Leverage – The Nigerian Job

afraschatz:

It’s been a while since I watched “The Nigerian Job” and wow, what a joy to do that again. Because there are so many things I love about it. Here are just a few: I love…

… the introduction of Nate – so much exposition is needed and that’s always difficult to deliver without it seeming clunky and, well, like exposition, but Rubinek and Hutton just DELIVER.

… Dubenic. One of my favourite villains of them all. So fucking ruthless, he makes NATE seem like a choir boy in comparison, and that’s saying something.

… Nate’s reaction to “Steal them back”. Yes, he’s interested because of the money and because of wanting to stick it to his old boss, but that look? Yeah, Nate, keep kidding yourself. You WANT to be a thief 😉

… ‘No, but Parker is in-sane.’ And Nate’s look to accompany that, hahaha. Where is the lie.

… the music of this show. The intro music but also the signature “the game is on” music. I have it as my ringtone and my alarm and really, it’s just so awesome. Because right here at the start, a very dark and gritty start, the music sets the tone and tells us: This is gonna be a clever show and a fun show and KEEP WATCHING ❤

… Hardison’s first words on the show being “No. No, no, no, no, hell no.”

… Hardison calling Nate ‘Brah’ and talking back at him right from the start

… “This is not the room you’re looking for.” – Also, I know that Hardison can’t possibly actually TELL this story to Nate and the others at this point, but we all know that he will eventually. And I LOVE that this is his mind’s go to story for being the ultimate hustler. Oh, Hardison, how I love you and your geeky priorities.

… “You can hear everything.” – “Not as useless as you look.” – Instant love. Also: HI ELIOT. And hi Eliot’s glasses. What happens to you later on? And seriously, Eliot, why did you decide to wear them for this job? I mean you clearly don’t need them, so is this a fashion choice? Where you reading while you were waiting for the others to set up?

…No but seriously, I LOVE the outfit choice for Eliot here and in the flashback. He looks like he just got up from a coffee with Sartre and Camus and I cannot stress enough how I LOVE how that (aside of course from being funny) already sets up how he is NOT just the muscle ❤

…Eliot not even putting down his mug. Yes, he is that badass

…the baseball card

… “You can have the whole box” (Flirty!Hardison – and yes, of course he is fascinated and turned on by Parker instantly, but I think what I love most is how this is different to how he sees her later; he is overall more aggressive, edgy, pushy pre-team)

… “Age of the Geek, baby. We run the world.” – “Hm. You keep telling yourself that.”

… Thief.

… Parker’s flashback being so fucking DARK, even in comparison to Eliot’s who just put down 10 thugs

… the tell-tale ages of their flashback selves – Hardison the teenager, Eliot the adult, Parker the kid. Talk about what shaped you / who you are

…Eliot and Nate being professionals vs. Parker and Hardison being the brats ❤

… Parker taking such obvious pleasure in her work

… Nate’s background images being the cold blue schematics

… Hardison being SO TURNED ON by Eliot’s speed / his efficiency / his dislike of guns (love the emptying of the magazine) / his smile

… that shared smile when the door opens. STOP IT, YOU GUYS

… Nate’s I-am-in-command-here voice. Later on he uses that to play generals and higher ups – his favoured role aside from ‘the annoying one’ – but here it’s no game, no play acting. This IS Nate right now

… technically that would be Plan G

…the OT3 working so perfectly together during the burn-scam sequence

…the almost-morning-at-the-end-of-an-obviously-fucking-cold-night atmosphere when they split. Talk about symbolism here. And lovely light

… Dubenic. Seriously. He dupes us, the viewers, fair enough. But he also does this with Nate, Parker, Eliot, AND Hardison. And can we just take a moment and appreciate that because we know how insanely smart they are. – And there is just that HINT of Dubenic playing them in the way he picks up his cup and sips, like he has no care in the world

… the way Hardison holds his gun

… the fact that Eliot hasn’t taken it away from hm yet. Because sure, he could. But he actually WANTS Hardison to BELIEVE him, doesn’t he

…Hardison and Parker having brought guns. Which makes sense. Eliot not bothering. Which also makes sense. But Nate? He just doesn’t give a fuck at this point, does he? Dangerous man, he who has nothing left to lose. And that maniac’s laughter when he figures it out? Holy shit, there is something very, very wrong with him

… Eliot helping Hardison up (already the protector <3)

… the reason why Hardison fell in the first place – looking back to check where Eliot is <3<3

…the reflection of the fireblast on Nate’s face. The whole explosion. Damn, that is some fine pyro work there.

…Parker switching so effortlessly between razor-sharp logic and crazy aloofness

…the ever changing dynamic during that conversation in Hardison’s flat. Like, Hardison keeping Eliot from finally losing it and taking it on with Nate and all the other little shifts and changes. Like, Nate already knowing Eliot’s and Parker’s different priorities (Payback and Money / Money and Payback); Parker and Hardison being hooked straight away, Eliot being the cautious one

…Eliot’s FACE during Sophie’s acting

…Nate being so FASCINATED by Sophie

… that flashback – Nate, like the OT, has a very… interesting way of remembering things

…Parker’s super aggressive popcorn reading

… Eliot’s continued ‘Parker is crazy. CRAZY. Am I the only one seeing that?!’ Possibly, yes, Eliot

…Nigerians. I mean, not only is that THE con. But it’s also the con that works because it targets people too stupid to not know better. The fact that Nate uses that on Dubenic. Because they were double-crossed and now HE gets double-crossed with a con that he SHOULD have seen coming because no one in their right mind would buy Nate Ford trying to pull of the ACTUAL Nigerian Scam

…Sophie just walking out on Dubenic

…Eliot’s outfit as an IT expert. That is so offensive, Eliot, even BEFORE the Klingon. I love you. Also? I love the reaction of the secretary as he walks in. Like, damn, he’s fine. She’s not wrong

… the bridge in the background of Sophie’s and Dubenic’s scene outside. God, that is SUCH a perfect metaphor and so pretty

… “I take it to Pierson.” – Sophie is not just a great actress, this little decision here already shows how she will have no problem taking over from Nate when he is in prison

… the Eliot/Nate conversation at the pool table. Easily my favourite scene of the whole episode. I wrote about how I love all the characters’ relationships in an earlier entry (http://afraschatz.tumblr.com/post/175521619189/afraschatz-i-think-the-reason-why-i-love), but Eliot’s and Nate’s is one of my favourites. And this scene breaks my fucking heart EVERY time. I want to be angry at Nate for being so harsh to Eliot reaching out and I want to weep for him at the same time. And Eliot. Oh, Eliot. All of the others so wrapped up in the current con (and Nate in his pain) that they can’t see what he can already sense and what he already sees and understands. Why else would the hitter, the “I work alone” man, Moreau’s former right hand man reach out like that? This isn’t the hitter checking whether the insurance man might turn on him /them; this isn’t even the man set out for revenge trying to make sure that the mastermind behind the plan can focus properly. This already is Eliot caring. And Nate being unable to accept that at this point. Ah, I love them so much

… the hospital flashback. Oh Tim Hutton <3…

… Sophie and the earpiece. Sure, Sophie, you need help. Sure.

… locked up comedy frame. Hardison hahahaha. Love that chair-roll

… Dubenic’s smug expression in the elevator

… “I can take your underpants”

… “This particular project has a different revenue stream” – Ah, eloquent!smug!Nate

…Sophie’s reaction to the HUGE cheque. Like, WHAT?!

…Hardison starting to explain what he did – I kinda wanted him to continue explaining that to me because a. maybe he could actually shed some light on some stock stuff that I really don’t get and b. competence porn

…Eliot wanting to kiss Hardison 🙂

…the slow round-and-round of the camera during the team’s talk outside. I need to write a separate LONG post about how great the camera work on this show is

… Eliot looking at Hardison while Hardison waits for Nate to suggest that they should do that again, then, when Nate doesn’t, immediately trying to get his defences back up and his hopes down. Oh, Eliot ❤

… Black king, white knight. Aside from me being very much in love with Sophie’s SHAMELESS flirting (and Nate’s reaction to that), this is such a pretty description and fits him so well

… that last scene and the way they stand / sit. I mean, man, thank you, Sophie, for being kind to the victims while the rest of your team plays a very weird mashup of Reservoir Dogs and Godfather in the background

… NATE, YOU ARE SO CREEPY, I LOVE YOU.