Leverage
The Nigerian Job
TV Flash files “The Nigerian Job” as a desk essential hour — Leverage (2008–2012) on TNT, season 1, episode 1, aired 2008-12-07, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E01: listed hour 1 of 77 in the Leverage guide, first listed hour of season 1. It aired 2008-12-07 (60 min). No earlier hour is listed in this guide. Next is “The Homecoming Job” (S01E02).
Essential hour: “The Nigerian Job”. The Nigerian Job names the first con: specialists against the rich, let's-go-steal cold opens, Parker and Hardison already the slow-burn.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
When Nathan Ford, a former insurance company investigator, is approached by a man asking him to help retrieve some stolen airplane designs, he is dubious. When he finds out that the job requires him to supervise and maintain control of three known thieves that he himself caught in the course of his insurance investigations, he's more than dubious. However, the job offers him the opportunity to get some of his own revenge on the insurance company that allowed his son to die, so he takes it despite his misgivings. After they steal the designs, the team discovers they have been double-crossed and must figure out how to return the property to the rightful owner.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Nigerian Job sit in the Leverage guide?
S01E01 is listed hour 1 of 77 — first listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 1.
When did Leverage S01E01 air?
The Nigerian Job aired 2008-12-07 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Do I need Leverage: Redemption?
No. The TNT run (2008–2012) is the crew's original take. The revival is extra innings for people who never left the con.
In the series
Why this series still plays
A crew of specialists cons the rich on behalf of people who cannot buy justice. Leverage is TNT heist-of-the-week craft: let's-go-steal cold opens, Parker and Hardison as the slow-burn, found-family banter, and caper structure that still plays because the chemistry is the take.
So about last night in the group chat: we are not arguing about whether Leverage is comfort food. We are arguing about which Job is the one you send a newbie (I said spoiler-free. I lied a little about the let's-go-steal cold opens, because those are the branding). John Rogers and Chris Downey's TNT series (2008–2012) is modern Robin Hoods conning the rich — Timothy Hutton's Nate, Gina Bellman's Sophie, Christian Kane's Eliot, Beth Riesgraf's Parker, Aldis Hodge's Hardison — each episode a mini-heist movie, role…
Filed against
- Timothy Hutton as Nate Ford
Timothy Hutton masterminded Leverage as Nate Ford — a crew of specialists conning the rich on behalf of people who cannot buy justice, TNT heist-of-the-week craft, let's-go-steal cold opens, found-family banter. Chemistry as the take. TV…
- Gina Bellman as Sophie Devereaux
Gina Bellman's Sophie Devereaux cons the rich on Leverage — TNT heist-of-the-week craft, let's-go-steal cold opens, found-family banter, a grifter who treats a mark like a stage. Parker and Hardison as the slow-burn; Sophie as the accent…
- Christian Kane as Eliot Spencer
Christian Kane played Eliot Spencer on Leverage — a crew of specialists conning the rich on behalf of people who cannot buy justice. TNT heist-of-the-week craft: let's-go-steal cold opens, Parker and Hardison as the slow-burn,…
- Beth Riesgraf as Parker
Beth Riesgraf’s Parker made Leverage a heist-of-the-week with a pulse — TNT caper craft, let’s-go-steal cold opens, Hardison as the slow-burn, found-family banter, specialists conning the rich on behalf of people who cannot buy justice.…
- Aldis Hodge as Alec Hardison
Aldis Hodge’s Alec Hardison made Leverage’s let’s-go-steal cold opens a slow-burn romance with the con — TNT heist-of-the-week, Parker in the other orbit, found-family banter, specialists taking the rich for people who cannot buy justice.…