6x01 Borrowed Time - some random thoughts

[sheenianni]

First of all, I really, really liked this episode, even though some parts did made me hesitate and question.

And now to the ramble.


Wow, this was fantastic. I think I really like where this is going.

So, what IS Neal's plan? He clearly wants to break away from the FBI, and I think that's a good decision. He's been screwed by the Bureau far too many times and he'll never be able to move forward if he stays there - even the people on his team who geniunely like him (Diana, Jones, Peter to a small degree) are constantly questioning his motives in this episode. Which is understandable since Neal is who he is, but it also means he can never stop being a con man.

On the other hand, what are Neal's plans with the Panters?

I'm not sure if I can see Neal joining them. I get a vibe that they're a bit less squemish about shooting someone than Neal'd like. Then again, maybe not. Still, I find the scenarion of Neal talking them down and then taking their place a bit more likely. Unless Neal wants to lead the Pink Panters. If he gave away just the leader and a part of the gang... well, who knows? We'll see.

There's also the part when joining the Panters would be kind of screwing Peter over. I have to feel for him here - he has no clear idea what Neal's planning, and he'll try to be a good friend but he's also an FBI agent.

It is great to see Neal back at the top of his game. Actually, he scares me a bit. Maybe this was the first time I really got it how good and dangerous Neal is as a con man. People have always been hurt around Neal because of who he was, but it was usually past sins coming back to haunt him. Kate got killed, but Adler and the music box were Neal's past. Ellen died, but Neal had no control over that. Peter and El were kidnapped, but again, Keller was a ghost from the past, and even if Neal was involved with the treasure, he was pushed into that situation by Mozzie, and to a lesser degree by Peters accusations (how he handled the cards he was dealt is another thing). Mozzie being shot, Peter's arrest, the deal with Hagen.... all these time, this was Neal reacting to something. Now, for the first time, he is acting compketely on his own free will, completely for his own (selfish?) reasons.

There's no gun to Neal's head this time. Nobody who needs to be saved, no dark secret he didn't ask for that he has to protect. Whatever happens now, it's all on Neal.

So, who is he? Who does he want to be? We've seen so many faces of Neal Caffrey, how is this gonna end?

I loved Rachel's appearance more than I could say. And her speech about borrowed time... chilling. Very chilling. Also, it brings me back to Neal. It feels like the years at prison, but maybe even more his years with the FBI have stripped Neal of a lot of his idealism. The question is, if he's become more more mature and realistic in return, or if his idealism was simply replaced with cynism. The Neal Caffrey I saw in this episode could be an admirable man if he went the right way. He could also be a con man and King of Thieves of rpoportions that I can't even begin to imagine.

So again, who is Neal Caffrey? Consider me deeply intrigued.

As for the other things on the episode:

- Mozzie and Peter - love, check.

- El's pregnancy - I might be in the minority here (or not?), but I like it. Well, I would have been completely content without it, but I don't see what'S the problem here. Hsving a child doesn't make El any less badass than she was before, and I always thought that Peter would make a great dad. So, why not? (Although, it again brings the question where Peter and Neal are heading.)

- Booth - interesting character. I'm looking forward to see more of him. EDIT: Forgot he was arrested. Well, never mind.

-the caper - perfect. Loved it from the beginning to the end.

- and agan, Rachel. I honestly didn't expect her to get shot, but looking back, it made sense. Now, Neal knows that he doesn't want to end like this... Mozzie tell's him it's inevitable, they're on borrowed time, but Neal squashes that idea right away. The question is, does Neal think he can outrun and outcon his troubles, or does he want to face them like a man? At this point, I have to say I'm not exactly optimistic. But maybe he'll surprise me.

Speaking of which, the friendship between Moz and Neal was as awesome as always.

So, what next? Are we really living on Borrowed time, or will there be a happy ending after all? I can't wait to see.

PS: Could Mozzie join the Panters if Neal won't? Just a thought...

Comments

[meeni (from livejournal.com)]

Ugh all the things you said are the reasons I'm hesitant and intrigued too

Neal is a charmer but this Neal scares me too..You'd never want him as your enemy.

What is Neal's game plan?
A million dollar question and something to look forward to the rest of the 5 episodes

and the scene with Rebecca was sad:(

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

I guess we'll find out more about Neal's plan soon enough...

Honestly, I don't know how to feel about rachel. I guess I can't be sad that she's dead since she had nothing left but a lifetime in prison, but at the same time you have to mourn the life lost... It was a no win situation either way.

[nywcgirl]

Thanks for the recap... Wow, a lot happened in that one episode. Must find a way to see it. :-)

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

You're welcome and good luck with finding the ep :)

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Yep, lots of questions about Neal's end game thre (but when isn't it the case? LOL)

And thank god someone else is happy for the Burkes! :-)
I'm right with you, I would have been just as happy with no kids, but I can't say it bothers me. And to be honest, given how much "surrogate parents" they've been to Neal, Peter in particular, it makes sense to me that they'd want to be parents.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Well, most of the time I actually found Neal very predictable... I might not have always figured out how he would do something, but his intentions seemed always very clear. I always had a much harder time predicting Peter's reactions than Neal's. This is the first time I can't quite read Neal, so I'm even more intrigued about how this season will develop.

I agree completely about the Burkes :) I never quite saw Elizabeth as parental with Neal, but Peter definitely gives that vibe sometimes. And while I understand that someone liked having a childless happy couple on TV, but it's not like El and Peter spent the past five seasons agonizing over not having a kid. Maybe they tried some time ago, failed, then instead of agonizing over it, decided that they could be happy without kids - I mean, it doesn't seem like this was planned. But we'll see.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Well, there was a couple times where El took care of Neal. Like the post-drug couch scene in Vital Signs.

Funny because I find Peter very predictable. Neal does wrong, he's upset, Neal does good, he's happy and forgiving and proud, Neal's in danger, he comes to the rescue.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

To me, that scene came across as much more "fond sibling/cousin" caring than maternal... but then again I always saw El and Neal as more "favorite cousins" than anything else (the scene in Neighborhood watch in particular comes to mind :D )

Except Peter's definition of right and wrong is not completely consistent. Some cases, Peter encourages Neal's illegal interference; other times, he dislikes it. And that is just the most obvious thing.

I don't know. With Neal, I sort of know what to expect, even if "expactations" sometimes involve stealing and lies. Peter on the other hand still sometimes remains an enigma.

[sapphire2309]

I really like Neal this season. For five seasons, he's waited for someone to jerk him around, and this time he's finally taking control. this time, he's the guy with a plan. And yes, there's going to be fallout, and consequences, but he is tired of being jerked around and I am so, so happy that he's running this season.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. It was painful to watch Neal jerked around all the time, especially during season 5. Maybe that's part of the reason why he's so determined about taking control now. I just hope that whatever his plan is, it doesnt blow up in a spectacular fashion - I'm just as tired of seeing Neal hurt as I am of seeing him used and manipulated. The guy deserves some happiness, let him have it!

Still, very much looking forward to the remaining episodes :)

[reve-silencieux.livejournal.com]

Oooh... I think you nailed it. He's in control this time and I have to agree - I like it. No more reacting, or digging himself out. Because the poor guy has gone through enough!

And it is chilling, the idea of what and how dangerous Neal can be in his own right. I'm going to admit I want him to be good, so I hope he realizes that's what he wants - not the running, the pain, the bars or death. But a real life with friends and family.

Speaking of family... I'm with you on the Burkes. I've enjoyed the time where we haven't had the stereotypical family saga, instead just a solid relationship. Aside from the hilarity of how awkward and uncomfortable Peter is around babies and kids, he would be a good dad. This actually makes me feel better about a far in the future P/E baby storyline in one of my verses. Because they have been 'parents' to Neal and would be great parents. Of course, Neal and Mozzie around would be hilarious... We've already seen Moz with Theo. Imagine him with Baby Suit!! Heee!!

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

I really, really want Neal to be happy. I hope the show gives us a resolution that will be satisfying in that way.

I didn't even think of Mozzie with Baby Suit :D :D :D Okay, now I HAVE to see that :D That sounds fun :D

Mmmmm, maybe Mozie will run a small kindergarten for "Suit&Con" babies... We already have Theo, now El is pregnant... can we persuade Sara to come back and Alex to produce a kid? :D Just kidding... but imagine it, a class in Mozzie's "School of Life". "First, children, we'll talk about the universal conspiracies. Then after lunch, we'll cover lockpicking 101." :D

[treonb.livejournal.com]

The Pink Panthers are a real gang who pull off amazing heists. I thought they didn't mind murder, but looking it up now, it doesn't look like they killed anybody.

I didn't see Rebecca/Rachel getting killed and I still don't get why they needed to do it. Unless, like you say, it ups the stakes.

It might be scary, but this is who Neal is. As much as he's a hero in this show, he was never a good guy and people do get hurt from the stunts he pulls.

I'm guessing we'll find out where Neal is heading in the last episode. He says there must be another way, so not jail, not getting killed and not working for the FBI.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Interesting about the Pink Panthers. I didn't know that :)

About Neal... I see this as a part of his personality. He is a brilliant con man - if nothing else, this episode proved that beyond doubt - and I always thought he was capable of being surprisingly ruthless when circumstances required it. On the other hand, Neal geniunely likes people, and he is capable of great forgiveness and self-sacrifice especially when it comes to his friends. He can be selfish and opportunistic, but he also has a gentle side, a vulnerable side, a mischievous side and he's willing to put himself on the line for random strangers.

But yes, Neal is a con man. And I’m still not entirely sure if that is necessarily a bad thing. His cons had hurt people sometimes, but they had also helped others on numerous occasions since the beginning of the series.

Okay, now I’m not phrasing this right… My point is, it doesn’t matter whether Neal being a con man is a good thing or not – he is one, and I don’t think that’s ever going to really change. But maybe Peter was wrong with the whole “con man or a man” dilemma – maybe Neal can’t actually make that choice. But being a con man doesn’t have to equal being bad. Neal is loyal to people, not laws or principles, but that doesn’t make him a bad person. He might lie and manipulate, but again, that doesn’t necessarily have to make him bad. I guess what Neal really needs is to fully accept who he is, to stop making excuses for himself while also stop selling himself short. It would be great if the show allowed him to stop living in the past and start making a real future.

I'm guessing we'll find out where Neal is heading in the last episode. He says there must be another way, so not jail, not getting killed and not working for the FBI.

Hmmm… that leaves a lot of options. I mean, there most likely are legitimate careers for someone like Neal. Unless Neal decides that legitimate isn’t for him and that he can still outrun the law (but that would show an incredible lack of character development and a really bad lack of judgment on Neal’s part). I do hope that Neal’s plan is smarter than just playing for both sides – I can see how that could work for Neal, to join the Panthers if the FBI tried to screw him over or to take his freedom if they didn’t, but it would be incredibly unfair to Peter and I sincerely hope that Neal knows better than to hurt him like that.

So, I’m really curious where the show is heading with this. I hope the next episode will shed some light on that :)

[treonb.livejournal.com]

I don't think he intends to join the Pink Panthers, I think he intends to con them. But, we'll see :-)

Unless Neal decides that legitimate isn’t for him and that he can still outrun the law (but that would show an incredible lack of character development and a really bad lack of judgment on Neal’s part).

I suppose... though I still like Neal as a con man more than Neal as a legitimate business man. Neal is tired of running, but he still wants to run cons. Despite what Mozzie said about working for the FBI being the best of both worlds (running cons without risk of jail), we've seen that Neal does still enjoy running real cons. Though he doesn't con regular people now, all his cons have been against other criminals.

[sheenianni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Neal does enjoy the cons - and I don't think I really want him to stop enjoying them; I just want him to find something even more worthwhile that wouldn't make him regret giving them up, or alternatively to find a way to still be an active con man without harming himself, Peter or any of the people in his life. Honestly, I just want a happy ending for Neal and everyone around him; I don't particularly care how we get there. Though I would be disappointed if Neal stayed with the FBI.