I'm a little too swamped right now to go into any real detail about tonight's "Leverage," except to say that, while the job itself really didn't interest me, seeing the crew have to work around the insurance investigator played by Mark Sheppard was a lot of fun. Fire away with your own thoughts.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Leverage, "The Two-Horse Job": Don't mess with Romo Lampkin
I'm a little too swamped right now to go into any real detail about tonight's "Leverage," except to say that, while the job itself really didn't interest me, seeing the crew have to work around the insurance investigator played by Mark Sheppard was a lot of fun. Fire away with your own thoughts.
Manservant Neville was great (what, you think I'd pass on an opportunity to give love to The Middleman?) and I suspect he'll be the perfect foil to the team going forward. One of the problems with great villains is that networks, producers, writers, everyone fall in love with them and want to keep them around. So they end up getting softened and become some hybrid adversary-ally. The Spike-ification of the bad guy.
ReplyDeleteI can't see anyone taking away Mark Sheppard's thorns. He's a porcupine and going to stay that way. That makes me happy. It also made me happy that he was just as smart as Nate and the team. There's nothing worse than a dumb nemesis.
More of my thoughts in my review here.
Eventually, every lightweight detective/caper show -- good or bad -- gets around to episodes involving a racetrack or a circus. Both are dull and overused settings, and it's sad to see this show end up there so quickly.
ReplyDeleteEventually, every lightweight detective/caper show -- good or bad -- gets around to episodes involving a racetrack or a circus.
ReplyDeleteFirst, this is an awesome observation. Second, a circus? An art auction, usually. A bank, of course. A high stakes poker game, always. And there's the traditional "conning a con man" episode, usually involving a mentor. But a circus?
The idea of a hedge fund that consists solely of thoroughbred horses seems pretty hard to swallow.
ReplyDeleteHorse racing on TV is always a lot more glamorous than it is in reality.
I was wincing at the overly loud country music that swelled up when Eliot and his old flame kissed at the end. But then I heard the singer's voice and though it as kind of adorable all over again. It's not the most accomplished or groundbreaking show, but I can't help liking it.
ReplyDeleteTHOUGHT it WAS adorable all over again.
ReplyDelete@Beth, Christian Kane thanks you for liking his singing. Now if he'd just wash his hair...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I think Big Ted has it right. He combined detective and caper shows; and on the detective end of that spectrum, they do seem to get around to circus shows eventually. 'Pushing Daisies' falls into this category and they did one this season. 'New Tricks', 'Burke's Law', 'Magnum PI', 1955's 'The Lone Wolf' - within the last year I've seen them all do a circus story. (Obviously most of those in reruns.) I'm sure there are plenty of others.....
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's a stretch, but don't forget the classic X-Files episode where Vincent Schiavelli's tumor/brother keeps running off and trying to eat into other people until the circus geek eats him.
ReplyDeleteAs for Leverage, I haven't seen this episode yet, but the first two were very enjoyable. It's nice to have something to keep me company while I wait for the return of Burn Notice and the new 24 (fingers crossed it doesn't suck!).
First time watching this show last night, and wasn't as entertained as I'd hoped to be. Part of it was the guy playing the villain/mark of the week, but another big part (which I'm sure is not common to the show's audience) is that Christian Kane and his hair remind me of David Foster Wallace, which is the kind of bummer that'll yank you right out of enjoying a con-man show.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching now Speaking as a native, those are some really terrible southern accents, particularly Hutton's.
ReplyDeleteFor Anonymous - a real-life hedge fund consisting of thoroughbred horses.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.finalternatives.com/node/4558
As always, reality is more ridiculous than one can imagine.
I'm watching now Speaking as a native, those are some really terrible southern accents, particularly Hutton's.
ReplyDeleteI thought Hutton was just doing an impression of Boomhauer from King of the Hill. And Gina Bellman's "southern belle" didn't sound much different from her South African character in the pilot.
Pdf,I mentioned on another website that I think Kane's long-haired Eliot is eerily reminiscent of David Foster Wallace. No one had a response.
ReplyDeleteI liked Kane as Lindsey on Angel and I like Leverage, but I adored DFW's sweet genius. I look at Eliot and feel sad and think about rereading Infinite Jest over Christmas break -- but I probably won't because it would break my heart.
@Toby:
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough, if BigTed has said "con or detective show" I wouldn't have disagreed. But there is a difference between the two types of shows.
However, with "con or detective show" inserted into the right spot, it is still an awesome observation.
I love BBC's Hustle!!
ReplyDeleteIs this new show anything like it?
Yay to Sheppard! More Whedon connections (sorry it's a hobby/habit)
ReplyDeleteDid Moonlighting have a horse or circus show?
Sometimes the plot holes are little too gaping really, but they smooth it over pretty well (but really, dude could computer hack a car but not stop a cell phone signal to the cops?). I still boggle at how easily they are being seen with eachother in public.
But the dialogue is snappy and the capers are sweet.
EmeraldLiz