Ep 2. The Homecoming Job

The Homecoming Job is the second episode of the first season of Leverage. The show revolves around Nate Ford, who is a former insurance investigator. In this episode, Nate and his team of con artists come together to help a military veteran. The veteran, Master Sergeant Mikel Dayan (played by Michael O'Neill), has been seriously injured in Iraq and has lost his job and his house. His wife is in a coma and his son is missing. The team decides to help him get his son back and put his life back together.

The episode begins with a flashback of Mikel Dayan in Iraq. He has been fighting for his country and he is eager to go back home to his family. However, his world turns upside down when he gets injured in a battlefield. After a serious injury, he is sent back home to the United States, where he struggles with severe PTSD. To make things worse, Mikel comes home to a life filled with difficulties and hardships.

Nate and his team, which includes Parker, Hardison, Eliot and Sophie, come together to help Mikel. They start by looking into the financial situation of Mikel's family. They realize that Mikel's family was scammed by a predatory lender who has foreclosed on their house. The home belonged to Mikel's wife, Laura, who is now in a coma. Nate decides to help Mikel get his house back by scamming the lender.

To set the plan in motion, Nate and the team assume different identities. They pose as the representatives of the government and ask the lender to give Mikel's house back. However, the lender is unyielding and continues to refuse their demands. The team decides to take more drastic measures. They infiltrate the fundraiser held by the lender and start creating distractions to divert the lender's attention.

Meanwhile, Eliot and Hardison help Mikel find his son, who is believed to be in the hands of child services. They manage to track him down, but it is not easy getting him out of the system. The team decides to create a fake kidnapping, in which Eliot forces his way into the government building and stages a dramatic rescue. Through the use of some clever tactics and the threat of violence, Eliot ultimately gets Mikel's son out of his current situation.

The episode ends with the team succeeding in getting Mikel's house back and reuniting him with his son. Mikel and his son walk into their house for the first time in months, with tears in their eyes. The team is seen sitting outside, enjoying their hard-fought success.

In conclusion, The Homecoming Job is a heart-warming episode that shows how a group of strangers can come together to help someone in need. It effortlessly blends the military ethos with the finesse of a con artist, showcasing the best of both worlds. The episode is a testament to the power and resilience of the human spirit and how a strong sense of purpose can bring together people from diverse backgrounds.