White Collar: Glamour & the Ghost

Welcome to Fashion Week in New York! Peter and Neal have opposite opinions about the influx of models into the city…can you guess who’s enjoying it? The duo is pursuing a well-known and mysterious Israeli counterfeiter, known as “The Ghost,” who Peter believes is using Fashion Week as a cover for his latest scheme.

The episode begins with Tara, a model, who overheard the Ghost argue with and murder a business partner. She believes she would recognize the Ghost’s voice, if heard again.

The Ghost’s M.O. demonstrates his taste for the finer things in life including models and lavish parties. Neal comes up with the idea to throw a party and “fill it with beautiful women” to hopefully draw the Ghost out and have Tara ID him by his voice.

They prepare for the party with the help of Peter’s wife, Elizabeth, who we learn is an event planner, items from the FBI seizure warehouse like caviar and some model recruiting by Neal. We also meet a new agent, Lauren Cruz, who could pass for a model. Her assignment is to babysit Neal at the party.

During the party, Neal helps Tara listen to voices and try to find the Ghost. They meet Dmitri who inadvertently alerts them to the Ghost’s presence at the party. However, they get the wrong man and the elusive Ghost gets away.

Post party, Neal’s cohort, Mozzie meets up with him. Neal tries to convince Mozzie that Kate tried to give him a message, that he missed, when she visited jail to say goodbye. Mozzie suggests that he ask Peter to see the video and Peter agrees if Neal helps close the Ghost case.

Also that day, we witness an entertaining lunch date between Peter, who thinks he’s in trouble, and Elizabeth. He squirms until Elizabeth tells him to “relax, you’re not in trouble.” She gives him a new watch, without numbers, which turns out to be amusing because he cannot read it. I hope they include Elizabeth a bit more in future episodes; she compliments Peter and Neal well.

Meanwhile, Dmitri is tracked to a photo shoot and the duo discover that he is a buyer for something the Ghost (we learn his name is Ghovat) is selling. Dmitri is then followed to a hotel, but the Ghost strikes again and kills him.

At the crime scene, Neal notices a dress, which Peter, out of character, confidently states “must be couture.” In this funny sequence, Peter explains that he often deals with knock-offs and Neal should “ask me what I know about a Prada bag sometime.” Observant Neal also comes across a slit in the dress, which they determine could hold a flash drive.

The designer of the dress is brought in for questioning. He confesses to helping Ghovat by sewing a flash drive into the dress and bringing it into the U.S. because his son was kidnapped. By mistake, the designer gave Ghovat the copy of the dress instead of the original that contained the flash drive.

Now that the FBI has the original dress and the flash drive, they concoct another plan to smoke out the Ghost, which ultimately backfires when the Ghost kidnaps Tara, who was again helping the FBI. Ghovat proposes a trade at Central Park, the girl for the dress.

While preparing for the trade, the FBI discovers that the flash drive contained the holographic code for the latest European currency seal. Peter’s superior does not want Neal involved with the trade, however, he manages to humorously weasel his way into the FBI truck at Central Park.

During the trade scene, Tara is found with a new accessory, a belt of explosives courtesy of Ghovat. After a few tense minutes, the duo outsmarts the Ghost. Peter plays the hero and saves Tara. Neal pursues Ghovat and distracts him long enough for Agent Cruz to capture him. Bottom line, they couldn’t have done it without each other.

With the case closed, Neal and Mozzie get to watch the jail video. Kate does give him a message: Morse code for the word “bottle.” We see Neal staring at the empty bottle from Kate’s apartment but we are left hanging, as the episode ends, and he looks like he has realized something.

Episode two was a great follow-up to the highly anticipated premiere. The chemistry between the characters continues to be great. The episode was very entertaining and the hour quickly flew by. Overall, it had a little bit of everything: beautiful people, glamour, gorgeous NY scenes, some humor, some serious moments and another interesting and unique crime! I can’t wait for next week to see what Neal discovered about Kate!

For another take on this episode, check out Dressed to Kill by Renata Sellitti.

Season 1, Episode 2: Threads (originally aired October 30, 2009)

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Fridays at 10/9c on USA Network

Photographs courtesy of USA and Electric Artists