Summary

• White Collar ended its run after six seasons due to factors beyond the show's control, albeit with a final case that satisfied fans.
• White Collar's Cancellation was part of USA Network's shift in programming, moving towards riskier shows and shifting away from popular series.
• Talks of a White Collar revival have been ongoing, with the potential for a season 7 to reunite Neal Caffrey and Peter Burke.

White Collar ended its six-season run because of reasons that were beyond the show's control. Created by Jeff Eastin, the procedural show on USA Network followed the unusual tandem of con artist and thief, Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) and FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). During its time on the cable network, it was still actively producing original content, which included Psych and the new Netflix mega-hit Suits. Set in New York, White Collar primarily shot on location, which gave it a more authentic feel to it, especially since the city was such a big part of its storytelling.

Like Suits with Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) and Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), White Collar's backbone was the dynamic between Caffrey and Burke. As former adversaries, with Burke being the only agent who was able to catch the elusive forger and thief, their history play into their relationship and how it developed while solving high-stakes cases. Suffice it to say, Bomer and DeKay's chemistry was clear from the get-go, but it was made better with a solid ensemble around them. Considering its procedural nature, White Collar could have continued indefinitely, so it was disappointing when it ended with season 6.

White Collar Season 6 Was Designed To Be Show’s Final

USA Network Announced White Collar's End Before Season 6 Premiered.

Ahead of White Collar's return for its sixth season in 2014, it was announced that the show was ending at the end of the year. This gave the creatives behind the series enough time to prepare for a final case for Caffrey and Burke, which were all leading to the pair's send-off. The courtesy was put to good use, with Eastin and his team coming up with concise six-episode final stretch for the pair, which ended with arguably one of the most satisfying finales in TV at that time, primarily because it stayed true to White Collar's DNA.

Ultimately, the ending revolved around a final case, which wrapped up with Caffrey having to fake his death. Realizing that regardless of how behaved and effective he was on the job, the FBI will never cut him loose, because he was too useful for them. Burke tried everything to help him, but it was above his pay grade. Caffrey's demise was mourned by those closest to him, but before White Collar fully wrapped up, the suit eventually figured out the truth. Its parting shot showed Caffrey living a good life in Paris, away from New York.

White Collar’s Cancellation Was Part Of USA Network’s Shift In Programming

Sadly, White Collar Was Collateral Damage For USA Network's Business And Creative Decision.

Thanks to its fantastic cast, unique premise, and exciting storylines, White Collar was an immediate ratings hit for USA Network when it debuted in 2009. Per THR, it was one of the top new cable shows that year, and by season 5, it became the top five most-watched basic cable series on Thursday nights in the first quarter of the year, with a total of 4.46 million viewers. Coming from such a successful year, it was odd that USA Network decided to pull the plug on White Collar the very next season.

Unfortunately, White Collar peaking came at a time when USA Network was transitioning its scripted programming to bolder projects. Classics such as Necessary Roughness, Psych, and Burn Notice were wrapping up. The cable provider was gambling on riskier offerings like Rush and Satisfaction. Meanwhile, Suits and Royal Pains were still part of its slate to gradually move away from their old primetime blocks. Individually, there were also rumbles that filming on location in New York made White Collar especially expensive. For context, Suits, which was also supposed to be set in the Big Apple, was shooting in Toronto.

Will White Collar Season 7 Ever Happen?

Talks Of A White Collar Revival Have Been Going On For A While.

Not a year since Suits arrived on the platform, White Collar is now on Netflix. This makes it more accessible to many people, allowing those who loved it before to revisit it a decade after it ended and introduce it to a new generation of viewers who didn't watch it during its time on USA Network. If White Collar gets even a fraction of the success that Suits got from being on the streamer, then talks of a revival may finally move forward substantially. The idea has been percolating for quite a while now, with Bomer saying that there are "legitimate talks" about a White Collar revival.

The show ended with such a well-executed twist — a testament to the quality of writing that White Collar was able to maintain from its beginning to its end.

Whether White Collar season 7 actually happens is currently a big question mark. At the very least, its finale provides a natural narrative opening to see Caffrey and Burke team up again. The show ended with such a well-executed twist — a testament to the quality of writing that White Collar was able to maintain from its beginning to its end. Assuming that the same creatives will be involved in a potential revival, then there's a lot to be excited about the idea.

White Collar is available to stream on Netflix and Hulu.

Source: THR