I discovered Leverage by accident through channel surfing. It was in 2009 and I was in a hotel in Bacolod, where I was assigned for work. I was feeling wretched and decided to find something to watch. I ended up on AXN, where they were airing an episode of the TV series.
The episode, was unfortunately, the finale of the first season. But it was enough to get me interested and backtrack to the beginning.
I ended up getting hooked and Leverage became one of my viewing staples from the US summer (1st half) and fall (2nd half) TV seasons. I now forget what I was feeling wretched about back then.
Leverage is about a group of con men who, after surviving treachery, banded together to help those that have been taken advantage of by bad people or companies. The group is made up of hitter Elliot Spencer (Christian Kane), hacker Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge), grifter Sophie Deveraux (Gina Bellman), thief Parker (Beth Riesgraf) and mastermind Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton), a former insurance investigator who left his career after his son's death. The group uses their special collective set of skills to create a con to take down their targets, setting them up to pay for their crimes that they normally could get away with using their money, influence or understanding of the law.
Leverage is aired on TNT in the US and is admittedly a lesser known show than those aired on network and other paid cable channels. Yet, the Dean Devlin produced series has persevered through four seasons and is about to enter its fifth this coming summer.
It's because it's so damn fun to watch. Most would think that the con of the week concept would be tiresome, especially since you would mostly get a happy ending at the end of each episode. Yet, Leverage was able to overcome the challenge of the audience potentially getting bored. Despite an obviously limited budget that sometimes undermine the effectiveness of a stunt or scope of the con of the week, you just have to take it in stride because the show makes up for it in other ways. The way the con of the week plays out is always entertaining. The dialogue is funny, yet does not lose its stride when things have to be serious.
For me, the main draw of watching Leverage is its cast. This season showcased a more cohesive group in terms of both work and personal connection. The group has worked so well for so long that they easily slip into their respective roles in the team, as well as each other's roles when needed.
While there are caricature elements in their portrayal of their
characters, it's actually one of the reasons why they are so much fun to
watch. All of the characters move forward and evolve individually, as well as in their relationships with each other. This season, the romantic tandems of Nate and Sophie, and Hardison and Parker, take their baby steps toward defined relationships. Of the five, Parker is the character that was most satisfying to watch, as her character tries to understand what it means to care for others and tries to cultivate relationships with them. The acting was particularly elevated this season, with Tim Hutton having an exceptional moment during The Radio Job episode, involving a pivotal moment with his character's father. My favorite performance this season was by Aldis Hodge as Hardison in the episode The Grave Danger Job. The episode involved having his character buried alive, while the rest of the team scramble to find him as he tries to deal with his claustrophobia.
This season featured a season arc villain in the form of Jack Latimer (Leon Rippy), a corrupt businessman who made money by investing against the targets of the team throughout the years. While not as suave as season three's Damien Moreau or as crisp as Jim Sterling, Latimer dealt the most damage when he started a war using Nate's father Jimmy Ford. Partnering with Victor Dubenich, the group's first target in the series and the reason why they all got together, made Latimer a difficult adversary since he knew how the group operated. I particularly enjoyed how that dubious partnership and the consequent conflict it brought made the group decide to get help in the form of Maggie Collins (Nate's ex wife), Archie Leach (Parker's mentor), Chaos (Hardison's hacker rival) and Quinn (professional hitter). The addition of these characters to the group, however temporary, was exceptionally fun to watch.
Yes, there is a formula to Leverage, especially when it comes to the con of the week. Yet, it doesn't mean it's boring or repetitive. The show has achieved a great mix of good storytelling, great characters, witty dialogue and an interesting concept.
So, if you haven't seen Leverage and would like to find something new to watch, then you should check out the series. Although, I do have to advise that you start at the beginning and don't emulate my example of backtracking. :P
As for me... I can hardly wait for the first con of the summer. :)
Happy viewing!!Labels: Action, Comedy, Drama, Leverage, Must-Watch, TNT, TV, TV Series
