#8 Leverage (2008-____)
Drama, Crime (but more in the Ocean's 11 way than the Law and Order way)
Mega Mana's Ranking: 60
Opening:
Hitter, Hacker, Grifter, Thief, Mastermind. The makings of a grade A crime team. Only this one has a Robin Hood complex.
Former good guy finds himself working on the other side of the law and realizes he can do more good that way. He works with a team of crazy criminals who are being the good guys for the first time (except maybe Eliot).
This show has great scripts that have a real Ocean's Eleven vibe to them. The action is good, the comedy is funny, the characters are interesting, what's not to love?
While Nate and Sofie probably qualify as the true main characters of this show the real heart and soul comes from the other three members of the team. They're interactions and development together is what I truly love watching. They started off as three loner characters who struggled to work with each other. Hardison and Eliot basically hated each other, and both were just freaked out by Parker and her insanity. Parker meanwhile didn't care about anyone. Now they have slowly developed into a great group of friends (possibly Parker's first friends). Eliot and Hardison are best friends, and Hardison and Parker's potential romance has been developing beautifully. They are all great together and steal every episode.
Oh and did I mention that the great Mark Shepphard has a recurring character? It's my favorite of his characters (yes even over his Firefly and Supernatural roles) and it is an awesome antagonist. He is coming back next week and I am crazy excited. Will Wheaton also has a great recurring character set to come back this season.
The show is already in its fourth amazing season, and while I always worry that it will go downhill so far it has not struggled, even when losing a main character for half a season. As long as this show keeps its focus on this amazing cast of characters it will be just fine.
This is also one of three ongoing series in my top 10. I love it and just can't do it justice in this write-up.
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"Hope is allowed to be stupid, unwise, and naive." ~Sir Chris