Saturday, December 20, 2014

White Collar - Au Revoir


Ever since the end of the Third Season the post-FBI future of con man turned FBI informant Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) has been the show's big looming unanswered question. Once his service was complete would Neal got back to his old ways or stay on the straight and narrow? As with the case of every single mid-season and season finale over the years, the show's final episode ends on a bit of a cliffhanger with much left unsaid. Wrapping up the final season's Pink Pather storyline, and Neal's overall arc over the show's six seasons, one thing it does reveal is that Neal (while changed by his experiences working for the FBI) still has equal parts angel and devil allowing him to end his tenure with the FBI on his terms.

The show is always it its best when wrapping up story arcs and teasing what might come next which, despite being the final episode of the series, "Au Revoir" does quite well. Bringing Peter (Tim DeKay) in undercover on the Panther's big score, Neal's behind-the-scene planning allows Mozzie (Willie Garson) to pocket large amount of the syphoned-off cash and put in a contingency plan for Keller (Ross McCall) to make sure his old rival will never bother Peter or Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) ever again.

Although I expected the show's final twist long before Peter did, the sequence of events is well orchestrated and the episode leaves quite a bit of questions unanswered following Neal's death. How long was Mozzie in on the final con? Sequences following Neal's shooting suggest he's been duped as well, although his final scene with Peter (months later) suggest he has learned (or discovered?) the truth. And as to how Neal will spend his afterlife, be it as con man, artist, thief, or something more, well... I guess we can all decide for ourselves. Whatever the case, White Collar will be missed.

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