10 Essential White Collar Episodes To Watch Before The Reboot

White Collar is one of the most beloved procedural dramedies from the 2000s and 2010s and one of the few shows that have a good reason to be revived. Running for six seasons from 2006 to 2014, White Collar had a lot going for it, from its premise to the exciting heists and compelling villains that populated the story. However, the most enduring part of White Collar has always been the dynamic between Peter and Neal, played by Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer. Though an FBI agent and a thief are an unlikely pair, White Collar made them unforgettable.

Not only did Peter and Neal work well together, but they became true friends, and many of the best episodes revolved around the development of their dynamic. The White Collar revival theories have been mounting in the wake of the announcement that this beloved series will be back and better than ever before long. While it's impossible to know what the writers and creators have in store for fans of the series, there's no question that Peter and Neal's friendship will be just as vital to the next phase of White Collar's story as it was to the original show.

10 Pilot

Season 1, Episode 1

While there are some TV shows where the pilot, or even the whole first season, can be skipped, White Collar isn't one of them. Watching the pilot is crucial to understanding how Peter and Neal work on their own and establishing their motivations for most of the series. Each of them has ulterior motives when approaching their tenuous partnership in season 1, but Neal makes it clear from the start that he can be an asset, and Peter doesn't let him get away with anything.

Though the pilot doesn't feature their most daring case or Neal's most convoluted con, it's consistently ranked as one of the best episodes of the series and successfully convinced many dedicated fans to stick with the show. There's nothing better than revising the pilot to see how far both Peter and Neal come by the end of the show. Additionally, the pilot does a great job of laying out the stakes and central conflict of the first three seasons, setting the stage for an unforgettable series.

9 Out Of The Box

Season 1, Episode 14

The season finale of season 1, "Out of the Box," did a lot for establishing White Collar as a show that would keep fans guessing until the very end. Kate (Alexandra Daddario) is Neal's primary love interest in season 1, and their relationship plagues him for the remainder of the series, but in the final episode of the season, their chance at a future is put to rest. Neal's reason for trying to escape Peter and go off on his own is because of Kate, but all of this changes in "Out of the Box."

Series	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
White Collar (2009–2014)	96%	93%

Outside of Kate and Neal's tumultuous relationship in season 1, Peter and Elizabeth are the best White Collar romantic couple. Though they both make mistakes in "Out of the Box," their bond is reaffirmed by the end of the episode. White Collar's tone evolved over the seasons, but the series typically leaned more toward comedy than melodrama throughout the story. However, the explosive ending of season 1 proved that White Collar wasn't afraid to surprise audiences and take the series to dark places.

8 Unfinished Business

Season 2, Episode 5

Though Neal's most important relationship in White Collar is his friendship with Peter, "Unfinished Business" is a critical episode for the development of his best romantic entanglement. Hilarie Burton, known for One Tree Hill, played Sara Ellis in White Collar, an insurance investigator who easily matches wits with Neal throughout her time on the show. While their relationship doesn't start in earnest until later in season 2, the sparks between Neal and Sara are impossible to ignore in Unfinished Business.

Even if Neal and Sara could never truly be together as partners, their chemistry and incredible teamwork make for a great addition to the series.

Unfortunately, it's likely that Hilarie Burton won't return for the White Collar revival, making it impossible for Sara and Neal to end up together once and for all. However, her impact on Neal in the earlier seasons of White Collar plays a significant role in helping Neal understand how his actions affect people, and "Unfinished Business" is where this all starts. Even if Neal and Sara could never truly be together as partners, their chemistry and incredible teamwork make for a great addition to the series.

7 Payback

Season 2, Episode 14

Though Peter and Neal are each other's foils in the early seasons of White Collar, Neal's biggest rival, Matthew Keller (Ross McCall), is a recurring nemesis. "Payback" isn't the first time that audiences meet Keller in White Collar, but it is when both the viewers and characters start to take him more seriously. In an effort to mess with Neal and Peter and break out of prison, Keller orchestrates Peter's kidnapping from behind bars, and the stakes of Peter and Neal's partnership have never been higher.

Though "Payback" could be considered a filler episode on paper, it helps showcase the bond between Neal and Peter, as Neal helps him escape captivity using his con artist tricks. The level of trust on display and the anxiety that both Neal and the audience feel in Peter's absence prove that Neal isn't just helping Peter so he can earn his freedom. Additionally, this episode showcases why Keller and his unsavory plans are always such a big deal in White Collar.

6 Point Blank

Season 2, Episode 9

Though "Point Blank" isn't the finale of White Collar season 2, it has an epic emotional climax that gives the audience critical insight into how Neal and Peter are changing. Ever since Kate's death at the end of season 1, Neal has been determined to find her killers and bring them to justice, and in "Point Blank," he comes very close. Though Neal makes it clear he isn't violent and abhors guns from the beginning, he comes close to committing murder in "Point Blank."

"Point Blank" is a huge step forward in the music box arc and sets up the conflict for the remainder of season 2.

This puts both Neal and Peter in a difficult position, as Peter can understand Neal's intentions and his grief after losing Kate, but he can't allow him to take the law into his own hands. Additionally, "Point Blank" is a huge step forward in the music box arc and sets up the conflict for the remainder of season 2. Not only are revelations made about the mastermind behind Kate's death, but an incredible cliffhanger makes all the characters realize what matters most: their friends and family.

5 Checkmate

Season 3, Episode 11

Keller is back and has even more planned for not only Peter and Neal but also Elizabeth in "Checkmate." Throughout season 3, the biggest source of tension between Peter and Neal is the existence of the U-boat treasure and the fact that Peter knows Neal is hiding it from him. However, both men are pretending they have no idea what the other is up to while keeping close tabs on their movements. All of this culminates in the shocking events of "Checkmate."

After Keller kidnaps Elizabeth to get his hands on the treasure, Neal steps up like he never has before and will do anything to take Keller down for good this time. Peter grapples with some serious emotions in "Checkmate" as he faces the reality that Elizabeth is in real danger, and Neal has a hand in putting her in this position. Seeing Neal redeem himself by the end of the episode is a significant moment. There's a lot that audiences want to see in the White Collar revival series, and these moments of emotional vulnerability must be part of it.

4 Judgment Day

Season 3, Episode 16

"Judgment Day" is the culmination of White Collar's first three seasons, with Neal finally facing his commutation hearing and considering the possibility that he could face life as a free man on the straight and narrow. However, fate has other plans for Neal and Peter, as the treasure is still looming in the background of their lives, and Agent Kramer (Beau Bridges) has his own agenda. It's an emotional episode as the people in Neal's life all come together to give their recommendations about whether Neal's sentence should be commuted.

Unfortunately, Neal's attempts to make up for his past mistakes and the touching testimonies his friends and loved ones give aren't enough to stop Kramer from pulling the strings behind the scenes.

It's especially difficult for Peter, who has to work through his personal feelings about Neal and what he thinks is the right thing for the country and the law. Unfortunately, Neal's attempts to make up for his past mistakes and the touching testimonies his friends and loved ones give aren't enough to stop Kramer from pulling the strings behind the scenes. It's in the episode "Judgment Day" when Neal discovers just how much Peter cares for him and how easy it is for him to disappear once again.

3 Wanted

Season 4, Episode 1

The premier of White Collar season 4, "Wanted," takes the viewer out of New York City and straight into the paradise that Neal and Mozzie (Willie Garson) have created for themselves. Several months after Neal's disappearance at the end of season 3, Peter and the FBI are working tirelessly to find him, even if Peter's reasons are more sentimental. Though Neal does everything he can to stay hidden, his emotions get the better of him, and Peter proves once again that he's the only one who can find Neal.

The following episode, "Most Wanted," wraps up this brief arc and brings Neal back into the fold. Though he isn't gone long, and he and Peter find a way to resume his arrangement with the FBI, the dynamic and tone of White Collar shifts starting in season 4. New enemies and more trouble for Peter are large parts of the next few seasons. Neal might be back, but the sacrifices Peter has been making for his friends aren't working out in his favor.

2 At What Price

Season 5, Episode 1

After a bumpy season 4, White Collar season 5 kicks off with an unbelievable start to a sold lead-up to the final season. Peter is at his lowest point in "At What Price," as he's been accused of murder, and this time, it's up to Neal to rescue Peter from prison. After all these years, there's no question that Neal will do whatever it takes to free his friend and ensure that people see what an incredible agent Peter is. Of course, Elizabeth is just as concerned and encourages Neal to stop at nothing to help her husband.

WhileWhite Collar seasons 4 and 5 are considered two of the weaker installments of the series, there are still some great episodes within the seasons, and "At What Price" is one of them. Peter and Neal are firing on all cylinders, and it's always nice for the audience to see Neal going above and beyond for Peter. Since Peter sticks his neck out for Neal time and again, it's good to see that the feelings are mutual and that their bond won't waver.

1 Au Revoir

Season 6, Episode 6

The White Collar series finale, "Au Revoir," is the climax of the brief but memorable final season of the show. While there are a few great episodes in season 6, the best preparation audiences can make for the upcoming revival is to watch "Au Revoir" and see how Peter and Neal left things before the story's end. Full of heartfelt goodbyes and a long con worthy of any episode of White Collar, "Au Revoir" is a touching tribute to the series and a great way for it to say farewell.

Though it appears that Neal has died in "Au Revoir," the final moments of the episode reveal that he is alive and well, and Peter and Elizabeth are also moving on with their lives and starting a family. It will be interesting to see how White Collar picks up after this definitive finale, as though Neal's out there, neither he nor Peter have any intentions of chasing each other. Whatever the reason is that will bring them back, it's sure to spark conversation.