Not everyone likes his gangster stories and robber pistols as an extra dirty, depressing study of the environment. Every now and then you just feel like one light-footed, mischievous story about thieves and scoundrels who aren’t actually that scary. Enter: Neal Caffrey.
This name was burned into the minds of all White Collar fans from the first episode. With the outrageously charming art thief and the FBI go on a gangster hunt in Manhattan’s high society. This series on Amazon Prime may not be hard-hitting, but it is cleverer and always has a loving wink.
In White Collar, a gentleman gangster and an FBI agent team up to hunt criminals
Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) has made a name for himself not only in the criminal underworld as an art thief, forger and fundamentally cunning rascal. His success speaks for him, but at some point he hit his stride the man who could take him on: FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). He caught him at the time and booked him once and for all.
Shortly before Neal is released from prison, he breaks out himself and puts himself back in the FBI’s line of fire. Peter immediately picks up on his scent and wonders why Neal is endangering his secure future so close to the finish line. It turns out: Neal has Fear for his girlfriend Kate (Alexandra Daddario), who has now disappeared from the face of the earth, and wants to look for her.
The two quickly make a pact: Neal works as a consultant for special theft and fraud cases for the FBI. In return, he is a more or less free man – apart from his ankle bracelet – and can search for Kate. And so begins one in the history of the FBI absolutely unique partnership.
White Collar is the best mix of buddy cop dynamic and heist thriller
Through its main characters, Neal and Peter, White Collar endearingly benefits from the classic dynamic of the best Buddy cop stories: Two completely different people who challenge each other, get on each other’s nerves, have each other’s backs and grow together. The friendship between the two carries the series and is its greatest strength – alongside its incredibly entertaining heist sequences.
Virtually every episode presents our team with a unique challenge. One that requires creative, cunning and perhaps legally unconventional solutions. That’s enough from elaborate heists to clever scams. This is where Neal and Peter’s ingenuity come into play. Watching how criminals are hunted down through absolutely brilliant plans is a joy.
Fighting crime has rarely been so much fun, looked so good and was so hard-core cool. A gem (hopefully not faked by Neal) that deserves to be dug up, polished up and presented to the world. Especially now that Screen Rant has revealed that the series should even be revived – along with its wonderful core cast. Even more reason to take a look.
All six seasons of White Collar are currently included in the streaming flat rate on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.
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