User Reviews

In the original #Leverage 5-year run, there were two "flashback" episodes, where #Leverage cast members took the place of the person needing help. First was The Van Gogh Job in Season 4, with #AldisHodge and #BethRiesgraf portraying star-crossed lovers facing racial bigotry. Second was The D. B. Cooper Job in Season 5, with #ChristianKane portraying D. B. Cooper and @BethRiesgraf portraying the flight attendant who became his wife and hiding his secret. In this third flashback, @GinaBellman portrays the younger version of the Jackal, the world's best grifter, played by #JoannaCassidy. I liked the way Bellman portrayed a much younger woman, a gay free spirit who fell in love with her mark's wife. As with The Van Gogh Job, the Jackal and Jo are star-crossed lovers still not accepted by some of society. It is bold and refreshing for #LeverageRedemption to tell stories such as this. It is also a change of pace episode based mostly on narrative and backstory, which is not always expected of the #Leverage or #LeverageRedemption crew - and can become fan favorites (like the first two) or questionable as this episode appears to be thus far. I loved this episode for a variety of reasons: #JoannaCassidy is a brilliant guest star bringing such incredible depth of character, #GinaBellman's portrayal (as mentioned above), #AleyseShannon's opportunity to shine, and a story filled with heart, love, and hope. The con itself is secondary to the love story, which is a nice switch.

It was an okay episode, but the flashbacks and then the present day switches, it just felt a little bit slow moving. The good news is that Leverage: Redemption, even on an off day, is better than a lot of stuff on today.

An other wise great episode ruined by the writers leaning way to far to the left in their politics and morals. The lesbian relationship completely took away from the fact that court appointed guardians so often mistreat the people they are supposed to protect #gowokegobroke.