I have a theory...it might be bunnies...

[lagilman]

Well, it had to happen... an episode of Leverage I didn't like.

Okay, I liked it -- any ep that has as many cute and telling character notes as that is going to be enjoyable. But s'far as cons go? Meh. Great set-up allowed to fall over go splat. It felt like they ran out of time to really research something that might work, and slapped together fixits to cover up the lack (I recognize the urge and the remedy, yes; this is where having an editor with a good bullshit detector comes in handy). Also: their timing feels off -- running the CEO up in the elevator was amusing, but it stretched my suspension of disbelief way too far.

I also think that they've mined the "the con falls apart" vein quite enough for the moment -- part of the appeal of this show is that the team is smart and competent. Having the mark figure out what's going on, or having them be blown and having to make a quick escape... even if they pull it out in the end, it's just not as much fun, seeing that happen over and over again. Running on the knife's edge is different from being forever covered in band-aids.

Have the con go perfectly...and something else tripping them up -- that would be an interesting change.

[although the final reveal was, as always, fun to see how they pulled it out]

Also, someone seems to have killed subtlety with a sledgehammer. Yes, we Get It, already. Now let Nate self-destruct in peace, please? He's so much more interesting when he's not being limmed with the Sophie Brush of Exposition.

Comments

[wedschilde.livejournal.com]

i'm really not liking sophie. never really have. i mean... she's a grifter. i want a hard as nails, hamster head chewing off grifter. :::grins:::

oh, and eliot nekkid but then that's just me. ♥

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

no, that's not just you.

[lagilman]

I stand, alone and proud, in the non-CK fangrrrl pool....

[wedschilde.livejournal.com]

oh good. :::grins::: i'll share. promise. ♥

[michael-b-lee.livejournal.com]

Sophie Brush of Exposition

You very nearly made me snort my beer on this one. Well done. ;)

I agree on pretty much all points. The CEO-in-the-cabinet bit went on WAAAAY too long.

The bit about claustrophobia had us both rolling on the floor, though.

[michael-b-lee.livejournal.com]

Also forgot to add: what I'd really like to see is much more of a cat-and-mouse between the team and the mark (or marks), instead of seeing their cons break down due to Murphy's Law more than anything else. A real battle of wits, with move and countermove, would be great. Also, much more complicated to write, but there you are.

[lagilman]

I am hopeful that's what we'll get next episode...

[windrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's kind of falling into a formula rut now, isn't it. I really hope this doesn't turn into one of those shows that really should not have lasted beyond a single season.

[lagilman]

well, we're almost done with the summer season and this is the first 'meh' so I'd say it's earned its second season, at least. Based on what's rumored for the second half of the season, I'm still hopeful.

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

OTOH, Parker poking Elliot in his ouchy arm was really, really, really funny! *g*

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

I liked it, but you're entirely right about the plot, about the incompetence of the plan, and con falls apart thing. But as usual, the character interplay made me so happy, I totally overlooked the rest. I'm easily amused sometimes. And the scene with Parker getting over her fear of the dark? Priceless.

[highway-west.livejournal.com]

I really love this show.

[petrini1.livejournal.com]

...or maybe midgets.

[tanaise.livejournal.com]

Hardison and Parker at the magic show might almost have been enough to justify the rest of the episode.

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

Yeah, usually when they run a con, they do their homework so they can look like the experts they're supposed to be. The magic act just seemed too...fumble-y. I did laugh at them hauling the CEO around in that box, though.