Rating: ★★★★★★

Airdate: Sunday, June 26, 2011, 9/8c on TNT

“The Long Way Down Job” gives me everything I want from a season premiere. It picks up from last season without relying too heavily on it, and delivers a classic, well-executed con – by both the “team” and the writers. And it delivers some great character development.

Mission control on a mountain.

Leverage gets it just right with the large number of references to past episodes, including some cool flashbacks. These serve as great points of connection for long-time fans, while also helping to welcome new viewers. The formulaic nature of the show works and helps to ease new viewers in without becoming stale. When Nate (Timothy Hutton) delivers his standard line about what they’ll be stealing – this week it’s a mountain – Parker (Beth J. Riesgraf) reminds him they’ve already done that – two years ago.

The location shoot for this episode adds some new scenery for viewers and some unbelievable challenges for the team. Nate’s drinking in the opening scene becomes a problem due to altitude sickness on the mountain and almost jeopardizes the mission. The location brings a new focus to this issue and I was a bit disappointed the issue of Nate’s drinking didn’t get dealt with in more depth. This isn’t the first time Nate’s alcoholism has interfered with the team’s job, and I’m hoping this issue is being set up in the premiere to be dealt with as the season unfolds.

Timothy Hutton and Christian Kane climbing the mountain

I have to compliment the production team for doings such an amazing job with this location shoot. It’s impossible to make fake snow look real, so I appreciated every obviously real snow shot – especially the snow sticking to people’s hats and even melting off them!

The highlight of this great season premiere is Riesgraf’s performance as we see Parker’s frozen heart thaw out. Her torment over wanting “to do the right thing” by bringing the body down from the mountain is moving. But Elliot (Christian Kane) convinces her they can’t do it and reminds her that what makes them a valuable part of the team is they aren’t as emotional as the others.

Nate, Elliot and Parker discussing the job at hand

One of the best things about Leverage is the chemistry among the characters. They balance each other nicely and it’s easy to believe they have formed such an unbeatable team. Hardison’s (Aldis Hodge) goofy humor masks his generally tender nature and makes him the perfect foil to Parker’s closed nature. Parker’s rebuff of Hardison’s attempted hug at the beginning of the episode is nicely mirrored by Parker unexpectedly hugging him at the end. Hardison’s very tender return of her hug gives us hope that maybe the tension that has been building between these two characters will actually develop into a relationship this season. The writers are still toying with us! The episode also leaves viewers up in the air about Nate and Sophia’s (Gina Bellman) on again, off again relationship. It seems as if they agree to keep the status quo. One has to wonder if keeping the tension without the payoff is a good way to keep the story more interesting and the working relationship on set easier for the actors. Or maybe the show is just afraid of the “Moonlighting curse.”

“The Long Way Down Job” ends with the set up for this season’s nemesis when Hardison finds a bug in Nate’s apartment. Of course, they have no way of knowing who planted it, which allows them to recall a multitude of former foes. They have a lot of enemies! Three seasons worth! I’m crossing my fingers for the return of either Sterling (Mark A Sheppard) or Chaos (Wil Wheaton) – their two best villains in my humble opinion.

The team, after a job well done

The team is at the top of their game which makes them vulnerable. Parker points out “When you’re that high up….” “It’s a long way down,” Nate finishes. It was a nice way to finish the episode by tying in the title – a finishing touch to a well-polished season premiere. I’ll be tuning in next week to find out who planted that bug!

Tune in to Leverage Sundays at 9/8c on TNT.

All photos © 2011 Turner Broadcasting/TNT.