I bet the first time Nana meets Eliot- she sees the God fearing, flag wearing 18 year old boy. (The one that Eliot looks for in the mirror and can't find.) Nana doesn't see a criminal. Doesn't see a man who has blood on his hands. She doesn't see a warrior bleeding and crying out for mercy. Just a over tired, stressed, broken 18 year old- trying to prove to the world he's worth fighting for. That there's hope in saving him. Nana doesn't question Eliot's roaming eyes. Roaming eyes that are either looking for danger or looking for exits. The older woman simply smiles and pulls him to the kitchen. Makes him sit down and puts a mug of coffee near his callous hands. Nana doesn't react when she hears screams, moans, and groans at night. Nor in the morning does she make a remark about walking by the room and seeing Hardison and Parker next to Eliot on the twin bed. (Eliot is in the middle.)
I bet when Nana first meets Parker, she doesn't question her habits at all. Some how (Hardison, obviously,) has Parker's favorite candy and cereal. Some times, Parker will sit right in front of Nana with a brush and a hair tie. Nana will gently brush her hair while she plays with whatever child is in front of her. She doesn't slap Parker's hands away when she grabs extra food. And she definitely ignores seeing Parker sneaking into the room Hardison and Eliot share. (Nana saw it when they walked in- Parker feels safe with them.) In the mornings and the windows are open- she looks out to see Parker and Alec on a bedsheet curled up to each other. She smiles. Nor does she comment on missing things after they leave. Especially since a few weeks later- those things return outta the blue. Nana has no qualms when Eliot shows up with both Parker and Hardison behind him- Parker sick and Hardison injured.
"Sorry, Nana," Eliot apologizes, looking meek at coming to her place, "I can't get them to list'n. Can't get 'em to rest." And together- Nana and Eliot get the two trouble makers on the couch. She might not question the reason why Eliot showed up with the two. However she does give Eliot a sparing look. She see's the ragged, tired look. It doesn't take a whole a lot of brain power to know that the two so called trouble makers- got Eliot into the dog pile. (He was suppose to follow her into the kitchen- he didn't. She knows Parker and Hardison grabbed his wrist.) (What can anyone say? She has eyes on the back of her head.) (Eliot allows to get pulled onto the couch with only mild, gruff, complaining.) When she goes back to the living room to check on her charges- she finds Eliot in squished in the middle- being used as a pillow. (He's knocked out too.)
Nana doesn't mind Parker teaching her kids how to pick locks. Or watching Eliot teach them self- defense. She doesn't question it when she see's little four year old Becca with pig-tails- standing by the counter helping Eliot with breakfast. Nana hums when she opens the door on a Saturday morning and see's Eliot, Parker, and Hardison (though Hardison begrudgingly-) with a tool box. After all she had left a message to Alec that her sink was leaky.
Instead, she makes coffee and pulls out Parker's favorite cereal. She asks if They are staying for lunch and even dinner. Makes causal remarks about one of her more difficult children- and watches as Parker and her baby Alec go and find the kid.
None of them comment about Parker recruiting half of kids that come from Nana's house. They keep it hush- hush when neighbors stop by for a cook out. Many of the neighbors ask about the trio- and Nana only replies with a smile.
"They're my kids." She says fondly- watching as Eliot grills as Parker is poking and prodding the chef. And Alec is simply smirking as he's showing Isak how to hack.
I bet Nana treats Eliot and Parker like her family. Because they are Alec's family.
Okay but think of the comedic potential of the Leverage OT3 having been together for years by the time of Redemption, and at one point the others find out.
Breanna would be like "oh my god how did I not see that". Sophie would go "oh that explains a lot of things". (And yeah, it would also be on board for her to know, but one, it's been established that unconventional relationships are kind of a blind spot for her, and two, Parker is weird enough and Eliot's act is good enough that it would help throw her off the scent.)
(Harry wouldn't care much probably.)
And the possibilities of how it could happen. Like. Hardison is up in space, Eliot and Parker are doing something for a con, they see someone coming, Parker is like "quick, let's make out", and throws herself on Eliot. Eliot is like "no, not the lips", but he goes along with it, and then when they're in the clear, he's like "why do you always bite my lips? you didn't have to bite my lips", to which Parker replies "I was playing a character. Clara is a lip biter", and Eliot goes on an angry rant about the whole thing, but also the others overhear it, and Breanna checks in like "Eliot always says it? how often do you guys make out on cons?" and Parker goes "Eliot's not talking about the cons."
OR Parker is upset by something, and leaves the room, and Eliot goes after her, and when he doesn't resurface for a while Breanna goes after him, and they're kissing, and Eliot shouts at her to get out, but she's like "Okay. This is not cool. Eliot, you're super scary and I can see you're pissed at me right now, but I gotta call Hardison," and they're both like no, you don't have to do that, but he's already on call, and Breanna tells him everything. Eliot is facepalming and sighing the whole time. Parker is just like "what? they had to find out eventually." And then Breanna finishes, everyone is dead silent, waiting for his reaction, and Hardison is like "So y'all wasted my time with this? [five-minute rant about how busy he is]" Breanna is flabbergasted. "So Eliot makes out with your girlfriend and that's your reaction?" So Hardison just goes "Damn sis I better damn hope that when my girlfriend is upset our boyfriend would go and comfort him. Get yo act together." He hangs up, camera cuts to Breana, her face frozen while trying to process the information. Then she just goes "HOLY SH-" [commercial break]
Shout out to all the Black ppl that can no longer participate directly in the fandom they love because of the stresses of racism šš¾ you contain multitudes of value and I'm sorry that the color of your skin and the power of your voice makes people not want to acknowledge that.
Everytime someone says bring back Nate, I shiver with dread.
And for someone who's a really big fan of Nate, I really would hate having to see him come back to Redemption. I saw on a Facebook group I'm in where someone asked how Nate would react to the Jackal Job, and I remember thinking that Nate, the Catholic man, would either not be a supporter or simply not be able to empathize or participate in the con without prejudice.
Look, OG Leverage has a place in my heart for a reason, but I cannot justify bringing back Nate at all. Nate's story could never fit into Redemption for a variety of reasons.
OG Leverage took the experiences Nate had and made a point in every episode why the man does what he does.
OG Leverage was about revenge first and foremost, then doing the right thing after, then building something more.
You know the reason why the stories never mentioned the disabled, the LGBTQ+, or the plain old voiceless of immigrant communities (this one was touched on but not really)?
It's because it wasn't Nate's story to tell. The original message was, if you are in a position where you have been wronged, then you should have the power to make it right. You deserve a second chance. That's why he always dealt with the scammers, the rich white men, the corporate greed, etc. He always tried to give people a second chance from a dumb or honest mistake, or to right someone's wrong.
That's why the Black Book was so important by the end of OG Leverage. It closed Nate's story with the idea that what has been wronged will be righted even if it meant taking a less than legal approach by others who are willing to bring justice to light.
Redemption is not that story. I mean it is, but it isn't. Redemption is the story where those less fortunate, those who are inherently going to lose no matter what they do, get a voice. They deserve a say in how they are treated, and they, as much as the impoverish and the naive, can have the power given back to them.
It's shown with victims like the elderly, the disabled, the people of color, the young who don't quite fit the social norm, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Through Harry Wilson, Redemption also shows us that those with power, need to take responsibility for their actions. Ā It is not enough to fight those in power, but that people like Harry - who do have power, are vitally needed to change the system.
Redemption does not need to see Nate to accomplish this story, but the fact remains that the message Nate started is still here, if not more refined and nuanced than ever before.
Nate should not come back to Redemption because his story was told in OG, and now, a new story can begin where the crew can be expanded and fight for what's right as well as give every victim of an injustice, an opportunity to tell their story as well.
Revisiting this point from an earlier post of mine about how much I love that Lockwood & Co. specifically does not do this to Lucy:
Can we TALK for a SECOND about how the writers wrote the whole Towel Scene (which admittedly did not make the final cut but still) and managed to make LOCKWOOD the most uncomfortable out of three?? Because he's a massive dork??? Instead of the girl who's literally standing in a towel in a hall with two boys???
Like they put the love of Lockwood's life in a towel in front of him and rather than taking it as an opportunity to objectify her and make her an object of lust, they turned it into an absolutely hilarious moment that showcases not only how much of a dork Lockwood is, but how SAFE Lucy is in that household. Yes it's funny and very awkward but it doesn't broach the sickening feeling of a girl being exposed and unsafe and objectified.
I can't even begin to express how comforting it is, the way this series lets Lucy be safe in this area. I wish I could explain it more clearly but the words aren't wording. Y'all get it.
The thing about Leverage is it prioritizes what it takes seriously exactly right.
It's a fun, pulpy, goofy show but it has the most nuanced, thoughtful, and lasting character development.
A love story unfolds between a socially inexperienced thief and a hacker who doesn't hesitate in his willingness to be patient and understanding as she works out her unfamiliar feelings.
Wil Wheaton gets electrocuted and you can see his skeleton like a cartoon.
A grifter has an identity crisis and embarks on a lone journey of self-discovery, to return better and more certain of herself than before.
The team invents the Holodeck so they can hack into the dreams of off-brand Steve Jobs.
It's ridiculous. It's silly. It's brilliant. I've watched every episode over a dozen times.
new trifecta of movies:
The part I appreciate the most in the Lockwood and Co show is how it handles depression and suicidal thoughts in teenagers. As a theme, itās not often (ever) done well. Lockwood and Co is the only story I can think of that depicts it in a nuanced, realistic, non-romanticized way
but first, before I get into it: [if youāre in crisis or need someone to talk to and donāt want to/canāt use your national hotline, highly recommend Samaritans, genuinely saved my life] okay, letās go
Lockwood is the most obvious, with his general disregard for his own life and admitted suicidal ideation. Lucy struggles with her self-worth and the intensity of the emotions sheās subjected to. George worries that he doesnāt belong, that thereās something useless or wrong about him. The show depicts these thoughts and feelings in a way that isnāt overblown or dramatized, itās all but casual. Which is how it happens. Depression or suicidal thoughts donāt crash into you all at once, they creep into your life without you noticing
But more importantly (and again, something Iāve never seen anywhere else), the show also offers counterpoints to those thoughts and feelings. It shows that there is a way out, even though you may feel trapped and hopeless. This is crucial for the showās target demographic. Bad media depictions of depression or suicide get internalized, contribute to the stigma, and make it harder for people to ask for help. This show doesnāt do that. This show tells its audience that, yes, things are scary and painful and it fucking sucks, but itās not hopeless. And it says it so well
In the second episode, when Lucy wants to quit, she admits something that Iām almost certain sheās never told anyone
āsometimes I just think Iād be better off deadā
And when I watched this the first time, I expected Lockwood to react the way Iāve seen people react in my own life; with silence or panic or downright dismissal. But he didnāt. He stays calm and he says something that is so so important to hear when youāre struggling under the weight of feelings like this
āI understand thatā
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Bilbo, knowing for a fact Thorin doesn't know what flowers mean to hobbits: Can I braid some flowers in your hair?
Thorin, knowing for a fact Bilbo doesn't know what braids mean to dwarves: Oh of course, what a nice gesture of friendship.
Gandalf, a few feet away: Are they getting engaged before realizing they love each other back????
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ohhhh everyone at portland row has the same amount of hatred for themselves and they love each other so much and they would happily die if it means the other two would live and they each hate themselves so much but they refuse to watch the others fall into that state of casual suicide/ spiral of self-deprication and they each pull the other up from the void constantly because they are each other home and they all love each other so much and i'm going to c r y thinking about them. they're child soldiers hating themselves for actions they have no control over but the others look at them and say "on purpose!!! i am going to love you on purpose!!!!" they live in a society who doesn't care if they live or die, so they've made one for themselves in portland row where they take tea before every session and the others come running when something bad happens to the others because the care and they love so passionately and so wholly and so consistently and when george and lucy thought they were going to die, the first thing that they thought to do was apologize to each other. and it doesn't matter if lucy and lockwood do love each other because that's not what portland row was built on. when lockwood was a kid, it was built on his parents love (for their work and for their children), and it was built on his sister's love. and now lockwood is the last of his name but not really because, isn't everyone in portland row a lockwood, and a karim, and a carlyle? it doesn't matter what sort of love fills portland row, as long as it's true and honest and whole. love is.
Random stuff I love. Currently obsessed with Lockwood and co. Pls go stream it on Netflix we need season 2!!
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