Simply put, "The Rashomon Job" made for one of the most entertaining episodes of Leverage season, as we got a look into how each of the team members worked solo when they were all after the same item, prior to when they recruited by Nate.

I was very happy that Nate and the team finally mentioned Monroe again. While it was in passing, at least it they are starting to drift back onto the larger storyline. I am not sure if the Monroe plot can be completed in the next two episodes before the show takes a break and I wonder if we are going to go into the next season with them still after Monroe.

However, the true beauty of this episode was the "Rashomon Effect" concept. While it was a simple concept of five perspectives on a single event from five years earlier, the delivery of those perspectives made this my favorite episode this season.

I knew this episode was going to be totally different when Sophie was narrating to Nate as he walked along side her “in” the flashback. He did this with each of the flashbacks and this was a great way to allow Nate to ask questions without needing to cut back to them at the bar every couple of minutes.

The overall effect of not being pulled out of the flashback was outstanding. Of course, it got even more fun when he actually helped unzip Sophie’s dress before she told him to leave so she could change clothes. There were so many small differences between the versions of the event.

There was Coswell leaving to get a shotgun in Sophie’s version to him actually bringing a box of flowers in Nate’s version. You also had the additional layers added each time one of the team told their version where they were added into the overall event. Not having the person revealed and added to the story until they told their version made each telling that much more fun to watch.

By far my favorite part of each of the retellings was the perception of Sophie’s accent. I was absolutely in tears laughing when she sounded Scottish in Hardison’s version and I was not sure I could even breathe when Sophie started talking in Parker’s version. I am amazed by the performance of Gina Bellman in each of those versions. Bellman absolutely made this episode for me (and I am sure many others). I am so glad that she has been back full time this season. 

I also want to tip my hat to John Billingsley who did a great job as the head of security Coswell. He covered a pretty good range from playing a hard-ass in Sophie’s version to a love struck fool in Nate’s version. Each one was right on the mark and believable. He was a great choice for the roll.

What did you think of the episode? Did you catch all the subtle changes? Did you like how the knife Eliot was handed seem to get bigger and bigger? Check out the following Leverage quotes from the hour:

Hardison: So we did all that work for nothing?
Nate: Not for nothing, you know you guys sometimes it's easy to forget why you stopped working along and became a team. | permalink

Eliot: I am going to sharpen this knife and then walk around the halls in the dark... Don't leave. | permalink

Sophie: You really can't tell? Americans! All accents sound the same. Please go on, I sound like one of the dwarves in Lord of the Rings, but continue. | permalink

Sophie: That's like stealing my mail.
Parker: Why, is stealing mail a crime?
Sophie: (glares)
Parker: Oops. | permalink

Jim G. is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.