(Some unpopular opinions about) Neal Caffrey.

[the_grynne]

Neal Caffrey is a con artist, and therefore inherently slippery and difficult to pin down, but while I get the impression that there are some pretty diverse interpretations of Neal out there, not to mention portrayals in fan fiction, most of the time I just feel like the odd one out, the killjoy who insists on seeing Neal as the thief - the

Comments

[the_grynne]

It feels like a neutering of his character

Yes. That is exactly what it feels like. But then, I think the show itself is guilty of it to a certain extent, so many we're actually responding to - a liking - a different character than most of the audience?

[the_grynne]

The rest of the series, while enjoyable, was a big step down in excitement and sheer interest. Everything was too easy, too nice, with nothing to balance it out. I'm allergic to fluff in large doses.

[nm973]

This is one of the perks of staying outside fandom. I agree with your assessment, which is why I find it interesting they did what they did in the finale. What keeps him there? Another big bad, I guess. This can never be a buddy cops story. Couldn't work. I do have to say, though, that however they got there, I really love the Peter/Neal relationship.

[the_grynne]

*tackles* N, I've missed you!

What keeps him there? Another big bad, I guess.

I think it'll be the goal of rooting out Fowler's boss, and finding out who killed Kate, that'll keep him working with Peter. Although I do wish that they would play that anti-establishment angle that Neal represents a bit more, to balance out Peter's "good" FBI agent, than they have done so far.

[angstbunny]

Which is why I'd really love for the show to get into how Peter's hopes for Neal is so much a pipe dream (not that it would; I think the show's too fluffy to get that deep). Neal is definitely a con artist through and through. He can trust Peter, but he'd never trust the law as an institution. His instincts and reflexes are all honed toward deception. There's a fundamental respect for the law that Peter has that Neal will never have

[the_grynne]

You make a lot of excellent point.

He can trust Peter, but he'd never trust the law as an institution. His instincts and reflexes are all honed toward deception.

Yes, that is exactly it. I miss seeing more of that side of Neal, which must be there if we're to believe he's such a good con man: his opportunism, his ability to twist himself into whatever will make the other person like him. Semper gumby. Always flexible