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.
Leverage – The heist is back!!
Leverage is back, and the whole opening sequence was just brilliantly directed. Starting with Nathan Ford attempting to get back into the white collar world he’d left behind, we’re immediately assaulted with slow motion scenes of just how miserable all the office drones are. Then, as soon as he rejects this life and steps outside, he literally has a car flying over his head and crashing right next to him; symbolic of the excitement and need to help others he’s come to cherish in his life.
He then gets to save a couple of lives, witness corrupt behavior, and escape in the nick of time before the car explodes. That’s more like it! Aaand … cut to the snazzy new intro explaining the show in ten seconds. Damn, it’s good to have Leverage back! Read the rest of this entry »
Leverage’s Sterling and Maggie are awesome
OK, did I tell you, or did I tell you? Was that not one of the most perfect season finales ever to grace your screen?
Now, we know that Nate, Parker, Eliot, Sophie and Hardison are awesome. And by awesome, I mean spectacularly written and acted, funny, human, three-dimensional and, well, spunky. We’ve gotten a chance to see these main characters grow and evolve and become even more … well, awesome as the series has gone on.
The season finale has now elevated two supporting characters to awesome status: Maggie, Nate’s ex-wife, and Sterling, Nate’s nemesis.
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