So charming and addictive during its original run on TNT (2008 – 12), Leverage is getting a new lease on life! Who wouldn’t want to see ultimate revenge fantasy carried out by quirky people in search of a space where they can be themselves? That’s what Leverage is: fast-paced, sweet revenge-fest full of comedic elements and banters to die for. Life is not fair, but Leverage provides me a just space where I don’t have to take injustice lying down. It’s all good clean fun and fight — definitely my kind of show!

The original series Leverage centered on a crusade to avenge the death of Nate Ford’s (Timothy Hutton) child. Mastermind Nate brought together grifter Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman), thief Parker (Beth Reisgraf), hacker Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge), and hitter Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane) and took down corruption and injustices using their special skills. They’re the 21st century Robin Hood, heroic outlaws against malfeasance of greedy corporations, but they have watched the world change over the last eight years.

The revival Leverage: Redemption picks up exactly one year after Nate’s death. Fellow Leverage team members Parker, Hardison and Eliot are concerned about the grieving widow Sophie moping around at home. In order to boost her confidence to move on with her life, they propose an old-fashioned museum heist. Sophie is reluctant to take the leadership role until they intercept guilt-ridden lawyer Harry Wilson (Noah Wyle) trying to take down an opioid-pushing fauxlanthropist.

As a corporate fixer, Harry has helped mega-wealthy clients get away with murder and knows where the bodies are buried. He’s so guilt-ridden that he’ll do anything for redemption. Hence, the title Leverage: Redemption. The new iteration is propelled forward as a redemption story of misdeeds that need amends. As Harry learns the ins and outs of the team’s craftsmanship, he quickly realizes he has a lot of work to do to be forgiven by the victims he has wronged.

Sophie keeps training wheels on another addition to the squad: Breanna Casey (Aleyse Shannon), Hardison’s foster sister, fills the void during his absences. She’s a know-it-all hacker/maker who lives and breathes digital and brings the team up to speed on the latest technology of just about anything.

Incorporating ‘something old’ (the original Leverage family who found each other and thrived) and ‘something new’ (the newbies so eager to please), the heist-of-the-week series Leverage: Redemption takes pleasure in expanding into more white-collar criminals manipulating the system to ‘legally’ get away with murder. Since I watched two seasons of Dirty Money and a number of exposé docuseries during the pandemic lockdown, I do recognize many characters the crew sets up for cons. It amuses and thrills me to no end to watch the slimy and arrogant villains crash and burn!

Leverage: Redemption premieres July 9 on IMDb TV with the first eight of 16 episodes.