Finally saw an episode of Leverage

[annavere]

Had it pointed out as free on YouTube by teratornis, so watched the first episode in the down time around Thanksgiving housecleaning and writing. This show gets referenced a LOT by people in the spaces I wander. It feels like those classic era USA shows (Burn Notice, White Collar) in tone and subject, only with a slightly expanded ensemble and a less DIY vibe.

So there's Drunken Chessmaster guy and his atypically tragic backstory (happy lighthearted show! Dude's got a dark past, alright, that's gonna be a dead wife or... Child death?? Via withheld insurance??? Hell, this man should be way more off the rails than he is). The crew are all standard archetypes, so it might take a while before I start getting attached to any of them. For example, Eliot was fun, but I have no idea how much of that was the character as opposed to my prior attachment to Christian Kane. Hardison was fun, but he's a Hollywood Hacker, and I tend to find them amusing. I did like the way all four crooks piled on Drunken Chessmaster at the end, whether from concern for him or due to personal boredom, like strays finding a home.

The plot was standard issue "let's con the bad guy" hyper-competence, which is always entertaining to view. And I guess the huge payoff they just landed ("retirement money" as Hardison put it) will help explain how they finance their future endeavors, because these guys don't seem like the duct tape and shoe string sort.

I can definitely understand the popularity of the show, and will doubtless keep going with it in my usual lackadaisical fashion.

Comments

[teratornis]

Yay! I hope you continue to have fun with it. The characters definitely develop some depth outside their basic archetypes, and that's a lot of fun to watch, and there are some delightfully wild moments and exchanges.

And like with Nate's backstory, a lot of the show is pretty light-hearted, and then it'll blindside you with something heavy and emotional.

[annavere]

It's definitely a show that feels like a throwback, not just to Ocean's Eleven but to a lot of older action shows. Very charming, very improbable. :)

[killabeez]

It's literally a remake of a British show called Hustle, so it makes sense that it feels like a throwback! (I was hugely fannish about Hustle, so kinda frustrated that Leverage fans didn't give a crap about its origin, but now I'm old and sanguine and I love them both separately. :D)

[annavere]

Funnily enough, Hustle is also available for free on YouTube. Looks like I'm doing a quick compare and contrast this evening! :D

[killabeez]

That should prove fun! I love them both separately, as stated, and I think they each have their strengths and foibles. Edit: you may note that Danny (Marc Warren) is a HL alum!

[annavere]

I was really surprised to see Marc Warren, and more so how charming he was!