What would make a person –– with solely three months left on his four-year jail sentence –– attempt to escape? Love, in fact. And what would make a profession prison conform to work as a guide for the FBI? Effectively, nonetheless love.
That’s the premise of White Collar, which is now streaming on Netflix. Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) is a lifelong con artist, thief, and forger — one of many highest caliber. No artwork, antiquity, jewel, or designer go well with is protected when he’s on the free. He evaded seize for a few years however was lastly detained by FBI particular agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). When Neal’s girlfriend, Kate Moreau (Alexandra Daddario), visits him after three years in jail to tell him that she’s leaving him, he hatches a plan to interrupt out and persuade her to remain.
Agent Burke catches Neal but once more. Whereas he’s being taken again to jail, the con man proposes an answer: He can assist Burke and his division catch white-collar criminals (like himself) in alternate for a lighter sentence and the chance to reconnect with Kate. Peter reluctantly agrees, and what ensues is six seasons of what’s positive to be your subsequent must-watch.
What’s White Collar about?
White Collar, which aired from 2009 to 2014, follows the adventures of Neal Caffrey and Peter Burke. The dapper prison and by-the-book FBI agent make an unlikely duo, however one which’s simple to root for as they break into New York Vogue Week, suss out cast bottles of wine, and examine a diamond heist — and that’s simply in the course of the first season.
Particular agent Peter Burke works within the FBI’s white-collar crime unit and has a close to singular give attention to Neal Caffrey. Neal is a white-collar con artist, thief, and forger; he focuses on high-end heists, similar to artwork, jewellery, and antiquities. And he’s good at it. In any case, it took Peter three years to nab him and ship him to a supermax jail for 4 years.
With solely three months left on Neal’s sentence, he makes use of his artistry to flee. It doesn’t take lengthy for Peter to determine what led Neal to interrupt out: his girlfriend. Kate can also be a con artist and has been with Neal for a very long time, which is why it’s stunning that she confirmed up on the jail when Neal had solely three months left on his sentence to inform him she’s leaving.
By the point Neal breaks out and makes it to her condominium, all that’s left is a bottle of Bordeaux. Agent Burke and his crew seize him there, and he goes with no combat since he’s distraught about Kate. However when Neal notices a chunk of fiber on Peter’s jacket, he begins to hatch one other plan. An skilled in lots of, many issues, Neal is aware of that this fiber is from the brand new Canadian $100 invoice — and he additionally is aware of that he has loads of data that may very well be invaluable to the FBI. He proposes his new plan to Peter. In alternate for working as a guide for the white-collar crime unit, he’ll get an ankle monitor as an alternative of jail for the following 4 years. Peter and the FBI reluctantly settle for.
Nonetheless a convicted prison, Neal is given solely a $700 month-to-month stipend from the FBI for meals, clothes, and less-than-stellar room lodging. Nevertheless, he has a penchant for the great life and lucks right into a penthouse condominium and a wardrobe filled with designer garments. As with many issues that Neal does, this drives Peter loopy — nevertheless it implies that viewers get to see Bomer dressed to the nines.
Neal has expertise in artwork forgeries, uncommon jewels, monetary schemes, and extra, which suggests he’s a priceless guide, however Peter is aware of this additionally means he’s continuously tempted all through the instances they work on. He retains a watch on him and warns him to let Kate go. Peter fears that in search of Kate will simply tempt him to get again into the enterprise together with her. However Neal can’t let it go — he is aware of there’s extra to the story. He enlists the assistance of his buddy Mozzie (Willie Garson), one more con artist, to assist him work out what actually occurred to Kate. Mozzie often lends his experience to assist the FBI, too, however in secret the 2 con males attempt to find a music field that was believed to be stolen by Neal (it wasn’t) that would make them Kate.
On official enterprise, Peter and Neal are an amazing crew: Peter follows all the principles to a T whereas Neal colours method outdoors the traces. Collectively, they’re able to shut instances, which retains Peter’s bosses comfortable and retains Neal out of jail. Whereas they don’t at all times belief each other, they construct a working relationship that slowly turns to friendship.
Who’s within the solid of White Collar?
All through the six seasons of White Collar, Neal takes on quite a few instances — some sanctioned by agent Burke and the FBI, some not — the place he meets all kinds of colourful characters. Listed here are the important thing gamers we meet at the start of the sequence:
- Matt Bomer (Magic Mike, American Horror Story) as Neal Caffrey, a high-end con artist working in tandem with the FBI to keep away from a jail sentence
- Tim DeKay (1923) as FBI particular agent-in-charge Peter Burke, the top of the white-collar crime unit and Neal’s de facto handler
- Willie Garson (Intercourse and the Metropolis) as Mozzie, Neal’s greatest buddy and a fellow con man
- Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch, The White Lotus) as Kate Moreau, Neal’s girlfriend and a con artist
- Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell) as Elizabeth Burke, Peter’s spouse
- Marsha Thomason (Misplaced) as FBI particular agent Diana Berrigan, a member of Peter’s white-collar crime crew
- Sharif Atkins (ER) as FBI particular agent Clinton Jones, a member of Peter’s white-collar crime crew
- Natalie Morales (Parks and Recreation, Dead to Me) as FBI particular agent Lauren Cruz
- Diahann Carroll (A Totally different World, Grey’s Anatomy) as June Ellington, Neal’s landlady who presents him her late husband’s designer wardrobe and turns into quick associates with Mozzie
The place can I stream White Collar?
All six seasons of White Collar are streaming on Netflix now.
