A Review of USA’s “White Collar” by Tiffany A. White
While I catch up with all of the new 2013/2014 fall television pilots airing right now, and there are a lot of them, I’ve decided to feature a show that I am looking forward to returning later this month… USA’s White Collar.
The USA series follows Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), a suave and sexy professional con-artist captured by the FBI, and the FBI agent responsible for Neal’s arrest, Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). What’s interesting about this relationship is that Peter is also responsible for Neal’s release from prison, a special circumstance allowing Neal his freedom under the strict supervision of an ankle monitor and one condition: Neal must use his criminal expertise to assist the White Collar division of the FBI in capturing bad guys.
Neal enlists the help of his fellow con-man, Mozzie (Willie Garson), who despite his distrust of the government, stands by his friend’s side and builds his own relationship with Peter and Peter’s wife, Elizabeth (Tiffani Theissen). Each season focuses on a unique and on-going storyline in addition to solving a new FBI white collar case each week. But remember, Neal is a con despite how clean he attempts to live his life today. Once a con, always a con—right?
The series builds fun and heartfelt character relationships: Peter/Neal, Peter/Elizabeth, Elizabeth/Neal, Elizabeth/Mozzie, Neal/Alex (another of Neal’s con-buddies played by Gloria Votsis), and Neal/Sara (insurance investigator/Neal’s current love interest played by Hilarie Burton), keeping with USA’s motto of character driven television.
Marsha Thomason also stars as Peter’s FBI right-hand, Diana, and Sharif Atkins as Special Agent Clinton Jones. Both Diana and Jones trust Neal, as far as they can throw him; but they want to trust him one-hundred percent… as do the viewers.
Over the years, viewers have enjoyed many familiar faces in guest and recurring roles: Diahann Carroll, James Rebhorn, Treat Williams, Beau Bridges, Andrew McCarthy, Emily Procter, Eliza Dushku, and even a few Twin Peaks alumni for fans such as myself (Madchen Amick and Dana Ashbrook). And there’s no reason to think this will change in season five. The show has already announced a few of the actors stopping by in the new year: Zjelko Ivanek, Mark Sheppard (love him!), Warren Kole (love him too!), and many others.
White Collar returns to USA October 17th.
*****
Tiffany A. White is the author of the YA mystery “Football Sweetheart” series. She blogs at The Ooo Factor and is available for contact via Twitter at , Facebook at , or by email at .
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