For leverageland Episode Reviews
All opinions are mine:)
Season Four, Episode Two- “The Ten Li’l Grifters Job”
In this episode, the Leverage crew takes a case to get original building blueprints from a man, Morris Beck, who is using bad materials to erect buildings and causing injury and even to death to the people inside them. In order for the crew to find the blueprints, they first have to get into Beck’s home. It just so happens, Beck is hosting a Murder Mystery and Hardison has the means of getting the whole crew in. Alas, as the search goes on, Morris Beck manages to get himself murdered and none other than Nate is seen over the body. So now the crew has two jobs. Find the blueprints and find the killer.
While this wasn’t the best Leverage episode, it was entertaining with a nice mystery behind it. Could Nate be a killer? We know he’s not, but it wasn’t up to us to clear him. Even though I had my suspicions, I, for one, wasn’t able to guess who the killer or in this case, killers were until the end of the episode. It all made sense and fell together neatly, which is always a plus in these situations. What made this episode great however, was the costuming. The greatest detective costume of the evening had to be Parker as Nancy Drew, with a very close second being Sophie as Irene Adler.
Favorite quote: “Do you not know my name? It’s nothing to get on that list. I’ve been to the Oscars every year since I was fifteen.”
Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½
Season Four, Episode Four- “The Van Gogh Job”
In this episode of Leverage, the crew is brought in to locate a lost Van Gogh self-portrait that has been missing since World War Two. In their quest to discover the whereabouts of the painting, we as an audience are transported back in time to the 1940’s, where we follow the love story of Dorothy and Charlie (portrayed by Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge). We come to find, as the episode progresses, just what kind of importance that painting has and we are reminded of the power of true love.
By far, The Van Gogh Job is my favorite Leverage episode. It truly brings Aldis Hodge and Beth Riesgraf to the forefront. We get to see them not only as Hardison and Parker, but as two completely different characters. It always breaks my heart to think that this was the way things really were. These two souls, Dorothy and Charlie, had everything stacked against them. The most heartbreaking scene of the episode has to be when Dorothy and Charlie say goodbye at the train. The emotion is spot on and I cry right along with Dorothy every time. This episode demands such a great range from each actor and they do not fail to give us all what we are watching for.
Favorite Quote: “You know what, man, if I get out of this job without upper-respiratory issues, it will be a miracle.”
Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Season Four, Episode Seven- “The Grave Danger Job”
In this seventh episode of season four, the Leverage crew starts out with their eyes trained on the Wickett Family funeral home, that has been stealing money from grieving families, by claiming that they have no record of monies paid to them for funeral services purchased in advance. As they continue the con, the team soon comes to learn that not only are the Wicketts embezzling from their clients, but they are also stealing identities and selling the ‘clean’ names to a drug cartel.
Filled with both funny and serious moments, this episode, while featuring the entire crew, really brings Hardison and Parker to the forefront. Don’t forget, however, that one of the most comical moments came when Eliot walked into the funeral of a police officer, believing it to be one for an ex-con and pretended to being coming for an undercover job.
We see the team really bind together in search of Hardison, who had been buried alive by the drug cartel in exchange for the ‘clean identities’ Nate had promised the Wicketts. Parker becomes the true hero of the operation, calming Hardison down and telling him how and when to breathe while the team searched for him. Watching her reaction and the visual exchange between her and Hardison when the coffin was opened is one of the greatest and most heartbreaking moments.
Favorite Quote: “Thanks for not hanging up the phone.”
Episode Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★