White Collaris officially getting a revival, but now the show has the enormous task of finding ways to bring back the core cast and create a fresh new story.White Collarfirst began airing back in 2009. The show introduced the world to the incredibly talented con man,Neal Caffrey, and the FBI agent who caught him, Peter Burke, as the pair were forced to work together. While the pair initially butted heads, over time, their relationship evolved, and they began to have a mutual respect and appreciation for one another.
However, the show had a solid run of six seasons to explore the relationship, and it ended with Neal finally breaking free from the FBI after they continually went back on their promise to make him a free man. But years later, the show is set to renew withWhite Collar: Renaissance(viaDeadline). And while this is an exciting development, it raises questions about how the show will return, and what the story will be about in this updated revival.
7Reuniting Neal Caffrey & Peter Burke
It has been confirmed that Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay will both return for the revival, which means Neal and Peter will most likely have a reunion. Considering the entire run of White Collar revolved around these two characters, it only makes sense to bring them back together, and see what lies in store for them. However, the show will need to come up with a solid reason for the pair to meet again. The last time that Peter saw Neal, Neal faked his death, and he got a private note that confirmed his friend was still alive and well.
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Now, years later, both Neal and Peter are likely to be at very different places in their lives, so it will be interesting to see how they bring them together. However, it is almost a certainty that the revival will feature a moment where the characters come back together, and it will likely happen very early on. After all, thisrelationship between Peter and neal is whatWhite Collarwas all about in the first place. Uniqeuly, the revival can approach this relationship as old friends reuniting, which will be a stark contrast to how the pair met in the original series.
6Honoring And Moving Beyond Mozzie After Willie Garson’s Death
In 2021, Willie Garson passed away seven years after the show concluded. In the originalWhite Collarseries, Garson played a character called Mozzie, who was a long-time friend and accomplice to Neal Caffrey. Like Neal, Mozzie was an expert thief, with incredible tech skills, and a gift for researching material and getting answers from obscure sources. Mozzie was the only person who left with Neal when Neal faked his death, and so it’s likely that the pair have been together since their departure from New York. But with Garson having passed away, the show will need to fill in the blanks.
Mozzie’s death could be a strong starting point withinWhite Collar: Revival, and it could act as a way for the cast and crew to acknowledge and pay tribute to the actor. If Mozzie’s fate resembles Garson’s it could inspire Neal to return to his friend Peter and seek help. Whether that is because there is a case to be investigated, or Neal is just alone and isolated after losing his closest and oldest friend, either way, this could be a great way to kick off the new series.
5Bringing Neal Caffrey Back From The Dead
However, if Neal does return to New York for any reason, there is likely going to be a lot of questions about how a legendary con man survived and evaded detection by the FBI. BringingNeal back from the dead inWhite Collar: Renaissancewould be a challenge for Neal to maintain his freedom, and it could direct negative attention at Peter as someone who knew and willingly allowed Neal to escape capture. Considering Peter was just promoted in the finale, it could be detrimental to his career and reputation if this secret is brought to light.
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So, it will be important to address how exactly Neal managed to disappear, to cover up that Peter had any such knowledge, and attempt to do all of this while keeping Neal a free man, rather than forcing him into a leg bracelet once again, or worse, sending him to jail. The show will have to navigate this, but that could provide an interesting place to start the story, and a solid arc to explore over a series or more, depending on how the revival performs. Either way, Neal is currently supposed to be dead, so its essential to bring him back.
4Peter Burke Running The NYC White Collar Division
As mentioned above, Peter Burke was promoted to lead the New York City White Collar division for the FBI. The department where he worked for many years to track down people like Neal, and the same department where he was partnered with Neal as a criminal informant and consultant. The department suffered from a lack of cohesion, with some agents having additional allegiances, and people who wanted to take advantage of people like Neal Caffrey for the benefit of themselves and their unit.
Peter was never so callous, but he did have a strong work ethic. In fact, early in the show’s run, Peter occasionally missed meals with his beautiful wife, Elle, because he’d be working late. Now, as the head of the department, it seems likely that his workload will be larger than ever, which means he needs to find a balance. Interestingly, it was Neal who helped him to maintain that balance at times, and having his old friend back could be the perfect way for Peter to realign his priorities, and put his attention back on his relationship, while also cleaning up the department.
3Tracking Down Neal Caffrey On The Run
However, there is a distinct possibility that Neal returned to his old ways after leaving Peter. After all, he was a criminal, and he was very good at running cons. Despite his genuine satisfaction from working with the FBI, Neal was forced to continually act out because the agency never gave him an official release, despite promising such, and so he never got a chance to start over. With his new life beginning with a lie about being killed, it is very likely that he continued to run cons afterWhite Collar.
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If that is the case, the thing that brings Peter and Neal back together could be Peter hot on the trail of Neal’s crimes. Previously, it was Peter who caught Neal when no other agent could. He saw the patterns in his work, and became intimately familiar with how Neal’s mind worked. So, if Peter picks up on the trail of Neal’s crimes once again, this could lead him to track down and capture his old friend. Of course, it would need to be explained why there was a lengthy gap in his activity, but this is a plausible way for the revival to reunite Neal and Peter.
2Neal Getting An Official Release
Neal worked alongside Peter as a criminal informant for years. Initially,Neal Caffrey was only due to serve a few more months in prison whenWhite Collarbegan, but he broke out of jail and had his sentence extended. However, he was given a unique offer as a way to serve out his sentence serving the FBI as an informant and reduce his remaining time. Despite this offer, and Neal taking it, the FBI went back on their word, and always found ways to extend his sentence, which resulted in six more years under surveillance.
While the show ended with Neal breaking free of this sentence, he was never officially released. Neal was due to be locked up again, and forced to continue working for the government with intense restrictions. A revival show could see Neal come back, accept that he still has time to serve, and then eventually be granted that freedom. With Peter’s new position, it seems like Neal is is a stronger position to be freed than ever before, but he can’t be released until he takes accountability, and stops running from the consequences of his actions.
1Neal Working As An Official White Collar Agent
If Neal manages to earn his freedom, embrace his punishment, and come through the other side still strong, it could also be the perfect time for Neal to step up and get a job as an official FBI White Collar agent. Neal loved his time working with Peter, and his skills as a criminal made him uniquely suited to getting inside the minds of criminals. He was an incredible asset, and the FBI would be lucky to have him. And, Neal liked doing the work he just couldn’t live with the continued lack of freedom and trust.
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White Collar’srevival could give Neal the redemption he has been looking for, allow him to come back and embrace whatever is awaiting him, and then start to work legitimately. Considering he knows the boss, he already has a strong in to help him land the job. However, there would still be a learning curve as Neal tries to figure out how to operate as an official agent, rather than a criminal who bends the rules to fit his situation. Ultimately, this or any other theory forwhat will happen inWhite Collar: Renaissanceremains to be seen when the series eventually comes out, and the fate of Neal and Peter is revealed.
White Collar
Cast
White Collar is a crime drama television series featuring Neal Caffrey, a skilled con artist and art thief, portrayed by Matt Bomer. After being captured by FBI agent Peter Burke, Neal agrees to help the FBI catch elusive white-collar criminals as a consultant, leveraging his unique skills. The series explores the evolving partnership and mutual trust between Neal and Peter, blending elements of crime-solving and personal redemption.
