Have you ever had a show that you knew existed because maybe you saw a few ads for it here and there but it never really had your attention until suddenly it gets thrust front and center on your radar thanks to people around you mentioning it in casual conversation or through pure serendipitous chance? It happens, and for me White Collar was one such show. The ads for it are all over New York City’s subway system and yet I never really sat down and gave it the three episode run I try to give most series. Then in the span of 24 hours, three friends mentioned it offhand and USA, its native channel, began a White Collar marathon in preparation for the show’s imminent second season. This may seem very inconsequential to the show’s merit or quality at first glance, but it actually says a lot. For all the advertising blitzes USA went through to promote this around New York, White Collar took a long time to build momentum and it’s all because the show plays it safe and lays all its cards on the table so the audience rarely feels challenged.
The first episode of White Collar I ever watched was the sixth episode of the first season, and I mistakenly took it for the first episode – and because of this my initial esteem for the series was abnormally high. Instead of spelling out every character’s relationship with one another, dialogue was skillfully placed that let the viewer know what the show’s backstory was without bludgeoning them over the head.
For example, take this paraphrase:
“It’s not another mortgage fraud case is it? It’s boring, we spend all day staring at paperwork.”
“Would you rather stare at bars instead?”
“You’re going to play that card?”
“It still makes me happy.”
Now, keeping in mind that I thought this was the opening dialogue of the show’s pilot, this all seemed rather well done. In four lines they’d revealed four key things without wasting the viewers’ time with an entire episode devoted to establishing the concept. First, we knew these two were partners. Second, we knew they investigated criminal cases. Third, we knew the person who initiated the conversation was previously a criminal. Fourth, we knew that the relationship between them was hierarchal but playful. Those four things define this show. An FBI agent and a semi-reformed con man investigate fraud cases in the world of finance, art, and luxury so the con man can work off his sentence. It doesn’t explain all the nuances of the show, for example Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) is slowly tracking down the equally wily and clever love of his life that leaves clues for him, but it’s enough.
However, those four lines are not the start of the series. Instead, it’s preceded by five episodes, the first of which is in fact that overly obvious setup episode that treats the audience like a child and walks them through the characters’ lives step by step. Sure, it’s nice to get a solid introduction to Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), Burke’s associate Agent Cruz (Natalie Morales), and Neal’s go-to techguy Mozzie (Willie Garson), but the second half of the season does perfectly well on its own slowly revealing the relationships between the characters. With that said, had White Collar omitted the first few episodes and started somewhere around episode four, there would be little reluctance in recommending this as a dependable procedural with a moderately endearing cast, but it’s not, and so further qualification is necessary.
The cast has a pull, but Bomer (who recently jumped into the spotlight as Bryce Larkin in Chuck) isn’t a very interesting lead and rarely overcomes the suspicion that he’s being cast because he’s just another pretty face. DeKay has his moments but he barely surpasses Bomer in charisma, and ultimately the show feels like a paler version of The Mentalist and Leverage with a less interesting ensemble and a duller sense of humor. Perhaps it’s the lack of charisma in DeKay’s Peter Burke that makes his in-character marriage to Tiffani Thiessen seem somewhat farfetched.
White Collar will entertain, but it’s the television equivalent of mediocre Chinese food: it tastes okay, not great, and it doesn’t really ever fulfill you; but it’s cheap and easy so there’s little deterring you from ordering it again and again. The Blu-ray transfer defies the Chinese food metaphor, so we'll just come out and say that it looks rather stunning though it is a drama and thus the visual aspect never requires much of the hi-def possibilities.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
A gag reel, some deleted scenes, and a few audio commentaries start things off, and then three featurettes close out the selection; “Pro and Con” explores the show’s characters; “A Cool Cat in the Hat” talks about Neal Caffrey’s seemingly irresistible gravitation towards fashion; and finally “Nothing but the Truth” covers the show’s technical advisor who provided insight into the world of white collar crime. The featurettes are short but to the point and never wear on the viewer’s patience. It’s a nice addition, but considering the storage capacity of a Blu-ray it feels like they could easily have taken more effort in providing the buyer with a few more features.
"White Collar: The Complete First Season" is on sale July 13, 2010 and is not rated. Crime, Drama. Directed by Dennie Gordon, John T Kretchmer, Kevin Bray. Written by Jeff Eastin, Joe Henderson, Jim Campolongo. Starring Alexandra Daddario, Matt Bomer, Natalie Morales, Tiffani Thiessen, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson.
