‘Leverage: Redemption’ Recap – ‘The Too Many Rembrandts Job’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Leverage: Redemption’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we live in some frustrating times. For every time we turn on the television or swing by social media, we read about injustices that continue to pile up. The kind where the insanely rich, use their wealth and influence to exert more power over the little guy and it simply seems as though no one is listening, and no one cares and that divide between the haves and the have nots is only going to grow. Which is why so many of us are eager to slip into fictional worlds to escape the frustrations of the modern world and enjoy stories where heroes reign supreme and watch out for the little guy and well, our demand for such stories is so strong… that one Hollywood icon understood the time was right to resurrect and continue an iconic series that relates to our frustrations.
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Which is why Leverage: Redemption is now gracing the digital airwaves, since it gives Dean Devlin and the talented cast of the original Leverage… a chance to build upon what they started all those years ago. For a series that inadvertently seized upon the zeitgeist of the times courtesy of the Great Recession, can now thrive in the midst of a time where we worry about class warfare and well, the good news is that this sequel and its commentary are as spot on as it gets. Because ‘The Too Many Rembrandts Job’ really does reflect a world where the rich are spoiled and powerful and could care less about everyday people because that doesn’t translate to dollar signs or margin or profit and it accomplishes that feat by introducing the Leverage team to a pharmaceutical super jerk named, Fletcher Maxwell.

A guy so greasy and so repulsive that he actually takes pleasure in breaking deals with the people he’s hurt. Which is why his longtime lawyer with a heart of gold, Harry Wilson, decides that the time to bring him down has arrived and that of course, brings him together with the Leverage team and well, this goes exactly as one might expect, since they (mostly) take down Maxwell in a beautifully embarrassing (for him) and satisfying manner. But really, while getting back in the groove with the team is worthwhile indeed, it really is the commentary that allows for this episode to shine. Because it truly spotlights the divide between the wealthy and the average and how out of touch the proverbial Daddy Warbuckses of the world have become since they insulate themselves with things and money and have outright forgotten the importance of people and empathy.

But what’s amazing is that the series doesn’t just take the time to remind us of that particular problem with the filthy rich, it also takes the time to showcase the struggle that is coming about from wealth inequality since we briefly see first-hand how scared and broken some of the folks out there suffering really are and how indifferent the world has become to their plight. Simply because people tend to believe that bad situations somehow right themselves with time and that’s why the crew has more gravity and depth here than ever before. Because now they are the champions that the world is screaming for and watching them in action in this era of American history really does provide a sense of catharsis. For they are us, the everyday folks that have had enough and, in many ways, their actions now reflect those little victories that are slowly taking place in the real world… where people are indeed banding together to stick it to the fat cats.

Yet while the commentary is timely and this show is relevant and satisfying, its return/continuation would mean nothing without quality performances, and we need to recognize the fact that we get that here in spades. For Gina Bellman and Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge are simply electric and it’s wonderful to see them not miss a beat and Gina deserves a shout out for adding a little sorrow to Sophie since it adds new depth to a strong character and of course Christian Kane steals every scene he’s in because that’s what he does, and Noah Wyle is a welcome addition to the team and deserves a shout out as well for giving Harry Wilson a special vulnerability and well, in the end, this is a wonderful start to the next chapter in this saga. For it is filled with depth and wonder and laughs through and through and we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait to dive into the rest of these episodes and break them down with all of you in the weeks to come, because this series really does deserve to be fawned over and dissected since it is poignant and powerful and fun. Until next time.

The first half of season one of ‘Leverage: Redemption’ is streaming now on IMDBtv.

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