# Leverage: a disappointment **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043 "2011-06-27T17:37:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/21 "2011-06-29T19:52:44Z")
In this latest episode, was it being hinted that Parker and Hardison are now an item? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/22 "2011-06-29T19:56:06Z")
I think I must be watching a different show to you lot who hate it. Never mind - I’m getting the good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/23 "2011-06-29T19:59:17Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > In this latest episode, was it being hinted that Parker and Hardison are now an item? I had that impression previous to the episode, but I don’t know where I got the idea from. Anyway, yes, I took the exchange at the end to mean that they were definitely together–in whatever sense Parker is capable of being half of a couple, anyway. > [@Snooooopy](#): > > I like the show. It’s an hour of pleasant fun. But if they happened to give up using Nate’s "Let’s go steal a … " catchphrase, I wouldn’t be especially wounded. Did you not notice them mocking the catchphrase? _Nate_: Let’s go steal a mountain. _Parker_: Again. \*Nate: \*What? _Hardison:_ We already stole a mountain, dude. You lost track. _Nate:_ Shut up. Okay, he only said that last line with his eyes. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/24 "2011-06-29T21:34:36Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I had that impression previous to the episode, but I don’t know where I got the idea from. Anyway, yes, I took the exchange at the end to mean that they were definitely together–in whatever sense Parker is capable of being half of a couple, anyway. From mid last season, Hardisson and Parker were close to hooking up, but she wasn’t ready for a relationship. They were using bar snacks as a euphemism, Hardisson’s line was “The pretzels are here when you’re ready.” In the last season finale, after defusing a bomb with him, Parker’s line out of the blue was: “You know what I feel like? Pretzels.” Followed by a shot of Hardisson’s face as he “got it.” I agree, by the way: My station carries the good version of the show. It’s not meant to be deep. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/25 "2011-06-29T23:38:23Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > From mid last season, Hardisson and Parker were close to hooking up, but she wasn’t ready for a relationship. They were using bar snacks as a euphemism, Hardisson’s line was “The pretzels are here when you’re ready.” > > In the last season finale, after defusing a bomb with him, Parker’s line out of the blue was: “You know what I feel like? Pretzels.” Followed by a shot of Hardisson’s face as he “got it.” Yep, that was it. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/26 "2011-06-30T05:24:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Did you not notice them mocking the catchphrase? Yeah, I noticed. And I certainly appreciated their attempt to mix things up a little. But the fact that they made the point of mocking it makes me think that even the writers are kind of fed up with it. For a while, the catchphrase worked for me, but now it’s starting to feel a bit forced. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/27 "2011-06-30T10:28:30Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > In this latest episode, was it being hinted that Parker and Hardison are now an item? I think they’re going to throw some emphasis on it, but this episode Parker was just experiencing an emotionally weakened moment. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/28 "2011-06-30T18:49:46Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I think they’re going to throw some emphasis on it, but this episode Parker was just experiencing an emotionally weakened moment. Not at the end. In the final scene, before the whole team sits down to dinner in Nate’s apartment, she warns Hardison that “this” is going to be weird. “This” is clearly a relationship. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/29 "2011-06-30T22:39:57Z")
I thought that initially, but then they sat across from each other at the table. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/30 "2011-06-30T22:48:06Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I thought that initially, but then they sat across from each other at the table. There’s reasons even for new couples to do that. They might be trying to discreet so as not to let the others know they’re dating; they might enjoy looking at one another’s faces; they might prefer to avoid PDAs even though they don’t care whether the others know; they might be giving one another footsies; Eliot may have sat next to Parker without thinking about it and they might not want to make a fuss. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/31 "2011-07-26T15:51:28Z")
So, I finally sat down and watched what there is so far of season 4. I’ve got a question. Do they have new writers? Or some new head-staff-decision-y-person? The reason I ask this is that the shows, in my opinion, have gone downhill. One of the strengths of the show has always been the character interaction, as well as the ‘competence porn’ of the characters. Now? It seems to me as if the characters aren’t even really addressed. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the scene of Parker’s odd morality breakdown in the ice cave, but the rest of the season so far has seemed like the writers have said, “I’ve got a really great idea for something strange to happen!” and not actually written for the characters themselves. We’ve yet to see any of them particularly shine (okay, Eliot gets to beat people up, but even that’s usually happening off-screen now). In the flashback episode, the characters aren’t even playing anything like their characters- they’re just place-holders (with Hardison being who he is because of his race). (Also, don’t get me started on the jarring product placement tech-scene in that ep.) Even the ‘big bad’ of this season seems to be a place-holder. Mysterious businessman in the back of a luxury car who bugged their office, and it’s mentioned… Once? With no one getting particularly upset or paranoid about it? So, yeah, that’s my beef; the characters are now becoming second place to plots that don’t seem to fit the show at all. Much of it seems like someone is saying, “Hey, I want to do an episode about mountain climbing cos I just read a book about it.” The ensemble is taking a back-seat, and that’s hurting the show. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/32 "2011-07-26T16:47:00Z")
I’m sure there’s been normal turnover with the writers, but I don’t think Rogers has mentioned anything about a major reshuffle over on his blog. With a longer season, we’re almost certainly going to have a handful of clunkers, though. I’ve been enjoying the new season so far–seems like they’ve actually been in danger of failure occasionally, which was sorely lacking last season. Can’t say I’ve noticed any problems with the character interaction, but I’ll give it some thought next episode. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/33 "2011-07-26T17:03:53Z")
Have been a big fan, but have to admit this season is really weak so far. Can’t quite figure out why this season isn’t as good - maybe the capers are just kind of lame, or we have “been there, seen that” too many times. Whatever, I am starting to lose interest but still have it on my DVR. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/34 "2011-07-26T17:34:22Z")
I think the writers are just running out of ideas, and going for bigger and bigger cons. I thought last night’s episode was pretty good though, mainly because the job was fairly simple. They focused more on the characters, which is where the real strength of this show lies. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/35 "2011-07-27T04:32:52Z")
I’ve only seen a few episodes. The premise is good. I like Evil Wil Wheaton as an enemy in any series. But I can’t get past Lyndsey’s hair. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/36 "2011-07-27T05:03:39Z")
If Sophie beds Eliot, I’m in for life. C’mon! One hot scene! How dificult could it be? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/37 "2011-07-27T12:23:39Z")
My problem with **Leverage** was that it pales in comparison to the vastly superior **[Hu$tle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustle_(TV_series))** (at least, the first three seasons of it). It was clearly a knockoff of the British series, whose episodes “The Lesson,” “Missions,” and “Eye of the Beholder” are in a whole other universe as far as everything is concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/38 "2011-07-27T14:09:41Z")
My wife, who will gladly sit through Desperate Housewives, terrible Rom Coms, and any miserable Lifetime movie, commented on how bad the acting and writing were on Leverage. This was after the first 8 or so episodes of Season 1. I had to agree that the show didn’t even work as escapist crap. I’m making a mental note of all the folks who think this show is anything other than a pile of dog shit. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/39 "2011-07-27T15:36:44Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I’m making a mental note of all the folks who think this show is anything other than a pile of dog shit. :rolleyes: I’m quite proud of my ability to enjoy things. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043/40 "2011-07-27T17:33:24Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > :rolleyes: > > I’m quite proud of my ability to enjoy things. Yes, life must be grand for people who think dog crap tastes like chocolate ice cream. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leverage-a-disappointment/587043.md?page=3)