LEVERAGE REDEMPTION: Episodes 1.1-16

OVERVIEW REVIEW: After eight years of waiting, the Leverage crew returns triumphantly with new corrupt tycoons to ruin and a few fresh faces. Streaming on IMDb TV, LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION is the continuation of the 2005 show LEVERAGE and stars most of the original cast. The show retains the same tone and vibe that old LEVERAGE fans know and love, and one that new fans can enjoy.

In LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION, the protagonist from the original show, Nathan Ford, has passed away, leaving behind his widow ex-grifter Sophie Deveraux. In a rally to cheer her up and keep their friend’s memory alive, hitter Eliot Spencer, hacker Alec Hardison and thief Parker inspire her to return to the life of helping the little guys take on corporate giants who prey on the poor and desperate. Along the way, the group acquires Harry Wilson, a former corporate lawyer who wants to redeem himself for the way he enabled crooks instead of bringing them to justice. Additionally, Hardison introduces the crew to his younger sister who must fill her brother’s tech-savvy philanthropic shoes. Each episode brings a new adventure as Wilson rights his wrongs, repairs his relationship with his estranged daughter, and could very well save the entire crew from destruction.

LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION is streaming on IMDb TV, as well as Amazon Prime. The series presents a fascinating dichotomy of characters as the arcs are further developed than the original series. Parker has developed more self-confidence, though still aches to steal. Eliot let’s his emotional guard down and embraces the crew as his family. Sophie must come to terms with Nate’s death. Newcomers Breanna and Harry Wilson, however, reflect the program’s heart as they go from being corrupt to caring and engaged.

LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION has a light moral worldview about serving others with some prevalent Christian themes like forgiveness and seeking redemption. In fact, the whole concept that the Leverage team is built on is a kind of charity in the truest sense; they continuously help those in need without asking anything in return. In one episode, Sophie demonstrates her knowledge and respect for Catholicism, such as referring to a few saints in the Halloween episode. Hardison also talks about the Jewish understanding of “redemption,” focusing on the idea that it’s a slow and lengthy process. Eliot even talks about doing what is right and moving past mistakes to receive forgiveness and to help those in need.

That said, the series has some potential concerns for media-wise viewers. Each episode revolves around a con. While morally questionable, Wilson’s lawyer background encourages the crew to not engage in illegal activity. Compared to the original LEVERAGE, REDEMPTION allows for escapades beyond stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, and instead exposes the crooks’ evil deeds and allows reparations instead of stealing for personal gain. Also, each episode contains a fair amount of violence. Though Eliot, the hitter, refuses to use firearms, his hand-to-hand combat sequences can be intense. However, it’s never gory, and any blood is usually only shown in cases of minor injuries like a nosebleed or a bloody lip. The characters also lie to infiltrate the organizations and social networks of their targets and view this as the right thing to do. Also, there’s some homosexual content in two episodes that don’t add anything to the story. Finally, LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION has some foul language, and most of the villains are wealthy people or shady businesspeople. While some episodes are suitable for older children, other episodes require extreme discernment. Overall, therefore, MOVIEGUIDE® generally advises extreme caution for adults, older teenagers and media-wise viewers for LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION.