#the long way down job

[independent-fics]

Now, you can take that as a gift, or you can take it as a curse. And that's up to you.

Eliot Spencer and Parker Doing the Things Others Won’t

Leverage (2008-2012)

04x01 The Long Way Down Job

05x09 The Rundown Job

[aardvaark]

the long way down job is such an important turning point in eliot & parker’s relationship bc they’d both been viewing the things they have in common as fairly negative: they’ve both been told that they’re cold and ruthless and dangerous and they know those things are true. so when they’ve recognised themselves in each other, it’s been a sense of "the thing that’s wrong with me is a lot like the thing that’s wrong with you". and there’s comfort in that, in a way. but now eliot gets parker to see that maybe those aren’t all negative traits, they’re just… traits. neutral. it doesn’t make them bad or good, it makes them who they are. and now when they see themselves reflected in each other, it’s not a reminder that they’re wrong and bad - it’s kinship, it’s familiarity, it’s belonging.

[lindseymcdonaldseyelashes]

Leverage 4x1 - "The Long Way Down 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.

[lightthewaybackhome]

Watching S4: E1 of Leverage—The Long Way Down Job—I realized that this conversation between Nate and the victim basically encapsulates Nate's entire arch for this season. And E2—The 10 Li'l Grufters Job—sets the stage for Nate's final confrontation in the finale. I love the way this show will start kinda light-hearted and then build to gut-wrenching.

[leverage-ot3]

since it's my birthday I'm sharing what I have (ROUGHLY) written down so far for my ot3 video analysis' section on the long way down job (if you haven't been able to figure it out yet, that's one of my favorite episodes)

Here we are seeing the aftereffects of the San Lorenzo Job in real time in the relationships between the characters. It seems as though Hardison is feeling off-balance in his relationship dynamic with Parker, who we we remember confessed her feelings and willingness to pursue a relationship with Hardison at the end of the Big Bang Job (note, there weren’t many relationship developments that happened between them in the San Lorenzo Job for obvious reasons- i.e. they were actively trying not to die). Hardison, who has been living that slow-burn life for the past three years is obviously ecstatic that this is happening, but it seems as though there is a disconnect between his expectations and reality of the relationship. NOTE: One of the wonderful things about Hardison is that he doesn’t expect anything from Parker- he wants her as she is in whatever way he can have her. When I’m talking about expectations, I’m saying that he doesn’t know how to act with this new relationship development- he doesn’t know where the ‘lines’ are of Parker’s comfortability and what she is ready for, which is leaving him a bit confused and unsure of how to act. 

For example, he goes in to hug her but she either doesn’t notice, doesn’t compute what he’s trying to do, or isn’t up for that level of physical affection at the current moment. She high-fives him instead

[significance of eliot 'don't touch me bro' spencer not only giving hardison a hug but INITIATING IT because parker didn't take his open arms as an invitation. talk about how much lighter he looks after the events of the san lorenzo job- it's almost like a literal weight has been lifted off his chest]

It’s easy to see the Parker-Hardison dynamics in this episode, but don’t miss how there is also significant development in the relationship between Parker and Eliot. Parker and Eliot are paired off for most of this episode climbing the mountain to try to recover the incriminating notebook from the dead mountaineer. They work efficiently in tandem, literally keeping even pace with one another.

[talk about heart-wrenching cave scenes here]

And when they’re free, this closeness and ability to be on the same wavelength is displayed when they are confronted by the gunman looking to destroy the evidence. He grabs Parker and points a gun to her head, demanding that Eliot hand over the notebook. She yells at him to not hand it over, but in actuality, she is distracting the gunman from noticing her sliding the dead man’s cellphone with an incriminating video into his pocket. Eliot plays along and into the bit, throwing the notebook over to get Parker back.

[talk about hardison being so happy to hear parker (and eliot) over the comms. talk about how he isn't expecting a hug and is resigned (if not content) to do a high five and is floored when parker practically jumps into his arms. where she knows it's safe and warm.]

[chungledown-bimothy]

Men will literally climb a mountain deep in alcohol withdrawal, masking altitude sickness symptoms, instead of talking to a woman about the sex they had.

[amazzyblaze]

"The Long Way Down Job" doodles

[anarchypumpkincowboy]

Eliot gave him a hug awwwww

“No you’re emotionally involved it leads to bad decisions.” “Im sorry did you just saw that? With a straight face?” “Not helpful not helpful at all” yeahhhh Nate idk how you managed to say that with a straight face

[hotchocolateandpillowforts]

About to watch The Long Way Down Job with the husband. If he reacts incorrectly, we might have a problem.

[kcdahippie]

When you steal an entire countries election narrowly avoiding death and still don't even get two weeks off. 😭😭🫡

(and your job back is rescuing some papers off a dead body in a mountain)

[independent-fics]

ELIOT HUGGING HARDISON THEN SLAPPING PARKERS BUTT?!??

[arretoskore]

Well here's to the long way down job hitting violently in the feels again 🥲

[lindseymcdonaldseyelashes]

Leverage 4x1 - "The Long Way Down Job"

[geeky-nightphilosopher]

"Does that make us bad?"

"It makes us...us. You can take that has a blessing or as a curse."

The fact that Parker didn't want to leave him made her human. Eliot letting her know that sometimes; they can't save everyone makes him human.

[speedygal]

me, last night @ my sister: good night, good luck with the mountain episode! It'll make you cry!

*the next morning*

me: so, how was it.

my sister: oh my God, the video at the end was so sad.

me: did you cry.

my sister: no, but I almost did.