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· Official TNT Webpage: Leverage
· IMDb: Leverage

Grade: A


Television Review: Leverage, "The Future Job"
by R.J. Carter
Published: February 3, 2010

The final three episodes of Leverage are coming down the pike, starting with "The Future Job." Guest star Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210) plays scamming psychic Dalton Rand with a local television show and an eye toward a bigger audience. The Leverage team is brought into play when a young man brings them his worries about his grieving (and pregnant) sister, who has already spent all her savings on messages from her recently departed husband, and now plans to mortgage the house to continue the contact.

A really nice scene in this episode comes during the team's fact-finding mission, which plants Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) and Parker (Beth Riesgraf in the audience, where Parker is singled out by Rand for a cold reading which brings to light a painful secret from her past. It's not only a well-done scene in that the team later points out all the tells that a cold reading involves, but also because Riesgraf pulls off a masterful job with the character; Parker is often moody, but she never really is allowed to display sincere emotions, particularly grief or fear, and Riesgraf really shines here.

The plan to take down Rand will require the team to "steal the future," according to Ford. To do this, they have to sell him on the notion that Tara (Jeri Ryan) is the real deal so that Rand will bring her in and begin exploiting her "talents" for his own ends. However, Tara is so good at her job that a mobster kidnaps both Tara and Rand in the hopes of locating hidden loot. Suddenly the job is much more complicated, as the mark now becomes someone in need of rescuing himself.

Leverage continues to deliver action and excitement with interesting storytelling. This, with an excellent ensemble cast including Christian Kane and Aldis Hodge, is what makes Leverage a perennial favorite for this reviewer.

Leverage, "The Future Job," premieres Wednesday, February 3 at 10pm(ET/PT) on TNT.


 
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