Leverage
John Rogers and Chris Downey's TNT heist procedural about a team of ex-criminals (hitter, hacker, grifter, thief, mastermind) who run cons against bigger criminals on behalf of victims.
- Creators
- John Rogers, Chris Downey
- Years
- 2008–2012
- Seasons
- 5 seasons
- Episodes
- 77 episodes
- Status
- Ended
- Language
- English
Available on
Watch this if
Anyone who likes heist-of-the-week TV and wants the hacker-character archetype done relatively well. Aldis Hodge as Hardison is the most genuinely likable hacker character on television; the technical content is hand-waved but the team dynamics earn the runtime.
Skip this if
Viewers wanting accurate cybersecurity content. Leverage is a heist show first, technology show never; the hacking is plot-grease. Also network-TV procedural pacing means there's filler.
Key takeaways
- Hardison is the most-frequently-cited TV character for 'why I went into security,' which says something about the role of likable depictions in field recruitment.
- The team-of-five structure (each member with one strong specialty) is a useful archetype for thinking about red-team composition, though the show doesn't push the parallel.
- The OPSEC mistakes the team makes (reusing fake identities, making themselves memorable) are realistic enough to teach against, if you watch with that frame.
Notes
Pair with The A-Team for the genre ancestor and with Burn Notice for the contemporary tonal sibling. Leverage spawned one of the most loyal fanbases in TV procedural history, which is why Leverage: Redemption (the Amazon revival) happened. Comfort-show energy with a likable hacker-character; treat accordingly.