Leverage shakes up the balanced team
“You do not let Vicki Vale into the Batcave — ever.” – Hardison, on attorney Tara Carlisle tagging along with the team
There was something about the way the team worked together tonight that charmed me. Sure, they are always fun to watch and no one would deny that they need each other to successfully pull off the cons. But often in the episodes, one team member comes off stronger than the others, or one stands out as having the coolest moment of the episode.
I think it was deliberate, showing how balanced the team was tonight, given the twist at the end. And boy, am I excited for the January episodes to begin.
Leverage revisits the traditional heist
“Why, so they can arrest Hardison’s ego?” – Eliot, on the state police coming
Leverage felt slightly off to me tonight after the last few spectacular episodes, but revisiting a traditional heist was a good move on the part of the producers. Some of the complaints we’ve been hearing in the comments here at CliqueClack have been things like Fray’s “we’ve reduced a team of brilliant thieves and masterminds to the A-team,” and Ivey’s “there seemed to be some fun missing out of the last several episodes [until "The Top Hat Job"]….”
While, like Ivey, I have loved the last couple of episodes, I felt like tonight’s did backslide a bit. I’m just not sure why we can’t have killer quotes and zippy flashbacks in all the episodes… but instead of complaining, I want to address the brilliant move that was the heist.
Leverage – Anyone else seeing double?
“Chaos, I heard you were in jail. I guess I was wrong. ” – Hardison
“Hardison, I heard you sucked. I guess I was right.” – Chaos (played by Wil Wheaton)
Nope, you’re not in the Bizarro World, but you’re close. And that guy Chaos? Not Bizarro Jerry, but Bizarro Hardison … or is that Wil Wheaton? It’s pretty hard to keep track, but I’m sure Eliot didn’t turn into a woman, though Parker may be sporting a hat now….
I can’t tell you how much fun I had watching the Bizarro team take on Team Leverage. And if you were like me, you had the fear, even just for a moment, that Team Leverage just might be bested this time.
Leverage’s flashbacks are back, and better than ever
“That’s not the same thing — what’s wrong with you?” – Eliot to Parker, when she compares her burying herself alive to overcome her fear of darkness, to his overcoming his claustrophobia by staying in a dark shed
As big a fan of Leverage as I am, I admit I was a bit disappointed in the few episodes following the season two premiere. They were entertaining, don’t get me wrong, but they were missing the magic of season one. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something wasn’t gelling for me.
Well, last week all those feelings were gone, and this week just confirms it: Leverage is back and better than ever, and not one bit inferior to season one’s near perfection. The fun part about tonight’s episode is that it had all the unique quirk that is classic Leverage, but it pleasantly reminded me of many distinctive shows from the past.
Leverage – A hint of what’s to come?
After being asked if he heard anything Hardison was saying to him, Eliot retorts: “You’re explaining how you’re still a virgin?” in response to the steady stream of geek talk Eliot was just subjected to
I’m watching this episode with an extra pair of eyes tonight — did you see Dean Devlin’s tweet? Somewhere, in the midst of this fun episode of Leverage, there was an Easter egg (I think I use that term so, so incorrectly, but I like it); a little clue as to what the summer finale has in store for us. Now that’s very cool.
What would be even cooler was if I knew what the hell he was referring to. I have some ideas, but it certainly wasn’t clear cut to me.
Leverage – Is season two measuring up?
“Is it just me or has Nate gotten a little more sadistic since he quit drinking?” – Parker
“Is it just me or does that make him even more attractive?” – Sophie
Yep, it’s still fun, yep, I laughed out loud, yep, the con was great. But something was missing for me in tonight’s episode of Leverage, “The Order 23 Job.”
Is it just me, or is the writing not as tight as it was last season? I’m missing the quotables, I’m missing the connections between the characters, and there is a deep, empty, gaping hole in my heart where the flashbacks used to be. I want to see Eliot leveling a coffee house in 7 seconds flat and I want to know more about the mysterious pasts of the rest of the team. Oh, and bring back Nate’s ex-wife, Maggie, and Sterling. You left us at such a great spot with those two characters at the end of season one, Leverage — go with it.
Whisper to me, Jim, and become Human again – Daily Rerun Roundup
The weekend has a few notable reruns, although I’m sure you’d rather be watching your Dollhouse DVD, and catching the new episode, “Epitaph One.” Maybe you’ll follow along with Bob and watch some Veronica Mars, season two. Or….
Friday
- At 8:00 on CBS, The Ghost Whisperer episode titled “Body of Water” repeats, as well as an episode of Privileged on The CW.
- At 9 PM you can catch an episode of According to Jim on ABC, the “Everybody Hates Lasagna” episode of Everybody Hates Chris on The CW or Flashpoint on CBS.
- At 9:30 on ABC, the series finale of According to Jim is re-airing, and boy, do we have the review for you. Grab a beer and enjoy, although we have it on good authority that the show doesn’t get much funnier.
Saturday
- On ABC at 9:00, you can catch Aldis Hodge in a guest spot on Castle’s “Always Buy Retail.”
- At 11:30 NBC is repeating the awesome Tracy Morgan / Kelly Clarkson episode of SNL from last season.
Sunday
- In case you missed the BBCA premiere of Being Human from Saturday, it’s airing again at 9:15.
- At 10 PM you can catch an episode from season five of Desperate Housewives on ABC or head over to CBS to watch a repeat of Without a Trace.
Make sure you subscribe to our mailing list to get daily updates on what’s notable and new on TV, and follow us on Twitter for more of the same and other news!
Most Commented (Past Week)