Ep 1. At What Price

After a hiatus of almost a year and a half, White Collar returns for its fifth season with an intriguing episode titled "At What Price." The show begins with a flashback to Neal Caffrey's childhood, where he is seen in the company of his father, James Bennett. James, it seems, had different ideas about how to make a living than most people. He was a con artist, and Neal learned from him how to manipulate people.

Cut to the present day, where the FBI has been able to trace a painting stolen from the Met Museum to an art collector named Henry Dobbs. But there's a catch: the painting has been sold to Dobbs, who is not willing to part with it until he gets his hands on another painting, which is currently in the possession of one of our favorite con men - Neal Caffrey. The FBI has no choice but to turn to Neal to help them recover the stolen painting.

Neal, however, isn't willing to help the FBI unless they agree to let him have his freedom from his anklet and allow him to leave the city. He's had enough of the FBI and Peter always keeping a close eye on him, and he wants to start afresh somewhere far away from New York City. But unbeknownst to Neal, another con artist named Rebecca Lowe has infiltrated the FBI, and she's got her eyes firmly set on Neal.

Now that Neal has agreed to help the FBI and find the missing painting, they put a plan in motion. But things take an unexpected turn when it becomes clear that someone is blackmailing Dobbs, and he's not willing to part with the painting until he gets the information he needs. Neal and Peter have to work out who's behind the blackmail, and the only way to do so is to use Rebecca's con artist skills to track them down.

As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that there's more to the blackmail than meets the eye, and that Neal and Peter may be walking into a trap. Meanwhile, Rebecca manages to gain Neal's trust by revealing some dark secrets of her own, including a secret visit she made to Neal's father just before his death. Rebecca is a wildcard in the investigation, and it's clear that the FBI isn't quite sure just what she's capable of.

"At What Price" is one of the strongest episodes of White Collar so far, and it sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable season. The writing is sharp and witty, with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The chemistry between the actors is palpable, and it's clear that the cast is having a great time working together.

One of the outstanding elements of this episode is the bond between Neal and Peter. It's clear that they're more than just colleagues at this point, and there's a real sense of trust and loyalty between them. As always, Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay are terrific in their roles, and their performances are a real highlight of the show.

Rebecca Lowe is a welcome addition to the show, and she brings a new level of tension and excitement to the series. She's smart, resourceful, and incredibly manipulative, and it's clear that she's going to play a significant role in the upcoming episodes. It will be interesting to see just how far she's willing to go to get what she wants.

Overall, "At What Price" is a fantastic way to kick off White Collar's fifth season. It's a great reintroduction to the show's characters and themes, and it sets the stage for an exciting and unpredictable series of episodes. Fans of the show won't be disappointed, and newcomers will find plenty to enjoy in this excellent episode.