I think that's the biggest pull for me about this show--the charisma of the team.

It's also a big draw for me in White Collar, but there it's primarily two people. Here it's a team of five. And if you'd asked me a season ago, I'd have had nothing much to say outside of Hardison/Parker/Eliot, but now I'm feeling insanely protective of Nate and Sophie too.

If Tara ate my sandwich at me

I like how Tara has a very different style of grifting than Sophie. She still feels wrong and Not a Part of the Team, as she should, but she's effective in her role.

I need to see that "are you an alcoholic" quiz. Anyone got a link?

Off of the top of my head

1. Do you get drunk more than twice a year
2. Have you ever thrown up from drinking
3. Have you ever done something that you regret because you were drunk
4. Do you need a drink to get going in the morning
5. Do you hide alcohol
6. Have you ever blacked out from drinking

1, 2, and 3 seem like most people's college experience.

I tend to use this arbitrary personal test with others:

• Do you always bring liquor to gatherings, which you then drink?
  

• Do you find people who don't drink mystifying and/or annoying?
  

• Is it impossible for you to imagine enjoying an activity without having alcohol to go with it?
  

• Do you tend to plan your day around when you get that first drink and become angry with anything that keeps you from that goal?

Not that I ask those questions of anyone--I just notice stuff like a friend who insists on bringing a bottle of tequila to every gathering, even if that gathering is at three in the afternoon.

So if Nate's drinking is the symptom, how would you qualify the problem itself? Anger? Pain? Self-loathing? I tend to see his alcoholism as a bigger part of the problem than they're saying.

Nate is a sadistic bastard who hasn't gotten over his rage at the world, despite a detente with his wife and a victory over IYS. I think he drinks to self-medicate past that.

He also drinks so that he can ignore the fact that he likes being on the grey side of the law.

I was a bit confused over Maggie arriving at the conclusion that Nate hated himself. I mean, yeah, like ita said, last I heard he still had a hard time grouping himself with his crew, but how would Maggie twig to that? And what does Elliot himself think it is a symptom of?

Besides the flippy ends being too girly for me (I didn't mind the beads), Elliot's hair bothers me the way female action heroes hair bothers me in fights.

Nate was full of self-loathing when they first met last time, and he's obviously not reached a place where he can be honest about himself or his motivation. Maggie, Eliot, and Sophie I'd expect to be on top of that.

Eliot does often wear that knit watch cap, which keeps his hair effectively out of the way. And he often pulls it back. I think in RL a guy like that wouldn't wear long hair, but I'm trying to relax and enjoy the pretty visual effects. The flippy ends bother me. I can't imagine Eliot Spencer with a flat iron. And you know his hair is curly; you can tell in scenes where he gets wet or sweaty, like in the fight with the Moussad woman.