Leverage Season Two Episode 11 – The Bottle Job: Air date January 20, 2010
Aldis Hodge!!! That’s right, Hardison (played by Mr. Hodge) takes some center stage time as we make our way to save the neighborhood bar where Nate (Timothy Hutton) spent his youth with his father, and now lives above. By the way, a “recovering” alcoholic living over a bar could have really bad consequences. More on that later.
An Irish loan shark has moved in on the neighborhood and threatens the mourning Cora McRory (Odessa Rae, the future Silver Banshee on Smallville) who has just lost her father and is about to lose his bar. Nate jumps in as Cora is family in his mind and works “the wire”. A con that usually takes weeks to prepare and he gives his team less than 2 hours. Enter the Hardison!
This episode is a focus on Nate’s past and him returning to the bottle, Hardison’s ability to multi-task and flip from one thing to another in a quick second, and Tara’s (Jeri Ryan) growth on the team. Nate is falling apart and Sophie (Gina Bellman) is no where to be seen to force him to pick up the pieces. During the con, he tries to stay away from the bottle but gets pulled back in hard. He tells Tara that his getting drunk will not hurt the team because he understands he is not as good when he is drunk. That mentality is going to get someone hurt very soon.
Hardison takes center stage here as he controls the data feed for the con, pulls the information on their foes, tracks cell phone use to a possible hideout, and pulls a weather report out of nowhere. He showed how much the team truly needs him, and showed he’s not completely on the side of the angels when he admits to using his ATM tech when the team was on their little break. Aldis Hodge and Zachary Levi (Chuck) have given the tech/sci-fi geek portion of the world (which I am part of) characters to be proud of that, much like us, have multi-facets to their personalities and more to share than a couple of computer searches and sci-fi movie references. I’m looking forward to more of the growth of Hardison as the season continues.
Tara, what can I say about this girl? I love Jeri Ryan (told you I was a sci-fi geek) and the character is interesting, but I have a feeling she’s going to mess with the team very soon. For someone who was filling in for Sophie, she seems to have the mentality that she has replaced Sophie already whether she likes it or not. Hmmmm… catfight coming anyone? She also is obsessed with her cut of the money to do these good deeds. The rest of the team has seemed to buy into helping others from the get-go and seem to take great pride in what they do, but Tara’s monetary desires are going to derail things soon. Oh yeah, and she seems to have a thing for Nate at times. Do you think Sophie is going to like that?
All in all, a good episode that gave a back story into Nate’s relationship with his father and some insights into how good this team really is.
Apply LEVERAGE every Wednesday!
See more reviews by JAM at http://www.hollywoodteenzine.com/
Showing posts with label Gina Bellman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gina Bellman. Show all posts
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Leverage Season Two Episode 10 – The Runway Job: Air date January 13, 2010
Leverage Season Two Episode 10 – The Runway Job: Air date January 13, 2010
This is my first individual episode review of a show that I consider to be one of the top five shows on television. As I have mentioned in a Leverage Season One review on my site, the modern day Robin Hood feel makes this a fun show to watch and the interpersonal relationships between the team are interesting to say the least. The Runway Job is the return from their midseason break, and the show jumps into the fashion world for this trendy return.
Taking down a sweatshop run by the Triads was a little more than they bargained for when they first took the job, but the team works together in order to accomplish it. The idea of a tough gang of former crooks infiltrating and “stealing” a runway show is a very interesting plot point, and I think it gives Eliot (Christian Kane) a chance to show off a bit, both his suave lady charmer side and his acting chops as a fashion assistant.
Tara (Jeri Ryan) has become an interesting character in the mix while subbing for Sophie (Gina Bellman), but I have a feeling that something is going to go wrong with that relationship. Tara is still receiving her cut with each job, and I wonder how long the team wants to keep paying a mercenary and how long she wants to stay on the side of the angels. Time will tell.
Nate (Timothy Hutton) is near the breaking point without Sophie and I don’t think he realizes how much she stabilizes his life. The rest of the team sees it as they seem to call her nonstop for advice and asserting that they want her back. All she wants is one person to say he needs her, and I hope he does before it is too late.
It was also nice to see Parker (Beth Riesgraf) play a little dress-up as a runway model. Her charms as a thief translate in a odd distracting way in order to make this a highlight of the show.
Apply LEVERAGE every Wednesday!
Jam Movie Reviews
See more reviews and news at http://www.hollywoodteenzine.com/
This is my first individual episode review of a show that I consider to be one of the top five shows on television. As I have mentioned in a Leverage Season One review on my site, the modern day Robin Hood feel makes this a fun show to watch and the interpersonal relationships between the team are interesting to say the least. The Runway Job is the return from their midseason break, and the show jumps into the fashion world for this trendy return.
Taking down a sweatshop run by the Triads was a little more than they bargained for when they first took the job, but the team works together in order to accomplish it. The idea of a tough gang of former crooks infiltrating and “stealing” a runway show is a very interesting plot point, and I think it gives Eliot (Christian Kane) a chance to show off a bit, both his suave lady charmer side and his acting chops as a fashion assistant.
Tara (Jeri Ryan) has become an interesting character in the mix while subbing for Sophie (Gina Bellman), but I have a feeling that something is going to go wrong with that relationship. Tara is still receiving her cut with each job, and I wonder how long the team wants to keep paying a mercenary and how long she wants to stay on the side of the angels. Time will tell.
Nate (Timothy Hutton) is near the breaking point without Sophie and I don’t think he realizes how much she stabilizes his life. The rest of the team sees it as they seem to call her nonstop for advice and asserting that they want her back. All she wants is one person to say he needs her, and I hope he does before it is too late.
It was also nice to see Parker (Beth Riesgraf) play a little dress-up as a runway model. Her charms as a thief translate in a odd distracting way in order to make this a highlight of the show.
Apply LEVERAGE every Wednesday!
Jam Movie Reviews
See more reviews and news at http://www.hollywoodteenzine.com/
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Top 5 Reasons to Apply Leverage on TNT
Top 5 Reasons to Apply Leverage on TNT
(also known as Leverage – Season One Review)
Review by JAM
Robin Hood is back and he brought some friends, or at least that is how it seems weekly with the amazing TNT drama Leverage, a modern day version of Robin Hood and his Merry Men in some ways, an atypical “family” drama in others. Nate Ford (played by Timothy Hutton) is a former insurance investigator who has been overcome by tragedy and on a down-word spiral in life, until he is taken by a con. An unscrupulous aerospace executive assembles a team of thieves and rabble-rousers to steal plans from a competitor which are rightfully his, or so he says. Wanting Nate Ford to keep the thieves honest, the executive takes advantage of this small group of loners, and makes the biggest mistake of his life. And so the team on Leverage was formed. This show is one of a small number of new cable shows that have a common theme of those outside of society being the ones that save it.
So in order to give you a taste of the spices that make Leverage so good, here comes the top 5 reasons to watch Leverage every Wednesday on TNT.
Number 5
The theme – It truly seems to be a modern day Robin Hood program with Nate being Robin, Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane) being the muscle or Little John if you want, Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge) being behind the scenes brains of the operation, but willing to get his hands dirty if needed and extremely loyal Friar Tuck, Parker (Beth Riesgraf) as the trouble causing, master thief but lost in the real world Will Scarlett, and Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman) as the beautiful, enigmatic, alluring Maid Marian who can capture all men’s hearts, but truly only wants the heart of her “prince”.
Number 4
The storylines – The extras on the Leverage: Season One DVD set talked about how they have a thief with a heart of gold consulting on the show and that each show is based on an actual con from the real world. The cast and crew make these cons real to us, and in helping those less fortunate make us feel for people that may not have deserved our sympathy and well wishes before. But in doing good for others, they are able to find the good in themselves, though they may not always wish to admit to that.
Number 3
Christian Kane – Every guy finds himself drawn to fights, explosions, gunfire, etc… Eliot (Christian Kane) is an interesting character in that he will not use guns, yet he is the best in the world at procuring items. You believe as you watch that anything he faces is beyond the probabilities, but always a possibility for him to overcome. One of his best scenes was in the premiere with Alec (Aldis Hodge) in which he proved why he was on the team by dismissing a contingent of guards on their way to detain the team.
Number 2
The clients – It is always interesting to see where the stories are coming from, i.e. the downtrodden in need of leverage. Each character each week has a background story in which the viewers are captivated with a need to see how justice will be served. In the extras on Season One, they described Leverage as a modern day A-Team, and I have to admit I can see it. The A-Team were a small group out to restore their names, but did good for others in the process of continuing their pursuit of what they needed, much like the characters in Leverage. And the A-Team filled itself week-to-week with characters/clients who needed and deserved help, much like the clients of Leverage.
Number 1
Gina Bellman – The girl plays an actress who is impossibly horrible at acting, unless she is breaking the law. It is a strange dichotomy that she cannot act to save herself unless she is acting in order to save herself or the team. I would definitely put her character as one of my favorites on television at this time, and the interaction with Nate Ford makes you truly feel for her, even though you know she’d take your wallet and identity if she had the chance. I enjoy the use of Jeri Ryan in this new season, but truly miss the large amounts of screen time that Ms. Bellman was given previously. One only hopes that Nate does not completely break her heart before he comes to his senses.
If you want more information on the cast, crew, characters or anything about Leverage, check out the official site at http://www.tnt.tv/series/leverage/ , you’ll be glad you did. And if you are interested in purchasing Leverage Season One on DVD, check it out here on Amazon.com. Remember to apply Leverage every Wednesday night on TNT!
(also known as Leverage – Season One Review)
Review by JAM
Robin Hood is back and he brought some friends, or at least that is how it seems weekly with the amazing TNT drama Leverage, a modern day version of Robin Hood and his Merry Men in some ways, an atypical “family” drama in others. Nate Ford (played by Timothy Hutton) is a former insurance investigator who has been overcome by tragedy and on a down-word spiral in life, until he is taken by a con. An unscrupulous aerospace executive assembles a team of thieves and rabble-rousers to steal plans from a competitor which are rightfully his, or so he says. Wanting Nate Ford to keep the thieves honest, the executive takes advantage of this small group of loners, and makes the biggest mistake of his life. And so the team on Leverage was formed. This show is one of a small number of new cable shows that have a common theme of those outside of society being the ones that save it.
So in order to give you a taste of the spices that make Leverage so good, here comes the top 5 reasons to watch Leverage every Wednesday on TNT.
Number 5
The theme – It truly seems to be a modern day Robin Hood program with Nate being Robin, Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane) being the muscle or Little John if you want, Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge) being behind the scenes brains of the operation, but willing to get his hands dirty if needed and extremely loyal Friar Tuck, Parker (Beth Riesgraf) as the trouble causing, master thief but lost in the real world Will Scarlett, and Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman) as the beautiful, enigmatic, alluring Maid Marian who can capture all men’s hearts, but truly only wants the heart of her “prince”.
Number 4
The storylines – The extras on the Leverage: Season One DVD set talked about how they have a thief with a heart of gold consulting on the show and that each show is based on an actual con from the real world. The cast and crew make these cons real to us, and in helping those less fortunate make us feel for people that may not have deserved our sympathy and well wishes before. But in doing good for others, they are able to find the good in themselves, though they may not always wish to admit to that.
Number 3
Christian Kane – Every guy finds himself drawn to fights, explosions, gunfire, etc… Eliot (Christian Kane) is an interesting character in that he will not use guns, yet he is the best in the world at procuring items. You believe as you watch that anything he faces is beyond the probabilities, but always a possibility for him to overcome. One of his best scenes was in the premiere with Alec (Aldis Hodge) in which he proved why he was on the team by dismissing a contingent of guards on their way to detain the team.
Number 2
The clients – It is always interesting to see where the stories are coming from, i.e. the downtrodden in need of leverage. Each character each week has a background story in which the viewers are captivated with a need to see how justice will be served. In the extras on Season One, they described Leverage as a modern day A-Team, and I have to admit I can see it. The A-Team were a small group out to restore their names, but did good for others in the process of continuing their pursuit of what they needed, much like the characters in Leverage. And the A-Team filled itself week-to-week with characters/clients who needed and deserved help, much like the clients of Leverage.
Number 1
Gina Bellman – The girl plays an actress who is impossibly horrible at acting, unless she is breaking the law. It is a strange dichotomy that she cannot act to save herself unless she is acting in order to save herself or the team. I would definitely put her character as one of my favorites on television at this time, and the interaction with Nate Ford makes you truly feel for her, even though you know she’d take your wallet and identity if she had the chance. I enjoy the use of Jeri Ryan in this new season, but truly miss the large amounts of screen time that Ms. Bellman was given previously. One only hopes that Nate does not completely break her heart before he comes to his senses.
If you want more information on the cast, crew, characters or anything about Leverage, check out the official site at http://www.tnt.tv/series/leverage/ , you’ll be glad you did. And if you are interested in purchasing Leverage Season One on DVD, check it out here on Amazon.com. Remember to apply Leverage every Wednesday night on TNT!
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