Ep 9. The Bucket Job

The Bucket Job follows the team as they decide to help out an old friend who is in need of their skills. Harry Wilson, an elderly man and former member of the military, calls on the Leverage team to help retrieve a sentimental military bucket that was stolen from him. The bucket contains a valuable coin that he received for his service and he wants it back at all costs. The team sees this as a simple retrieval job until they realize that the thief is actually a young woman named Macy that Harry has taken under his wing. Macy is homeless and essentially living on the streets with her dog, but she is also a skilled thief who is forced to steal to survive.

The team decides to approach the job differently and instead of just taking the bucket back, they choose to help Macy get out of the life of crime she's stuck in. Sophie takes on the role of a social worker and reaches out to Macy, building a relationship with her that allows for the team to get closer to her and ultimately convince her to help them retrieve the bucket. Parker takes Macy under her wing and helps her see that she has other options in life besides stealing. Together they steal from a local drug dealer, a job that Parker assures Macy will help people and not hurt them. Meanwhile, the rest of the team is working on setting the pieces in motion to get the bucket back.

The latter half of the episode becomes a race against time as the team prepares to retrieve the bucket before it's sold to a dangerous buyer. Chaos ensues as Parker, Macy, and Hardison work to re-steal the bucket while keeping Macy safe. At the same time, Harry is caught by the buyer's men. Sophie steps in as Harry's lawyer and uses her acting skills to convince the buyer that the coin in the bucket is more valuable than they think. Eliot steps in to save Harry from harm by expertly maneuvering through the buyer's home, using his martial arts background to protect himself and those around him.

Despite the odds, the team successfully retrieves the bucket and destroys the buyer's records so that no other vulnerable people can be extorted using their information. Harry and Macy are both grateful to the team for not only getting the bucket back but for helping them see a way out of their respective lives of crime. The episode ends on a hopeful note, as Macy and her dog are finally able to leave the streets behind.

Overall, The Bucket Job presents a more compassionate approach to the team's work. While they are still using their skills to steal, they are doing so in order to help someone in need. The episode allows the team to grow beyond just being the "good guys" and shows that they are willing to take risks in order to make a real difference in people's lives. It's a welcome addition to the season and a reminder that redemption is always possible.