Ep 1. The (Very) Big Bird Job

The (Very) Big Bird Job, the first episode of Leverage season 5, follows the team as they take on a powerful aviation CEO who is exploiting his employees and putting their safety at risk. The team comes up with a plan to steal his prized possession, a rare and expensive vintage plane, to force him to make things right for his workers.

In this episode, viewers are re-introduced to the familiar characters: Nate Ford, the mastermind behind the operation; Sophie Devereaux, the grifter who can charm anyone into doing her bidding; Eliot Spencer, the muscle of the group; Alec Hardison, the tech wizard who can hack into anything; and Parker, the thief who can get into any secured location.

The episode starts off with the team in the middle of a heist, stealing a valuable artifact in a museum. However, things quickly go awry when they discover that their client is actually a corrupt politician who plans on keeping the artifact for himself. Disgusted by his selfishness, the team decides to expose him instead, using their heist as the perfect cover.

As they are making their escape, they come across a downed vintage plane that belongs to a company called Chimera Aviation. The CEO of Chimera, Jack Hurley, is notorious for mistreating his employees and putting their lives in danger to save money. Seeing this as an opportunity to right a wrong, the team decides to steal Hurley's prized possession - the same vintage plane they stumbled upon - to force him to change his ways.

The team devises a plan to infiltrate Chimera using Parker's expert thieving skills. Sophie plays the part of a wealthy businesswoman interested in investing in the company, while Hardison poses as her tech support. Eliot is hired as a "safety consultant," and Nate takes on the role of a disgruntled former Chimera employee who is willing to sell out the company for the right price.

As they dig deeper into Hurley's operations, they discover the numerous safety violations he has committed in the name of profit. He has been cutting corners, ignoring regulations, and putting his employees in danger, all for the sake of making a quick buck. The team becomes even more determined to take him down and make him pay for his misdeeds.

The heist itself is executed with precision and skill, with each member of the team contributing their unique talents. They must navigate through a complex security system, evade a team of armed guards, and make a daring getaway with the vintage plane. The final scene shows the team celebrating their successful heist, with the plane safely tucked away in a secret location.

The (Very) Big Bird Job is an action-packed and thrilling episode that sets the stage for the rest of the season. It showcases the team's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and their desire to do what is right, even in the face of danger. It is a testament to the power of teamwork and the importance of standing up for those who are being oppressed. Fans of Leverage will not be disappointed by this exciting season opener.