‘Leverage: Redemption’ Recap – ‘The Belly of the Beast Job’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 211 of ‘Leverage: Redemption’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article also contains discussions regarding sexual assault, which may be triggering to some individuals. 
​
Stories that focus upon an ensemble cast, tend to stay focused on said ensemble and rightfully so. For this is where the stars are at, so why shy away from them? In fact, if there is a change in how the cast is utilized, such a feat is oft accomplished by way of a solo episode for a main character, one that provides backstory and a challenge to conquer so they can grow. But now and again, you run into stories that ponder upon what life around the characters looks like in order to tell a unique story, the kind that allows for us to gain new perspective upon our heroes. For instance, Star Trek: The Next Generation, pulled off such a feat once by looking into the lives of junior officers over the bridge crew, and it just so happens that the next episode of Leverage: Redemption on Amazon Freevee, did something similar.
​ 
But at first glance, it didn’t seem as though, ‘The Belly of the Beast Job’, was going to do anything all that different. Since it introduced us to a scuzzy music producer and his equally as scuzzy staff and company as they took the time to shame an employee and cast her out. Which absolutely meant they did something horrible and shady, and gross, and Team Leverage was going to need to step in and handle some business. But that’s when the story surprised us for certain. Because rather than hear what happened or see the team make their preparations for revenge, we were instead introduced to a woman named Jenna. Who wanted a job in this place because it seemed like a great opportunity, and she landed it and we focused only on her and her journey through a workplace she discovered, was not the joyous place she thought it was going to be.

Because the boss was a serial sexual assaulter and harasser and used hidden money and bribes and NDAs to escape any trouble. Which meant someone needed to stand tall and save others from such horrors and well… enter Team Jenna. Because she believed she could handle this with the company’s honest IT guy, Keith. But of course… this was a daunting task that needed an extra hand. So, Team Leverage instead, opted to help her from behind the scenes. Allowing for us to focus on Jenna and Keith’s struggles while relegating the cast to unique and enriching ‘cameos’ this time around… the kind that allowed for both parties to complete the mission and bring this place down and make Jenna and Keith feel as though, they were the only heroes of the story, and well… all of this made for a refreshing and original episode of this show. 

Simply because… it really offered us a unique perspective on what this team does and how they operate. Since we finally came to realize, they really are in the shadows more often than not and move with precision and accuracy in what they do. A reality that gives us more respect for them for certain. But what was truly interesting about changing perspective in this story, is that it really made it clear to us… just how little recognition they receive for their work. Because outside of the primary victim they make contact with, they don’t exist, really, and no one outside of said victim is there to offer thanks. Which means they truly are doing this… to be the best possible human beings they can be, and they genuinely want to make the world a better place, and there is something quite beautiful about that.

However, all perspective aside, what also made this episode so engaging… was Jenna and Keith.
Because they were genuine everyday people that saw an injustice in play, and wanted to do something about it and while they were empowered to do whatever needed to be done to save the day, by the team, seeing everyday folks, go that extra mile really does inspire the viewer. Since it speaks to the fact that perhaps… we too can stand tall and conquer bad if we at the very least, apply ourselves and call injustice out. But all that aside, this was also… a fun episode. One that leaned into some unique comedy and made sure to plop the team into the story at just the right time and well, in the end, it will be interesting to see what other unique stories await us, with only two episodes left in season two. Until next time. 

---

Powered by JustWatch