'White Collar' Winter Premiere Preview: What you should know about 'Family Business'

We’ve got exactly one month before “White Collar” returns to USA Network with the final six episodes of Season 4. Since we know that feels like forever, we were happy to watch the screener for the winter premiere so we can bring you the scoop on what to expect when the show is back on our screens.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

When we last left Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), he had just found out that Sam (guest star Treat Williams) was actually his long-lost dad. The new episode, “Family Business,” picks up at that moment and Sam (whose real name is revealed) explains himself to Neal and Peter (Tim DeKay), who has rushed right over to make sure his friend is okay (aw, bromance).

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The show uses flashbacks to tell “Sam’s” story and we get to see just what happened that day when Ellen found him with the dead cop. We also get more history on his involvement with the Irish mob; the same mobsters who were trying to kill him in the last episode. He lays everything out for Neal, but don’t expect Neal to respond with a hug and that famous Caffrey smile. He’s reeling from being lied to.

But that doesn’t stop him from agreeing to go undercover to help bring the mobsters, led by Dennis Flynn (guest star Scott Evans) down. Peter is of course worried that Neal is too emotionally involved, but Neal insists that he’s the only one who can pull off the con needed to fool Dennis. Naturally, he needs some help from Mozzie (Willie Garson). There’s a super fun scene with the two of them that involves A LOT of alcohol.

Elsewhere in the episode, look for June (guest star Diahann Carroll) to prove to be very helpful in the prep work for the con. Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) also steps in at a crucial moment and Neal wears his Clark Kent glasses for a good portion of the episode, which is always a plus. There is some movement in the relationship between Neal and his father, but as for whether it’s a step forward or a step back, you’re going to have to tune into the episode to find out.

“White Collar” returns on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 10:00 p.m. EST on USA Network.