Mmm, candy

[litlover12]

I said to my mom the other day that one could watch White Collar with the sound down and enjoy it just as much. :-)

Actually, that's not strictly true. While Neal's surpassing gorgeousness is certainly an attraction (and Peter's not bad-looking either -- it's just his misfortune to have to stand next to a Greek god all the time), I enjoy the stories too. And the characters, and the relationships, and the dialogue, and the locations! And the fedora. It's not as good as Psych, but in many respects it's just the kind of show I like: fun and snappy and with just enough drama mixed in to keep things exciting. It's brain candy as well as eye candy. And sometimes -- especially now that most TV seems to be all about the angst -- a little candy is just what the doctor ordered.

(Using a Psych icon because I haven't yet found a White Collar icon that I really love.)

Comments

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

My niece told me about this show. When & where is it on?

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Fridays at 10 Eastern. It's occupying "Psych's" timeslot while the latter is on its midseason hiatus. I don't know if or how they're going to rearrange things later when "Monk" is finished.

As I'm sure you've gathered, it's just fluff -- but it's fun fluff!

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

I just saw it's on some cable channel. (Yes, I am the one person on the planet still without cable. Even my parents have beaten me!) Oh, well. I've got too much TV these days as it is!

The Pilot is on Hulu. Cute guy!

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Looks like all the episodes are available here:

http://www.usanetwork.com/series/whitecollar/video/fullep/

[mosinging1986.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Maybe I'll give it a try at some point. So many of my shows are ending soon.

::whimper::

[thepresidentrix.livejournal.com]

I've so been meaning to write about my mindless affection for White Collar, so your entry encourages me! It's not as good as Psych or Burn Notice - yet, anyway - but I feel like depending on which of the first five episodes so far becomes the typical episode, it *might* potentially be as good as those other shows, once it grows up a little. (They're sure going to have to find better uses for their supporting cast, and why does Kate look like a twelve year old wearing a TON of makeup? She looked so familiar. Seriously, is she iCarly or a Wizard of Waverly Place or somesuch nonsense???)

I'm sure some of my reaction is sheer hormonal effervescence at the mere sight of a guy with hair that beautiful, but there's also something about the idea of playing out a 'Catch Me If You Can' dynamic that pushes my buttons somehow. (I doubt it's the superficial commonality that both shows featured a man recently released from prison, but White Collar sometimes reminds me of the short-lived 'Life', which, when it was at its best, was like a show specifically attuned to my sense of humor, and when it was not at its best was like a pretty boring show that wasn't a complete loss because it had Damian Lewis. I think maybe it's something about odd, often-humorous banter stretched over discomfort and doubt).

Anyway, preliminarily, I like how loyal Peter's wife is, and that she does *not* seem to be on the show to be beautiful enough to tempt infidelity. And I like that, currently at least, Peter's grudging affection for Neal seems to be based on a misunderstanding of what Neal's about. I think it's kind of funny-sad that he and Elizabeth have those little talks about Neal, like he's their wayward foster kid, which is one angle on the situation but doesn't take Neal and his life of crime seriously enough... in some sense anyway. (I don't mean that they should have more respect for his life of crime, LOL, but rather that so far, especially to Peter, 'It's Neal' seems to be reason enough to explain any-rule-breaking, and that only scratches the surface).

Now I am going to use my new Psych icon, because I made room for one and haven't had a chance to use it yet, haha. And, no, I haven't seen a White Collar icon I love enough to use yet, either. I've collected a few 'maybes,' but I think I need to let the show simmer for a while before I decide what icon it needs!

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

I ALMOST went with an animated icon of Neal putting on the fedora (mmm, fedora!), but it moved a little too fast. It was starting to make me dizzy. :-) I like my animated icons slow and sedate.

Lovely Gus icon!

It's funny you mention the "foster kid" idea, because when Peter told Neal he could go over to the party or club or whatever it was just for 10 minutes, while they were on the stakeout, it finally dawned on me, "Ah, we've got a dad/son thing going on here!" Or at least they're headed that way, I think.

[thepresidentrix.livejournal.com]

That's what's so funny about some of Neal and Peter's cues. I think Neal would be better off if he actually did let Peter parent him just a little, but it's almost like both of them see themselves as 'the parent' in the relationship, at least some of the time.

Peter's got his endearingly knee-jerk self-righteousness toward Neal - like any fuddy-duddy dad, LOL - and a touching concern for Neal's actual well-being, but you also get the sense that Neal (and his hyper-glamorous way of life) tweak a repressed childish fascination in Peter, making him equally inclined to protectiveness and jealousy of Neal.

And Neal seems to think he not only has it over Peter in the style department (which is true, LOL), but also knows some stuff about how the world really works that Peter can't handle. Then again, I guess that's pretty common of the child in a parent/child dynamic - but a child who sees himself as smarter than his parent.

It's the interplay between childishness and maturity with Peter and Neal that I find so amusing and - potentially - layered about White Collar. I prefer the episodes that make it plainest Neal's relationship with Peter is still very much in flux and hasn't been (procedurally) nailed down yet. And I don't just mean the ones in which Peter continues not to trust Neal's instincts - which would be all of them - but the ones where it still isn't clear how exactly they are going to get along and what they are going to trust one another for, on a personal level.

Anyway, I think the show has real promise and dare to hope that it gets better than it currently is, instead of settling. But if I'm honest with myself, I will probably keep watching for the sheer prettiness. (And you're right, Peter's adorable, too!)

Gah, how did I have zero interest in Matt Bomer when he was on Chuck? I mean, you're meant to have a love/hate relationship with Bryce Larkin - and I did - but you'd think I would have at least *noticed* his little-precedented physical *gorgeousness.*

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

That's what makes it so funny when Neal gives Peter relationship advice -- it's like "Daddy, here's what you need to say to Mommy." :-) And yet often enough he's right!

It's nice to be able to have a chat about this show. Seems like one can't get a good conversation going on the USA Network boards anymore, for some reason.