It looks like after the kerfluffle of the mid-season cliffhanger for White Collar, the PTB might be beginning to
waffle like IHOP.
There's always going to be a portion of any viewing audience that doesn't care for something in any given show. It'll really be sad if they give in to the pressure of the 10% (part of which was probably a totally unthinking knee jerk reaction) when the vast majority likes the new twist and will probably be pissed to be jerked around.
Personally I wasn't that surprised to find Peter sitting in that chair waiting for Kate. I will admit that while part of my mind did go to Peter when Neal found out that the person manipulating Kate was an FBI agent, it never settled on him. Still, that being said, when it turned out to me Peter I had more of a 'hunh' moment than 'WTF'.
I hope the PTB don't waffle too terribly. While I do think that Peter is manipulating Neal, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. After all, it's gotten Neal more or less on the straight less crooked path. Also, doesn't Neal manipulate Peter for his own purposes all the time?
Finally, a speculation: I can't be the only person who realizes that Kate bears a striking resemblance to El. If they turn out to be sisters, I wonder who's going to left with the WTF? expression on their face. I can't remember (if they even said) how long have Peter and El been married? I know they were together when Peter was originally chasing Neal, but did they meet before or after Peter began his chase? That being said, I have no doubt that El loves Peter, but just how many twists were there in the beginning of that relationship?