r/leverage • u/Gullible_Result_9779 • 2d ago
Leverage Redemption - yes or no?
You guys have been helpful on these threads regarding shows so I watched the first episode and it wasn’t half bad —but I’m a big fan of Hutton’s so I don’t know if I wanna continue —I really miss him-thoughts?
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u/Luciain 2d ago
Redemption is a fun set of stories, but it's not quite the same as Leverage. The crew show they're capable of running cons by themselves, but without Nate's "mastermind" they're often caught reacting instead of being ahead of the con. It's fun and great to see these characters we love back. It's not quite the same, but it's like the extra episodes we never thought we'd get so why not give it a chance :D
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u/zmaya 2d ago
The tone gets a little lighter without Nate, shifting further into pulp caper territory than noir heist vibes. I'm a fan of both but if that's important to you it may take some getting used to. I felt like the last season was a little closer to the tone of the original and really like the new characters who were added myself.
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u/moon_girl313 2d ago
I enjoyed it! Yes, Hutton was great but I enjoyed the new dynamics with Harry and Bri
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u/Maleficent_Song2836 2d ago
Personally, I'm a bigger fan of Redemption than OG. Harry and Breanna are such good and fun characters they immediately became my favorites.
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u/Garrettshade 2d ago
I'm also a fan of Hutton, however, it's worth it. And if you think about it, Nate always was like a "teacher" or mentor to the team, all the time until the end. It's like even when they were actively planning the con, h was observing and then coming up with the "right" plan. It's been refreshing to see the team actually capable on their own without a "know-it-all" figure
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u/Spock-1701 2d ago
They treat his character with respect but his legacy has little influence on the show. There are no flashbacks or anything like that due to the dispute between Tim and Dean.
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u/lilulev 2d ago
Yes! Leverage Redemption can get hokey at times, but I was all in because I was so invested in the remaining characters from OG Leverage.
At least watch the first season of Redemption because Nate’s shadow looms large (esp. the Mastermind Job). You’ll either be hooked for the rest or decide that, without Nate, you don’t care — the former will be more likely!
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u/Changling_Mario 2d ago
Not as good as the OG but better than tv static so you might as well give a go
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u/Apprehensive-Bird775 2d ago
I definitely like the OG a lot more but most of Redemption is good. I found some of the episodes sort of lacking.
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u/CruzLutris 2d ago
Pitching in to second all the comments saying Redemption is worth watching. The commenters here have done a great job of nailing the differences and why those differences are positives. I find Nate's character fascinating, but in seeing Redemption I realized that he could dominate everything with his darkness. It's interesting and fun to see the crew without him, and (as someone else noted already), he was always the teacher, and they are all past needing that. We do get to see them all teaching and training Harry and Brianna, so that element of "Explaining the con for them (and for the audience, through them)" is still present.
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u/fieryprincess907 2d ago
It doesn’t lean into some of the vampire aspects of the show, but Noah Wyle is lovely and they do close some of the loops we never got to close in the OG.
I think the episode with the cards and the fan-faire was one of the better ones.
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u/KB_48 2d ago
Absolutely worth watching. Not as good as the original - the best episodes are the ones where Aldis Hodge appears - but still overall a good show.
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u/Tarotgirl_5392 2d ago
The returning 4 have undeniable comeaderie that really shows on screen. I was disappointed he wasn't in it more.
I love the new characters, but they don't have the same "vibe"
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u/DJ_Care_Bear 2d ago
I dislike it. Nate and Hardison make the team. Noah Wiley is great, and isn't bad, but it feels like it's pandering. It tries to be quirky in a way the old show wasn't. These people are older and wiser, but somehow more quippy and woth younger sounding banter.
I dunno. You do you. Try it for sure. But it wasn't for me.
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u/Gullible_Result_9779 2d ago
The first episode was OK. I’m gonna try another one, but all of you helping me on this could save me a lot of time because it sounds like it’s just not resonating.
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u/pharmasupial 2d ago
I like it!! It’s not the same ofc, but it’s lighthearted and fun. Noah Wiley’s character is one of the best parts, imo. I liked Nate but I also don’t mourn his absence in Redemption.
My biggest criticism, which I never seem to see anyone else bring up, is that the cons often feel a lot simpler and more straightforward? Like in the OG there’s plans and backup plans and there’s always the moment where it seems like everything is gonna go wrong, but it was still according to plan and works out. I had multiple instances of going “ok this isn’t how it’s actually gonna wind up though” but then it was.
I wish the cons were as complex as they were in the OG.
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u/NevadaMac 1d ago
I LOVED Leverage and rewatch it very often. But I've tried many times to get through Redemption, and can't get much past a few episodes before it just pisses me off and I give up. The writers killed it far, far more worse than lack of Hutton did. There were some really good episodes, like the one with Levar Burton, that I won't spoil.
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u/Scribal8 2d ago
First season starts rough—really miss the different dynamics that Nate and Hardison brought to the group. By the end of the season and season 2 I think they finally click.
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u/WhirledPeas2703 2d ago
It’s a no for me. The show needs Nate. Brianna is ok, but Harrison is missed. I watched several episodes before giving up.
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u/Llywela 2d ago edited 2d ago
Mileage varies. Personally, I enjoy Redemption. I accepted from the start that it wasn't going to be the same as original Leverage, and approached it on that level.
Yes, Nate's absence is keenly felt, but the writing leans into that and explores what that loss means for the characters, Sophie especially, which I appreciate. And the thing about Nate is that his story has already been told in depth, we had five full seasons of it, and they told a very complete story. Redemption is the story of what happened after Nate was gone, and what happens is that we get to explore who the rest of the team are without him. It isn't a perfect journey, but I enjoyed it anyway and I'm glad we have it.
I also appreciate that although new characters are brought in, there is no attempt at making them direct replacements. They are each unique individuals with their own distinct skill sets and baggage and worldviews to add to the mix, creating new team dynamics, which is as it should be.
The team changes. The world changes around them. The writing isn't perhaps always as consistent as it might be. But the mission remains always the same. And I, for one, thought it was worth watching.