The crime sitcom White Collar, slated for its third season on USA this summer, is entertaining for several reasons: the criminal of interest is an art connoisseur and historian, the FBI agent is a family man, and there is very little, if any blood. Good looking actors and a decent plot don't hurt either, though season two was placid until the adrenaline pumping season finale.
The show draws from classic prototypes. The charming and likable thief, Neil Caffrey, a younger, modern version of David Niven's Pink Panther, is the criminal informant or "CI" for squeaky clean FBI agent Peter Burke, whose main weakness is his friendship with Neil.
Peter is happily married, but thanks to Neil's shenanigans, frequently finds himself in awkward situations with beautiful women. That doesn't phase Mrs. Elle Burke, a supportive and secure wife who loves her husband and laughs at his awkward attempts at flirtation for information.
While Peter's relationship with his wife provides an emotional anchor, it's his and Neil's escapades in the streets, hotels, and museums of New York, pictured as eternally sunny, that make it addicting. The crimes they solve involve stolen art, stolen Stradivarius violins, stolen diamonds, and sometimes stolen people. The criminals they deal with are bad, but not sadistic, and always get caught.
What's not to like, right? First, the show often includes gorgeous women who often show too much skin. That may not bother some, but it definitely lends a note of seduction to the show, which occasionally includes scenes that are better left off-screen. These scenes almost always involve Neil, who is kind-hearted, but has a skewed moral compass.
Thankfully those scenes are intermittent, as is the shows insistence on bringing homosexuality to the fore in the character of Peter's assistant, Diana. This doesn't play a huge role for most of season one, but midway through season two Diana gets "engaged" to her girlfriend, after New York legalizes homosexual unions. Though disappointing, this is typical for Hollywood, and not the fulcrum of the show's failure.
Weighed in the balance, the show is found wanting in a different area: redemption. So far, there is none. Neil recognizes his life of crime is wrong, but not entirely. He envies Peter's law abiding life, but still finds a good heist scintillating. He longs for a wife and family, but can't resist kissing a beautiful woman.
It definitely provides story fodder, but the human heart has a redemption-shaped key and unless the writers start creating some for Neil, fans are going to grow weary of watching him vacillate between light and dark.
What do you think? Have you seen the show? Are stories satisfying when the "hero" can't find some type of redemption? Write in and tell me what you think. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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