Watch full episodes of White Collar.Many of these questions will come from a slightly jealous Peter, who will struggle with James' sudden re-emergence. "It goes from Neal not embracing James as his father to then embracing James as his father and getting upset that Peter and Mozzie are questioning this," Eastin says. "Peter subconsciously has a real issue with the fact that this new guy is filling the role that is really meant for him. For Peter, it's Elizabeth convincing him and saying to him, 'This is Neal's father. Embrace this guy.'"
CLICK HERE TO WATCH New Season 4 Online Episode 11 White Collar 2013 live
CLICK HERE TO WATCH New Season 4 Online Episode 11 White Collar 2013 live
"It's been this journey of trying to figure out who he is. So now that we're here and he now knows who this guy is, from a personal point of view, Neal is trying to put together who this guy is and trying to fit that into the ideals that he's laid off on his dad," showrunner and creator Jeff Eastin tells TVGuide.com. "Because, really, Peter [Tim DeKay] has really filled that void up until now. Peter is his dad."
Although Neal (Matt Bomer) may have been searching for his father, and answers about his past for most of his life, the discovery won't exactly be met with open arms when the show returns for the second half of Season 4 (Tuesday at 10/9c, USA). "Initially, Neal doesn't want to embrace it. Ultimately he does," Eastin says. "But then some questions of why James is here and things like that start cropping up."
James promises to add another source of tension to their already complicated relationship. "The real challenge for us, as time goes on, is to give Neal reasons to be at odds with Peter. Because at a certain point, you say, 'My God, Neal, this guy has gone through so much for you. Stop being a d---,'" Eastin says with a laugh. "That's where we really focus our time — how do we get to that relationship without completely screwing it up? We try to blow up as much as we can at the end of the seasons and then restore it somehow."
