It seems amazing to me that so much great television is
happening right now. For so long there was nothing to watch on TV. I found
myself watching little more than reruns because the then current crop of shows
were terrible. And then a few years ago something happened. New shows were
interesting and had characters that I cared about. Show stopped revolving
around the central character and an entire cast was now central to a show's
success. What was even more amazing was that these shows didn't begin on
network TV but on cable stations, causing networks to up their game. But cable
has continued to lead the way with shows like this one.
To catch up the series is about a spectacular con man by the
name of Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer). Neal was in prison when the show began,
captured by the ever diligent FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). When Burke
needed help on a particular case he was able to get Neal a release as long as
he wore an ankle bracelet. This led to a partnership with Neal helping out the
FBI's white collar task force in New York. It also led to several mishaps with
Neal almost skirting the law and at the end of season 2 doing so completely. It
was then that he and his cohort Mozzie (Willie Garson) were able to pilfer the
contents of a missing sub that was filled with all sorts of art and riches.
As this season opens the loot has been set aside and Neal
and Mozzie continue to decide just what to do. At the same time Peter has a
clue that the treasure didn't disappear in an explosion but was taken away
prior to the fire. He suspects Neal but has no clues which digs at him since he
and Neal have developed a rapport with one another. Peter sees the good in
Neal, he just needs Neal to see the same.
This season is filled with numerous characters and
references to the past of several main ones. A gangster from Mozzie's past
shows up in one episode. A classmate of Jones (another FBI agent) goes missing.
Keller, the man who put the lives of many in this group in jeopardy, returns to
seek down the missing treasure. And by the end of the season, Agent Kramer
(Beau Bridges), Peter's mentor from long ago, steps in and tries to take
Caffrey for his own use with plans to toss him aside when he finishes with him.
The intriguing part about this series is the suave and
sophisticated manner that Caffrey demonstrates while Peter always comes off as
a working stiff determined to catch the bad guy. Peter also is the nice guy who
wants to help Neal go straight. The two characters, adversaries at the start,
have developed an admiration for one another as the show has progressed. You
find yourself wanting them to be best friends but at the same time know that
until Neal is released and changes his life around that won't happen. These are
characters that you root for.
As with BURN NOTICE, this series is well crafter. The acting
is top notch, the look of the show makes you want to actually visit New York
and the stories are compelling enough to hold your interest from start to
finish. Combine those stories with the thread that runs all season concerning
Neal and Mozzie and the missing treasure and you have a hit show. This one is
not just worth watching but worth owning as well.
Click here to order.
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