Nate: Let’s go steal a dream.

And with those words, "The White Rabbit Job" was off and running with Nate, Sophie and the gang attempting to rehabilitate their mark (Charles Dodgson) instead of simply removing him. 

I have to give it to the production crew for this episode, it was a daring outing to put together. From the details of the con, to the dreamnasium that Hardison put together, this was an impressive outing. It just took me a bit to get use to the fish-eye lens look the camera was using to achieve some of the effects. 

However, once you got past the camera angles used to imply Dodgson’s “loopy state,” the underlying story was very well written and performed. Dodgson reminded

Our favorite team returned tonight, taking on the mega-store to try and save the mom-and-pop businesses in "The Low Low Price Job."

You had to love Brigid Brannagh as the tough as nails executive who only wants to climb the company ladder. She did a great job of holding her own against Nate and the squad for a couple of rounds, but in the end we knew that Nate would figure out a way to beat her, didn't we?

Of course, Nate just did what he does best: he let her beat herself, really. Given how clever and quick she was, I wondered if Nate was going to try and recruit her to Team Leverage. It certainly seems that if she could

The games are about to begin again.

In one week, Leverage Season 5 returns with "The Low Low Price Job," an episode that will find the team targeting a big-box super store that's threatens to destroy a small town.

Where did this series leave off? Review the summer finale now. Where will it go this fall and winter, as five new episodes air on five consecutive Mondays?

Enjoy your first look at that answer now:

 

Leverage Promo: Returning November 27th!

When will arguments break out again over oil? When will the streets of southern Los Angeles get cleaned up once more? When will Rizzoli make her next witty comment to Isles?

TNT has unveiled its winter premiere/return calendar for a number of favorites...

November 27
9 p.m. Rizzoli & Isles
10 p.m. Leverage

January 28
9 p.m. Dallas (two-hour Season 2 premiere)

February 4
10 p.m. Monday Mornings (new medical drama from David E. Kelley, starring Ving Rhames and Alfred Molinda)

February 13
10 p.m. Southland

As the counterpoint to the first half of this week’s two-hour summer  finale, "The Frame-Up Job" featured only Sophie and Nate – along with the return of Jim Sterling, everyone’s favorite Interpol agent. 

I’m curious: does anyone know when Jim Sterling turned into Robert Palmer? Every one of his agents was an attractive woman with no facial expression. Honestly, had he started humming “Addicted to Love” I wouldn't have been surprised at all. 

His choice of agents aside, I was also surprised how quick Sterling was to accuse Sophie and Nate of stealing the painting. I was expecting him to do a reveal that he knew they weren't behind it but had accused them to get their help. Hasn't Nate and the team saved his ass like a dozen times now? I guess his trust was kind of inferred with his offer to have Nate (and the art thief) come work for him. 

Of course, Sterling delivered the best Leverage quote of the hour when he walked out and off-handedly asked if anyone knew about replacing the painting with forgeries and the curator took off running. 

Did anyone else figure out the son was involved as well when the curator turned up in the pool dead? I felt a bit like Nate when I realized she had no reason to run toward the pool; the odds of falling just right to hit your head on the side edge and still make it into the water that far is pretty high. 

Speaking of Nate and his deductions, I really enjoyed how they showed him going through the motions of with the black and white scenes where only he was in color as the spectator.  I hope we see more of this effect in future episodes, as it give us a more tangible feel for how he figures things out.

Am I alone in my confusion of why Nate doesn't trust Sophie? As she pointed out, they have been working together for five years and sleeping together for the last two. Did I miss an episode where Sophie went grifting and stealing?  

I’m glad that Nate admitted he trusted her at the end. Oh, and I totally called the painting was of her when she wouldn't say why she knew it was a fake. 

Overall this was a great episode and made for a fun summer finale. Don’t forget that Leverage returns in November to finish out its fifth season and TV Fanatic will be here with the latest news and reviews!