Must See TV: Leverage

I originally wrote this up a few months back but had nowhere to post it. Now I've edited it a bit and have decided to have it as the first review on my little fledgling blog. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you check out the show that it is written about!

Here Goes:



I have to admit that I was wary at first, but Stephen (my husband) convinced me to check out the TNT show Leverage when it started last year. While it seemed like a cool enough concept when he first explained it to me, I wasn't sure how well the theory could be executed for television. I've got to admit, however, that I have been pleasantly surprised.

The characters are truly original and incredibly interesting. Like modern day Robin Hoods, they make for the most unlikely heroes. I find myself getting all sorts of excited when I see a new episode waiting for me on the DVR. (I don't think we've watched anything live since getting our DVR three + years ago. I love, love, love my DVR!)

Leading this group of loveable rogues, you have Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton). A former insurance claims investigator, Nate is an expert on the workings of scams and the retrieval of stolen property, but he has quite the beef with the insurance company that used to employ him. Not that one can blame him. I would be pretty pissed too, if the company I'd risked my neck for time and time again refused to pay for the necessary but "experimental" treatment needed for my 8 year old son to live. (This, of course, resulted in the child's death a couple of years previous to the show's start.)

Next is Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge), the team's tech wizard. Don't let his rather athletic type good looks fool you. He's a true geek of the first order, right down to his cravings for orange soda and hot pockets to staying up all night playing WoW. Of course, since he's also able to hack into just about any computer database in the world, Hardison makes himself useful by doing things like providing the team with fake ids and rerouting international bank accounts.

Then there's Parker (Beth Riesgraf). Her real name is unknown, as is much of her past, as she was placed in the foster care system at a young age. People can't seem to decide on whether she is the best thief in the world or whether she's just crazy. Fortunately, claims Nate, she's both. While quite socially awkward, she isn’t at all phased by things like shimmying through teeny tiny spaces or scaling walls.

Eliot Spencer, played by Christian Kane, is dubbed a “Retrieval Specialist”. Full of a certain Southern charm, Eliot despises guns. That’s okay though, since he really doesn’t need them. He’s taken on multiple attackers by himself in fight scenes that are surprisingly believable. Through the course of the first season, you find out that he’s also got a way with horses and that he is a gourmet chef.



Last but not least, we have Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman). The claim about this talented grifter is that she is fluent in six languages and can fake twelve more. She is a wonderful actress who is able to take on any role and make strangers believe it—unless she is on an actual theatrical stage, that is. For a con artist, she’s got quite the compassionate heart. There is also quite the past between her and Nate, but the show’s creator’s are cleverly only leaking little bits at a time about the relationship.

All in all, I can definitely think of worse ways to spend an hour, and I can’t wait until the show returns this July for its second season. I strongly encourage you to check it out if you haven’t already. I am confident you won’t regret it.

Does it sound interesting to you? Catch up on what you've missed with hulu!