Gluten and Dairy Free Ice Cream. Review: White Collar - "The Original"

Season 4, Episode 15

Air Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

Who needs words with a smile like that?

In many ways, “The Original” is the calm before the storm. Peter (Tim DeKay) now knows Neal (Matt Bomer) has been lying to him, but only because his wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) insisted Neal do so. We also know that the box containing the evidence (which clears Neal’s father James (Treat Williams)) is somewhere in the Empire State Building. With only one episode remaining, why don’t I think the finale will be Neal simply walking into the Empire State Building grabbing the box and walking out, wrapping things up nicely with everyone living happily ever after?

While White Collar boasts an amazing cast, not enough credit goes to the creator Jeff Eastin and his writing team. “The Original,” written by Mark Goffman, is yet another astounding episode. While I can continue for hours on end with my praise, as Neal says, “When people are nice, they’re usually working an angle.” I do, however, hope that Mr. Eastin does not bring all of his writers to his new show Graceland, which, based on the promos so far, has decidedly failed to win me over.

Is it a fake? Neal seems to think so.

Neal and Peter’s new boss Amanda (Emily Procter) sends them to investigate a possible forgery of a statue at an art gallery. But another sculpture catches Neal’s eye because he believes it is a fake. Neal and Peter conclude that the forgery is the work of DuBois’ protege, Bellmiere (Jeff Blatnik). This sets up a fun rivalry where Neal has to match his skills with someone else to an extent we really haven’t seen since the “Bottleneck” episode back in season one.

Meanwhile, Neal and Mozzie (Willie Garson) try to narrow down exactly where in the Empire State Building the evidence box left behind by Ellen (Judith Ivey) is stashed.

So much effort being put into the search for a box that nobody knows what it contains, just the belief that it’s enough to clear Neal’s father, yet nobody has asked, “What if it isn’t adequate?” Complicating matters even more is the return of James, who has been hiding out in one of Mozzie’s safe houses. He couldn’t take it anymore, explaining, “He’s a very weird dude.” I would elaborate but it’s Mozzie, do we really want to know? All this while trying to avoid drawing attention away from Amanda, whose intentions are not yet fully clear. I’m surprised Hughes (James Rebhorn) has gone away quietly, so far. I expected to see another version of the “Burke’s Seven” episode that includes Hughes this time.

“The Original” focuses on stepping out from someone else’s shadow and trying to find who you really are. Following Bellmiere’s arrest for forgery, Neal tells him, “Sad thing is, you’re more talented than DuBois.” Similar advice is given to Neal by his father, who is amazed by Neal’s work and wonders why Neal doesn’t do more original work instead of making flawless copies of other people’s. As much as we see Neal as a con man and convict, “The Original” allows us to better appreciate Neal’s visual talent.

One of the most powerful moments in “The Original” comes during a heated discussion, when Neal tells James, “He’s (referring to Peter) been more of a father to me than you ever were.” While I doubt James thought he was up for a Father of the Year award, Neal’s statement is really a blow and I wonder how James will be the next time he sees Peter. Will he see him as a threat or as a mentor to his son?

If I were to find one complaint about this episode, it would be based on something I said in my “Shoot the Moon” review: “One of the things that makes White Collar enjoyable is New York isn’t just the setting, it’s a character. By filming in places such as Yankee Stadium and the Empire State Building, it makes the series seem more realistic.”

Maybe we will see more of the iconic city in the finale, but the scenes with Mozzie in the Empire State Building felt like it was just any other building. It’s the frickin’ symbol of New York City! Why isn’t there a scene of Mozzie walking through the iconic golden lobby, heading for the elevator or something to that effect?

Overall, this is a great episode, which comes down to the writing. I know I’ve said this before, but White Collar is one of the best written shows on the air. So many of the relationships in White Collar are about reading between the lines—a look, a glance, a smile—all so well written and acted, the audience is able to follow along with ease. I love when Peter says to to Neal, “I know that look, I don’t like that look. What are you thinking?” It sums up their relationship perfectly. In addition, the chemistry between characters like Mozzie and Peter also click.

I am very much looking forward to the season finale, and to where season five takes us.

Tune in to White Collar Tuesdays at 10/9c, only on the USA Network. For more on the show, visit the official website at http://www.usanetwork.com/series/whitecollar/.

Follow the show on Twitter @WhiteCollarUSA.

LIKE White Collar on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/whitecollar.

Also follow the episode’s writer Mark Goffman on Twitter: @Markgoffman.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.