White Collar – On the Fence

• Title: White Collar – On the Fence
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Rumors of the Nazi submarine have brought Neal’s old friend Keller (Ross McCall) back to New York. At the same time Neal (Matt Bomer) and Peter (Tim DeKay) try to recover an Egyptian artifact that’s worked its way into Manhattan and into the hands of a respected Egyptologist and world class fence (Eliza Dushku). When the two cases cross paths everything goes straight to Hell.

Seeking a quick influx of cash, looking for revenge for a murdered friend, and in need of help solving the Keller situation, Mozzie (Willie Garson) sells off one of the Nazi treasures to pay for a professional hit. Unfortunately he doesn’t realize his actions will lead to Keller escaping FBI custody and draw attention back to him as the painting is one of the items on the partial manifest in the FBI’s possession.

Although I was a little troubled with the ease with which Keller plays both Sara (Hilarie Burton) and Neal separately in attempting to work his way to the treasure the episode works quite well. We also see a hard streak in Mozzie that we hadn’t seen before as he coolly pays for the assassination of another human being. Who knew the little guy had it in him?

I liked Dushku in yet another attractive woman with questionable morals who tickles Neal’s fancy. Their final scene hints at a possible return which I’d be totally on board for. As to the fallout of Neal keeping the manifest from Mozzie and the painting hitting the market, we’ll just have to wait and see. We’ve got one more episode before the mid-season break and if history teaches us anything it’s that White Collar will find a way to end things with yet another cliffhanger.