Leverage

Leverage: A Classic That Plays With Your Mind

Some shows are fun to watch and then you forget about them. Leverage isn't one of those shows. After finishing it, I can honestly say I see it as a classic.

The whole idea behind the show is great: a group of thieves using what they're good at to help people who have been screwed over by powerful, corrupt or simply awful people. Turning a group of criminals into the people you're actually rooting for is such a good concept.

But for me, the best part is the strategy.

Almost every episode comes up with another crazy plan. And I mean crazy. The fun isn't just watching them steal something. It's watching them get inside their opponents' heads, manipulate situations and somehow make people do exactly what the team needs them to do. A lot of the time, you're sitting there wondering how they're possibly going to pull it off.

Some of the ideas are genuinely brilliant. You really do find yourself thinking, "How the hell did they come up with this?" Whoever came up with some of these plans must have had one hell of a strategic mind.

And the cast is fantastic. The performances are great, but what really makes the show work is the chemistry between the characters. Everyone brings something completely different to the team, and they all feel memorable in their own way. You actually enjoy spending time with these characters.

I also love the mix of suspense, humor and pure fun. One episode can give you a completely different con from the previous one, with another ridiculous plan and another enemy who thinks they're completely in control.

I'll admit that watching all 77 episodes in a short period can make the show feel a little long. Once you watch several episodes in a row, you start to notice the formula. But even then, the creativity behind the cons keeps pulling you back in.

And that's probably what I enjoyed most about Leverage: I always wanted to know what they were going to try next.

It's clever, funny, exciting and full of characters you'll remember long after you've finished watching. Most importantly, it takes a fantastic idea and gets an incredible amount of mileage out of it.

Leverage isn't just a show about thieves. It's a classic.