TheWhite Collarreboot may not beat the original series' most popular season, but the revival can easily surpass the worst season of the show. Though Jeff Eastin confirmed that three potential studios were interested inWhite Collar: Renaissancein the form of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Peacock, noupdates for theWhite Collarrevivalhave been made since. Even so, speculation on the series continues as audiences wonder how the revival will balance the original’s story format now that television has changed so much.
Many of thebestWhite Collarseasonshad both concise narratives for each episode and strong overarching plots, with season 3 being long regarded for having the best of each. Even though theWhite Collarreboot may not surpass season 3considering how much things will have to change, the show can do something new and exciting, especially compared to the disappointing season 5.
White Collar Renaissance Should Be At Least Better Than Season 5
Season 5’s Story Went In Too Many Directions
White Collar’s revival should be able to be more concise than season 5, whose narrative made several jumps far too quickly. The season centers on various plotlines that run into each other, from Peter’s (Tim DeKay) arrest to Neal (Matt Bomer) scrambling to do the bidding of Curtis Hagan (Mark Sheppard), which leads him to his newest girlfriend, Rebecca (Bridget Regan). It then goes on to cover the death of an FBI agent and the breakdown of Neal and Peter’s relationship before ending on a cliffhanger, making season 5 one of the few to do so.
White Collarseason 5has the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of the series at 83%.
Season 5 is counted as the worst season ofWhite Collardue to how many conflicts got jammed within and resolved with little exploration. Peter and Neal’s relationship is not given the time it previously had despite the many major breaking points the story pushes onto them. Not only that, butthe stories involving Hagan and Rebecca either ended too quickly or were not given the buildup they needed, leaving their endings unsatisfying.White Collar: Renaissance,fortunately, is not in a position to do the same, though the series' finale brings its own issues to the revival.
White Collar Renaissance Will Have To Justify Its Existence After Season 6’s Ending
White Collar’s Finale Was Somewhat Definitive
After season 6’s ending,White Collar’s reboot may have a hard time crafting a fresh storyline and justifying its existence.White Collar’s season 6 endingwas able to wrap up the loose ends of the story by having Neal vanish to France after finally taking down the Pink Panthers, but it left enough open that a revival is possible.The finale did, after all, showcase Peter finding the wine bottle that led to Neal’s new life, so a story covering their reunion was already planted, making an organic segue for the revival to pick up.
10 Essential White Collar Episodes To Watch Before The Reboot
As excitement for the White Collar revival mounts, these episodes are a great refresher, reminding audiences about the biggest moments from the show.
That being said,White Collar: Renaissancemay have a hard time balancing those ideas in the same way season 5 did if it just focuses on the circumstances of their reunion or other new plot points. While it may not leap between major storylines,the revival could end up ignoring the character dynamics that audiences want to see more of. As a result, the revival’s existence could end up being more harmful than helpful toWhite Collar’s continued popularity if it is not done right.
What The White Collar Reboot Needs To Do To Live Up To The Show’s Legacy
White Collar Renaissance Needs To Copy The Original’s Character Focus
To honor the original show’s legacy,White Collar’s reboot needs to take the time to explore the characters, much like previous seasons did. Several of thebest episodes ofWhite Collarbalanced the overarching story with episodic narratives, giving each one time to develop and create more anticipation.White Collaroften highlighted shifting dynamics between the characters and commented on their evolution,building their arcs slowly and in a compelling way.
Even if the revival has a more limited timeframe, taking an episode or two to have a smaller plot that lets the characters shine would help recapture the spirit of the original.
White Collar: Renaissanceneeds to do the same to truly bring back the essence of the original. However, this will not be easy given how much the TV landscape has changed since the show ended in 2014. TV shows, especially streaming originals, are becoming shorter, and there seems to be no time for “filler” episodes anymore.
Even if the revival has a more limited timeframe, taking an episode or two to have a smaller plot that lets the characters shine would help recapture the spirit of the original. This would allow the reboot ofWhite Collarto retain what made the series popular while also extending the story, allowing us to properly see what has changed between Neal and Peter and what parts of their relationship have remained the same.
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.
