Amanda Banker

On any given day, and in no particular order, I am a writer, a friend, a sister, a mom, a wife, a lover, a daughter, a survivor, a storyteller.

Most commented posts

  1. A Treasure, A Rescue and a Gold Shield. Spoiler-Free Advance Review: White Collar – “Checkmate” — 6 comments
  2. Assassinating Apples in Aruba. Review: White Collar – “Compromising Positions” — 4 comments
  3. Review: White Collar, S3, E10 – “Countdown” – Mid-Season Finale — 4 comments
  4. Welcome to the Cave. Review: White Collar – “Diminishing Returns” — 4 comments
  5. Review: The Glades, S2, E5 – “Dirty Little Secrets” — 3 comments

Author's posts

Sep 19 2012

A crushing bear hug. Review: White Collar Summer Season Finale – “Vested Interest”

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  • September 19, 2012

  • 10 mins to read

A crushing bear hug. Review: White Collar Summer Season Finale - "Vested Interest" 1

What a way to make an exit! “Vested Interest” has tension, banter, friendship repaired, bullets flying, truth revealed, and a rat! I’m always impressed by the writing on this show – the interactions and dialog flow so naturally viewers may feel as if they’re peering into the lives of these characters – but this season the writers have outdone themselves. Some of the plot points were telegraphed a bit, but the impact to the players involved minimized any predictability of the events unfolding around them.

Sep 15 2012

Welcome to Gleason’s Uptown. Review: White Collar – “Gloves Off”

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  • September 15, 2012

  • 10 mins to read

Welcome to Gleason's Uptown. Review: White Collar - "Gloves Off" 2

The writers for White Collar weren’t kidding around with the title of this episode. “Gloves Off” comes out of the gate swinging and doesn’t let up until we’re left watching Peter (Tim DeKay), bereft of words, as Neal (Matt Bomer) storms away in a cloud of betrayal, confusion, and pain.

Sep 06 2012

Having a 3 out of 10 day. Review: White Collar – “Ancient History”

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  • September 6, 2012

  • 8 mins to read

Having a 3 out of 10 day. Review: White Collar - "Ancient History" 3

I found it interesting that the question being asked in “Ancient History” is who can Neal trust? Neal is a (former) criminal. As Vincini stated so eloquently in The Princess Bride, “Criminals are used to having people not trust them….” Everyone on Peter’s team – including Peter – have continual doubts about Neal’s trustworthiness. The times he’s gone rogue – escaping and evading – have apparently outweighed the numerous times he’s proven himself to be part of the team. And in the black and white world of the FBI, it seems logical that Neal would be the one not to be trusted.

Aug 29 2012

Assassinating Apples in Aruba. Review: White Collar – “Compromising Positions”

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  • August 29, 2012

  • 7 mins to read

Assassinating Apples in Aruba. Review: White Collar - "Compromising Positions" 4

Cleverly, “Compromising Positions” sets up the anticipation of Neal (Matt Bomer) finally finding the elusive Sam (Treat Williams) and discovering more truth about his past so well that when the actual case centering on the conviction of a land developer running an environmental scam begins, it’s almost a surprise. The fact that Neal actually makes tenuous contact with Sam is told with almost B-side importance. But that’s the shrewd thing about the way White Collar is written: every detail means something.

Aug 23 2012

Mozzie, Spies, and Puppets – Oh My! Review: White Collar – “Identity Crisis”

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  • August 23, 2012

  • 6 mins to read

Mozzie, Spies, and Puppets - Oh My! Review: White Collar - "Identity Crisis" 5

It is a true measure of a show’s quality, I think, when it can tell the story of a quirky romp with a multitude of golden one-liners and grin-worthy inside jokes and still manage to keep the sentimental back-beat of the season-long theme going at its core. “Identity Crisis” is, at first glance, a story of a treasure hunt. Through a series of seemingly unconnected events, Mozzie (Willie Garson) discovers a potentially priceless piece of American history and elicits help from Neal (Matt Bomer) and Peter (Tim DeKay) to find it. But it’s more than that, really.

Aug 15 2012

A Long Con or a Change of Heart? Review: White Collar – “Honor Among Thieves”

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  • August 15, 2012

  • 7 mins to read

A Long Con or a Change of Heart? Review: White Collar - "Honor Among Thieves" 6

Neal has spent his life working angles in order to survive. In many ways, he’s like the mobile by Pascal that is the artistic centerpiece for this heist. The mobile is about perception – modern art that some might dismiss as trash while others declare it priceless. Its beauty is in its constant motion—always shifting, turning, catching angles of light so that each time you look at it, you see something slightly different. Neal has mastered the art of perception, making people see in him what he wants them to see, and it’s only recently that he’s questioning that visibility.

Aug 01 2012

One small step for man. White Collar – Review: “Parting Shots”

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  • August 1, 2012

  • 7 mins to read

One small step for man. White Collar - Review: "Parting Shots" 7

When Sara Ellis asks Peter and Neal to help her discover whether recently widowed (and altogether gorgeous) Sophie deserves the $50,000,000 she stands to inherit from her dead husband, the team gets a bit more than they bargained for.

Jul 25 2012

Welcome to the Cave. Review: White Collar – “Diminishing Returns”

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  • July 25, 2012

  • 7 mins to read

Welcome to the Cave. Review: White Collar - "Diminishing Returns" 8

“Diminishing Returns” brings back the uncredited character in this show – New York City herself – and has an entertaining case that keeps us engaged while the characters work to re-establish their balance. But that isn’t the story that has me invested. They’ve been teasing us since the end of last season with breadcrumbs of Neal’s mysterious past. Thanks to some well-placed questions, we might be pulling back the curtain that’s shrouded the real Neal from everyone who cares about him.

Jul 18 2012

Stuck in a cell, shot, and tied to a dashboard. Review: White Collar – “Most Wanted”

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  • July 18, 2012

  • 7 mins to read

Stuck in a cell, shot, and tied to a dashboard. Review: White Collar - "Most Wanted" 9

In what I believe may result in one of the best seasons of the show thus far, White Collar has kept the storyline of its highly entertaining characters fresh and moving with the twists and turns of “Most Wanted.” In the season opener, Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) was a wanted man, hiding out, on the run, and hoping to reinvent himself so thoroughly even the most tenacious of federal agents wouldn’t be able to catch him. Unfortunately, it seems the luck he’s banked on to keep him just out of karma’s reach isn’t with him.

Jul 10 2012

Papayas, Sandcastles, and Friendship. Review: White Collar – “Wanted”

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  • July 10, 2012

  • 7 mins to read

Papayas, Sandcastles, and Friendship. Review: White Collar – “Wanted” 10

Tucked away on a non-extradition island with Mozzie (Willie Garson) by his side, Neal has assumed a new alias, a new persona, and a whole new look. And I have to say, island living looks good on our favorite fedora-wearing conman.

Feb 22 2012

The King of Swing vs The Gentleman Criminal, Review: White Collar – “Stealing Home”

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  • February 22, 2012

  • 6 mins to read

The King of Swing vs The Gentleman Criminal, Review: White Collar - "Stealing Home" 11

What do you get when you mix a popular, careful, smart criminal with a con artist like Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), then stir in an undercover, FBI-sanctioned sting operation and add a pinch of Yankee Stadium? Magic. Tim DeKay’s directorial debut with “Stealing Home” not only adds emotional resonance to the weekly crime caper, but moves the story of Neal’s pending commutation hearing along with the easy pacing of a seasoned director.

Feb 02 2012

A gun…or a Tony award, Review: White Collar – “Neighborhood Watch”

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  • February 2, 2012

  • 6 mins to read

A gun...or a Tony award, Review: White Collar - "Neighborhood Watch" 12

In a refreshing, savvy, and oftentimes humorous approach, Mozzie (Willie Garson) and Elle (Tiffani Thiessen) come to the forefront of the storytelling when some surveillance equipment left at the Burke home becomes the catalyst for a caper, and for Peter (Tim DeKay) to recognize that his wife is dealing with her kidnapping a bit differently than he expected.

Jan 25 2012

Trust, The Bard, and a Decision, Review: White Collar – “Upper Westside Story”

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  • January 25, 2012

  • 6 mins to read

Trust, The Bard, and a Decision, Review: White Collar - "Upper Westside Story" 13

After the rush of the mid-season premiere and the potentially game-changing news dropped into Neal Caffrey’s (Matt Bomer) lap, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from “Upper Westside Story” in terms of character development and connection. As is usual for this series, the episode plot and case-of-the-week is tight with a crafty, clever con and a layer of sentimentality that further endears our favorite con and FBI agent, Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) to us.

Jan 04 2012

A Treasure, A Rescue and a Gold Shield. Spoiler-Free Advance Review: White Collar – “Checkmate”

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  • January 4, 2012

  • 4 mins to read

A Treasure, A Rescue and a Gold Shield. Spoiler-Free Advance Review: White Collar - "Checkmate" 14

In the second half of this season, the chess board is shifting once again, showing us that when we strip away the lies of convenience and replace them with lies of necessity, we’re left with an interesting version of the truth. To rescue Elizabeth, the gang unites in a manner that momentarily erases previous hurts and betrayals.

Sep 27 2011

Review: Castle, S4, E2 – “Heroes & Villains”

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  • September 27, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: Castle, S4, E2 - "Heroes & Villains" 15

In “Heroes and Villains,” a sword-wielding vigilante kills an ex-con and triggers one mad-cap caper of an investigation. Now, this is the Castle I know and love. Most notable for its central character’s light-hearted approach to law enforcement, Castle brings back the comic relief (in more ways than one) after last week’s rather serious season opener.

Sep 20 2011

Review: Castle, S4, E1 – “Rise”

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  • September 20, 2011

  • 7 mins to read

Review: Castle, S4, E1 - "Rise" 16

After a heart-stopping Season 3 finale, we were left wondering not only if Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) would survive the gunshot wound (really, was there any doubt?) but if she’d heard Rick Castle’s (Nathan Fillion) confession of love. The tightly-wrought Season 4 opener, “Rise,” picks up right where we left off and sets a bit of a darker, more serious tone for the start of this season.

Sep 06 2011

Review: The Glades, S2, E13 (Season Finale) – “Breakout”

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  • September 6, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: The Glades, S2, E13 (Season Finale) - "Breakout" 17

There are some finales that just get it right: enough of an open end to keep you wanting more, but not so much of a cliffhanger that you’re cursing the hiatus for weeks on end. “Breakout” is just that. And it blows the formulaic approach of The Glades out of the swamp. The sophomore season started shaky but picked up speed and found its stride mid-way through, ending strong.

Aug 29 2011

Review: The Glades, S2, E12 – “Shine”

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  • August 29, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: The Glades, S2, E12 - "Shine" 18

Apparently the adage ‘you learn something new every day’ is quite true for Detective Jim Longworth (Matt Passmore). In “Shine,” the former Chicago lawman learns that the practice of distilling and selling moonshine is not only an old Florida tradition, but is still a thriving (legal) business in the Everglades. The question is: are moonshine bootleggers responsible for murder, or are they just marketing 120 proof liquor?

Aug 22 2011

Review: The Glades, S2, E11 – “Beached”

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  • August 22, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: The Glades, S2, E11 - "Beached" 19

With only two more episodes left in the season, The Glades starts turning up the Florida heat and taking the relationship they’ve been dangling before us like the proverbial carrot to the next level…or, at least, giving it a legitimate chance to level up. Detective Jim Longworth (Matt Passmore) is a bit cranky about investigating the body of a “well-coiffed executive” found on a popular stretch of beach, but the interruption of his golf game is only partially to blame.

Aug 15 2011

Review: The Glades, S2, E10 – “Swamp Thing”

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  • August 15, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: The Glades, S2, E10 - "Swamp Thing" 20

Now I get why real estate agents are all about location, location, location. I mean, where else besides The Glades could a Boy Scout troop on a nature hike encounter the remains of a wild boar—complete with remnants of a zipper and a human finger—except the Florida Everglades?

Aug 10 2011

Review: White Collar, S3, E10 – “Countdown” – Mid-Season Finale

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  • August 10, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: White Collar, S3, E10 - "Countdown" - Mid-Season Finale 21

White Collar draws taut the strings of anticipation in a tensely-wrought, well-played mid-season finale. “Countdown” reminds us just who these lead characters are – “Gotham City’s finest Cop and Robber” – while at the same time forcing each man to decide who they want to be. And the way everything comes together at the end of this episode is going to make waiting for the winter premiere excruciating.

Aug 08 2011

Review: The Glades, S2, E9 – “Iron Pipeline”

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  • August 8, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: The Glades, S2, E9 - "Iron Pipeline" 22

Centering the story on a focal point that drew this viewer to the show in the first place, The Glades delivers an emotional crime-solving episode with “Iron Pipeline.” It may seem odd to some for a police drama to have an anti-gun message of sorts; nevertheless, I think the episode is handled very well.

Aug 03 2011

Review: White Collar, S3, E9 – “On the Fence”

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  • August 3, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: White Collar, S3, E9 - "On the Fence" 23

Once again, a show selects a title for an episode that’s not just a clever play on words, but houses a deeper meaning with one of the key characters. White Collar’s theme this season has been ‘choice and identity’ and “On the Fence” certainly showcases Neal Caffrey’s (Matt Bomer) struggle with both.

Aug 01 2011

Review: The Glades, S2, E8 – “Second Skin”

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  • August 1, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: The Glades, S2, E8 - "Second Skin" 24

I know what you’re thinking: ‘Why did it have to be snakes?’ Actually, that’s probably what Jim Longworth (Matt Passmore) is thinking when he’s called to investigate a dead body at a Pentecostal Charismatic Church. With the distraction of Sam Harper (Natalia Cigliuti) gone, Jim is almost like his old self again—scoping out the food at a crime scene, giving the M.E., Carlos Sanchez (Carlos Gomez), a hard time, and keeping witnesses and suspects alike on edge until the case is solved.

Jul 27 2011

Review: White Collar, S3, E8 – “As You Were”

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  • July 27, 2011

  • 6 mins to read

Review: White Collar, S3, E8 - "As You Were" 25

At long last! Agent Clinton Jones (Sharif Atkins) is out of the van! I’ve been waiting for a Jones-centric episode like this since “Deadline,” the episode that dealt with Diana Berrigan’s (Marsha Thomason) life outside of the FBI. I think it’s safe to say “As You Were” is my favorite episode thus far this season. Memorable lines, grin-worthy dialogue, action, heartbreak, and two good looking men in dress whites…what more can a girl ask for?

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