is it because Bomer is gay that the interactions between Neal and Peter are so slashy

There's enough bromance and slash overtones out there where both actors are straight that I don't see why this would have to play into it. Bomer plays Neal as absolutely desirous of Peter's approval, but I think the slash is pretty standard.

Okay, I think the Black man (Jones) is involved in this. I think he is working with someone else to set Peter up. I don't think Jones has enough authority to be doing this whole thing on his own.

Interesting theory.

And darn it - because I like Jones too.

It would explain why Sharif Atkins has just been guesting this whole time.

Wait, how can someone be setting Peter up when it's Peter sitting there? Obviously Peter knows whats going on. What did I miss? (Possibly a lot. I miss things.) But Jones a bad guy, I do not want.

There's enough bromance and slash overtones out there where both actors are straight that I don't see why this would have to play into it.

Yeah, probably not. I'm not always able to see the nuances.

Bomer plays Neal as absolutely desirous of Peter's approval, but I think the slash is pretty standard.

Why does Neal want Peter's approval so much? He put him in prison; you'd think there'd be some resentment.

Neal has a jones for brains. He had a total mancrush on Tulane's spicy brains. I think it started that he wanted to be trusted just so that he could have an angle on getting Kate, but he's grown to respect Peter, and wants that to be mutual.

As for the setup, it's hard to believe that Peter is the bad guy Neal's been assuming the man with the ring has been. If he's doing something not bad with that, he still seems to be in trouble with the FBI (unless they're monitoring Elizabeth).

True, and true.

Zenkitty,

Peter is sitting there, but we don't know how he got there: for example, I'm imagining that he got hip to someone setting him up and found the ring and Kate's address in Neal's subpoenaed papers. He shows up there to talk to Kate about the man who really has her "captive."

Another option is that he found the ring among Kate's things and is challenging her on trying to double-cross Neal.

If he just found the ring, I think it's weird that he put it on.

If he's been working with Kate to get to Neal's stash this whole time, it totally ruins the relationship--but also the premise of the show, so I'm thinking it has to be something sympathetic and forgivable.

Kate really looks like Elizabeth, huh?

Yeah, I don't think Peter would put the ring on unless it was his own. But like you say, ita, it has to be something understandable or the premise of the show is ruined.

Bizarre theory: Kate's the real villian in the piece. She's screwing with Neal, trying to get him to give up his stash - she was all "just tell me where it is OMG!"; even Neal was suspicious of that. And why would she stick by him for almost four years and then leave him four months before he was getting out? Peter is the one who got her to leave Neal, probably using her criminal record to coerce her, because Neal was about to get out of prison and he and Kate and the stash would've been gone. Kate might even have been planning to kill Neal for the money. Peter didn't just arrest her because he wants to use her to get Neal's stash - it's all stolen stuff that legally should be returned to its rightful owners. Maybe he's got Kate on a leash just like he does Neal, and he's just realized Kate is messing with him. Doesn't explain why Fowler is suspicious of Peter, though. Maybe Peter's arrangement with Kate isn't as aboveboard as his with Neal.

Kate really looks like Elizabeth, huh?

Yes, I thought so too. Quick bizarre soap-opera theory #2, based solely on Kate's looks: Kate is Elizabeth's estranged daughter (Kate could be 22 and Elizabeth could have had her at 18, which makes El 40) and Peter is trying to get her away from Neal because Neal is a bad influence. Maybe Kate's involvement is what made Peter so determined to catch Neal in the first place. So, Peter talked Kate into leaving Neal but she left Neal clues to finding her because she's trying to double-cross both Peter and Neal and get Neal's stash. Maybe Kate's been working with Fowler and she's the one who's been in Peter's house to bug his phone and that's how he knows she's messing with him and Peter is now confronting her with the truth. Ta-dah. Whew.