White Collar – Checkmate

• Title: White Collar – Checkmate
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Now that Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) has been kidnapped by Keller (Ross McCall) Neal (Matt Bomer) is forced to come clean to Peter (Tim DeKay) about the treasure. Keller wants a simply exchange – Elizabeth for the treasure. That Neal and Peter can’t trust Keller is one problem, that Mozzie (Willie Garson) has disappeared with the treasure is another.

“Checkmate” picks up right where the mid-season cliffhanger left off. Peter confronts Neal about the treasure but given the search for both Mozzie and Elizabeth the two never really have a chance to have it out. Of course the fact that Neal saves Peter’s life in the end helps make up for a little of the trouble he’s caused.

The episode is tense and well-paced and allows us to see a slightly more ruthless side of Neal as well as a glimpse at a less hardened Keller. However, the most interesting scene is the episode’s last in which Neal is told of a hearing which will, given his service to the FBI and help in recovering the treasure, decide if the remainder of his sentence will be could be committed by the end of the season.

This also leaves Peter in an interesting position as he’ll have to testify at Neal’s hearing. I don’t want to get my hopes too high but I would love to see Neal freed from the anklet and choose to stay as a consultant all on his own. Whether or not that’s in the cards we’ll just have to wait and see.