Netflix is aware of the right way to get my consideration. In its announcement that the sequence White Collar, which ran from 2009 to 2014 on USA, is now obtainable on Netflix, the streamer posted on X that “it takes one episode for Matt Bomer to steal your coronary heart in White Collar.”
The accompanying photograph, a nonetheless from the present’s pilot, is of Bomer strolling round shirtless in pajama pants. My coronary heart, amongst different issues, was duly stolen.
There’s good cause to concentrate to the White Collar Netflix launch, and it’s not simply Bomer’s drool-worthy physique. Despite the fact that the present has been off the air for a decade, it’s poised to observe within the well-tailored footsteps of one other USA drama sequence and turn out to be the most important streaming present on the planet. White Collar is mainly about to turn out to be the following Fits.
In case you recall, Fits was the most streamed show of 2023, a feat that seemingly got here out of nowhere, impressed numerous headlines and think pieces, and led to the present’s solid—save one duchess—revealed as presenters on the Golden Globes with the reverence of the dwelling solid of All within the Household or MASH reuniting. Whereas definitely profitable when it aired, Fits was by no means a mainstream phenomenon or main awards participant. So when it triumphed over sequence like The Crown or The Bear, and even different longtime streaming favorites like The Workplace or Pals, to turn out to be the 12 months’s greatest streaming hit, it was fairly a shock.
As a result of the leisure trade has both by no means heard of or refuses to acknowledge the phrase “lightning by no means strikes twice,” Netflix is on the market waving round steel rods in a thunderstorm. In bringing White Collar to the service, it couldn’t be extra blatantly saying, “We wish everybody who watched Fits to observe this subsequent.” And the factor is, it’s proper: This has all of the potential to be as huge as Fits was.
I watched a few of White Collar when it initially aired. I believe. Who may say? That style of present form of blended collectively. Did I watch episodes of White Collar, or was I watching Fits? Possibly it was Burn Discover. Was it Graceland? I do know I watched Graceland, as a result of evidently I had a complete lunch at a diner with star Aaron Tveit to speak about it. However perhaps I used to be really watching White Collar as a substitute. The jury is out.
There was a sure time interval when USA had perfected this style of TV sequence, and so they all hewed so carefully to a selected model that they grew to become considerably indistinguishable. They have been sleeker, sexier variations of the procedural drama that exhibits like Regulation & Order or The Apply had popularized on broadcast networks. The premise was quite simple—good-looking white man solves some type of case—however there was a snarkiness and oh-so-tiny little bit of edge that advised the viewer, “We’re not a daily procedural, we’re a cool procedural,” bragging about being on cable as a substitute of community TV as in the event that they have been the mother from Imply Women.
The skies in these sequence have been bluer. The style was extra modern. The abs have been… ab-ier, and ceaselessly on show (thank god). However that was what made exhibits like Fits and White Collar interesting then. What makes individuals so insatiable for them now? It’s on the level that audiences are streaming them in file numbers, but a present like this in all probability couldn’t get greenlit by a cable community immediately.
Matt Bomer and Marsha Thomason
USA Community
White Collar follows Bomer as Neal Caffrey, an notorious con artist who strikes a cope with the FBI agent who spent years pursuing him to work as a advisor in change for launch. You’re instantly on board, as a result of Caffrey didn’t commit violent crime; he dedicated wealthy, horny crime—and since he occurs to appear to be Matt Bomer. He has Odd Couple banter with Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), who he companions with. The fraud schemes they examine collectively are fascinating, as a result of they’re all the white collar selection—therefore the identify of the present—and subsequently extra artistic and kooky than is typical of a procedural. And may your thoughts wander for a second, fast, there’s extra abs!
However once more, that’s what made individuals—ostensibly myself included, I believe—watch then. The streaming phenomenon is an entire new ballgame. What’s been fascinating about the previous couple of years is that we’re a renaissance of procedural sequence on streaming. A few of them have lengthy been canceled, like Fits or, now, White Collar. Some are at the moment airing sequence discovering a brand new life on streamers that far outmatch their recognition on linear TV; sequence like The Rookie, 9-1-1, and Grey’s Anatomy rank among the many prime streaming sequence, whereas not coming near topping the weekly rankings charts for brand spanking new episodes.
It’s a second wave of the pattern the place, for therefore a few years, in style sitcoms have been the crown jewel of any streaming library. Anecdotally, I believe the explanation for these procedurals’ recognition is rooted in the identical place: Individuals are bored with having to make selections, at the least with regards to TV. I believe Shōgun is among the best series of the year. However you already know what I don’t wish to do after having labored a gazillion hours, survived a gauntlet of Zoom conferences, and edited one million phrases of content material? Sit down on the sofa, placed on the TV, and pull up the newest episode of Shōgun. It’s the identical with Palm Royale, or Ripley, or any of the actually nice sequence which can be airing proper now. Typically, greatness requires effort. Who has the power for that?
It’s much more interesting to placed on a present with beats which can be so tried and true that you simply mainly know what’s going to occur every episode, of which you’ll be able to take note of solely 30 % whereas scrolling via Instagram, and that feels intangibly acquainted.
After watching the primary six episodes of White Collar on Netflix this week, there’s a cause that I can’t keep in mind if I had seen them earlier than or not: It doesn’t matter. That’s what makes these exhibits so stunning; it doesn’t matter when you’ve watched them earlier than. It doesn’t even matter when you take note of them whereas watching now. There’s a comfortable familiarity and predictability to them—with an added aspect of abs—that’s the good accompaniment for the factor I believe all of us want most nowadays: mindlessness. It’s the best deal with of all in these ridiculously busy, exasperatingly annoying instances, and exhibits like White Collar ship simply that.
