Just when I was thinking that Leverage was simply going to give us more of the same in season four (which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing), they upped the ante. The premiere wasn’t stellar, but the performances spoke volumes in very few words and were simply better than they’ve ever been.
Season one is still my favorite season of Leverage. Through the flashbacks, we got to know each and every character: their backstory, their quirks and what made them tick. Plus, they were entertaining as hell and I still miss them. (sigh, Eliot …) Seasons two and three seemed more about the fun (oh, and Nate’s drinking which was totally the wrong way to go) and less about character growth (though certainly not void of it). It looks like Leverage may be returning to its roots by exploring the characters more in-depth, albeit from a different angle than the flashbacks.
Tonight’s case of the week wasn’t hugely compelling and the reveal at the end wasn’t the usual clever con (just Parker’s quick cell phone drop). That’s not what’s got me excited about this episode or the promise the fourth season may hold. To quote Ivey, “It’s all about the characters.” There was the usual banter and interplay: teasing Nate about being really drunk the first time they stole a mountain, Hardison keeping an eye on Parker, Parker’s glee at flashing the light in Eliot’s face, the hugs / not hugs and Nate and Sophie’s “we had sex” dance. It’s the places that this case took the characters. Parker and Eliot’s scene in particular were indicative of something great to come. Eliot’s right — they are different. Parker’s trying hard to “do the right thing” and when Eliot validates their curse as a gift (“It makes us us.”), that they will do things others won’t, it’s really powerful, and speaks to how well the team continues to balance each other out.
I can’t end this post without mentioning Eric Stoltz‘s performance, which moved me to tears. Not the characters that I’ve known and loved for three seasons, but the piddly little guest role — that’s the one that got me crying. At first, I couldn’t believe an actor with the resume of Stoltz would essentially play a dead body, but by the end of the episode, his role was so much more than that and he owned it. I’m talking flawlessly perfect … and yes, that was redundant but I can’t make my point emphatically enough about how that last video to his wife was acting perfection.
So now we’re left with a couple of fun things to look forward to, beyond the promise for character growth. Are Hardison and Parker together now? When she hugged him at the end, she was as transparent as a squeaky-clean window — she opened up to him completely, something she hadn’t done before. Not-normal is going to be pretty fun, I should think.
Then we have the bug that was found in Nate’s apartment. I love the story arc that’s been set up for the season: who left it, and why? I’m on the edge of my seat, waiting for next week’s episode, hoping we’ll see Sterling and Chaos and Maggie again this season.
How’d the season four premiere of Leverage sit with all of you?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Jun 26, 2011 @ 22:00 EST5EDT
I loved the little chat about the first time they stole a mountain and Nate being drunk at the time …