Let's Shake some Squee ! 5x01 - At What Price

[aragarna]

You know what ? I loved that episode. Am I being objective ? No, but why should I ? I mean, this is not a scientific review. I'm a fan, I love that show. For many reasons, that were all there, in that season 5 premiere. Yes, there were a couple of things swept under the rug a little too quickly. But hey, it's not like it was a big surprise... And I watch the show for the good stuff. So that's what I'm focusing on. I'm a fan because there are always things to squee about in there.

But first, hey, Peter is out !!! \o/ They said it's been 6 weeks, but it felt more like 7 months to me !

All the things that made me love that episode (in random order. I've only watched 3 times):
- the prisons visits. A little short, but some essential moments. Peter all scruffy and uncomfortable.

- Peter listening to the recording. How his face changes when realization sinks in that he's off the hook. Speaking of the recording, that was a really beautiful piece Neal wrote there... If Peter hadn't been so stressed by his whole future, he might have caught that it sounded way more like Neal than James... Also, loved the editing of that sequence.

- Peter and El's hug.

- Peter's emotion when he enters the 21st floor ! And the squeak of his chair LOL that's so like Peter to notice things like that.

- El. Wow that woman is stressed and distressed. But I can understand. It's still better to be on the run with your love one than visiting him once a week for the rest of your life. All those things she has zero control on but has to live the consequences had a real impact on her. She's trying to take back some control. And I don't think she has a problem with Neal at all. She has a problem with Peter getting too deep into impossible situations that get him behind bars or on a hospital bed.

- Neal. So emotionally invested himself that he takes the first life belt thrown at him, even if by the devil himself. And he forgets to be cautious. He does all the wrong things for the right reasons, frame his own father, get his buddy free but get himself trapped. And in the end, he has to see his friend stepping back. ohh Neal...

- On a lighter note: Neal the firefighter !!

- And Mozzie !! For such a good conman, that lady managed to read him pretty easily !

- Peter's face when the probie takes his jacket.

- Peter becoming Neal's worst nightmare when investigating his own theft...  They're thinking so alike it's frightening... (and fun!)

- But at the same time, there are things for which they'll never be on the same page. Peter wants so hard to believe Neal makes the right choices when it counts that he doesn't even question the recording, and tells Neal he is proud of him, which kills Neal because that's not what he did. The whole show has always been like that. They're always out of synch. When one makes a step forward, the other has already stepped sideway.

- All the scenes between Neal and Peter, and in particular the last one. It's soooo heartbreaking. Peter is making a choice he should have done a long time ago. And it hurts. Both of them. This is who they are. A criminal and a cop. A fox and an hound. It's killing them, and it's killing us.

- Tim and Matt. They're so wonderful. They so own their characters... They did an incredible job in that episode. It would have been much easier with dumb actors.
Peter's emotional journey, from prison to promotion, to break-up... ♥♥  Just watching that is enough to make my day. Actually my whole week. :-)

Awww it feels sooo good to be back !



And many thanks to Kanarek for the lovely caps !!

Comments

[treonb.livejournal.com]

I loved the episode too! It really gave me everything I love about White Collar, and I keep on rewatching it (obsessively *cough*) And I love your roundup and pics :-)

loved the editing of that sequence.

I loved how they had Neal merge into Peter. And also later when the Neal dot becomes Neal.

Peter's face when the probie takes his jacket.

That entire scene was so funny. "What happened to your jacket?" Heh.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Yes, it gave us a little of everything of what makes White Collar the show we love.
Tons of great moments, I'm sure I've forgotten several.

[sapphire2309]

:D You reminded me why I love the show so much. Maybe I'll learn to cringe less when Neal runs around indiscreetly leaving prints everywhere :P

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

There were quite a few great scenes in that episode, but it seems that they were somewhat overlooked.
I'm not saying that episode was perfect, but I totally assume watching the series with pink glasses on.

[leesa_perrie]

It was fun and hard all at the same time, but I'm excited to see where all of this leads! So glad they brought back Hagan, but that's possibly because I like the actor!

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Yes, they settled some interesting plots for the rest of the season !
And I'm happy that the season arc will be dealing with Peter and Neal's relationship. :-)

[sholio]

Oh, my poor babies. *hugs them* But, yeah, I think this episode really got to the heart of the differences between them in a way that just made me love them more, because they're both trying so hard to be the best people they can possibly be, but in mutually incompatible ways! It's not about Peter being angry or Neal wanting something different than Peter does -- the worst part is that they're both almost entirely on the same page here (at least regarding goals), and yet a million miles away from each other.

The acting was just fantastic. :D Tim's face when Peter's in prison just killed me, and he really broke my heart at the end too, because he's obviously so proud of Neal and cares so much about Neal and backing off is ripping his heart out. And Matt really knocked it out of the park with all of his soft-eyed looks, too, and especially Neal's reactions to Peter investigating him towards the end. They're so great and they embody their characters so well!

Speaking of the recording, that was a really beautiful piece Neal wrote there... If Peter hadn't been so stressed by his whole future, he might have caught that it sounded way more like Neal than James... Also, loved the editing of that sequence.

Yes! That was beautifully done, and I particularly love how this is another instance of the show having the characters talk directly to each other in an honest way when they're pretending to be saying something else entirely -- because Neal is actually speaking the absolute truth here about wanting to do the right thing and doing the best he can, aside from the whole issue where he's pretending to be James while he's doing it...

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Oh I so much agree with you here !! :-) On basically everything you said.

I really loved all Tim's little faces through the episode. Sad, relieved, happy, emotive, heartbreaking...

And yes, the recording. It didn't occur to me on first vision, but it had a wonderful double meaning, with Neal saying "this is the best he can do, and he hopes that'll be enough".... awww boys...

[pipilj.livejournal.com]

Fantastic acting, aside from a few plot holes a lot of fun looking fwd to see how the dynamics change with the new handler. How the duo get back together. Your points about El are pertinent she being a protective wife. I loved that Peter did not quite know whether to hug Diana when he meet her.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

oh yes, Peter with Diana was adorable. "it's not Neal's" "I wasn't..."

[lov-pb.livejournal.com]

I love your chronicle of events. Perfect!
Now that some time has passed, I'm able to enjoy and dissect this episode with more impartiality. We're in for an exciting ride!

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Oh yes !
And I now realize that I've forgotten 2 or 3 major points that I wanted to say.
mainly the clever and twisted way they got Peter out, and how it's gonna break his heart, but at the same time he'll have to accept it.
And of course, the Neal-Peter relationship. How Peter's newly redrawn lines will affect both of them. (And how long Peter will be able to keep his distance... ;-) )

Also, Neal is up to his neck in a hell of a situation... And it's going to blow to his face. me think he's gonna regret the time when he was "only" hidding the treasure. LOL
Think it'll all end when Satchmo'll get kidnapped ?

I love my show, because it's clever. Even if it's not perfect, the good always outweights the less good.

[lov-pb.livejournal.com]

Aw ... no! Say it ain't so. Satchmo endangered! Just when I thought it couldn't get worse. :)

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

LOL !
That's the only Burke that didn't get kidnapped.
Wait. Peter said something about Jones and Diana being family too.
What if it's Diana, who's kidnapped the whole season to give Marsha the time to have her baby ? ;-)

Ok, I'm kidding.
At least, Tiffani said El would not get kidnapped this season. ;-)

[morganslady.livejournal.com]

Wonderful commentary to the episode. I'm glad you critiqued so well.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

thank you ! :-)
I felt like some squee was in order. :-)

[car8.livejournal.com]

I loved this episode for many reasons, one of which is that it did what a season premiere is supposed to do. It isn't supposed to completely resolve a cliffhanger and everything that led up to it. It's supposed to resolve it quickly and go on to set up situations to play out over the whole new season.(IMO).

I didn't want to see Peter in jail for a long time, have a trial, have the team working off book to help him, and wait forever for a solution because I knew Peter wasn't going to Sing Sing for the rest of his life.

Now we have several storylines set up between Peter and El, Peter and Neal, Moz and Neal, and Hagen and everyone. I am so exited and can't wait for every new episode every week,(with no midseason hiatus) which is the wat it's supposed to be and why I fell in love with WC.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Yes, you're right, this episode set for a very interesting season !
(And to be honest I find this potential season arc much more interesting than James. Or Kate.)
Great to see enthousiatic comments ! :-)

[scarym1.livejournal.com]

Love the pics and the commentary especially your notes on El. : )

I have been so busy lately that I have only had the chance to watch it once. Definitely have to make some time tomorrow to do a re watch before the next ep.

The combination of humor and the angst is what I LOVE about the show. Mozzie trying not to talk about conspiracies. Peter's reunion, on the courthouse steps, with Elizabeth was beautiful. I love the emotion of Peter returning to work and everyone clapping and welcoming him.

Then the angst starts to build with Neal doing a job for Hagen, & finding out he is now trapped by him. Peter giving Neal a new anklet and telling Neal he is taking the promotion and he will be assigned a new handler.

I am looking forward to see where this is all going to end up.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Thanks ! :-)
I have to admit, I've watched certain scenes like 5 times already, and that was because I had a very busy weekend and week ! ;-)

Glad you liked my note about El. I'm realizing that most of the negative reactions to the premiere are actually coming from people who don't really care for anyone else but Neal. I mean, it's fine to have a favorite, but if you take the time to put yourself into Peter's or El's shoes for a minute, and also, truly listen to what they're saying, it all makes a lot more sense.