Leverage – Parker’s and Hardison’s pasts make fun presents

These two episodes of Leverage played well against each other tonight. In the first, we learn more about Parker’s past and how she’s changed since working with the team, and in the second, Hardison takes center stage, with perhaps a little setup of what’s to come later this season.

“The Inside Job”

How wonderful to see Richard Chamberlain as Parker’s “father” — you know, Archie Leech, world’s greatest thief. Even though he was her mentor, taught her everything she knows about thieving, Parker stood up to him when he tried to bully her into thinking only of herself. Parker had to go back inside to make sure Dr. Hannity couldn’t get away with the blight plan.

Parker (and I’m sure all of the team) has changed since the first season. They came together as a band of selfish thieves who got off on getting away with the con and now doing good is their prime motivation. I liked how this episode really pointed out the difference in Parker.

And there were some other great Parker moments:

• Parker used Sophie’s real name as her keypad password. I love how Nate keeps getting teased with this little fact.
• Learning to navigate through motion detector beams to fetch an ice cream sundae … why am I not surprised?
• “What’s sexting?” – Parker
  “I am not having this conversation with you.” – Eliot

Leverage has done it again with a clever reveal at the end and the perfect con to get Dr. Hannity and get out of the building. Still in top form!

“The Scheherazade Job”

Then, in the second hour of tonight’s Leverage double-shot, we learn a little more about Hardison: a tidbit from his past and what motivates him presently.

I don’t know if mere hypnosis could really make Hardison able to play the violin so well, but I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the pure fun, first in hearing Hardison play and watching the team react to it; and second, having Nate one-up Hardison when he tells him he isn’t ready to run his own crew.

Speaking of which, do you think they’re setting things up for a Hardison defection later this season? Hardison seems to really want to run the show all of a sudden, and Nate is doing everything humanly possible to make Hardison feel like an idiot. How’s that going to play out?

Keith has a theory. Since Wil Wheaton is reprising his role as Chaos this season (he’s filming in a few weeks) — do you think he could be on the team that Hardison assembles? Keith does. We’ll see.

Some other great moments:

• “Can your dog do that?” – Eliot, after beating up two guys in the bar.
• Nate not only one-upped Hardison this episode, he’s got a little leverage on his blackmailer too.
• “…You told me you were Super Skull.” – Nate
  “Skrull, Skrull, get it right. Super-Skrull, who has the combined powers of the Fantastic Four. One of whom is not Itzhak Perlman.” – Hardison
• The fake assassination plot was perfect … I am loving the endings this season.

How were these two episodes of Leverage for you? So far, I’m really enjoying season three, though I don’t think the blackmail chick is as awesome as Sterling.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Jun 27, 2010 @ 23:00 EST5EDT