White Collar
USA | Release Date: October 23, 2009
CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
76
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews
Positive:
32
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert
Season 1 Review: Beyond the formulaic outline, White Collar, is actually one of the best new shows of the season. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesMary McNamara
Season 1 Review: Terrific acting, crackling dialogue and geek-hip crime are not the only things that make this the most electric drama to premiere this fall. Read full review
83
NewsdayVerne Gay
Season 1 Review: White Collar is not original. But White Collar is enjoyable. Read full review
80
New York Daily NewsDavid HinckleyNov 6, 2014
Season 6 Review: White Collar works mostly because we like the characters so much, and no matter where Neal and Mozz end up, nothing seems likely to make us rethink that affection. Read full review
80
TV Guide MagazineMatt RoushNov 6, 2014
Season 6 Review: White Collar is among the most enjoyable shows ever to employ the USA formula of breezy, humor-laced intrigue.... If the first two episodes are any indication, it's going out with typical panache. Read full review
80
New York Daily NewsDavid HinckleyJul 10, 2012
Season 4 Review: They [The writers] deliver. Read full review
80
The Huffington PostMaureen RyanJun 9, 2011
Season 3 Review: White Collar's return is a sprightly, enjoyable affair--stylishly shot, well acted and deftly threaded with moral ambiguity. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterRandee Dawn
Season 1 Review: This is a show packed with smart people who make things happen and, even when following a predictable forgery crime--one that shoots off into interesting side alleys--always are one step ahead of viewers' expectations. Read full review
80
New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
Season 1 Review: It's well-paced, it's fun to watch and none of the characters needs to be anywhere near as annoying as, say, Nick Castle. Read full review
80
Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm
Season 1 Review: The likable show has something for everyone: handsome young star, sympathetic "older" costar, pretty former TV hottie, easy-to-follow caper plots, a little humor. Read full review
80
VarietyBrian Lowry
Season 1 Review: This latest caper isn't at 'Burn Notice's" level yet, but based on the channel's track record, you'd be ill-advised to bet against it tracking down an audience. Read full review
80
Kansas City StarAaron Barnhart
Season 1 Review: It's the best drama pilot I saw over the summer. Read full review
80
The New York TimesGinia Bellafante
Season 1 Review: A winsome, quick-paced caper that is part “Catch Me if You Can,” part “Shampoo.” Read full review
80
Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen Gray
Season 1 Review: It's a formula that's worked so far, and if you've already loved shows like "Psych" and "Burn Notice" and "Royal Pains," why shouldn't you love White Collar? Read full review
80
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen
Season 1 Review: Light with no pretensions of loftiness, White Collar offers pleasant enough entertainment. Read full review
80
PopMattersLesley Smith
Season 1 Review: The show benefits as well from its lack of exposition, focus on present action, and a ruthless economy of editing rarely seen on primetime TV. Read full review
80
TV Guide MagazineMatt Roush
Season 1 Review: The high concept of this buddy mystery-comedy is as familiar as it is inviting. Read full review
80
Wall Street JournalNancy DeWolf Smith
Season 1 Review: White Collar takes off in its own refreshing directions, with enough wit and sparkle to make the time fly by. Read full review
75
USA TodayRobert BiancoJun 6, 2011
Season 3 Review: It has established genuine emotional bonds between its characters. There is something at stake here beyond the mechanics of the "sting," and that gives the show enough weight to keep it from dissipating in the summer heat. Read full review
75
People WeeklyTom GliattoJun 2, 2011
Season 3 Review: Collar's odd-couple tension tugs the show in entertaining directions. [13 Jun 2011, p.46]
75
Chicago TribuneMaureen RyanJan 3, 2011
Season 2 Review: It's gotten better at delivering on its strengths -- light character drama and caper-ish crime proceedings. Read full review
75
New York PostLinda Stasi
Season 1 Review: Suspend all disbelief and relax. It ain't "Inspector Lewis," but it is stylish, good fun with dialogue as slick as those old Rat Pack suits Caffrey loves so well. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan
Season 1 Review: The best thing about White Collar is DeKay and Bomer’s chemistry; DeKay in particular is able to wring subtle comedy from Burke’s irritation at Caffrey’s ability to get something for nothing. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesPaige Wiser
Season 1 Review: When the boys team up to bring down fancy criminal types, the dialogue is sharp, the music is snappy and the clothes are snazzy. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman
Season 1 Review: If you can get past the shortcuts that series like this have to take (everything happens too effortlessly, there's excessive exposition, etc.), there's an enormous likability factor in play, and it makes you want to watch it (without much mental effort) the following 13 weeks. Read full review
75
USA TodayRobert Bianco
Season 1 Review: Tonight's 90-minute premiere is a tad overextended, but it still provides an effective and entertaining launchpad for the premise. Read full review
70
HitfixAlan SepinwallJun 7, 2011
Season 3 Review: Peter and Neal now have very good reason to be wary of each other, and that not only suggests good things in the future but spices up all of their interactions while they work their latest case. It's a vast improvement, and a welcome example of a show eventually finding itself by eliminating outside distractions and focusing as much as possible on the core concept. Read full review
70
Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen GrayJan 3, 2011
Season 2 Review: Neal still has Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), and the bro-mance between the art thief and his by-the-book FBI handler is still the best reason to watch this show. Read full review
70
Washington PostHank Stuever
Season 1 Review: The fizzily entertaining pilot of White Collar works hard to establish a vibe of style and smarts, and almost gets the job done. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyDalene RovenstineOct 31, 2014
Season 6 Review: There are some very cheesy moments, but Mozzie's interactions with Peter (Tim DeKay) and the gang will make you wish he were indebted to the bureau too. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyStephan LeeJul 6, 2012
Season 4 Review: The season 4 opener is somewhat a dud until a last-minute twist saves it. [13 Jul 2012, p.68]
67
Entertainment WeeklyKen Tucker
Season 1 Review: The con-man-works-with-G-man series is already a well-oiled machine, which is both good and bad. Good, because the interplay between Matt Bomer's hipster criminal and Tim DeKay's square fed is crisp; bad because the plots are often wilted. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsDavid HinckleyJun 7, 2011
Season 3 Review: It's still lively, still fun and still has the right touch of snap in the dialogue. But at times it's working a little too hard, and maybe requiring the viewer to work too hard as well. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleDavid WiegandJul 10, 2012
Season 4 Review: Things don't really start heating up until the second and third shows of the new season. It's difficult to imagine where the series can go in the future, though. Read full review
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