Leverage: Season 1

When I got my parents addicted this show after watching the first episode, they asked how they didn't know this show had been around since '08. Good question. Now that they know of it, they love it. And so does my brother. Oh, yeah... SO DID I! If anyone were to ask me what the show's about, three words suffice- cons conning cons.

The main backstory of this show may upset parents who have lost an only child since the leader of this crackteam lost his only child to a hospital operation that wouldn't have worked. The leader knew a procedure that would work, yet his boss didn't go for it, despite the man's loyal work. So, to cope with his losses (child, wife, job, home, etc.), he becomes an alcoholic, and is offered his first job considering what he was when he had a job- an insurance investigator/stealing stolen artifacts. The job should be easy enough, with a gathered crack team of people that normally work alone (a brutal brawler, social actress, cat burglar, and computer hacker), they work together to steal something to bring it back to the owner, and get paid. Done deal. Oh, wait, things are never that simple. Teams gets back together again, and gets revenge. Idea- work together to bring down people who constantly gyp others who are trying to live decent lives and manipulate big-time cons with good social reputations to 'fess up their mess-up, and give people a reason to keep hoping for a better future. And what cons they go after.

Manipulating an already-manipulated court session; giving a disabled vet the $ he needs stolen from him for rehab to work again; finding a kidnapped orphan to bring him back (and what a shocking twist that one had halfway through); helping a church keep a reputation and reveal the Judas in the social area; and revert an already botched bank robbery. Oh, don't worry, there's others, and all of them have wit, sarcasm, little moments that make them all the better, and, at times, very evocatively emotional scenes. Towards the end are some very heavy twists dealing with a few characters that dropped my jaw more than once.

But it's the last con that did more than become icing on the cake. It was... how did the Klingons say it? Revenge is best served cold? Well, in Nathan Ford's case, the two part finale was a masterpiece all its own and rivaled the technique of so many heist movies that seem to try too hard. This had everything I love in a good drama. The enemies think they know how to outwit the thieves, only for a trip to get tripped and get tripped theirselves. So, I can see why they would leave the best far last. And I couldn't help but cheer with the cast in the special feature that reveals the show being renewed, or laugh with Beth in her own little spoof about her in-show character, or even laugh at the asininity of the deleted scenes. Now to get the 2nd season and continute the laughs and heartfelt emotion.

Whether you are a fan of Dean Devlin's film work or not, you have to admire his mastery as a producer/director/(occasional) actor on television, and his TNT production, "Leverage", is one of the most entertaining series of the past several years. With creator/writers John Rogers and Chris Downey, the Devlin-produced "Leverage: The First Season", while intended as a closed-arc, one-season miniseries, was simply too good to send off into oblivion, and much of the success is due to top-notch actors.

Timothy Hutton brings authority, vulnerability, and an edginess to leader 'Nathan Ford'. An alcoholic ex-insurance investigator who isn't nearly as noble as he pretends to be, the loss of his only son when his employers refuse to honor his benefits package has sent him on a doomed, drunken spiral, and he plans to take down as many abusers and villains as he can, while he can. He recruits the best of the thieves he has pursued over the years to aid him in his quest. Gina Bellman ('Sophie Devereaux') is a world-class grifter, a truly terrible stage actress who can only shine in her craft when she's pulling a sting. She and Ford have a strong attraction to one another, although he never cheated on his wife. Long-haired Christian Kane ('Eliot Spencer') calls himself a 'retrieval expert', a human weapon skilled at multiple martial arts, a multitude of tools, and a born warrior's 'vision' and 'Code'. Kane, a breakout star of "Angel", immediately attracted a large female fan base! Beth Riesgraf ('Parker') is a master thief, an orphan whose social graces are rather bizarre and comic, but is nearly unstoppable at breaking locks, safes, and security systems. 21-year-old Aldis Hodge ('Alec Hardison') is the breakout star of the series, a fast-talking, quick-witted computer geek who can hack into any system, ad-lib out of nearly any crisis, and keeps everyone on their toes!

With this crew of 'solo' criminals gradually bonding into a team, Ford takes on 'Fat Cats' to provide vengeance (and 'leverage') for victims too often ignored. The scams are clever and often VERY funny, and the cast is so likable that it may be impossible NOT to get 'hooked'!

The collection also offers lively commentaries for each episode, deleted scenes, and a variety of extras...far more than most of the series' collections in my DVD library.

I'm thrilled that Season 2 is coming out on DVD, next week, and that Season 3 will debut on TNT, next month..."Leverage" is a 'winner', and I think you'll love it!

Bestcseries, ever!!!

This is one of the best shows to hit TV in a long time! The stories, the humor, the characters and everything else works together perfectly!

Nate, the mastermind, is grieving for his son by drinking too much as his anger grows toward the man who let his son die. Anything he can do to hurt his former employer is icing on the cake of his new profession as a modern day Robin Hood with a kooky gang of merry thieves he chased down while working as a stolen items retriever.

Sophie, the grifter, so obviously in love with Nate that it's sometimes painful to watch - I love the flashback when she shoots him and then calls him a wanker when he shoots back! She dreams of a career as an actress but is so bad at it that she gains sympathy from the others over it. It's so much fun to see the other identities she's played in the flashbacks and to get a peek at her storage shed - her really good retirement plan - full of boxes and crates of who knows what!

Parker, the thief, and the only one without a last name! She is my favorite character, what a hoot to watch her dive off of buildings, bridges, stairwells, out windows or whatever she needs to do - sometimes not even knowing if there's a net ready to catch her!

Hardison, the hacker, easily my second favorite character, is like the wide-eyed innocent of this gang. With all the highest tech toys and a few he designed himself, we call him 'tech support' and depend on him to rig elevator systems and even land a plane from thousands of miles away! Also not a bad painter and sculpter.

Eliot, the hitter, is the muscle and is very good at what he does ... and he cooks! He rides horses, plays chess and he plays poker but his main talent is that he hurts people. Also able to identify things by their very distinctive sound, fighting style, facial expression or whatever!

Then along comes Maggie, Nate's ex-wife, in the two part season finale. You want to dislike her because you love Sophie but you just can't. She's a natural at this, too! Well, once she finally is told that a cure for her son was available but cost too much and the insurance claim was denied. Now you double hate Nate's nemesis, Ian Blackpoole.

I totally love the series but the DVD really needs a 'play all' button!!

This was actually the last season I was able to buy. I first watched this series on Netflix. When it left Netflix, I was sad. I actually like the characters. I know some reviews talk about various issues, but I guess I am more flexible. I've seen Beth Riesgraf (aka Parker) in a few other TV shows such as Criminal Minds. I like her as an actress. Christian Kane (aka Elliot) is also good in The Librarians.

Sometimes there are continuity issues but I have seen that in other TV shows and movies. I do think that 5 seasons was just right for this series. I feel 5 or 6 seasons is good for most TV series. I do recommend people remember this is not supposed to be a reflection of reality like you find with Law and Order and what not. It is more on par with an exaggerated reality like Oceans 11 in my opinion. While it theoretically could happen, it is not as likely.

Note: Season 1 is the only disc that is out of play order compared to what was released on Netflix and apparently TV when it first aired. I thought that was a problem until I did some research. Apparently, the DVD is the order the director wanted them to be released. The network chose to air them in a different order. Once I got used to the order, it was fine. I just watched it so much my memory just expects a different order. Also, I was concerned that the season I received was not legitimate as the inner cover does not list the episode detail like seasons 2-5, but I have had no issues with playback, so I'm not worried.

The seller got this order to me quickly and in very good condition. Great job by the seller! As for the actual show, I found Season one of Leverage quite entertaining, though I have never been a Tim Hutton fan. The shows tend to be inventive and great fun! Season 2 was good, but I could see much of the playfulness beginning to disappear. Season 3 and later completely lost their appeal for me The joy was gone and stories became less playful, less creative, too serious, and labored. In fact, I felt the show went to heck in a hand basket and I wasn't at all surprised when it was finally cancelled by the network. Still, the 1st two seasons are good and I recommend them. Unless you are a die-hard Leverage fan, I can't recommend any season beyond 2.

This show is so unlike other crime shows that are on the air today. The one that I'd find closest to it (and even then there's a mile between the shows) is Psych. This is strictly because Shawn is "tricking" the police into thinking he's a psychic so that he doesn't go to jail.

Leverage is about getting back at the men and women that screw over ordinary people with no regard for the law and law abiding citizens. It's not about serial killers, it's about thieves. True, Eliot Spencer has killed in his past and isn't above killing if it's necessary. It's not something you're going to see on screen. Eliot beating the daylights out of the evil schmucks that cross their sights, but not killing.

I really like the casting, writing, and directing in this show. It's amazing if you want a show where the lines between good and bad are blurred a little, but the bad guys that take advantage of the system and ordinary citizens always go down.

A paraphrase of something said at the end of the second season says it best: "We may not always win, but we always level the score."

In the two seasons this show has had so far, I can't find a bad episode yet. Or a character that could have been better with a different actor.

It keeps you coming back for more, and that's rare in television these days. You not only want to find out what happens next week with Parker's people skills, Nate's drinking, and Sophie's identity of the week: you have to. It's funny, too.

There are few shows that I can watch a second time soon after watching the first time. This is one of them. As a matter of fact, this is a fantastic AND family friendly show. Though there is some minor network level language, it's not fraught with sexual tension, no one is flailing about with others and there's just enough sci-fi to really hook a hard core sci-fi fan. What I love best about this is the fact that it is episodic. Too many shows today are tied up in over-arcing dramas where if you miss a single episode or watch them out of order, you're lost. I can pick up any episode, such as a few of the ones I missed in season 3, watch them again online (thank you TNT! you DO know drama!) and be able to follow the story and enjoy the play between the characters.

Speaking of the characters, they are well developed with a beautiful family chemistry. Dad, Mom, and the Kids! Heck, it shows better family values than most of the shows on television. It's beautifully constructed, flawlessly executed, and perfectly performed. I hope this show continues for a very long time just as it is, because I like seeing the truly evil people get theirs.

Leverage is a wonderful TV series, action-packed, filled with comedy, cool technologies, and wonderful, well thought out characters. In its essence, the show intends to partake a good versus evil morale while simultaneously questioning the boundaries of the law; a modern-day Robin Hood story about a bunch of "criminals" who take down major corporations and return a sense of dignity and pride to the people who have been wronged by them. The first and second seasons are probably the best seasons of the show. Be careful, the series is addictive! I bet you can't just watch one episode... Happy Watching!

Leverage is soooooooooooo AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I love it, the acting is amazing, the movie is funny, clean, and ever so entertaining!!!!It is you modern day A TEAM and Robin Hood with skill. they are a band of thieves that steal from the rich and give back to those that have been stolen from. You like all the actors. One is a Grifter, one is a Hacker, one is the best thief in the world ( they portay her as that on the movie) then there is the Hitter, and the Mastermind. Sophie ( grifter ), Hardison ( hacker) Parker ( thief ) Eliot ( hitter) and Nathen ford the mastermind.

Buy it you will love it, trust me

For reasons I need not go into, I had seen season 3 of Leverage first and was curious as to how such a show would start.

I bought Season 1 and am VERY glad I did.

There have been a number of good crime dramas coming out of the US in recent years - more than ever before, I would say - but rarely, perhaps not since the primitive days of "Magnum PI" and "The Rockford Files" have I seen one which manages to tell good stories, even make solid points about life and society, but still keep its tongue firmly in its cheek as well as Leverage does.

Misfit characters abound on TV these days, often in ensemble casts and not confined to "Seinfeld-like" worlds, but never have I seen such a combination of eccentrics and odd-balls gel so well in a series with realistic (if sometimes far-fetched) story lines that also make real and worthwhile points.

Seeing this ill-matched yet super-functional team reluctantly come together in season 1 has been a delight - it is superbly written and acted.

The only reason I am not finding myself able to give it a "5" is that one or two episodes cross the fine line from far-fetched to ludicrous. Those few are still great fun but they diminish the expectations I have of those that follow - I find it a hard series to "trust".

"24" and "Prison Break" didn't do that - but didn't have the humour either. Somehow, though, they'd get the "5". Not fair, perhaps.

I was hooked after watching the first episode, and there aren't too many series that can pull you in that quickly. The actors play their rolls well and they mesh right from the start. Quirky and interesting, each very different from the other, the characters play off of each other in a humourous and thoroughly entertaining way.

It's ok I guess but I watched the complete 8 seasons of Hustle, which was excellent. This is a poor cousin. If I'd watched this one first, I may have enjoyed it more but I'm comparing it to Hustle and it's coming up way short of the mark.