More on Leverage
Alright, so I've gotten to the part where Sophie has left to become Carmen Sandeigo travel the world and work out her...issues. Or something. Anyway, her friend she sent to take her place- Tara? Tessa? Teressa? Why don't they call her by name more often? Anyway, the blonde- she is always talking about "getting her cut." She always gets a part of the money or goods they steal. My question is this then: Do the others get "a cut" too? If so, why is this never mentioned? If not, what are they living off of? While at first I thought it a bit strange they never mentioned money again after that first job, I'd always assumed they were all living off of the money they got in the series pilot. They referred to it as "go-buy-an-island-and-retire" money, so it is obviously a huge chunk of change. And they all did work during the time the crew was dissolved so they could have earned some cash then, I guess. Is the blonde the only one taking a cut because they all are living off of the other money? Or is this getting a cut business meant to make the new girl look a little greedy, like that's her big flaw or something?
Speaking of the new blonde, I'm having a hard time warming up to her, but the only reasons I can think of seem sort of dumb. 1) the money thing, which is never explained. I feel like she is the only one getting money. While the others are all rich from the pilot, it is logical that she's the only one worrying about having enough money to live off of etc. but it still seems greedy. 2) She has a plethora of unexplained talents. Like, in addition to grifting, she can also fight well enough to take down guys that Elliot's nervous about, like the Chinese mob, and she can decode things. The others have crazy skills too but they also have things they are not good at. The show has fun with showing off the things they suck at, and it makes it a better show. The new chick seems a touch Mary-Sue. 3) Maybe this is shallow, but they already had a blonde in Parker.
Actually, the real reason is probably that most shows just don't often do that great of a job at introducing new reoccurring characters in later seasons, especially if those characters are replacing someone. Law and Order series tend to do it well, but that's because the show isn't about the reoccurring characters. It is about the city and the crimes. Almost all other shows start off a little rocky when a new kid shows up. Nobody likes replacements of people. I'm sure she will either grow on me and/or Sophie will return (possibly she'll want to be called something other than Sophie but whatever.)
Weirdly, this has made me like the HMS: Nate/Sophie more though. If this ship starts involving Nate's daddy-issues though, that could change again.