Look, man! You’re lucky on this deadline I didn’t give you a baking soda volcano.

Remember in last week’s review, when I expressed my concern that Leverage might wear out its welcome if every episode involved helping out someone from the team’s past? That’s because I’d already seen “The Miracle Job” and knew that two consecutive episodes had done that very thing. It’s a small complaint, but I would really rather see strangers taking advantage of the services of Leverage Consulting & Associates.

However, if they were all going to be as much fun as this one, I wouldn’t make much of a fuss over it.

It’s so obvious that Father Paul was beaten up to keep him from speaking to the city council, so it’s a wonder the LAPD weren’t looking harder for the cholo who rolled him. Then again, they’re still busy digging up all the graves Vic Mackey left around town, so they might be too busy to help out one priest. But not Nate and the team.

Nate’s history with this church makes this important to him. This isn’t just his friend’s parish: it’s where his son was baptized, where his son was laid to rest. I actually would have liked to have seen the script spend a little more time on how important this church is to Nate’s life – is it where he was married as well? I realize they’re constrained on time, but could easily cut more of Parker’s lines to give everyone else more room to work. God knows I think Beth Riesgraf’s cute as a button, but the more screentime Parker gets the less I want to see her.

Still, we got some more back story for Nate and got so see some more character evolution. Eliot now shares elaborate handshakes with Hardison instead of icy stares, the team strains mightily to find something – anything – nice to say about Sophie’s performance as Willy Loman, and Nate maybe was reminded a little by Paul that how you do a thing is as important as what your goals are.

Rogers recently said the template for the show is, “they start with Plan A. Plan A goes wrong/requires Con B. Con B doesn’t quite work out, or instead is really Con C disguised as Con B.” Let’s see how that fits tonight:

• Con A – Making St. Nicholas weep. First off, it works too well and gets too much attention, both from the public and the Vatican. Worse, it gives Grant the idea for Bibletopia, a “lifestyle and recreation center” ((Dollyworld for the devout.))
• Con B – Making St. Nicholas disappear during Father Paul’s sermon. But he spots Parker outside, sees right through it. Leading to…
• Con C – This is what Con B really is. Framing Grant for all the fakery in front of the press, the parish, and the police. A little guilt-enhanced assist from Tomas is all that’s needed to complete the con.

Those who think having a template like that is restrictive – or worse, those who don’t approve of templates – mustn’t watch much television. There are precious few shows that don’t follow a formula much like this one – Mad Men being the only one I can think of right now – week in and week out. It’s the style within the the template that matters.

Some other thoughts:

• Paul: “The Vatican’s here. You and I both know what that means.” Nate: “Yeah, break out the grappa.” ((Wow. He must really have it in for the Vatican. Unless there’s someone in the world who *doesn’t* gag on grappa.))
• I loved Hardison’s test St. Nicholases, especially the health warnings that accompanied them. I believe every piece of Hardison’s new tech comes with associated health warnings.
• Hardison’s “niche” is beating up the injured.
• Sophie playing Willy Loman as a man. I now want to see Gina Bellman star in America’s greatest tragedy.
• I thoroughly enjoyed the business negotiations between Eliot and the gang leader. Once the standoff was over and he knew one of his boys had gone rogue, it played out very humorously.
• Stigmata gun!
• Yes, if you’re wondering, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of reformed thieves.
• We know quite a bit more about Nate and Sophie now, don’t we? He never strayed, but it sounds like they walked a razor’s edge with their flirtation. I’m looking forward to us meeting Maggie ((Someday. Not next week, please. Next week: please help strangers.)) and finding out more about that period in Nate’s life. Do Maggie and Sophie know one another? Are they friendly or antagonistic?

What did everyone else think?