‘Leverage: Redemption’ Recap – ‘The Panamanian Monkey Job’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Leverage: Redemption’.
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Often times, stories that involve embarrassing an unsavory individual, one that is rich and powerful, end in quite the contrite manner. With the baddie holding their head low as they ponder upon their lost humility and lost riches and that image is one that is supremely satisfying for certain. Because it means that a genuine jerk has received their sour just desserts and what’s fascinating about that moment… is that’s really as far as those stories go in regard to the villain’s journey. Which make sense, since that is precisely what the audience wants to see, and really, holding on that image… is also the peak of escapism storytelling. For we all know deep down that in the real world, slimy rich guys don’t go quietly into the night in that manner, they fight hard to keep their cash and their reputation intact and of course… their vast wealth often keeps them out of jail.

Which is another reason why Leverage: Redemption is such a refreshing and dynamic show. Because Dean Devlin and his writing team understand that the audience wants the sense of satisfaction they experience when a bad guy is embarrassed… to extend beyond one feel good moment. They want to feel a true sense of justice; they want to see this person be stripped of their power and pay for everything and everyone they’ve abused and that’s why the next chapter in this reboot/sequel is such a triumph storytelling wise. Because ‘The Panamanian Monkey Job’ accomplishes all that, by sending the team Panama way to finish the mission that started in ‘The Too Many Rembrandts Job’. For if you recall, the end of that tale saw Fletcher Maxwell post bail and flee the country to Panama, in order to grab the last of his cash so he could disappear to a non-extradition nation and live out his days in relative harmony and excessive smugness.

But the good news, is that the team had inside info as to where Maxwell’s money was being kept, thanks to Harry Wilson, and that meant they had to act quickly to steal it from Maxwell before he could get near it and that brought about one entertaining quest. For the money in question was being held in a super-secret and well-guarded vault, alongside other treasures from other unsavory individuals and that meant that a solid plan had to come into play for the team to pull this off and well… what they thought up was downright brilliant. For they were able to secure office space above the vault with a little trickery and they were able to create a false charity that would bring a famous EDM DJ to town, who could use his sick beats to confuse the seismic sensors the vault used to keep intruders out and well… initially it seemed as though this plan was going to work with minimal fuss.

Because everyone bought into the lies that the team were selling, and the group even had an extra hand in this heist by way of Hardison’s foster sibling, Breanna. But alas, greed complicated matters greatly since Maxwell didn’t want to wait any longer than he had to, and that motivated him to try and get his cash right away and that’s when all hell broke loose. For the team was exposed and had to fight tooth and nail to make Maxwell pay and thankfully, they did just that, and they swiped his bearer bonds and they also managed to cripple the operation in question by blowing up all of the treasures present in the vault and once the dust settled, and Maxwell paid the piper, another wonderful moment came about. In that, the team decided that this ‘final heist’, would serve instead as a practice run. One that prepared them to resume their work, sadly without Hardison for a bit, and that’s about as satisfying an ending as it gets. For not only is the bad guy properly broken and embarrassed and broken and destitute, but real heroes have made the decision to try and make the world a better place by standing up for the little guy once again, and that really does leave one excited for what comes next.

Since now this team can do what they do best with impunity and make us happy in the process by taking down one sleazeball after another, and well, in the end, this really was quite the special episode. Because this story makes it clear that Leverage: Redemption is eager to tell complete and fleshed out stories. For the writers could have sent the team after another big-time butthead without giving it a second thought. But instead, they made sure the group finished what they started, and rediscovered and discovered their love of sticking it to the fat cats of the world and that’s the kind of complete journey you always like to see on television and while it will indeed hurt to have Hardison fade away for a bit, the team is clearly in good hands with their two new members and now we can settle in and enjoy one satisfying wild ride. One where good will finally triumph over evil on a consistent basis, courtesy of a group of thieves with hearts of gold. Until next time.  

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