Summary
“Free Fall” showcases Neal’s conman skills and dynamic with Peter, setting the tone for White Collar’s excellent writing and performances.
“Shot Through The Heart” twists Neal’s future, while “Point Blank” ramps up the tension and mystery in season 2.
“Borrowed Time” kicks off the final season with action and intrigue, setting up a thrilling conclusion for Neal and Peter’s story.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
White Collar had a spectacular series run with six seasons and 81 episodes, but some of the episodes stood out more than others. White Collar began airing on the USA Network in 2009, where it continued to release new episodes until 2014. The series follows FBI special agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), and his criminal informant, Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer).
Throughout the series, the unlikely duo frequently clash, with Caffrey struggling to leave behind his life of crime, and Burke slowly developing a friendship with a man he hunted for years before capturing and convicting. The series is also aided by outstanding writing from Jeff Eastin and his team, along with the spectacular performances of the whole cast. Much of the show is worthy of praise, which makes it challenging to highlight just a few episodes, but there are standout moments from the series that are worth praising.
15 “Free Fall”
White Collar Season 1, Episode 7
White Collar had an incredibly strong first season, with episodes like “Free Fall” highlighting its potential. Due to Neal’s extensive criminal history as a conman, he is tagged as a suspect in a jewelry heist, and Peter struggles to get a clear read on whether Neal was actually involved. Testing their tentative dynamic just as it begins.
Neal’s skills as a criminal and a conman are on full display, while Peter needs to weigh up the risks and rewards of working with such an unreliable ally. The episode also introduced Noah Emmerich as FBI special agent Garrett Fowler, who works hard to discredit Peter and put an end to the working relationship with Neal. The tension and drama of the episode is indicative of everything that comes after, and a highlight for season 1.
Related
White Collar: 5 USA Network Shows We’d Like To See Revived (& 5 We Don’t)
USA network has had had some great original TV shows. Here’s some that they should revive, and others to leave behind.
14 “Shot Through The Heart”
White Collar Season 5, Episode 11
Much later in the series, Neal has settled into his life as an FBI consultant, and sees a real future as an honest man. However, “Shot Through The Heart” provides a great twist when a woman he has been helping to investigate, Rebecca Lowe, is revealed to be a criminal mastermind and murderer, Rachel Turner.
This episode is full of emotional beats, with Peter preparing to move to Washington for a promotion, and Neal trying to figure out what his life will look like without his primary partner and ally in the FBI. With the big reveal about Rachel Turner, it appears that big things are in play for the rest of season 5, and the true antagonist has now been revealed.
13 “Point Blank”
White Collar Season 2, Episode 9
White Collar season 2 contains many of the highest rated episodes in the entire series’ run. The show continues to keep up the pace of the first season, while also adding new rivals and mysteries to be explored with each new episode. In “Point Blank,” just over halfway through the season, the story hits its stride with Fowler being cleared of suspicions surrounding Kate’s death at the end of season 1.
This episode also sees Mozzie finally crack the code in the mysterious music box, but just before he can alert Neal and Peter about his discovery, he is shot, and the code is stolen. This episode is a great representation of the high intensity and doubt which surrounds many characters in the series. And it perfectly sets up the second half of season 2.
Related
Lupin & 9 Other Great Shows About Con Artists
TV series about con artists are some of the most addictive and fast-paced to watch. If you’re looking for a few good ones like Lupin, look no further.
12 “Borrowed Time”
White Collar Season 6, Episode 1
White Collar’s final season gets off to an incredible start when Peter pulls in Rebecca to help him track down Neal, who was abducted without his anklet at the end of the previous season. On one hand, the episode reveals the negotiations with Rebecca, before she decides to try and risk an escape and ends up being shot. On the other, Neal is seen being held captive by Jim Boothe.
Boothe hopes to force Neal to steal a diamond from the FBI, but as a master manipulator, Neal seeks to turn the situation around for his own advantage. As he has long worked for his freedom from surveillance and the control of the FBI, season 6 sets up the perfect opportunity for him to either turn his back on his friends and continue his life as a criminal mastermind, or walk a path towards freedom at last.
11 “Forging Bonds”
White Collar Season 2, Episode 11
Returning to season 2, “Forging Bonds” is the episode where Neal and Peter finally discover who is behind Kate’s murder, and are able to start building their case. This episode also provides a greater insight into Neal’s life before the series began when he reveals the events immediately preceding his capture by Peter.
The episode is a slightly slower pace than many of the more action-packed episodes in the series. However, it does a lot to build the characters and make Neal even more likable than he already was. The series does a great job balancing these episodes where they expand the characters and develop the arcs that exist aside from the season’s primary storylines.
Related
Matt Bomer’s 10 Best Roles, According to IMDb
Actor Matt Bomber is still going at it, but so far, these his 10 best roles according to IMDb.
10 “Under The Radar”
White Collar Season 2, Episode 16
“Under the Radar” rounds out season 2, and closes the series with what is very nearly a massive bang. With Peter, Neal and Alex finally catching up with Adler, they almost capture the criminal mastermind, only to be trapped in a massive submarine full of TNT. Neal has to remain cool and use his skills to defuse the TNT before time runs out.
Often, throughout the series, the cliffhangers and season finales make up some of the absolute best moments of the series, and while season 2’s finale is the lowest one featured on this list, it is a heart-pounding, intense, and gripping episode which earns its spot in the top 10. With the team having expanded beyond Peter and Neal, this episode is a great showcase of the trust that has been built, and settles into the format for the rest of the series’ run.
9 “Out Of The Box”
White Collar Season 1, Episode 14
Despite all of that, the season 1 finale is even more spectacular, as it appears that Neal has fully turned on Peter and is about to make his great escape with the girl, the money, and everything he wanted. Neal didn’t fully give up his life as a criminal before this point, and as he prepares to board a plane to freedom, it’s clear that the choice between continuing his old ways, or committing to his new life working alongside Peter weighs heavy on him.
However, just as he was about to choose, the plane explodes, killing Kate, and making the choice for him instead. This explosive cliffhanger was an incredibly strong finish to the first season, and it paved the way for the rest of the series. The ending was unexpected, but the intrigue and new mysteries which came with it were the perfect stopping point to keep fans engaged and guessing until season 2 was released.
Related
USA Network’s 15 Best Characters, Ranked
Fan-favorite and memorable characters are a staple across many of USA Network’s popular original programming, such as Suits and Burn Notice.
8 “Burke’s Seven”
White Collar Season 2, Episode 10
The final entry from season 2 comes between two of the previously referenced episodes. “Burke’s Seven” sees Peter framed for a murder that he was not responsible for, and subsequently suspended from the FBI. While Neal tries his best to go by the book and find the man responsible for Mozzie’s shooting, the FBI leaves him no choice but to set up a heist to clear Peter’s name and find Mozzie’s shooter.
This episode is a turning point in the friendship and trust between Neal and Peter. Up to this point, the pair were amiable, and even found commonalities between them. But until Peter was put on the other side of the FBI, and Neal was forced to use his skills, the pair didn’t have the same level of appreciation and respect for each other. The rest of the series sees them grow closer, and able to rely on each other, but this is certainly a pivotal moment in that relationship.
7 “Checkmate”
White Collar Season 3, Episode 11
“Checkmate” marked the series’ return after a mid-season break, and the resolution of Elizabeth Burke’s kidnapping. Elizabeth is able to escape from Keller, while the team, consisting of Neal, Peter and Mozzie are hard at work formulating a plan to rescue her alive.
It’s a powerful moment highlighting the camaraderie between the slowly reforming criminals and Peter as they join forces to help the charming and kind Mrs. Burke. Season 3 was also another standout series with several major moments that came before and after the mid-season break, and in the season finale. The cast and crew had settled into their roles, and that’s evident from the chemistry on screen, as well as the great storytelling.
Related
10 Best TV Procedurals From The 2000s, Ranked
Television procedurals have been a favorite genre for a while, and those that debuted in the 2000s are among the genre’s most outstanding examples.
6 “Countdown”
White Collar Season 3, Episode 10
In the episode immediately preceding, Neal and Mozzie are hard at work trying to cover up their criminal activities. While there is more respect shared between them and Peter, it’s a difficult thing to leave the criminal life behind. Mozzie and Neal are in possession of some stolen treasure, which Peter and his colleagues at the FBI are actively looking for.
The clever lies and hiding of intentions in the episode create an interesting dynamic for the viewer, who is witness to everything, as these allies attempt to work behind one another’s backs. And of course, the episode ends on another almighty cliffhanger, as Elizabeth is kidnapped by Keller, who is looking for the treasure. This once again marks a shift in the attitudes and behaviors of Mozzie and Neal as they learn who they are putting in danger, and how much they actually care for their new friends in the White Collar cast.
5 “Diamond Exchange”
White Collar Season 5, Episode 13
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
The season 5 finale set in motion much of the events of the final season, while also resolving previous storylines. Mozzie’s life is in danger, and Neal and Peter need to find a diamond to exchange with Rebecca for the antidote. However, the more emotional moments of the episode come as Peter asks the FBI director to finally let Neal become a free man.
Of course, the director refuses, and despite years of hard work and countless criminals apprehended thanks to Neal’s efforts, he is expected to remain a prisoner. Out of frustration, Neal has Mozzie remove his ankle monitor, but moments later, he is kidnapped by mysterious men and thrown into a van. It’s an intense and emotional episode, with another huge cliffhanger for the series.
Related
15 Best Procedural TV Shows, Ranked
Within the realm of procedural television shows, a select few redefine the genre, setting themselves apart with compelling narratives and innovation.
4 “Judgment Day”
White Collar Season 3, Episode 16
Returning to season 3, “Judgment Day” is another emotional and moving season finale. The episode revolves around Neal standing before a committee to potentially get his freedom back. Neal has an emotional moment with Peter, where he reveals that working with him has given him a new purpose in life, and whether he is or isn’t awarded his freedom, he wants to keep working with him.
However, the antagonist here is the FBI agent, Kramer, who reveals he has no intention of letting Neal go. The fact is that Neal has become too invaluable of an asset, and Kramer wishes to force him to keep working for them. Peter breaks the rules by informing Neal about the impending result, and this gives him enough time to get rid of his ankle monitor and flee the country with Mozzie.
3 “Live Feed”
White Collar Season 5, Episode 10
In the penultimate season, one of the greatest twists of the entire series is exposed in “Live Feed.” The episode sees Neal and Peter at odds due to some preexisting tension from earlier in the season, but regardless, they work together to try and solve an important murder case. Peter has been offered a significant promotion, but he wants to finish solving this case before making the change, and ending his time in New York on another win.
Neal is mainly concerned with freeing his girlfriend, Rebecca, and together, the pair show once again why they make such a great team. However, as the episode comes to a close, the shocking revelation of who was behind the killing reveals Rebecca to be the most likely culprit, as she owns a secret apartment with a live-feed tapped in to where the murder took place. It’s a phenomenal twist, and a great way to unite Peter and Neal once again.
Related
10 Modern Procedural TV Shows That Redefined The Genre
Procedural shows gained popularity for their format and the ease of being able to watch any episode without context, modern shows evolved the format.
2 “Pilot”
White Collar Season 1, Episode 1
One episode that absolutely deserves a spot in the top three is “Pilot.” Setting up the entire series and introducing the cast in an exciting and action-packed episode that promises great things ahead. Neal escapes prison three months before he is set to be released, only to be captured once again by his rival, FBI special agent Peter Burke.
The episode introduces their dynamic, the careful tension, and establishes an incredible partnership that carries the following six seasons. It’s the perfect introduction to both the determined detective and the charming conman. As well as introducing Mozzie, who will also play a vital role throughout the show, and become a core part of the team in later seasons.
1 “Au Revoir”
White Collar Season 6, Episode 6
While many shows have a strong opening and a few strong seasons, White Collar also managed to nail the ending. So much so, in fact, that the series finale is the best episode of the show’s run. The plan to catch the Panthers goes perfectly, and the FBI is able to capture many of the highest profile thieves in the world. Simultaneously, Neal sets off to enjoy the money that Mozzie managed to siphon off for them and Keller, only to be betrayed by Keller, who shoots him.
Peter approaches, and is able to take down the fleeing crook, but the damage is done and Neal is rushed to the hospital. He is then called in to identify the body, and the story concludes. However, Neal Caffrey, being a master conman, has faked his death. A year later, he sends Peter a bottle of wine, and Peter is led to a storage unit that confirms he survived. This ending is really the only way White Collar could have ended and remained faithful to the two diametrically opposed characters who built an undeniable friendship between them.