10 Scenes: White Collar and Covert Affairs Back-to-Back Extravaganza

I'm a sucker for sleuths and spy thrillers, so watching White Collar and Covert Affairs was a natural fit. What I like about the summer season is the intensity isn't as fever pitched as my normal TV fare, but it isn't really too soft on the story. In other words, it's the perfect preparation for more awesomeness in the coming months. Fall Season anyone?

For those who haven't heard of White Collar yet, it stars the ever charming Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay in a buddy cop series that takes on the white collar criminals of New York with the help of conman Bomer. Plus, the show gives the viewers a smorgasbord of dapper suits, art, and sleuthing. Covert Affairs, on the other hand, is a new show with Piper Perabo, who plays a newbie CIA operative, protecting the US from terrorists. You can check out my Covert Affairs TV Profile for a more in depth look of the show. (Darn, I forgot I haven't gotten around to writing that yet! Haha)

On to the meat: For this week's edition of 10 Scenes, let me source it from the two shows from the USA Network, White Collar's Copycat Caffrey (S02E03) and Covert Affairs' South Bound Suarez (S02E03)!

READ ON AFTER THE JUMP! I've also added pictures this time around.

White Collar: We got a solid episode this week. We get the process of solving cases the show is known for, and we get a bit movement with the plot, as Peter and Diana try to crack the secret of the music box. Bit by bit, the mystery of the plane's explosion and the music box gets pieced together.

1. LOL-worthy moment: Peter tells Neal that they have another lead on who's taking a page off of his art heist book. It turns out, a Criminilogy class studies Caffrey's previous exploits. Peter just knows how much of an ego boost this news would bring and Neal makes sure he doesn't hear the end of it.

N: They spent a week on me?
P: Apparently, you're one of the interesting criminals of the 21st century.
N: A new breed of forger, technological virtuoso with a classical artistic foundation. They got it.
P: Yea, yea. I read it.
N: Oh, they covered the Antioch manuscripts. Did you see that?
P: I know. Relax. They've only covered you for a week. By the end of the year, they probably won't remember your name.
N: Obviously, a few of them will.

2. Oh, Eric felt he's God's gift to the world of conning, but Alex and Neal had a different view and put him in his rightful place. Ouch! (Odd thing though was Alex not showing the card to other people, to make sure that she wouldn't be able to lie about what card she picked. Unless, Eric thought the girl sitting alone in the bar wouldn't lie.)

N: And never never think you're the smartest guy in the room, unless you're the smartest guy in the room.
And the challenge ensues.
A: He doesn't think it will be.
E: He's wrong!
A: 200 bucks says he's right!
E: Uh...I can't take your money.
A: Why not? You can't make bets with girls?
E: And that's your card!
A: And, no it's not!
E: *frazzled* That was suppose to be your card.
A: I guess he was right. Sorry!

3. Jones gets to do a double cross! He's always the serious FBI guy doing all the legwork. At least, this time around he puts on his game face on, while carrying the Krugerrands. And Peter's right, Jones deserved an Oscar for that play.

E: Dude, watch where you're going!
J: I'm sorry about that. Here, let me help, hold on.
And they switch the suitcases.
E: This guy runs into me and now, he's trying to pocket my stuff.
J: I'm not trying to steal anything, okay? I'm just trying to help you out here!
E: Just hit and run me then!

4. Peter gets in the double cross action again! Now he takes on the persona of the Peacemaker from the Detroit mafia. Professor Oswald definitely got spooked. Mozzie makes a special appearance in this one, where he feeds Peter the topics he needed to cover, like cutting of fingers. I noticed Peter was more comfortable doing the double crossing now, unlike in Season 1.

O: Hello? Can I help you?
P: You took something of mine.
O: Is that so?
P: I'm the Peacemaker.
O: Well, I don't remember having any wars. This is a misunderstanding.
P: You stole my Krugerrands, and I want them back.
O: Krugerrands? Listen, I don't have time for jokes.
P: Hey! Points gun at him. [through Mozzie's script] When it's a matter of our missing money, I never joke. This picture tells a story professor.
O: I don't see myself in that story.
P: No, but you see the case and now, you've got it. I wouldn't want anything to happen to your hands, professor.
O: Listen, if you're the peacemaker, then we can find some common ground.
P: The Krugerrands were worth 2 million, I want 3 for my trouble.
O: Well, that's simply not possible!
P: Make it possible. Deliver it tomorrow or I'll start with your thumbs.

5. The kiss at the end has to be mentioned. I really like Alex for Neal 'cause she gets the price of having the kind of life Neal lives. Plus, the two definitely have chemistry. I have to give credit to the writer's for not forgetting about that last piece of the music box (which totally slipped my mind). She really does care about Neal, and he knows it, but isn't prepared to let go of Kate just yet.

A: Goodbye Neal.
N: Alex. Be careful.
A: You too. If someone's looking for me...
N: Then they're after me too.
A: It's the last piece of the music box. I'm giving up my obsession.
N: You suggesting I give up mine?
A: Kate's gone. The rest of us are still here.
Alex hesitates, at first and then gives Neal a kiss.
N: Goodbye Alex.
A: Bye.

Photo Source: White Collar Online

Covert Affairs: This isn't my favorite among the 3 episodes shown thus far. I felt it was too sappy, and I'm just not a fan of the storyline of Julia and her mistressing ways. I get way too much exposure of those kinds of stories IRL. But on the plus side, the banter between Chris Gorham's Auggie and Piper's Annie are adorable, as was the hand-on-the-knee flirting of Diego (Michael Steger of 90210 fame).

1. Annie and Diego are adorbs. I really liked the cut scenes between the Sunday football in Georgetown and the chase in Caracas. They were able to include the intensity of the friendly and the kill. Piper plays the charming Annie well that I can accept that she's a magnet for guys. The first few moments of the scene on the bench, I had to reorrient myself 'cause I was yelling, "It's Navid!" LOL.

2. Anne Dudek plays the sweet mom and sister. I loved her when she was in House, and I still love her here. She seems thinner now though that definitely caught my eye. The past few episodes, we've only seen her trying to make Annie feel at home, and try to get a handle of her little kids. I'm sure there will be an episode where Annie's professional life starts to interfere with her family life. It's the unavoidable reality of these kinds of shows.

3. Annie confronts Julia about being a mistress and closing off her emotions. She tries to use her relationship with Ben Mercer (who we still know zilch about) and her difficulty on where to place that memory of them in her life now. Julia tells Annie, "And now, you are a woman with walls." Ouch.

4. Annie drives from clumsy to race car star-like. You just knew that Victor was testing her. The moment he asked Diego how long they've known each other, I smelled the fishiness already. Annie did try to keep her cover by bungling up the stick shift of the Ferrari and then, brought her A-game driving skills when she needed it, which inevitably blew her cover. On a sidenote, the douche factor of Victor runs high with that red Ferrari.

5. Annie and Auggie give us some banter after ruminating about the CIA.

Auggie: Is that a sigh? It sounds like a sigh, like a troubled guilty sigh. This is the business Annie. It's what we do. The fact is you should be feeling good.
Annie: Yea, well my shoulder's still sore. My sister can't understand how a car accident would cause me to lose a $300 carry-on she gave me for my birthday and I've got a 20 year old lothario, bragging he spent the night with me in Caracas.
Auggie: Aside from that...
Annie: Aside from that I'm fine. And you shouldn't be here.
Auggie: Ahh...Sundays I'm drawn to the sound of the thundering herd, so sue me.
Annie: So if Joan found out...
Auggies: She knows what it feels like to jones her field work. I think she envies you.
Annie: I bet she was pretty good.
Auggie: One of the best.
Annie: I bet you were pretty good.
Auggie: Still am. And I envy you too. All that time to move on she preaches, I don't buy into it for a second. Every step forward begins with firmly planted foot in the past.

Photo Source: Rawr Caps