“Neighborhood Watch” is a love letter to Elizabeth Burke (Tiffani Thiessen), a modern day heroine who has a vegetable garden and a seemingly ordinary life. …It doesn’t stop her from acting extraordinary. And doesn’t that give hope to us all? Get confident and tell your neighbor to stop stealing your assigned parking spot! Er… uh, moving on!

tiffani thiessen

I was looking forward to White Collar because I figured I was feeling low and deserved a little Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) and Beter Burke (Tim Dekay) action. Little did I realize that this episode, “Neighborhood Watch” would be putting those two a bit on the backburner while they focused on Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) and Mozzie (Willie Garson.) But was I annoyed or disappointed? Hell to the no. That’s like ordering creme brule and being given vanilla bean cheesecake – both are amazing and you’d be a fool not to gobble either.

While the entire episode was well thought-out and delightful in just about every way possible, it was truly Elizabeth Burke that deserves top honors. Whether on her own, being cute with hubby Peter, or (I’m not even sure what I would call him…) Mozzie, she’s just so fun and brave.

One of the scenes that sticks out for me is when the bad guy (Joe Manganiello) into the Burke’s house and he went over to Satchmo. Elizabeth was alone, and Manganiello is built. It was a genuinely threatening moment. And nothing is perhaps so disturbing as seeing ones protective dog in peril, and caught unaware of the need to be on guard. Manganiello’s hands are so big it looked like he might crush poor Satchmo right there. Luckily, he didn’t. And Elizabeth held her own.

The only complaint I have about this episode is that when Elle and Mozzie went into the club and said they were FBI, it seemed like it would make the baddies move even faster to get away. Shrug.

So, this episode made ME love Elizabeth, but what did it make you feel?

White Collar airs Tuesdays on USA Network

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