"White Collar": The Portrait of a Smooth Libra Criminal

One of my two new favorite TV shows is "White Collar" (the other one is "Glee"). It's about a notoriously skillful con artist and art thief, Neil Caffrey, who gets re-caught by the FBI after escaping from prison. Peter Burke, the FBI agent who caught Neil both times offers up a sweet deal: help the FBI catch other criminals and get a taste of freedom in exchange. Of course Neil accepts the deal because it's easier to track down his One True Love, Kate, if he's not behind steel bars. The mystery of why Kate is on the run is a running theme throughout all of the first season episodes. The greater mystery to me is what mental illness Kate is suffering from that would make her run away from gorgeous, charming Neil. But whatevs.

This show has everything I adore in my fluffy entertainment: humor (the witty kind), action, surprise twists and sexual tension:

As I was watching the first episode, I immediately picked up a very Libran vibe from Neil: gorgeous, charming (Matthew Bomer has chemistry with just about everyone he's in a room with), diplomatic with men, has swagger with a bit of self-conscious vanity, and an inner moral code that's based on subjective fairness rather than society's laws. Also, he really, really enjoys being in a partnership with Agent Burke. As the season has progressed, we can tell that his developing friendship with Burke is becoming just as big of a draw to Neil as having enough freedom to search for his One True Love (aren't Libras always suckers for love?).

There's a constant inner struggle within Neil to follow his heart (chasing after Kate) or remain faithful to the deal he struck with his new work-husband partner. Although Burke is married to a lovely woman (Kelly from the cheesy classic "Saved By the Bell"), the relationship with Neil is fast becoming a work-marriage. They bicker and then they make up. It's so sweet. And hilarious. As any good partner in a polygamous relationship would do, Neil advises Burke on how to keep his wife happy - and never steers him wrong. It's as if Burke has his own personal Hitch (coincidentally played by Libra Will Smith).

With such a strong whiff of Libra emanating from Neil Caffrey, curiosity led me to discover that Matthew Bomer (the actor that plays Neil) is indeed a Libra - born October 11, 1977. And guess what? Every single actor that plays a main character on this show (whose birthday is available to us) is an air sign:

Tim Dekay (Gemini) - FBI Agent Peter Burke, Neil's new partner
Willie Garson (Aquarius) - Mozzie, Neil's literal partner in crime, confidant and friend
Tiffani Theissen (Aquarius) - Elizabeth, Agent Burke's wife and the third point of the Love Triangle
Sharif Atkins (Aquarius) - FBI Agent Jones, a member of Agent Burke's team

Hand-picked from Astrology Casting Central

Obviously, the Aquarians are the majority here. What other sign would we expect to be most attracted to a show with a premise that the career criminal is the good guy? It has just enough anti-conformity to make a true Aquarius smile. Gemini Tim DeKay does a great job playing the straight man to Libra Matthew Bomer. The chemistry between these two air sign actors is undeniable as their characters trade snarky one-liners and dance between fondness and antagonism. Actually, the relationship between all of the characters is quite airy: witty repartee, bouncing ideas off one another, accepting each other flaws-criminal-tendencies-and-all, etc. The casting director is a genius.

Btw, you know who turned me on to this show? My Gemini mother, who has Mercury in Gemini. It took her all of 2 minutes to declare "White Collar" her favorite new show. It took me and my Venus and Mars in Gemini about 10 minutes to do the same.

Check out fresh "White Collar" episodes here.

An example of air signs getting along:

Notice the very first question from the host is about the great chemistry between the cast. As most Hollywood insiders know, the chemistry (or lack thereof) between cast members can make (or break) a show. The actors try to explain their chemistry but any astrologer would be able to tell them that it's the air sign compatibility. In other words, the stars are aligned. :)

Aren't they precious together? :) Note how both of them mentioned that this show is about crime but doesn't have a lot of violence (that's more of a fire sign thang). Rather, this show relies on smart dialogue and the intelligence of the characters for its "action" sequences. In other words, brains over brawn - an air sign's mantra.

Hitch Trailer

Every American man should be lucky enough to have a personal love assistant. There would probably be a lot more marriage and a lot less divorce.

Can't quite put my finger on what it is about Libras that makes them so damn likable...