I don’t hate it. I also don’t make a point to watch it or record it, but when I’ve seen it, it was fun.
I enjoy it, but then I’ve always been a sucker for anything involving con games, particularly ones with a twist to them (and yes, I have the first four seasons of Hustle on DVD, and am waiting for the fifth season to come out). Unfortunately, I’m going to be out of town this weekend, so I’m going to have to wait until I get home to watch the new episodes.
I’d love to see a Hustle / Leverage crossover two parter.
I’ve ben under the weather and home from work, so I caught up on almost all of season 2 yesterday…the only episode seem to have missed was:
The one where Sofie leaves…what happened to make her want to leave? I know there’s ongoing romantic tension between her and Nate, not sure what else has ben thrown into the mix?
Just watched the pilot episode…nice! I’ll definitely get caught up on season 1 shortly…
Well, I though of M:I because the tech-savvy genius is the black guy, and both have characters that are specifically the Muscle of the group (don’t remember a bruiser type in Hustle, though it’s been a while). Plus, Cinnamon and Sophie are both professional actresses.
Or The Equalizer, except less intense. 
I don’t remember what made that character do what she did, but…
The actress left, temporarily, because she got pregnant.
My explanation:
She was almost killed by a bomb in her apartment, (planted by an old friend she used to grift with) and they had to fake her death. Seeing her name on the tombstone kind of threw her into an identity crisis. She says to Nate something like, “You know me better than anyone, and yet I have never heard you say my real name.”
So she goes off to “find herself.” In reality, though, as mentioned, the actress went on maternity leave. She is back this season.
crazyjoe, IIRC
After someone tried to kill her with a bomb, she said she just couldn’t handle it all, she didn’t know who she really was, having played so many aliases, so she went off for a bit of self discovery and reflection and didn’t want to be bothered. And of course there was the tension with Nate.
Sophie has her annoying moments, but she has her good points, too. I love that she’s a lousy actress but a spectacular grifter - one would think those two are the same thing.
I like Leverage, but it’s definitely a show to be taken in small doses. If you watch a few episodes back to back, you start to realize how blandly similar the plots are. So it wasn’t a good ‘watch it after the whole season has aired’ experience for me, but it’s fine as a single episode a week bit of fluff.
When I want something that doesn’t require too much thought, but isn’t sitcom, Leverage is the show I turn to! I DVR every episode. In fact, I really, really want Christian Kane (Elliott) for my birthday! But hey, the more I see of Hardison, the more I like him. . .
I turned my hubby on to the show, and after he watched a couple of eps, he turned to me and said “Huh! The A-Team for a new generation!” I guess that’s true.
Implausible as hell? You bet! But entertaining as all get-out!
ETA: I’m a straight female, but if I was going to do a woman, Parker would be it! In fact, the series has hinted that the character is bisexual.
The character of Parker and the actor who plays her, Beth Riesgraf, don’t seem to be too dissimilar: both perky and sweet; except for every bit of reticence Parker exhibits, Beth is in equal measure flamboyant and outrageous.
True, but I mentioned Leverage is “Americanized” (using muscle), and (this makes sense in my head, let’s see if it makes sense outside of my head) I thought of an old MAD article from years ago showing the differences in various fictional detectives. F’rinstance, Charlie Chan used deduction, logic, reason, observation, etc., while Mike Hammer had a dame sitting on his lap and fired at someone off panel with a .45. Hammer was described as the “American method,” or something similar.
But you’re right, Hustle doesn’t use fighting nearly as much as Leverage, but when I see one, I can’t help but see the other, and how each would handle the other’s cons. Plus, Sophie and Stacie look similar (and their names sound similar). Although Stacie left I believe after the 4th series, to be replaced by Emma. Or was it the 3rd series? I’m not sure.
And to those who spoilered Sophie’s reasons for leaving, you’re right. While reading this thread, I tried to remember, but had forgotten until I read the boxes.
It’s a fun show. I like seeing the various layers of the con be revealed. Sometimes I seriously roll my eyes when Hardison’s hacking is just a little too ridiculously effective, though. I mean, I know he’s supposed to be really, really good and all, but I often wonder if every electronic system on the planet has a special “Hardison key” that not only grants him access, but also provides a convenient, easy-to-use interface.
As others have said, it is a fun, mindless show in the Mission Impossible vein.
What makes it better than other attempts at copying the original MI, the characters are quirky and outright funny at times.
It’s a fun show!
John Rogers, the writer, has a blog. As each episode airs, he has a questions thread, and answers viewer comments about exactly how things happened. He also has a lot of other fun stuff to talk about. (The famous “Alan Keyes Crazification Factor” is from here.)
Also, he has mentioned that viewer interviews show that most viewers don’t understand the cons, or how they work, but still enjoy the show. So maybe not quite mindless.
Thanks for that link - I love Parker just a little bit more now.
I feel like I must be really stupid, though, with all the people saying Leverage is mindless - it’s not like the solution to the cons is obvious. I guess you don’t have to try and work out the solution - you can just sit back and enjoy the ride - but that goes for any TV show.