Mini-Review On "Leverage"

300th Post!!


I was recently bored to tears by everything on the TV today and turned to my beautiful Netflix Instant Watch in hopes of discovering some quality programming. I stumbled upon this TV Show, "Leverage" and watched the first two episodes, so I thought I would give my thoughts on them.


The first episode sets up the point of the entire series. Nathan Ford is a disgruntled, unemployed former insurance agent who's bitter against the world, and especially an insurance company who refused to pay for medical treatment for his son. Ford is approached mid-binge drinking by a man who wants to hire him to lead a team of thieves. Why him specifically? No idea. Not really explored much. So Ford becomes the brain of the three-other-member team, consisting of the British brawn, Eliot Spencer, cat-burglar and daredevil acrobat, Parker, and nerdy black hacker, Alec Hardison. Kind of strikes me as a cliche that you team consists of this very basic format, but having not pulled off a heist or anything of the sort, I'll just presume these are the essential workers needed for a high stakes theft. The team steals the blue-prints to an airplane design back are not only refused payment due to lack of delivery, but all are nearly killed by the man who hired them, who did in fact receive the blue-print. Unfortunately for the puppetmaster, he's not angered four of the most dangerous and vindictive individuals he could have left alive.

Naturally, they get their revenge in a clever and action-packed way, which leaves us with the next episode. Nathan Ford establishes an official business with his three allies called Leverage Inc to assist the needy against evil corporations. In this second episode, Leverage Inc's client is an army foot soldier who just happens to be documenting his thoughts and feelings as a present for his girlfriend back home, when he picks up footage of private security doing something insidious and illegal, resulting in many, including himself, getting shot (client survives, obviously). The episode mainly focuses on the gang of Leverage Inc being spooked about the sheer force they're up against, as three-fourths of them aren't trained for actual combat and don't want anyone getting hurt. Spoiler: Everything gets resolved nicely through a combination of keen wit and the brunt of a fist.


Overall, even though I've only seen two episodes of the show I'd say it's pretty darn good. It reminds me a lot of Burn Notice and Ocean's Eleven, both of which I'm a big fan of. The show is only on it's second season on TNT so you should check out your local listings, because I'd rate it 4*'s just off of what I've seen.