Okay. First of all, one of the best of all the Leverages, because of the concept, not because of the writing. The premise is a home run. The execution of the premise makes it to third base before the inning is over. Here is why. Joey Slotnick was almost the perfect actor for the part. Kevin Sussman is the perfect actor for the part. Big Bang is over, and "Stuart" is available for TV series producers. Use him. Make him the new Nate. And he knows nothing. Perfect. THAT is the idea. Think... "The Man Who Knew Too Little" with Bill Murray. That movie was a ten, and the writing was perfect. And I don't say that about many movies.
Back To Leverage Redemption episode EIGHT. Okay really the plot here is secondary to the common guy posing as the Mastermind of a superhero secret group of avengers. He is so not qualified for the position, but is put in that position. Brilliant. Unfortunately, the writers never took advantage of the premise. There was a lot more milk in this cow. Imagine if he constantly bumbled along in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
I say make him the new Nate Ford. Give him an external reputation. He is the "pretty girl magician's assistant." That is, make him the distraction while the expert crew works at what it does best. They front him to take on all the public personna, but he can't do the job to save his life. His crew always saves the day for him, and the bad guys are always left with the impression he is a criminal genius, tough, thinks on his feet, and is never to be toyed with. I would watch that show for ten years.
Let's do this. May have just solved the "what the hell do we do now without Timothy Hutton" problem. Otherwise, the show is a headless snake. Sophie is likable and competent as a leader, but still miss the driving force of a Nate. And Parker, Breanna, and Elliot were never meant to be the leaders. It's not what they do. By their talents, they can never be the masterminds. I think the missing invisible mastermind in the current show is exactly what is missing. It's what will keep this show from doing five new seasons of episodes. The current premise is not credible. The snake has no head.