TV Mini-Cap: ‘White Collar,’ “Book of Hours”

Image courtesy of USA and TVOvermind

And that’s more like it. After the second episode clunked around a little too much, this third White Collar effort was much-improved and ultimately damn enjoyable.

Much like Psych, I enjoy that the cases here don’t really start as anything significantly dangerous, but eventually lead to some danger to some extent. Here, Neal and Peter are called in to investigate a missing “Bible” (which is actually an old-ass Book of Hours) by the mobster that they’re actually tailing. Smart play by the mobster to get the guy’s tailing you to do all the legwork in searching for the person who took the Book from his neighbor parish.

The case eventually turns in such a way that allows for Neal to sort of go undercover to play, well, himself, which I think could be a very savvy tool he and Peter have at their disposal moving forward. If Neal is such an awesome thief, counterfeiter, etc. then it would be smart to use that to get criminals to open up in ways that helps the case. I guess they kind of did that last week with Neal throwing the party, but it certainly worked more here, especially because Neal was able to use his charm (how about Elizabeth saying without question that the criminal lady would go out with Neal?) to woo the baddie.

I also liked this episode because we got to learn a little more about Peter and his complex in relation to his job. Thanks a to solid performance from guest star Kirk Acevedo, we see that Peter doesn’t like being pushed aside by murder investigations — even if he has been offered the job in the past. So Peter definitely has the “skills” to lead the major units, why chose the one he’s in? Something to considering moving forward.

All in all, another entertaining entry to the series that felt more coherent and sharp than last week’s. Let’s hope that the show hums along at this pace from now on.