 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Leverage
Common Sense Media says
Entertaining heist series has a Robin Hood twist.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this series follows a gang of thieves and con artists as they plan and execute daring heists. The show portrays their victims as unscrupulous people who use their wealth and power to prey on others -- and paints main character Nathan and his colleagues as modern-day Robin Hoods. Still, the show does glamorizes crime, since the entire point of the series is to root for the thieves to succeed. Expect some social drinking and fairly mild violence of the fistfight variety.
What's the story?
Veteran insurance investigator Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) quits in disgust when his employer refuses to cover his son's medical claims and the boy dies. Out of work, Ford realizes that the same skills he developed to track down stolen property can be put to use taking down rich, powerful people who abuse their authority and exploit the less fortunate. So he recruits some of the same criminals he used to pursue -- including Sophie (Gina Bellman), a skilled grifter; hacker extraordinaire Alec (Aldis Hodge); "retrieval specialist" Eric (Christian Kane) and Parker (Beth Riesgraf), a slightly unstable but very talented burglar. The result is a dream team of thieves, con artists, and computer experts that pulls off one exciting and elaborate sting after another.
Is it any good?
The thrill of watching LEVERAGE comes from watching Ford and his colleagues plan and execute their daring heists. The team members have a range of impressive skills, and the jobs blend elements of the best scams, the most nerve-wracking computer crimes, and the most brazen burglaries. They may be criminals, but they're pros, and it's always fun to see experts showing off their skills.
This satisfying and engrossing heist series also adds a layer of altruism. Ford and his team aren't just in it for the money; they target the rich and powerful who take advantage of the less fortunate. Yes, they're breaking the law, but their victims pretty much deserve what they get. It's like Mission: Impossible without the fancy disguises.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about crime. Ford and his team try to justify their crimes by saying they're helping people who need assistance. Is this kind of vigilante justice acceptable? Do you believe that helping others is their only motive, or are they in it for the money, too? Is it OK to steal under certain conditions? Why do you think the producers felt it was necessary to give the characters this Robin Hood-esque motivation? Would viewers (or network executives) be uncomfortable with a show that promoted crime if they couldn't paint the criminals as essentially good people?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Parent of 8 year old
November 11, 2010
AGE
Amazing.
This is a phenomenal series. I think the messages are overall very positive. And vigilante justice? Give me a break! Do we also need to discuss with kids how Batman and Superman are wrong for breaking the law? I think so long as you instill a healthy sense of awareness between fact and fiction into your children, this should not be any more of a problem than your average superhero television show.
There is some punching and kicking, but I don't think it's worse than Walker: Texas Ranger. It's considerably less gorey than a lot of the prime time shows teens and tweens might want to watch! The heists are usually ingenious, and it makes you feel warm and happy on the inside to watch it.
Sometimes things will come up that more sheltered children may not be familiar with or ready to handle. In one episode, we hear a couple having a very noisy love-making session, and Sophie has to explain that to Parker that they were having sex. Additionally, Nate Ford is an alcoholic. He tries to recover in season two, but lapses again in season three. Most of these "tough issues" are handled tactfully, however, and I don't think even young children would be upset or overwhelmed by them.
The humour on the show is fantastic; I would say it rivals Firefly at times. Speaking of which, fans of Firefly/Serenity will appreciate the team's interactions and personalities, as well as their heists!
Overall, give it a watch for yourself and decide if it's appropriate for the younger members of your family. Even if you think they need to wait a few years, chances are you'll really enjoy the show yourself!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
August 4, 2010
AGE
Really entertaining!
This show is great for parents and teens! My mom and I love to watch this show together. Funny and dramatic at the same time.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
April 8, 2010
AGE
Cool show!
This is a really cool show! It's suspenseful and very entertaining. I have nothing else to say except that I highly recommend it.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Parent of 8, 10, and 12 year old
July 21, 2009
AGE
Younger kids can watch if adults watch with them
My family enjoys this action show. Here's a break down of it as based on last year's episodes & this year's opener.
This show is a bit reminiscent of the A-Team without the gunfights and explosions. In fact, most times that I remember explosions or gun fire, the "bad" guys were doing it. Even the Leverage team's muscle guy stated in an early episode that he doesn't like guns; he does, however, engage in hand to hand fighting.
The show has a quick, light humor and crazy plans which the team pulls off. Not all the plans turn out as expected.
About half of the team are wanted by the police; Nate, their leader, & Sophie, a con artist turned actress, are not. Nate, in the early episodes, turns the group onto using their skills to help people who can't be helped by the police or FBI. As they admit in this season's opener, they have all gotten hooked on being "good guys" and they don't want to go back to their previous lives of crime.
Now their skills do involve computer hacking, breaking and entering, conning people, etc. and they do point out that if they got caught, they'd get arrested. But they also make a big point wanting to help people in trouble. They also care about each other as their relationships grow.
Nate is battling alcoholism (triggered by his son's death) and 2 characters flirt some. Nate & Sophie also had a past romantic connection, but it's relayed through conservations & looks.
Leverage is really not much more violent than some of the Saturday morning cartoons, so I think some 10 year olds could handle it. However, since it isn't animated and some situations step away from reality, my husband & I do watch and talk about it with our kids. It's also the kind of show that could lend itself to an "edgier" content, so you need to keep an eye out for that.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
November 19, 2009
AGE
Great show
This show is great! It is mostly for young teens and tweens, due to some of the violence. It isn't nearly as graphic as CSI, and doesn't contain very much language, either.
Each character has some talent that they use for the good, as they learn to leave behind their criminal pasts.
The main character, Nate, is an alchoholic, so he is shown frequently drinking in the first season, but is revealed to be sober in the second.
Overall, this is a great show!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
April 24, 2010
AGE
Totally watch it!
Well, I would say the biggest issue is the swearing. They say "bi***". This is as heavy as they get in the swearing department. I really love this show. Nat is a recovering alcoholic so there is drinking, and in season 2 or towards the end of season 1, Nat starts to live above a bar.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 16 years old
February 5, 2011
AGE
a great show that many people could watch
I think that Leverage is a great series. I personally think that most of the messages that it sends are good. Although there is violence, it is not graphic which is good. Also Eliot, the man responsible for most of the violence, often says that he does not like guns which sends a positive message. Nate, originally an alcoholic, manages to overcome his alcoholism which also sends a good message. In all I think that this show is a great show and i would recommend it to all.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Educator and Parent of 15 year old
October 20, 2010
AGE
Was this review useful?
|
|
Adult
June 10, 2009
AGE
An Excellent Television Show
I really enjoy this show - I find it well-paced, humorous, and charming.
There is some violence and other inappropriate behavior, but that comes with the territory of modern crime shows, and it is much less violent than many.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 10 years old
August 11, 2010
AGE
A good show.
I love this show it's a great show and it makes me laugh.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | TNT |
| Cast: | Christian Kane, Gina Bellman, Timothy Hutton |
| Genre: | Drama |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
