Time to look at the next chunk of season 5, which features what I like to call Bi-Polar Papa Peter.
Peter: Boy, don't make me knock them pretty blue eyes out your head.
Season Five Papa Peter
This is arguably the most lighthearted and interesting story of the season. All of the tension between Neal and Peter is put on pause and Elizabeth is at her least annoying. And Neal's a butler.... I find that hard to believe with how he cons to enjoy luxury but this is so not his most ludicrous skill.
Peter is sick and at one point, Neal mentions having to take care of him on top of everything else he has going on. Too awwww, dutiful Daddy's Boy. Neal also has conversations with a rich family's imposter son. He says how fortunate the guy is to have his father be so welcoming considering his son ran away as a teenager. It makes me wonder if Neal is subconsciously projecting his wish for Peter to be less skeptical and more unconditionally forgiving towards him.
Loving Papa Peter is still in there somewhere, though. He warns Neal to perform recon only and not to engage with the imposter. When Neal acts cute later, Peter lets him drive the car. The same Peter who doesn't even like him to pick the radio stations.
Ice Breaker
This episode feels like it was aired out of order with the last one. Here, they mention Neal's bad therapy experience as if it just happened and Peter is highly suspicious of him. It's also insane how well he knows Neal when he considers a stray FBI pen as evidence of his hidden hijinks.
Quantico Closure
So, El doesn't want Peter emotionally involved with Neal, but it's A-OK for her to emotionally manipulate him. She insists she'll go into danger alone if Neal doesn't help her. Yeesh, the way these Mozzie and El episodes live to get Neal in trouble with Peter. No accountability for them, of course. Naturally, Neal is really sweet and reassuring towards her all through this. Which he shouldn't have to be because even the Lady Fixer from season four knew Peter would never cheat on his wife. El stays getting paranoid whenever a case puts Peter in close proximity to another woman.
Digging Deeper
Neal and Mozzie dabble in fossil forgery, huh? Mozzie I might could buy, but seriously, if not for Neal's issues and immense likeability, he'd be a total gary stu. Peter has a lot of passionate hobbies, doesn't he? Ice skating, stamp collecting, dinosaurs, major fixation on collecting any and all info regarding his emotionally adopted son.
The best part definitely had to be Neal getting offended when Peter called his dinosaur egg replica 'not bad'. He was going to give it to Peter, who says it's evidence and he'll take it if he wants it. Neal loves when he impresses Peter and it's funny to see him go all teen angst when he thinks Peter's underwhelmed by one of his creations.
No Good Deed
Finally! This is the one episode of season five I genuinely look forward to. I know this one is not beloved by a lot of fandom and I easily see why. I don't enjoy it for the contents but quality Matt Bomer and Tim Dekay put into it. Though I do have to say that this feels like a weak rehash of season three's Countdown episode. With Peter being close to busting Neal with pseudo-subtle manipulation that's somehow transparent as well.
One would think Peter learned from previous experiences with Neal to just pull him to the side and have a discussion about whatever is obviously troubling him. Neal doesn't like deceiving Peter, but he hasn't been given any reassurances since Peter got out of prison that he can without harsh judgement. Additionally, whenever Neal told the truth last season, something bad always came of it.
Alright, the infamous scene we're all thinking about. Wow, does Neal feel like a small child here. I'm surprised Peter's phone bluff with Jones worked that well on him. Peter said it himself that Neal always has a reason for the things he does, but he won't stop his tirade long enough to let him explain. When Neal has to shout over the ranting, he looks so shaken, vulnerable, and distraught. Still, Peter's heart stays- openly- unmoved. So many emotions with how Peter softly orders him to hold out his hands. Neal trembling but complying like a kid trying to be obedient to his father, however difficult it is. This is a lot sadder than Neal's fury at Peter back in Gloves Off. That's because Peter is the dominant adult and his angry words cut significantly deeper.
Remember that long list in the last post with some of the illegal things Peter let's side? I can't begin to understand why he's so irrational here. Why world Neal steal some random gold coins? Why would he do so five seconds after Peter's released from prison when he didn't misbehave the whole time they were separated? Going so far as to impersonate a fireman? No way did he do any of that solely for a quick buck. The kid gave up a two million dollar ring and billions worth of treasure because he values Daddy McCranky more.
Peter did NOT kill Pratt. James did kill Pratt. The least he deserved was that forged confession. That's a huge deal but Neal erasing the judge's blackmail tape and Peter defying the FBI to go after Neal on the island are fine? What about instructing Neal to run away in the first place? He calls Neal a criminal for forging the confession and paying off the corrupt DA. Peter has the higher moral ground how exactly? How could he even consider ruining his, El's, and Neal's lives for this absurd self-righteousness while James is still free out there??!
Matt Bomer was doing his thing when he saw that Peter lied about having the coin suspect in custody. He looked genuinely hurt that Peter did that to force a confession out of him. But Peter claims it was an acceptable means. This is the very bad version of 'do as I say, not as I do'
With Hagen coming back and some of the rushed elements, I wonder if season five was meant to be the last for White Collar. Peter's love and protectiveness for Neal is eventually reaffirmed, but none of these issues are actually resolved. The writer's strike messed up a lot of things.
Hypocritically huff and puff all you want, Peter. No way were you about to put this baby back in with those monsters 💕
