#the big bang job

[leveragecentral]

Leverage (2008-2012) The Big Bang Job (S03E15)

[lindseymcdonaldseyelashes]

Leverage 3x15 - "The Big Bang Job"

[evarelis]

[brionysea]

a very unnerving part of the big bang job is that eliot isn't being underestimated for once. they know exactly who he is. they outnumber him 10 to 1 and still pull their guns on him when he just walks into the room, because they know what he's capable of, even more than the team or the audience does. eliot LOVES to downplay himself and take people by surprise, which always gives us a delightful moment of "oh, this is about to go badly - for you" before he beats his opponents up. he can't do that here. that control is taken away

[erodingsinner]

Leverage 3x15: The Big Bang Job.

[hedgiwithapen]

The Big Bang Job: Eliot at the pool

We all know that the Big Bang Job is the gift that keeps on giving.  But one thing that struck me recently, while rewatching that great conversation--the “If you ask me, I’ll tell you, so please don’t ask me” one-- was … Hardison, through it all. Hardison, still just a little damp, Hardison angry, but softening--he won’t let it go, but the anger is directed. And through the whole thing before, the meeting, in the pool, he keeps to his character. And I got to wondering … Well. Eliot Knew Moreau. He’s known all season long, exactly what kind of man Nate’s pointed them at, he hates this so much that the only reason he’s not going to ground over it is he knows that everyone else will follow Nate right into to the fire, and that’s his Team. That’s his People. He can’t let them die.  Eliot wants to be a million miles from anything with Moreau and wants his team away, too. And Eliot’s the one to say, “me and Hardison will hit Moreau. We'll get an invite to the auction.” And I thought about why. Eliot has to know that this meeting could go wrong in a thousand ways. He has to know that this meeting is going to let whoever goes with him know about that tied up corner of his past. So why Hardison, who’s proven many (many) times that he’s no fighter. He can’t take Nate. Nate’s face needs to stay hidden a bit longer, but more than that, Nate finding out in the heat of the moment can’t be trusted. Nate’s the kinda guy who needs to take a step when he gets all new information, and usually he gets it, but Eliot knows Moreau will not give him that moment to pivot. Sophie, Parker? Parker’s still shaky in her grifting, but Sophie’s solid, she can compartmentalize, she can overcommit to her bit in a safer way than Hardison definitely will.  So it comes down to this: Eliot knows there’s a lot of ways this meet can shake out. Moreau’s got people, people like him, people worse than him.  And if things go well and truly south, if they get made…. Hardison’s the one Eliot can save.  Nate, he’s nothing to Moreau--actually worse than nothing, he’s an annoyance. They get made, and Nate’s dead, fast. Sophie and Parker aren’t worth anything to Moreau either: they’re slippery, their talents require far too long a leash.  Moreau would throw them to his dogs. But Hardison?  Eliot can make the case for Hardison. A genius with tech, he can move money like a kid slides a checker on a board, he can get into anything you want him too, but he can’t break a chain and he’s got an open heart. He can be Contained and Controlled and Kept, and he’s the only one who can be.  Eliot knows he can buy Hardison enough time for Nate to come up with a new plan, for Parker to pick a lock, Sophie to walk him out. And that Hardison’s the one that will forgive him, after.

[werewolfsmile]

Just watched The Big Bang Job again today and I rambled about this in an earlier post reblog but it deserves its own post..

The way Eliot dresses makes so much more sense after meeting Moreau and his goons. He rejects all notions of being anything like those well dressed men in their suits again. So blank and uniform, just another soldier in Moreau's private army.

That's why his shirt is always untucked, sleeves rolled up, collar unbuttoned. Not to mention the hair - the biggest rebellion is his hair. A constant reminder of who he is now that stays the same, no matter what he wears.

And it just makes me think how this is such a good representation of the identity crisis he went through (and let's be real, is still going through).

Eliot used to be one of those men. He had his hair short, wore the tailored suits and carried the guns. He didn't accessorise. He suppressed every aspect of an individual personality in order to fit the role that Moreau had for him.

Sure, we're not blatantly told all of those things in the show, but we can infer, simply from looking at Moreau's goons and how they're presented.

Seeing Eliot surrounded by those goons in the pool scene is more than just showing us the threat to Eliot and Hardison - and also the threat that Eliot and his reputation present. It's about showing us the demons of his past, the nightmare that he doesn't want to go back to. Eliot had alluded to his past before but it's been nebulous. Now, we finally see that past take shape and it's hideous.

But Eliot didn't stay like that. He got out - he got free - and he has been reclaiming pieces of himself ever since. Until, finally, he's the evolving Eliot that we know and love. He prefers to dress casual and relaxed, with strong reminders of his roots throughout. He keeps his hair long and loose - not military regulation, not 'professional' as far as male standards go, not even convenient for fighting. It's all a way of stealing himself back, and making sure the differences between who he was then and now are stark and vivid.

I could keep rambling but this is already twice as long as I intended. Just ... Eliot Spencer. He still doesn't view himself as a better man, never mind a redeemable man, but he is. When compared to those goons, his transformation is clear as day.

[independent-fics]

Eliot’s little head tilt though when Moreau says “but I know you.”

[246bce]

poll winner for favourite season: Season 3

with such hits as: The King George Job, The Rashomon Job, The Inside Job, The Scheherazad Job, The San Lorenzo Job

Bonus for fun:

[catawonkus]

i know eliot is our little meow meow, i know he’s the woobie and we love him. however. he really should’ve given hardison a heads up before dragging him into a lion’s den, eliot was the one who SUGGESTED that him and hardison go to moreau. he could’ve suggested hardison stay away, stay outside, or taken two seconds to say “look man, ive actually met moreau so i cannot pretend otherwise—follow my lead whatever happens”. or at the very least he could’ve apologized to hardison for nearly getting him killed. hardison forgives him way too fast for someone who doesnt even get a “sorry you drowned, i promise i would’ve come in after you if worst came to worst” instead eliot just yells at him. i know that’s their dynamic but eliot put him in danger and that wasn’t cool and it drives me crazy that they don’t talk about it

[leverage-ot3]

[faorism]

interesting thing about the pool scene. from waist up, moreaus goons are in all black suits, eliots in a button up with the collar open, and only hardison breaks the flow: back suit jacket, but a pale shirt. he is one of them, he is amongst people who he flows with, his disguise is aligned.

but pulled back and from behind, everyone (including hardison)'s black suits fade together. eliots bright blue jeans mark who he is, his difference, held apart from the rest, no longer uniform

[lindseymcdonaldseyelashes]

Leverage 3x15 - "The Big Bang Job"

[geeky-nightphilosopher]

Out of the whole crew I think Eliot and Parker's friendship- is the most interesting (and the cutest.)

There's a comradery that they have- that none of the others do. Many people have pointed out the scene where Eliot and Parker change in front of each other without blinking. Where Eliot throws an item of clothing at a camera to give them privacy. (The Cross My Heart Job)

Nobody actually really questions it. They just have assumptions. Which is totally fair. They set the scene that way. I think it's their way of saying neither of them are concerned about seeing each other bare. It's a weird metaphor and I don't really know how to explain it.

There's the part where Parker asks Eliot; "What did you do?" And he begs her; "Not to ask me that Parker, because if you do- I'm going to tell you, so please don't ask." And that is a scene that the whole Fandom holds so close to their hearts. (The Big Bang Job)

Every moment where Parker and Eliot defend Hardison from a high chance of a plague. Where she naps with a government official in their space. Where she takes the case and Eliot punches the bad guy. Even when an area is swarming with law officals- she still trusts him. (The Rundown Job.)

And the scenes where they fell into the hole. Parker wants to bring the dead guy with back to the base and Eliot (despite wanting to leave him,) helps her. But the ropes snaps and it becomes more about them getting out- then getting the dead guy out. (The Long Way Down Job)

Not to mention all those scenes were Parker is near Eliot in some case. Whether it's sitting on the arm chair. Or poking him to see if his injuries actually hurt. Or the times in Redemption- where he nudges Parker to convince Sophie to steal something. Or about robot bodies. The Santa hat. Even in a middle of a hurricane- their together and Parker is by his side. (The Hurricane Job)

Some seem them as romantic (this post isn't meant to start arguments.) However- I don't see it that way. They seem more like siblings too me. The way Eliot gets annoyed and huffs and puffs- but still is willing to make sure she gets out. The way Parker snaps back- is more sisterly. Sure for a while Eliot doesn't know how to handle her. He doesn't know how to accept the "crazy," but eventually- somewhere- he sees that she really isn't.

Parker isn't crazy. She just never had anybody to trust before. And not having some one you can turn to- makes people throw caution to the wind sometimes. But when she does starting trust Hardison and Eliot- she becomes a bit more careful. She's still care free. But careful at the same time.

Eliot learns to trust her instinct. And I think that's why- even if he says "No," to her- and she eventually says "Yes," he'll follow her without question.

I think it also helps that Parker doesn't see him as some mercenary. She sees him as someone who deserves Redemption.

[brionysea]

the frequent cuts to parker and hardison dealing with a bomb while eliot's in the killbox. parker tasing a guy, hardison punching one and then immediately regretting it, parker saying "yeah, that's why I use this." hardison being mad at eliot for the pool fiasco and the secret-keeping and the acting so unlike himself in the big bang job. parker explicitly understanding that violence can hurt you too at the same time as eliot's being forced to use guns and kill people. parker not asking what eliot did because he didn't want to tell her. hardison figuring out that violence backfires on you, that what eliot does is difficult and painful and takes skill, firsthand. "you know what I'm in the mood for? pretzels."

[passiveagressivepoet]

live laugh love eliot’s harness