fly Neal to the Canary Islands to wait extradition while giving Neal some water. He's cocky and annoying and I hope Dobbs kills him. Neal tries for distraction by picking a fight with Dobbs, but it's too late. Collins already sees the bolt. He pushes on the cage wall and down it goes. Neal: "You should get that fixed." Dobbs starts whining. Guess you need a new place to store Neal. Collins pulls his gun and Neal gets nervous, reminding Collins that he's supposed to be the good guy. Collins claims Neal could be armed and is in the act of fleeing, but I don't think he'd get anywhere backed into the cage corner surrounded. WHAT THE HELL? COLLINS SHOOTS NEAL!!! Are you kidding me? This is White Collar right? He actually shoots Neal in the leg. I don't know who's more shocked - Neal or me. That's it. Collins has to go. Now. I disliked Kramer but Collins is so much worse. (Title card rolls.)

Up the hill, Peter and Mozzie camp outside Dobbs' Citadel of Doom with binoculars and a camera, while Peter reminds us they are sans FBI for this one and Mozzie exposits Dobbs' monthly Payola Party. Moz goes straight for the billion dollar question: "Once we get off this island, hypothetically, what are your exact intentions with Neal?" Peter hedges: "Let's find Neal and then we'll deal with the rest of this." Well that's reassuring. We are kept from getting a better answer by the appearance of Collins. Peter: "Best case, Collins got a tip and Dobbs is hiding Neal inside." Moz: "Yeah worst case, Dobbs turned him over." A handshake confirms the worst. Since the Citadel is well guarded, they decide to break Neal out in transit. As a doctor patches Neal up and confirms that he will live, Neal names Dobbs' boats to distract himself from the pain. Dobbs is visibly shaken by this and demands that Neal stand up; Collins is waiting. Neal sees a bowl full of keys and stands up only to collapse back in the chair. The doctor warns him against walking and Neal snaps at Dobbs. Dobbs reluctantly helps Neal walk. Neal: "Believe me. It's the last time I'll ask for your help." Neal again grouses about Dobbs betraying him and since it's the 33rd time, I decide it's a crucial plot element. When Dobbs says he didn't do it for money, Neal realizes he is harboring a secret he'd rather not have the US government know. I smell a convenient plot loop that allows Neal to get back to New York without going to prison. Dobbs: "They're looking for you not me. Let's give them what they want." Neal snatches a key out of the bowl as they pass and ends up zip tied to a Jeep so Peter and Mozzie launch Operation Free Neal.

Let's just say Operation Free Neal requires either a major suspension of belief or you have to believe Collins is brain dead. Your pick. Hector upends his fruit stand on the road Collins takes to get to the airport. Obviously nothing's getting by without the fruit stand being cleaned up and moved first. Collins: "What is this?" Neal: "Don't look at me. I've been caged, shot, and tethered to a dashboard." Bwah! Now a smart federal agent and anyone who has ever seen a spy movie would think trap. They would back up and go another way. Collins instead leaves Neal to go yell at Hector. Mozzie comes up and tells Collins that things would go faster if he'd move fruit instead of yell. That's fine since I'm doing enough carping for all. Does this show really think I'll believe that in the copious files Collins obviously read on Neal there was not one mention of Mozzie? Not one picture. He's been officially involved in federal cases. He was Neal's lawyer for goodness sake. Bah! It's good thing Hector is such a lovable urchin or I might not get over the impossibility of this scene. Hector hands Collins a box while Peter cuts Neal loose. Neal: "What took you so long?" Peter: "Got stuck in traffic." Ha! Peter explains the plan but given Neal's wound it's time for plan B. They take off in Mozzie's car and to hijack Dobbs' boat. Peter does an excellent job of driving backwards quickly. Collins does a great job of not noticing ANYTHING. How is this guy an agent? Mozzie thanks Hector and scuttles off.

Peter knows Mozzie so well; he does like to stick with the plan. Moz: "You ditched me. You stole my car. I had to take a taxi here. That was not the plan. What happened to you?" Neal: "I got shot." Moz: "Oh, welcome to the club." Bwah!! Neal: "It's good to be a member. And I'm fine." Love this exchange. Neal has the keys to Dobbs' yacht but doesn't know which one is his. Mozzie eliminates the middle one because it doesn't have deep sea fishing equipment and Neal and he mention the names of Dobbs' boat. Out of nowhere, Peter starts singing: "Isabella I can tell-a. Esmeralda, find Adelle-a. Mirabella, so compel-a. Was there a Mirabella?" Neal: "Yeah." Peter: "Rob's fair ladies." Mozzie, Neal, and I are all baffled. Mozzie says it for us all: "Did he get into the rum?" Peter is stoked; Mozzie not so much. "Who cares? Why did you just defile a nursery rhyme?" Bwaaah!! Mozzie is on fire today. Peter leaves us all hanging by pronouncing that he may be able to get Neal reinstated in New York. What an evil time for a commercial! As we return, Hughes is on the phone talking about a criminal named McLeish on the FBI's Most Wanted list for 20 years. Hughes is skeptical that Dobbs is McLeish, especially when he looks at Neal's sketch. Hughes: "It looks as much like McLeish as my cousin Phyllis." Ha! Who knew he had a sense of humor? Neal mimes plastic surgery, Peter tells Hughes, and Hughes and I think too much tabloid watching for these two. Jones suggests running a photo through biometrics to see if it's a match. Then Peter lays down his cards by suggesting that if Neal brings McLeish in, he gets his old deal back working with Peter. Reese says he'll take it to Justice if it really is McLeish. Peter and Neal do the manly happy dance, while Hughes makes it clear he knows Neal is right there. Peter: "I got a promise on a maybe." Neal: "But you're giving me a chance." Me: "Aaawww. I love this bromance."

Moz comes back with pictures, singing Peter's criminal song. Peter thinks it's a snappy tune. Moz says more like an earworm. "It's driving me insane. Was this like some government experiment in tune implantation?" Peter says every new FBI recruit analyzes the McLeish case and Neal exposits that it's a mnemonic device, for anyone who didn't learn ROY G. BIV. Mozzie: "But the FBI never found him so it's like an exercise in harmonic futility…much like the Macarena." So well put and so, so true. Peter: "The girl always gives you away." Is that foreshadowing I hear? The group waits impatiently for biometrics results so Mozzie calls Peter on going above and beyond and wants the score. Peter confesses that he brought in Kramer to prove Neal had the U-boat art. Neal says it's his job and Peter agrees, but Kramer took it way too far. Neal says that's on Kramer not him but Peter still feels guilty. Peter: "Neal, you'll be running forever." Peter doesn't want that for him and even Mozzie's touched by the sentiment. I wonder if the bromance could be more awesome. A phone call confirms Dobbs is McLeish and now it's con time. Neal's disabled, Peter has no power, but Mozzie has hope. It's all about options. They decide to strike Dobbs' power source - the bribe money. By playing the Gossip Game at McLeish's party, they'll get the bigwigs to believe he's about to take the money and run. Mozzie pays for Dobbs' boat to be filled up and stocked with gas in front of the sheriff. (Good to see you Detective Sanchez from the Closer.) Peter goes undercover as the bartender. Peter: "I tapped a keg or two in college." Neal: "I'll give you a refresher." His facial expression makes me roll with laughter. Neal does his best Cocktail mixology flourish. Peter…um, doesn't drop the bottle. Mozzie meanwhile sends the regular bartender on a dream vacation and gets Mia to recommend Peter for the job. Neal objects. "I don't want her involved in this." Mozzie counters that she wants to help. Fast forward to Mia and Hector boxing liquor and garnishes. I guess this island doesn't have child labor laws. Does Hector go to school?

Mia's concerned the plan is too convoluted and I have to agree with her. Neal swears everything will be fine, which makes me wonder if he is conning her or conning himself. With the exception of Kate, he's always been a realist. He says it will get rid of Dobbs for good and Mia is all for that. She just doesn't want Neal to die for it. As she and Neal kiss, I decide that I really like Mia and Hector and will be sad to see them go. Peter meanwhile works on bartending skills. "Neal, do we have bitters?" Ha! Still Peter progresses with his flourish if not in his drink making. Mozzie: "If you can't nail the quality, go for quantity…..Pour it like it's Hemingway's last call." Best line of the night! Moz brings bad news. Dobbs' safe is uncrackable so it's time for the Fake and Bake, making it appear like it's empty instead. To make it work, Neal paints and Mozzie does some carpentry. They recruit Hector to break Dobbs' window and at this point, I question the writers. Are Neal and Mozzie really okay with putting Hector in danger? I can't imagine things going well with Hector if he's caught. This is the second time they have involved him in their schemes. Presumably Peter has agreed to this also, and none of it sits well character-wise with me. Luckily Hector is not caught and the plan is a go. Peter's skills have come a long way and they all toast together. Neal: "To the island's most wanted." Peter: "May they be returned to where they belong." While they are toasting a glass shatters to the ground. Moz: "That's not an omen." Peter: "No." A while later, Collins raids Neal's place to find Peter instead. Peter says he's heading back home because Collins interfered and made things worse. Peter: "I came here to convince Neal to turn himself in. Meanwhile you've got the Wild Bunch chasing him down like a dog on the street." Collins: "I'm doing my job." Peter: "Really. Word around town is that you shot him. You're a bigger menace to society than he ever was." You can say that again Peter. Will this guy just die already. Peter says he's booked a 4 o'clock flight out and points Collins to the bar as he leaves. Smoothly done Peter. Collins heads to Mia's after reading the name on the glass.

At the party, Peter plays Kevin the bartender and does a stunning job. He's impressive. As is his ability to say just the right thing to get gossip going. He says Rajulio, the usual bartender, is being detained by Collins. Meanwhile, Moz brings in glass to repair the window and Neal not-so-stealthily climbs a tree to the second floor. Things are going as planned and the sheriff and a political big wig come to ask about Rajulio. Peter says Rajulio saw money from Dobbs' safe being loaded into his boat. Moz lets Neal in and after a groan-worthy pun about island-hopping, we finally see the Fake and Bake. Neal painted a picture of an empty safe and Moz brought a mirror so once angled correctly the painting would reflect in the mirror. This scheme should be renamed Half-Baked. It's the most ludicrous plan yet. As they adjust for height, the wind blows a bottle on to the mirror and the mirror crashes. 7 years of bad luck might end up being good luck. I still don't think that plan would have worked. Time for plan Q - the storage room. Collins has a plan of his own - woo Mia into revealing where Neal is with reward money. Mia wavers and looks at the clock before finally agreeing. It sounds like revenge since Neal is leaving her. Anyone who buys this is new to White Collar. This show suckered me with the Peter ring thing in season 1. I won't be easily fooled again. Dobbs' however hasn't had that experience and he falls into Peter's trap. Peter talks about Dobbs' vacation plans and Dobbs' denies filling up his boat with gas right in front of the sheriff. The sheriff saw the Esmeralda being filled up and talks about Rajulio. Dobbs finally gets that he's surrounded by angry people and goes to show them their money. Peter meanwhile tells Dobbs' assistant about a plane leaving the country.

Neal and Mozzie have turned Dobbs' study into a state of packing. Ships in bottles crated. Trunks everywhere. Neal: "Showtime. I know this isn't exactly how we planned our retirement." Mozzie: "Neal, the law on our tail, an ocean breeze, a precision heist from an island overlord. It kind of is." Ha! So true and so fun. Dobbs and the sheriff come in and Dobbs is flabbergasted. He says he will give the sheriff more money but Neal starts yelling from the terrace. He claims Dobbs set him up and that Dobbs is now the target of the Justice Department since he is really Robert McLeish, number 4 of the FBI Most Wanted list. Collins shows up at that point to brag that Mia turned him in while Dobbs sneaks off. Listen you power hungry worm , you're going to look like a bigger fool when this ends. It's best to shut up and let others brag about you. Otherwise you look like a douche. Neal to Mia: "I hope you get everything you deserve." Mia: "I'll think about you with every dollar I spend." Yeah, this was part of the plan. If the dialogue doesn't convince you, the smirking looks at each other certainly should. They do everything shy of winking.

It's a party at the airport. Peter and Mozzie arrive first, followed shortly by McLeish. Peter offers Moz a ride to New York, but he turns it down because "the world beckons." Peter wonders where but this is Mozzie. He's not telling The Suit. I say Moz is back to New York within 1 episode. I'll be devastated if he isn't. In a moment of solidarity, they shake hands and I'm reminded again of how much I like scenes with these two. It's a grudging respect and Moz tells Peter to make sure the Feds live up to their bargain with Neal. Peter: "I will." Mozzie: "I know." Simple words but they mark years of relationship-building between the two. It's a powerful scene and a possible turning point in their uneasy bond. Peter heads to the plane when Collins arrives with Neal and gives the punch line. Dobbs is McLeish and he's on the plane. If Collins wants credit for arresting the FBI's most wanted, he has to agree to the fake story Peter and Neal have concocted about Collins recruiting Neal to get McLeish. Peter: "Why give Neal all the credit when we've gone to all this work to include you?" Collins: "You set me up." Neal: "For the win." Collins wants to know what Neal gets. Neal: "My old desk back." Collins is all about the team as long as he gets the career-building credit. Peter: "Hear that. We're going home." Neal: "I'm going home." Mozzie watches as they head into the plane. I'm a little sad by that. Back at FBI headquarters, Jones and Diana welcome Neal back. Diana: "You know I also thought I'd be the one to shoot you in the leg." Neal: "Oh well there's always next time." Diana: "I hope there is a next time (Jones) did what he did for Peter." Neal understands and Peter points out an appreciation on Neal's desk, while Jones points out Neal's beard. It is a little incongruous with the suit and tie Neal's sporting. Peter says Neal's pouting because he wouldn't let Neal collect any reward money. Neal wants a medal so Jones pulls out his brand new tracking anklet and they all laugh…except Neal who looks uncomfortable and slightly wistful. Neal's a man trapped between desiring two different worlds, satisfied with neither. Bravo Matt Bomer for selling the scene.

In Neal's apartment, Ellen drops by and I squee because she's a fabulous character. I hope she stays around awhile. Neal is equally happy to see her. Ellen exposits that June didn't re-rent the room and I wonder if anyone thought she would. It's not like she rents to Neal because she needs money. I would much rather have had a Neal-June reunion scene. Ellen breaks the news that Witness Protection is relocating her in a few weeks. Ellen: "Both of us get another new start." Neal: "Yeah, I was really hoping we'd have more time together." You and me both Neal. We better get a whole lot of Neal back story in that time. Neal says Ellen is his family but she implies that the Burkes and Mozzie are instead. Neal: "They don't know about our history. They don't know about my dad." Ellen suggests Neal drop it but he can't. "Everything I grew up believing was wrong. Everything. And I ran before I got to hear the full story. I'm not running anymore. I want to know who he was." Ellen promises to tell him before she leaves, but she wants to talk about the island and Mia now. Oh show, please do not kill Ellen before she can spill everything we want to know.

At this point I'm all aglow at the episode. Neal's alive and not in jail. The team's back together with Mozzie on his way I'm sure. We have the promise of back story. And then we pan to Peter getting grilled by Hughes for his part in the mess and I remember things aren't so perfect. Neal and Peter's complicated partnership is now being scrutinized by higher ups and Peter disobeyed a direct under to stay away from the case. I don't like the sound of this. The final nail comes when Hughes says DC is giving Collins and Neal all credit for bringing down McLeish. No kudos for Peter. Peter: "Now that Neal is back, I will make sure that both of us stay on the straight and narrow." Apparently DC does not think that will work anymore than I do. Hughes: "I'm afraid we're past that Peter." As Peter heads to where Neal is telling the story of his grand adventure to Diana and Jones, my heart grows heavy. Neal: "Everything alright?" Peter: "No, I've been reassigned." Neal: "What do you mean?" Peter: "It means I'm no longer working white collar." What? What!!! We just got them back together and now they are going to tear Peter and Neal apart again. Really? Nooooooo!!!!!

This was another big hit for White Collar and keeps me excited for the season. I love hearing about Neal's past and while I will miss Mia and Hector, they played their roles well. Once I got over the shock, I was even okay with Peter's transfer. One because I know it won't last long. Two because both Peter and Neal did some major law skirting in the last three episodes. There needs to be consequences for those actions to maintain any semblance of credibility. Since they couldn't do that with Neal except for the anklet's return, Peter becomes the fall guy. By far the biggest problem with the episode was how absolutely ludicrous the schemes were this time. They weren't even shooting for plausible. Mirrors tricking people into thinking safes are empty. An FBI agent who doesn't recognize a trap or an accomplice. I'm used to suspending belief on White Collar but even I find this episode a stretch. Good thing everything else was pitch perfect. The pacing was fabulous, the relationship moments stellar, the quips abundant, and the acting topnotch as always. So if the resolution was far, far too pat and some scenes ludicrous I can roll with that. White Collar did exactly what I count on it to do. It entertained me for 42 minutes solid and made me excited for the next episode.

Screencaps by deny1984

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Supernatural - Com-Con 2012 bag

Pictures of the Comic-Con bags for Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, Fringe, DC Nation, Arrow, and The Big Bang Theory have been released.  See them here.

Supernatural - Best Eric Kripke Episode - Poll

Our Ben Edlund poll ended up being huge with lots of voting and lots of commenting. Today we look at Eric Kripke's episodes. Revered as the creator of Supernatural, he also wrote most of the premieres and finales, which makes for a tough poll today. Comments are as always encouraged, but please remember that SpoilerTV prides itself on discussion. Personal attacks are not allowed. I would hate for anyone to be barred from the party. Today we look at some of the best Supernatural episodes around so tell us why you loved them while groaning over only 2 choices. It wouldn't be a Best of poll without a little difficulty in decision-making. Happy voting everyone!




Screencap by Digital Spy

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Supernatural - Best Ben Edlund Episode - Poll

Since we've hit a lull in the Best TV Show Contest, I thought we would continue in our Supernatural polls just to keep the discussion going. We already looked at all the amazing episodes Sera Gamble wrote and boy was that tough to choose only 2. Today we look at Supernatural's second most prolific writer - Ben Edlund. Edlund's episodes are sure to create quite a stir because he has quite a few love them or hate them episodes. For me, I prefer his earlier work but the season 7 episodes Hello Cruel World and How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters were awesome as well. The hardest thing will be narrowing down my vote to only 2. So what are your choices? Sound off in the comments below.

Happy 4th of July and happy voting!




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White Collar - Favorite Season - Poll

In 7 days a new White Collar season begins and there's no better way to prepare for a new season than looking back at the previous ones. Did the Where's Kate story line have you eagerly awaiting the next episode in season 1? What about the music box and Nazi U-boat treasure of season 2? Perhaps the aftermath of the treasure theft was the best drama for you. Vote for your favorite season and don't forget to comment why.

Thanks to Nelly Mendez for suggesting this poll.

Also look for my preview of the premiere tomorrow. It's a good episode with a killer cliffhanger.