White Collar – Borrowed Time

• Title: White Collar – Borrowed Time
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White Collar begins its final season by picking up the pieces of last season’s cliffhanger. The reveal of who took Neal (Matt Bomer) and why is a bit disappointing (honestly, the man’s plan to kidnap Neal and make him a fugitive in order to retrieve something in the FBI’s possession which he can no longer accomplish is pretty shotty thinking). However, the man’s need of a big score opens up a new door for Neal setting the stage for the show’s final season and the remaining days of Neal’s work for the FBI.

Learning Rebecca‘s (Bridget Regan) former partner needs to impress a prestigious secret organization of thieves, Neal offers up his assistance in a break-in that is sure to earn the group’s respect. After realizing Neal hasn’t run, Peter (Tim DeKay) and his team work to insinuate themselves into the situation as support keeping Neal alive long enough to complete the con (with one sleight variation of what his abductor had planned) and take down the bad guy.

The disappointment over the reveal of the reason behind Neal’s kidnapping being far less interesting than expected is shortlived as the rest of the episode deals with setting up an impressive score for Neal which not only buys him time with his kidnapper and makes a name for himself with the secret organization but also gives the con man leverage against the FBI to force an end to his time working for the bureau. As he tells Mozzie (Willie Garson) to end the episode, taking down the group and earning his freedom aren’t the only incentives in Neal’s latest job. We’ll just have to wait and see what else Neal has planned, how far he’s willing to go, and how much leeway Peter will allow.