Ritesh Sharma
The third season of Prime Video’s fan-favorite series ‘Leverage: Redemption’ kicks off in high style—quite literally—in the City of Lights. The premiere episode, aptly titled ‘The Weekend in Paris Job,’ finds our beloved crew seemingly on vacation, but as any long-time fan knows, the Leverage team is never really off duty. From the cobblestone streets to the shadowy backrooms of Paris, the cons are back in action and sharper than ever. Sophie Devereaux steps seamlessly into her role as the mastermind, orchestrating the operation with signature grace and precision. Eliot Spencer’s combat skills are once again a thing of beauty, dispatching threats with flair and efficiency.
Alec Hardison is right at home in the digital realm, while Parker brings her acrobatic charm and chaos to the job, and Harry Wilson returns with a newfound conviction that adds weight to the team’s moral compass. With witty banter, clever twists, and that irresistible mix of heart and hustle, the first episode of the John Rogers and Chris Downey creation delivers everything fans love, setting the tone for a season that promises thrills, justice, and a whole lot of fun! SPOILERS AHEAD.
The Heist That Isn’t Supposed to be This Complicated
What begins as a seemingly simple weekend heist quickly spirals into chaos as the Leverage crew lands in Paris for what should have been a straightforward operation. Kicking off from Sommerby’s shady abduction house, the team is in their element: quick on their feet, slick in their planning, and confident about pulling off a fast con. But the moment the security alarm shatters the calm and they are forced to bolt, it’s clear—this job is going to be anything but easy. The chase is high-octane, classic ‘Leverage’ chaos, and before long, our crew stumbles into something much deeper—a private party teeming with high-ranking politicians and big business tycoons.
The tone shifts from fun to curious as the team realizes this isn’t just a typical heist—this is a rabbit hole of political corruption. The transition from the city streets of Paris into a shadowy elite gathering sets the perfect tone for a darker, more layered mission. And that’s when the Leverage crew meets Isabelle—a woman who isn’t just another guest but someone trapped in the system, a symbol of something bigger. The reveal of the party being a front for backdoor government deals turns what is supposed to be a fast con into a mission about justice. In true ‘Leverage’ fashion, the weekend job becomes personal, messy, and way more meaningful. That’s what makes this crew tick—even when they are not looking for a cause, the cause finds them.
Government Auctions and Arizona Mike
After Sophie and Eliot enter the party disguised as a high-rolling businesswoman and her sharply-suited security, it doesn’t take long before the cracks in the elite facade begin to show. Sophie, always sharp and intuitive, zeroes in on Arizona Mike—the water guy—and subtly extracts information about the shady dealings going on behind the scenes. The entire event is essentially a covert auction of government-backed side deals. Among the most disturbing revelations? Mike is auctioning stolen water tankers that left Isabelle’s hometown water-deprived and devastated.
Meanwhile, Parker and Alec blend in by posing as waiters, quietly moving through the party and gathering crucial intel. Their cover gives them the perfect access to eavesdrop, monitor the room, and plant subtle seeds for their eventual takedown. Now more than just a victim, Isabelle reveals that she refuses to leave unless Arizona Mike is taken down. This moment raises the stakes for everyone. The mission is no longer about pulling a con—it’s about dismantling a corrupt supply chain, right down to the people profiting from it. With the help of Harry, who’s pulling information in the background, and Eliot handling some classic muscle-with-heart work, the team decides to sabotage the auction.
The ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ style red room gag, where they trick a guard into donning a mask and going “upstairs,” brings that signature ‘Leverage’ levity. Even in dark spaces, this show knows how to laugh at absurdity. From there, Eliot orchestrates a financial strike, transferring money back to the people Mike scammed. The team’s combined skills—hacking, acting, fighting, manipulating systems—kick into high gear as they bring down Mike’s entire operation from within, turning his carefully curated world into a crumbling tower of cards.
Breaking, Entering, and Outwitting Ekimov
When the con seems to be heading toward its victorious final act, trouble knocks—quite literally. Gustav Ekimov, a Russian businessman with a shady portfolio and a lot at stake in the secret auctions, notices the team’s van suspiciously parked near the venue. Suspicion turns into confrontation as he barges in, threatening to blow their whole operation wide open. However, the Leverage crew has always worked best under pressure, and they find an opportunity to turn the tables amid the chaos. The crew cleverly places all the stolen goods in the basement of the party venue—the same items Ekimov himself has been searching for.
Knowing that the basement full of loot is the perfect trap, Alec quickly sends Ekimov a doctored security photo, one in which Isabelle’s image (not Sophie’s) is shown suspiciously. It’s a brilliant sleight of hand: the Russian businessman doesn’t recognize Isabelle, but the “security footage” places her right in the middle of the theft. Here’s the twist: Arizona Mike knows Isabelle, so Sophie can’t risk being seen as her. That’s why she hangs back from the spotlight during this beat of the con, letting Alec’s tech-driven deception do the heavy lifting. The footage does its job flawlessly.
Ekimov, already primed with distrust and paranoia, takes one look and decides Isabelle is behind the heist. Since Arizona Mike is the one hosting her at the party, the Russian turns on him furiously. Arizona, now panicked and stumbling for answers, becomes the perfect fall guy. Ekimov believes he’s been double-crossed, Arizona is left speechless, and the blame for the basement full of stolen goods lands squarely in the middle of their collapsing alliance.
All the while, Sophie watches from a safe distance, masterfully orchestrating the downfall without leaving a trace. With both criminals disoriented and pointing fingers at each other, the team smoothly alerts the authorities. The police swoop in and arrest Arizona Mike, Ekimov, and several other corrupt partygoers, effectively dismantling the entire secret auction ring. This turn of events showcases the typical ‘Leverage’ brilliance—a plan that balances stealth, misdirection, and humor with razor-sharp timing. And in the end, it’s not brute strength but sharp minds and sharper cons that save the day.
Farewells, Feelings, and Pretzels: Alec’s Big Decision
The moment you think the episode is done throwing emotional curveballs, it slows down—and hits you where it hurts. Alec, after the successful mission, admits something that’s been weighing on him: he’s stepping away from fieldwork. Like Sophie before him, he needs time. He doesn’t want to be a con anymore and risk seeing the people he loves—his found family—get hurt. This emotional reveal is tender and deeply earned. Alec and Parker share a quiet moment. Alone together, away from the chaos of the job, the latter reflects, “Everybody changed. I thought we were done changing.”
It’s a line that lands hard, not just for Parker, but for longtime fans. Sophie has now made an account on a dating application. Eliot is a dad. The team is growing up, growing apart—even while still being there for each other. But amidst all this change, Alec reminds Parker of one unshakable truth: “One thing that’ll never change—pretzels.” It’s such a simple, beautiful metaphor for constancy, comfort, and their unspoken bond. The moment ends with a subtle gesture of intimacy between Alec and Parker—not grand or showy, but honest and full of history. It’s a reminder that the greatest cons might be in the field, but the real stakes are always in the relationships. And ‘Leverage: Redemption’ knows this better than anyone.
Read More: Where is Leverage: Redemption Filmed?
