White Collar Review: Old Friends, Old Foes

Last night’s White Collar, “Payback,” caught up with one of Neal’s old rivals Matthew Keller (guest star Ross McCall). Keller is a murderer who was apprehended by the White Collar unit and handed a 20 year sentence in a supermax prison. Neal and Peter head to the prison to see Keller who, during a chess game, tells them he has information on fake passports sold to terrorists and smugglers. He’ll hand over the information in exchange for staying in the current minimum security facility. He gives Peter and Neal the name Jason Lang (guest star Adam Goldberg).

Later at the Burke residence, Peter and Elizabeth have a heated discussion about his forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning and her preemptively picking it up, knowing he’d forget. Meanwhile Mozzie and Neal think it would be best if Keller was transferred to the supermax prison as scheduled. Peter discovers Lang and Keller used to be partners,  and only called it off when Lang shot him. Neal thinks that story is a cover and he and Peter continue to look into it. Peter tells Neal about his “fight” with Elizabeth over the dry cleaning, which Neal almost laughs off.

Lang tells Peter he makes a good living as a legitimate photographer and doesn’t need any shady side dealings, while Neal takes note of the equipment needed to make passports, as well as the use of holograms in Lang’s artwork. Lang tries to run off, and when Peter gives chase he’s jumped and shoved in a van.

Neal follows closely and finds a ringing phone on the ground. Keller’s on the other end telling him he’ll have to play along to keep Peter alive. Peter tells Lang that Keller’s going to betray him in the end and tries to make a deal, which Lang refuses.

Neal goes to see Keller, who is about to be transferred and afraid for his life because of a $2.5 million debt he owes to a group of Russians. Keller mentions something Neal stole six years earlier worth that amount and gives him three hours to get it. Neal calls in Diana for back up.

Back at the FBI, Hughes organizes an operation to retrieve Peter and tells Neal he will not negotiate with Keller, who he’s still sending to supermax. Mozzie calls Neal, sets up a meeting, and tells him to bring a hammer.

Elizabeth comes to the Bureau and Neal tells her Keller is prepared for whatever action the FBI is going to take. He asks her what she wants him to do, and she responds “Whatever it takes to bring him home.” After assuring Diana that Peter will be killed if they don’t take action, Neal gets her onboard with his plan.

Neal meets Mozzie and the two chisel a solitaire ring from a statue, the item Keller referenced earlier. Still with his captors, Peter uses a leftover safety pin from his dry cleaning to work on his handcuffs. He figures out Lang has plans to break Keller out during the exchange, then eventually come back and kill him.

Mozzie stops to see Elizabeth and ensures her Peter will be home safely, but gives her a bug he planted so she can track the progress. At the exchange, Neal tells Lang he won’t give him the ring without proof Peter’s okay. He allows Neal to text Peter on question, and Neal relays the response to Diana as a code meaning “No Transfer.” Diana has Jones try to stop the convoy, but he’s too late as Keller is already breaking out of the bus and escapes.

Lang waits for Keller while Peter gets his cuffs off and tries to get Lang to shoot him. Peter gets hold of the gun, knocks Lang out, and goes for his phone.

On the FBI front, Hughes is upset with Neal for trying to deal with Keller. Peter calls and asks to talk to Neal, trying to figure out how to break out of the cell he’s locked in. Neal talks him through it and Peter calls back, now holding Lang at gunpoint. The team shows up and waits for Keller, who never arrives. Neal thinks  that was his plan the whole time.

Peter wants to give Neal back the ring, knowing he intended to give it to Kate, but Neal won’t accept it. Peter reunites with Elizabeth while Keller calls Neal and suggests the two leave each other alone now. Neal refuses and promises to find him.

We’re getting closer and closer to the finale and still I feel like I’ve no idea what to expect of the fractal plot. Team White Collar is very good at distracting the audience. While caught up in this episode, I’d completely forgotten the still unraveling mystery  until next week’s preview announced how few episodes are left in the season.

What does the fractal unlock? Is Kate really gone? Does Keller have a role to play? What part does Adler need it for? I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned…

For another take on this week’s episode, see “Keller’s Return” by Allison Toner.

Season 2, Episode 14 “Payback” (original air date February 23, 2011)

White Collar airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on USA Network.

Images courtesy of Myles Aronowitz and USA Network.