Most Wanted

I've finally done it! 'It,' of course being successfully getting caught up on every aired episode of White Collar, now in its second season on USA. The series stars Matt Bomer (fondly remembered as the ill-fated spy Bryce Larkin on Chuck) as incarcerated art thief Neal Caffrey who stages a prison break, with only months left on his sentence, in an attempt to find his girlfriend Kate (Alexandra Daddario) whom he believes is in trouble. Kate, however, is nowhere to be found. Distraught and confused, Neal allows himself to be caught by FBI agent - and his original captor - Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). This time however, Peter strikes a deal with Neal: instead of returning to prison, Neal will use his considerable expertise to assist the FBI as a consultant in the White Collar crime unit, a security anklet monitoring him at all times.

White Collar is thrilling, action-packed, and undeniably fun, presenting unique cases for Bomer and DeKay's new brand of dynamic duo to solve. The two actors rapport is central to the show's success. They play off each other naturally, presenting a partnership, but perhaps more importantly a friendship, that is born out of a mutual respect. Rounding out the series' original core cast are Willie Garson as Neal's delightfully eccentric and paranoid close friend (and fellow con) Mozzie and Tiffani Thiessen (that's right, Kelly Kapowski!) as Peter's wife Elizabeth, a role that gives the series a bit of a real world, everyday, perspective.

The series seems to be not only playing all of its cards, but playing them extraordinarily well. The second season has witnessed certain changes that indicate series creator Jeff Eastin and company are perfecting the well-oiled machine they developed in the first fourteen episodes. Excesses have been trimmed; I never really jived with Natalie Morales' Agent Lauren Cruz and was glad to see that the actress has moved on to other things. Marsha Thomason (Lost), who appeared in only two episodes in season one, has been promoted to series regular. Thomason is at once sexy and...

If you're interested, continue reading my review here.