Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of recap last week. Since SB encouraged us to go ahead and do double posts for this week and last, that’s what I’m going to do.

This week was the last White Collar episode of the season. I have to say that for the most part, I am glad I watched this show, and I’ll check it out this summer as well.

But first, let’s talk about last week’s episode: “Front Man”.

One thing I thought was interesting was that it was described on my TV as “The daughter of Neal’s friend is a kidnap victim”, but in my opinion, that’s not really how it played out. I really liked that both the Lindsey Gless’s dad AND Ryan Wilkes were BOTH basically enemies of Neal. I thought it was a great example of Neal’s past catching up to him despite his inherent good nature.

At the beginning of that episode, I was all set to kind of write off the season as ‘good for what it is’ which is fun capers, good looking star, but not a lot of character development, etc. But I LOVED that Neal was the ransom. I was totally surprised by that. How did you feel about the FBI loaning out Neal (internally) for cases? I kind of liked it, and I liked Agent Rice. She was kind of shrewish, but I liked it.

I also liked the use of Alex’s character in this episode, and adored the two finger pointing from Suspenders-FBI-Boss Dude.

Now THIS week’s episode: “Out of the Box”.

Ooooh lala, Alex and Neal, swimming in a pool. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. Haha, it doesn’t really rhyme, but still. That scene was pretty smokin!

I like Alex, and I like that she has the hots for Neal.

I know this isn’t a fashion blog, but I thought everyone looked pretty fantastic in this episode. I especially liked Elizabeth’s clothes, particularly that plummy colored sweater at the beginning during her talk with Peter. What I still don’t buy is him talking over cases with her at home, even if they are just about Neal. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see FBI agents doing that much.

As for the way Fowler busted in on Elizabeth’s shop, and Peter came to the rescue and busted FOWLER in the face … ah, nice! That he simultaneously lost his badge and gun under suspension was a good plot move.

Another eyebrow raising (in a good way) plot point was when Neal announced to the consulate crowd that he was an international art thief, there to rob them. I really liked pretty much all of this episode. But one thing kept me up, mind whirling, trying to figure it out. And that was Mozzie’s camera to the security camera trick. I felt like I had JUST seen that on another show, and could not figure out which one. It might have been Human Target (is anyone else still watching THAT show?), but I”m not 100% sure.

Anyways, back to this episode, and back to Neal sculpting shirtless. That just felt like a gift, right? A well packaged present: “Thanks for watching”. And I accept.

I was glad to see Diana back from the earlier episodes, but I will admit that I was kind of confused about the whole Mentor thing. But from what I know…(at least, according to Fowler, who at this point, probably can’t really be trusted), MENTOR is legit, and Neal has really been working for that, alongside of Kate. Is that right? I guess it was more of a set up plot line for season two, which is cool.

As for the ending, I was a little choked up when Mozz was talking about not really being able to get in touch with Neal. I just thought he looked like the cutest thing in that scene. But as for the very, very end, I cringed a couple of times, while Peter was trying to convince Neal to stay behind and NOT get on the plane with Kate (and that glimpse of a person WAS Kate, right?). The dialogue was pretty sappy. But it was all a precursor to the MAJOR surprise (for me) of the plane exploding. In hindsight, I guess that might be a cliche move, but I really didn’t see it coming. And while it might be an old move, I think it was the right move, because it sets up some intrigue once more.

1. Where’s Kate (was she on the plane when it exploded? I have a feeling not.)

2. Did Peter KNOW it was going to explode? Was that why he was trying to prevent Neal from going? And even if he didn’t know, will Neal think he did?

3. Now that Neal can’t really get away, but isn’t under surveillance (right? I assume that, at least), will he stick around his new ‘good’ life?

Ah, questions, questions! It was a good place to leave season one.

Thoughts from you? Are you glad you tuned in this season? Favorite moment from the whole year combined? If I HAVE to choose, I think I’ll go with the old standby of Neal reading Warrant Law in bed. Oh yeah, and that was another shirtless ‘thanks for watching’ gift. And oh yeah, I accepted.

Comments, speculations … go for it!