White Collar, 1.10 & 1.11

[rm]

So....

Okay, the whole drugged kidnapping episode wasn't nearly as filthy as all your descriptions conjured in my mind (so I should write that fic instead). Also, how illegal was EVERYTHING the FBI did in that one? That said -- hilarious. And the physical comedy was epic. And Peter, keep petting Neal's hair, please. And man, Neal just has El wrapped around his fingers, doesn't he?

Also, I totally, totally maintain that Neal and June are the awesomest fuck buddies in ever and I would like that fic very much not for the filth (although feel free, I'm sure it's smoking) but for the really sane, fun, genuine affection they have for each other without it being super complicated. I bet they lie around and talk about Neal's shit with Peter and El.

My fanfic fantasies aside there, I have to say, I love how much respect all the relationships on this show get. Peter could easily be the bumbling husband punchline. June could easily be treated as less than sexy and fabulous because she's older. Peter and Neal's connection could be buddy comedy stuff as opposed to something genuine enough to be uncomfortable in places. El could be the bitchy, jealous wife, but instead she laughs her ass off at Peter having to flirt for his job. THAT's what makes the show work and makes it something interesting even if it is too light and too neat in the manner of most US TV.

And then we have the jade elephants. It's like, the episode is cracky enough and then the Japanese show up. Also did Neal seriously have a random moment of awesome Japanese skills there? It's like fanon Ianto got his own show. Except, you know, I keep making that joke and the two characters are nothing alike, although I see how they are hitting similar receptor sites for people.

And then, Neal totally kicks Peter out of his place in this epic "no sex for you for a week" way. But you know Peter is going to show up at his house later, or, for that matter, that Neal's going to show up at the hotel so he can have room service on the Japanese government's tab. Or something. And then Peter will be all pissed off until El shows up a couple of hours later because Neal called her down there. Yeah.

Finally, Alex. Not that interesting. On the other hand, that was more what I expected from Kate, not some Tine the troubled Teen with soft features and too much eye makeup. There's no accounting for taste I suppose.

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I love how much respect all the relationships on this show get. Peter could easily be the bumbling husband punchline. June could easily be treated as less than sexy and fabulous because she's older. Peter and Neal's connection could be buddy comedy stuff as opposed to something genuine enough to be uncomfortable in places. El could be the bitchy, jealous wife, but instead she laughs her ass off at Peter having to flirt for his job. THAT's what makes the show work and makes it something interesting even if it is too light and too neat in the manner of most US TV.

I completely agree. It's utter fluff from a plot perspective, Kate is a plot device (made a bit better by her having little enough screen time to actually be far more of a plot device than merely another helpless female character & also because if we're lucky (at least IMHO) , she's also in league with Fowler and not just his pawn), but it has some of the best and least offensive social dynamics of any show I've seen recently. Peter & El are married and have a relationship that looks positive to me - I look at most het relationships on TV and in movies with undisguised horror.

[macadamanaity.livejournal.com]

Neal and June are the awesomest fuck buddies in ever and I would like that fic very much

In that case I'd highly recommend Zvi's fic, particularly Leave Taking, Party Taking, Pleasure Taking and When You're Good to Mama.

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

And Peter, keep petting Neal's hair, please.

That is, I think, the point of the entire episode. Well, that and the Peter/El/Neal scene that follows.

Ditto to what you say about the respect that the relationship on this show get, and I definitely get a Neal/June vibe at the beginning of 1.10 too.

It's like fanon Ianto got his own show. Except, you know, I keep making that joke and the two characters are nothing alike, although I see how they are hitting similar receptor sites for people.

Yes -- it's not so much that the two characters are like; I think it's probably more that Neal gets to do a lot of things that many people would've liked to see Ianto do.

On a slightly related note, what are your plans re: watching Being Human? It's interesting, because I think there's something similar there going on with George (yes, that is Russell Tovey's character) -- on the surface of it, he doesn't have all that much in common with Ianto (and he has absolutely NOTHING in common with Neal), yet he definitely hits the Ianto-buttons too (and this was my opinion long before EOT2 aired).

[cruentum.livejournal.com]

I had a 'wtf is wrong with this show' at the kidnapping ep. So didn't work for me, at all. I might have ranted about people about it how that was just not on.

Also, the issues I have, is that Peter lets himself be drawn into stepping over the 'illegal line' and nothing happens, especially after they branded OPR as the bad guys, nothing bad ever happens to anyone that lasts longer than an episode, and ... I just have issues with this show giving me way too much fiction and fluffy clouds.

I agree about the dynamics and the dynamics making the show, but that's so not enough for me (also, the characters aren't fucked-up enough for me, but oh well)

[rm.livejournal.com]

I've beein holding off on Being Human as I think Patty will like it so we want to watch together, but there are only so many hours in the day. Hopefully soon, although I don't know if it will happen before the upcoming UK trip.

[spiderine.livejournal.com]

One of the other things that strikes me about this show is how non-violent it is. Where other shows would have shoot-outs and car chases and fistfights, this one does not -- to the point where (in an ep you've not seen yet) when one of the characters throws a punch I was like, WHOA THERE!

It's almost as if White Collar has taken many of the common expectations of current American TV and just subverted them. SUBVERSIVE TV FTW!

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

You didn't tell me you were finally watching! (I haven't been on LJ in weeks.)

[rm.livejournal.com]

I've not spoken to you in weeks other than:
"England."
"Not that England."

But yeah, I made it my project while Patty was in Ohio. Gotta wedge in those last couple of episodes somewhere.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

But somewhere in there, there was a TARDIS key! (And see, you got to Gallifrey! It worked!)

I didn't even know Patty was in Ohio. :-(

I'm glad you finally watched it. I love the dynamics. I was thinking, it reminds of Descensus, if those guys weren't evil. In terms of relationships, I mean.

Once you're back from London part 1, we have GOT to schedule in reg. story meeting again. Seriously. This is getting ridiculous.

[rm.livejournal.com]

STORY MEETING.

And yeah, El is Narcissa all grown up, and not evil. June is Albus.

OMFG Gally. Did I tell you Graeme Harper basically planned my entire trip to Cardiff? It was a little surreal.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

You didn't tell me, because, as aforementioned, we haven't spoken in weeks. That's pretty cool though!

Hahahah, so Peter = Lucius. *laughs* Doesn't work, except with the relationship dynamics, where it totally does.

re: Story meeting, I'm serious! We should treat it like a business, and meet once every two weeks rain or shine. Or something. I'm tired of this "well, I suppose I'll see you in some foreign place like Minnesota! Or Bristol!" It's WEIRD.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Well yes, also we need to seriously be talking about some of our pro work.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Exactly! It's more than time.