As we first reported in June, White Collar would be getting a very special guest star this season and tonight is the night that Eliza Dushku is appearing as an exotic Egyptologist with an equally exotic name; Raquel LaRoque. LaRoque also happens to be working for a previous White Collar villain. Warning spoilers ahead.
Tonight we will see the return of Matthew Keller (Ross McCall), Keller last season managed to escape prison after having Peter (Tim DeKay) kidnapped and using this as a distraction to escape from his prison transfer van. Neal (Matt Bomer) vowed to find Keller eventually and it looks like Keller has come back to New York to get something from Neal. Although at first it appears that Keller is in town to steal an Egyptian artifact, this looks like a ruse for his real target and that is Neal and Mozzie's (Willie Garson) Nazi treasure. The same Nazi treasure that has somehow made conspiracy paper front page news (with an added alien technology twist) meaning that Neal not only has to protect his giant lie from Peter but from one of his prime rivals. I have a feeling that Neal is going to have to work super hard in this episode to guard all of his interests.
It is not just these lies that he has to contend with but also with Mozzie who he deceived last week in regards to the partial manifest of the Nazi treasure that he found in Peter's safe. This web of lies that Neal has created now includes his closest confidant and this reveals the uncertainty that Neal is now feeling about this scheme. Neal is now lying to all those that are close to him, is he is in danger of losing everything? Sara (Hilarie Burton) made her choice last week after discovering the truth and whilst it looks like she will keep Neal's secret she will not be living that life with Neal.
This opens the door for new relationships and as it was first hinted when Dushku was announced as a guest star there will be sparks between her character and Neal. Neal must use his charm with Dushku's LaRoque to get to Keller and as the promo shows there is definitely some chemistry between the two- who knew a security wand could create this amount of sizzle?! Bomer and Dushku have played lovers in the past on the short lived Tru Calling (it also starred a pre-Hangover Zach Galifianakis) and they look like they have retained this chemistry. Neal does go undercover this week and even though there is no navy uniform in his wardrobe like last week, we do get to see him rock some glasses which is just as good in my superficial opinion.
This is the penultimate episode of the first half of season 3 of White Collar and so be prepared for some big twists and turns to set up for next week's big mid-season finale.
For a sneak look at "On the Fence" and Eliza Dushku check out the promo below.
