From whence the new dynamic on Team Leverage?

I finally caught last week’s episode of Leverage, and, more than anything else, what it did for me was solidify a question that’s been forming in my mind these last few weeks: since when is Sophie anything other than not really necessary?

Okay, maybe I should qualify that extreme of a question with “as far as I’m concerned.” Even so, where did all of that “we can’t do this without Sophie” come from? And, while we’re at it, since when is she qualified to be Nate’s co-leader, or to step in and fill his shoes, as she did four weeks back? Did I miss something?

Let’s review: in last season’s finale, Sophie stabbed the team in the back. So much so, that I thought it beyond the realm of possibility that they would have started working with her again this season. But, fine; let’s assume we live in an alternate universe.

Beyond that, there’s her role on the team: she’s a “Grifter,” whatever exactly that entails. She’s a poor actress, and beyond her passing ability to fake an accent, there’s not much to her. I’m sure that plenty of you will disagree, but beyond needing to physically fill the part that she plays on a particular job, I’m not really sure what Team Leverage would be missing were she gone.

And yes, that very much includes Nate. THERE IS NO CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THEM! Does no one else notice that? They’re like two awkward teens who are forced to spend time together at society functions, because that’s the role that they play in their respective families. I have NEVER seen the first spark between them, and all their intimate moments do for me is make me feel very uncomfortable for them both.

When Sophie took over as team leader for a job, there wasn’t a single thing believable about the entire scenario. What was clear was that the writers had decided that they wanted to explore a shake-up, so they forced a round peg into a square hole. They decided that Sophie should do a good job, and be able to figuratively tell Nate “I told you so,” so she did, even though she’s never proven herself to have any leadership qualities, or capabilities, whatsoever. They wanted it, so it was done.

And now, Sophie is the go-to-gal for advice? What? Since when has anyone ever sought her out, save for awkward Parker when she’s in need of a “how do I be normal” tip? It felt to me as if Sophie was so much of an after-thought last season that the writers, or Gina Bellman herself, pushed to get her a larger role in season two. But nothing about it makes any sense.

What would have made sense is if the team got along fine without her, even were happy that she was gone. All else aside, in the con world, there’s honor among thieves; screw with that, and there’s no coming back.

I know the team’s gone “legit,” but were their natural instincts reversed along with their career aspirations? Not likely.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Sep 07, 2009 @ 15:00 EST5EDT