Writing this post is bittersweet. Bitter, because it means that this will be the last wrap-up post I will write for Leverage, but sweet, because I am thankful that the TV series was given a chance to end things as it really should, especially since it wasn't considered a high profile show even in its own network.
When producer Dean Devlin announced that season five of Leverage will end with the episode that they've envisioned as the end of the show's series run, I knew that I might have to prepare myself for the end. Given that TNT usually announces their series renewals way before a season is supposed to end, it wasn't a surprise when they did announce that they are officially canceling Leverage. Expected, but definitely not something I'm emotionally ready for. Yes, I'm that attached to my favorite TV titles.
The fifth and final season of Leverage takes place in Portland, where our favorite hitter, hacker, grifter, thief and mastermind have relocated after the events of the previous season and their Boston base of operations was subjected to constant surveillance by different government agencies. Hardison (Aldis Hodge) sets up a new base of operations, using a microbrewery/pub as a front, while the team works on what they do best... help those who find themselves going against individuals, groups or companies that find ways to circumvent the law or justice.
Save for the last moment in the first episode, where Hardison confronts Nate (Timothy Hutton) about keeping a secret from the rest of the group, business went on as usual for most of the season, with each episode featuring the con of the week. The group continues last season's cohesiveness as a team, with Nate, Hardison, Parker (Beth Riesgraf), Sophie (Gina Bellman) and Elliot (Christian Kane) finding themselves continuously pitted against different marks.
Up until Dean Devlin announced the possibility that Leverage won't be renewed for a sixth season, I thought it was just business as usual for the show. In fact, the fifth season was mostly composed of one con after another, with nary a season arc plot line or villain in sight. The aforementioned secret during the first episode was never alluded to again until the season finale. While I would have preferred a bigger buildup to what would be the biggest con the group would pull off, the last episode did give Leverage fans a show to remember by doing what it does best. The episode featured a great heist story that featured an intricately planned con, plot twists aplenty, deceptions, misdirections, and a huge payoff for the group's main goal of making the accountable pay. As well as an emotional van ride that was just plain evil on the part of the producers (but, you know... in a good way).
The fifth season was far from perfect (hello, Inception wannabe episode), which has always been the case for the entire series. The overall look of the series was far from polished. You know that they were working with a smaller budget than their regular network prime time counterparts, which is evident in certain production settings or the rare occasions they used special effects. Yet, every fan of Leverage knows that there are elements to the series that more than make up for limitations in production. And all of these elements were very much prevalent until the last episode, "The Long Goodbye Job", that they aired on Christmas day.
Even if the series's storytelling did venture into the ridiculous from time to time, you can expect every episode to be entertaining. One of Leverage's strengths is that its writers know how to meld drama and comedy very well, while successfully unspooling the beautifully crafted cons of the group in every episode. The dialogue is witty and the pacing always fast, but you never get the feeling that you're rushed through the plot lines. And you always get a sense of how the show's creators work towards showing its appreciation to fans, which is very much evident in their series finale. "The Long Goodbye Job" featured a lot of throwbacks to seasons and episodes past, giving those who have followed the series from the beginning much to be excited about as they recognize familiar scenes or realize connections with significant episodes.
But of the show's many good assets, it's the cast of characters that's actually a major reason for watching. Nate, Sophie, Hardison, Parker and Elliot were all interesting as individuals, with each one showcasing a specific set of skills that make them vital to the group and possessing emotional baggage from their individual pasts. Over the course of five seasons, we have witnessed Nate finally coming to terms with the death of his son and his dependence on alcohol, Sophie come to terms with her real identity that's separate from the various persona she uses for her cons, Hardison stretching out his wings to find more roles outside of being a hacker, and Elliot trying to close the door on his dark past and stamping down his (literal) killer instinct. Of the five, it's Parker who was the most satisfying to watch, with season five showing the audiences how she learns to find things that she likes not for their monetary worth or the challenges that comes with stealing them, but because they resonate with her on an emotional level. The growth is punctuated with her now defined relationship with Hardison (finally) and Nate's recognition of how her way of thinking benefits the group.
As for the cast that portrays these characters, I've always felt that the cast of Leverage, much like the show itself, is largely ignored and under-appreciated. Each one does well at portraying their individual characters, but also takes on the challenges of acting out different roles as part of their cons. Gina Bellman alone must have used over a dozen different accents over the course of five seasons, with each of the characters Sophie plays showcasing different body language and personalities. It was exhausting to keep up with Sophie as she takes on character after character in "The Gimme a K Street Job" episode. Also, kudos to Tim Hutton and Christian Kane for pulling off the "I'm about to cry that's why my tears are pooling in my eyes, but I'm so manly I won't let them fall" look. My description sounds ridiculous, but they were very moving to watch.
In the end, there is one particular character that I'm happy the group ended the season with. James Sterling (Mark A. Sheppard) was one of the main antagonists of Leverage, but for me, he was always a vital part of the series. He might have been constantly hounding the group to capture them, especially when he was invited to be a member of Interpol, but I never believed that he was actually beyond understanding the work that they do. As much as the group's relationship with one another is the core of the series, Sterling's relationship with Nate was one of the relationships that helped in defining Leverage.
Even though I'm still not happy at TNT's decision to cancel the series, I'm still glad that I was able to watch the episode that they've always intended to be the series's finale. In the end, Leverage was able to give its fans closure and the promise of a new beginning, even if we don't know where that beginning is headed.
And if you're wondering what that beginning entails... well, the con goes on. It always does in Leverage Consulting & Associates.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Action, Comedy, Drama, Leverage, Must-Watch, TNT, TV, TV Series
