In Review: Leverage: Redemption (S3 – EP7) The Shakedown in Clone-Town Job

Synopsis: In The Shakedown in Clone-Town Job, Sophie, Eliot, and Parker get caught in a small-town speed trap run by a corrupt mayor, and decide to help the oppressed townspeople wrest power from his hungry clutches.

The Story

When Elliot, Sophie, and Parker get pulled over in a remote small town, they’re shaken down for $1,000 by the corrupt Mayor—who also happens to be the town’s only judge. What starts as an inconvenience soon reveals deeper rot: the Mayor rules with an iron fist, silencing dissent and bleeding the townspeople dry.

Intent on taking him down, the crew dangles a lucrative business opportunity to bait the Mayor into revealing his greed—but the seasoned crook doesn’t bite. With the con in jeopardy, they pivot to something dirtier. When they uncover the Mayor’s involvement in a local cocaine ring and ties to a violent biker gang, the team decides to bring him down hard.

Their new plan? Tie the Mayor to a bank robbery and a drug deal—both fabricated but convincing enough to catch the attention of federal authorities. With the town’s freedom on the line, it’s time to out-con the conman, take down the bikers, and return the town to its people.

The Acting

We get solid performances throughout this episode, with a well-balanced blend of drama and comedy. Christian Kane is particularly strong as a tired and increasingly agitated Eliot, tasked with driving the team home after a job. The scene where they’re pulled over by the town’s police officer gives Eliot a chance to show his edgier, no-nonsense side, which remains front and center for the rest of the episode. It’s clear that Eliot has little patience for small-town politics and corrupt authority figures.

In contrast, Gina Bellman gets some standout moments as Sophie, who spends much of the episode charming the town’s handyman—a surprisingly thoughtful character with a flair for poetry and philosophy. The budding romance adds a lighthearted, comedic element, especially when Sophie quizzes Eliot about the lies he tells on online dating profiles. This theme continues with Breanna (Aleyse Shannon), who brings plenty of laughs with her stories about releasing her AI bots onto dating sites just for fun.

Among the guest cast, Cedric Yarbrough truly shines as the corrupt Mayor—a rare villain who doesn’t immediately fall for one of the team’s classic cons, making him a more formidable and interesting obstacle. Notably absent from the action is Noah Wyle’s character, Harry, who is said to be in court for the duration of the episode. Still, he makes his presence felt through a few well-timed text messages that help the story along.

Overall

While The Shakedown in Clone-Town Job does give us the most original of storylines. The execution of the drama and comedy still makes it an entertaining watch.