Leverage

[FireDragon-16]

Originally Posted by steve12553

Yes it was.

I went back and watched it, that was a great episode! I loved all the rest of the costumes, especially Sophie as Irene Adler !

[Interference]

So this is what American TV execs do when they can't be bothered to buy the format for Hustle from the Beeb

I'm enjoying watching it (I think I'm in love with Parker ) with the only caveat being that the directing has been quite weak so far. Fortunately the scripts and casting are, all-in-all, pretty good. (Did I mention I was in love with Parker?)

And it's great to see Christian Kane (thought he was brilliant in Angel - Evil Hand ) and some real ensemble playing that I look forward to seeing develop as the series progresses. Great cast (I'm gonna marry Parker one day, btw).

[FireDragon-16]

Originally Posted by Interference

So this is what American TV execs do when they can't be bothered to buy the format for Hustle from the Beeb

I'm enjoying watching it (I think I'm in love with Parker ) with the only caveat being that the directing has been quite weak so far. Fortunately the scripts and casting are, all-in-all, pretty good. (Did I mention I was in love with Parker?)

And it's great to see Christian Kane (thought he was brilliant in Angel - Evil Hand ) and some real ensemble playing that I look forward to seeing develop as the series progresses. Great cast (I'm gonna marry Parker one day, btw).

I take it you've got a thing for Parker? Better not tell Hardison . It's alright, I've definitely got a thing for Christian Kane...

It's so exciting to find more people who know about the show, let alone like it! I've actually been working on getting other people hooked on it...most recently that's one of my best friends from high school

[Interference]

This is weird! I've been hearing "Artisan", which I thought was a brilliant name. Hardison works just as well, though....

Ok, just so I can put you right about this "thing" thing: It isn't a "thing". It's Love!

She is one of the best-drawn of the characters, in my view, though she often seems almost marginalised (it's time for your schtick, now, Parker). Nevertheless, she impresses herself on every scene she's in, without saying a word, without crawling through an air duct. And when her back-story insinuates itself into the plot, it does so with convincing ease.

Christian Kane smoulders When he lets his talent loose, he's a show-stealer, too. Without wishing to sound like my mother, I wish he'd cut his hair, though.....

Tim Hutton is starting to become interesting again - his introduction had one of the most perfect first lines of any introduction: "You know that conversation that ends with me smashing you in the face? Well, we're about to reach that part...." (or something - sorry I've an imperfect memory and too lazy to re-run the scene). That aspect of his character was allowed to sublimate itself in the "Boo-hoo, my kid didn't have to die" which, to be honest, I find much less (dramatically) interesting. But he's characterising his alcoholism brilliantly, at the mo (I'm still only into the middle of Season 1) and only hope it doesn't become mawkish.

The others: Hardison/Artisan got into his stride quite quickly and became a favourite by around the third or fourth episode. I love that he overslept because he was playing World Of Warfare (non-copyright equivalent) and didn't even realise the others had started the "caper" without him.... And I LOVE the fact that the Geek gets to choose the names on the passports: Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy, Sarah-Jane and Tom Baker - Perfect! The more-so because the others clearly don't realise

The almost-matriarchal Sophie - well, let's put it this way: she's the only one I had to google to get either her character or real name Dramatically necessary for Nathan, essential to the team and versatile enough (at one point, while the baddy is being arrested, the villain says, "Are you even British?" I half-expected her to reply, "I was going for Australian!"), hopefully her character will be allowed to live up to the expectation set by her introductory flash-back. Well-cast though as her features could be turned to almost any ethnicity you care to think of.

So far, I'm still in Season 1 and looking forward to more. As I insinuated earlier, the direction has been the series' weakest aspect so far (in the Bank Job episode, no one seemed to mind speaking at conversational levels, even though the gun man had definitely suggested they all hush up) and while the plots are, by necessity, nothing spectacularly new (this is a criticism I had about the early seasons of Hustle, as well, because it's true of all con-based caper stories, really), it is the characters we have to become involved in if we're going to keep watching. I have to say, NCIS plays precisely the same odds to greater success (imho) but I'm still watching, so they must be doing something right.....

And no, I'm not only watching Parker

[Interference]

Just starting Season Two and Wow! Now we're getting into gear The pacing is faster, the relationships have really settled in and they haven't tried to fix what wasn't broken.

Looking forward to the rest

[FireDragon-16]

Originally Posted by Interference

Just starting Season Two and Wow! Now we're getting into gear The pacing is faster, the relationships have really settled in and they haven't tried to fix what wasn't broken.

Looking forward to the rest

Sometimes it takes people a little to get the flow right, especially if they aren't sure if it'll last.

How far in are you?

[FireDragon-16]

Originally Posted by Interference

This is weird! I've been hearing "Artisan", which I thought was a brilliant name. Hardison works just as well, though....

Ok, just so I can put you right about this "thing" thing: It isn't a "thing". It's Love!

She is one of the best-drawn of the characters, in my view, though she often seems almost marginalised (it's time for your schtick, now, Parker). Nevertheless, she impresses herself on every scene she's in, without saying a word, without crawling through an air duct. And when her back-story insinuates itself into the plot, it does so with convincing ease.

Christian Kane smoulders When he lets his talent loose, he's a show-stealer, too. Without wishing to sound like my mother, I wish he'd cut his hair, though.....

Tim Hutton is starting to become interesting again - his introduction had one of the most perfect first lines of any introduction: "You know that conversation that ends with me smashing you in the face? Well, we're about to reach that part...." (or something - sorry I've an imperfect memory and too lazy to re-run the scene). That aspect of his character was allowed to sublimate itself in the "Boo-hoo, my kid didn't have to die" which, to be honest, I find much less (dramatically) interesting. But he's characterising his alcoholism brilliantly, at the mo (I'm still only into the middle of Season 1) and only hope it doesn't become mawkish.

The others: Hardison/Artisan got into his stride quite quickly and became a favourite by around the third or fourth episode. I love that he overslept because he was playing World Of Warfare (non-copyright equivalent) and didn't even realise the others had started the "caper" without him.... And I LOVE the fact that the Geek gets to choose the names on the passports: Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy, Sarah-Jane and Tom Baker - Perfect! The more-so because the others clearly don't realise

The almost-matriarchal Sophie - well, let's put it this way: she's the only one I had to google to get either her character or real name Dramatically necessary for Nathan, essential to the team and versatile enough (at one point, while the baddy is being arrested, the villain says, "Are you even British?" I half-expected her to reply, "I was going for Australian!"), hopefully her character will be allowed to live up to the expectation set by her introductory flash-back. Well-cast though as her features could be turned to almost any ethnicity you care to think of.

So far, I'm still in Season 1 and looking forward to more. As I insinuated earlier, the direction has been the series' weakest aspect so far (in the Bank Job episode, no one seemed to mind speaking at conversational levels, even though the gun man had definitely suggested they all hush up) and while the plots are, by necessity, nothing spectacularly new (this is a criticism I had about the early seasons of Hustle, as well, because it's true of all con-based caper stories, really), it is the characters we have to become involved in if we're going to keep watching. I have to say, NCIS plays precisely the same odds to greater success (imho) but I'm still watching, so they must be doing something right.....

And no, I'm not only watching Parker

Well, as long as it's love...

I definitely agree that Christian Kane smoulders, and I actually think that he can pull off the long hair except for when he does the thing where he only puts up a section/small piece of the back--I hate that

Did you know that the actor who plays Hardison got the job on his 21st birthday and that he was one of the nephews in Die Hard 3?

I love how Sophie can't act when she's on stage but when they're running a con, she's the best in the world.

[THX-1138]

Has anyone noticed how they can just randomly give skills to these characters? Eliot is a baseball player, chef, etc. Hardison can forage old books and play violin. There are other examples I don't remember because I haven't watched it recently, but it's annoying.

[Interference]

Still only half-way through Season Two, so far. Sophie is away on her prolonged grump and Jeri Whatserface from one of the Star Treks )I'll get it in a minute, the ol' brain's a bit sluggish today) is making everyone uncomfortable and, yes, Nate's back on the sauce.

Just as I was really warming to Sophie, too Her child-like excitement as soon as anything "theatrical" happens is, to coin a phrase, adorable.

And last night, Sterling just got recruited by Interpol

I think Eliot having sports skills definitely isn't too far from plausibility, and as I recall his chef skills, in the Wedding Job episode at least, were more "skilled and adequate" than "professional and impressive". I'm trying to get my head around Hardison as a violinist, though. Perhaps his granddad loved Stefan Grapelli or something. Still, for me those episodes are ahead and I can only hope they pull it off, dramatically speaking, and it won't be such an abrupt thing as you suggest, THX.

But you do point out one thing I hadn't thought of, and it's something about well-rounded characters in general: They have hobbies. Holmes played violin - it didn't solve any cases for him, but soothed his troubled brow and fitted with his general musical appreciation and knowledge. We know Sophie's hobby (though how she always ends up with the leading roles we may never know) and we know Parker's single-mindedness, but the others have histories only cryptically (Hardison and Eliot) or tragically (Nate) referenced.

But what a 21st birthday prezzie, eh? I hope he gains much from what he is learning and achieving.

[FireDragon-16]

Originally Posted by THX-1138

Has anyone noticed how they can just randomly give skills to these characters? Eliot is a baseball player, chef, etc. Hardison can forage old books and play violin. There are other examples I don't remember because I haven't watched it recently, but it's annoying.

Well, it wouldn't be hard for Elliot to play sports considering his background...plus he even explained the whole chef thing--he could turn pretty much anything he used into a weapon and they never claimed he was a 4-star chef.

[FireDragon-16]

Originally Posted by Interference

Just as I was really warming to Sophie, too Her child-like excitement as soon as anything "theatrical" happens is, to coin a phrase, adorable.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of Tara's character (I just don't think she really fits in with the group), they had to do something to explain why Sophie was gone because the actress got pregnant I think and the group can't really function without their grifter

[Interference]

Funny, I guessed it was Pregnancy Gambit #17.

[THX-1138]

Originally Posted by FireDragon-16

Well, it wouldn't be hard for Elliot to play sports considering his background...plus he even explained the whole chef thing--he could turn pretty much anything he used into a weapon and they never claimed he was a 4-star chef.

Yeah but beforehand he was didn't even know how the game worked! He hated baseball.

[Interference]

He had to be talked into it, all right, and only realised, when he found it so easy, that he had a natural talent. That's when he started enjoying the game.

[THX-1138]

Well, have you ever noticed that as a plot device, Sophie is obsolete? Any and all the characters can grift, when she's busy doing something the writers just sub in somebody else. They can't sub in anybody to hack or fight. And this is also true to a lesser extent of Parker, all the characters can pick a pocket or crack a safe.