Redemption Season 3 Decision Impacts Parker Explained By Star

Warning: Some SPOILERS lie ahead for Leverage: Redemption season 3!

The team dynamic is changing and Parker is at the heart of things in Leverage: Redemption season 3. The latest season of the thriller show picked up with the team continuing their work while Eliot and Sophie are still figuring out different ways to do their jobs after their emotional reconciliations with his foster father and her stepdaughter from a past job. The Leverage: Redemption season 3 cast is still led by Beth Riesgraf, Christian Kane, Gina Bellman and Aleyse Shannon, though one iconic team member won’t be back for a while.

In honor of the show’s return, ScreenRant interviewed Beth Riesgraf and Aleyse Shannon to discuss Leverage: Redemption season 3. When asked about the season 3 premiere seeing Hardison electing to take an elongated hiatus from the team and how it would impact Parker, Riesgraf acknowledged that “the stakes have shifted” in the world in general, which is in large part what inspired his decision, but is also having a bigger influence on Parker:

It’s been an interesting journey for her, I think, as the world has changed, the stakes have shifted in a direction that’s forcing both of them to do a little exploration on what this means for them, personally, in their journeys. With Hardison, I think Parker really understands that his purpose is bigger than what he’s doing now, and it’s something that he’s going to have to decide on. So, as the world makes it more legal and easier for these people to corrupt people and do all the things. It’s like he’s seeing a bigger picture there, where he’s like, “I don’t know if this is enough.” And then with her, it’s like, “Well, wait, aren’t we always doing this no matter what? This is just what we do.”

Riesgraf also went on to explain that his absence will force her to reflect on what she wants from the job going forward, calling Hardison’s exit “a moment of growth” for Parker and also teasing an episode later in the season that will really showcase this evolution. Check out the rest of what Riesgraf shared below:

Him making that decision and bringing that up is forcing her to see, “Well, how does this change also affect me? And what do I want out of this?” So, it’s a moment of growth, I think, for the relationship, for the team, for Parker as a leader. She also does have this great skill set that you see come into play this season of laying the foundation for others to — I don’t want to say set a trap, but there’s an episode where she’s setting something up, so someone has to go through and figure out which consequences are worth it, and to help them have some self-growth. So, she’s getting this perspective, I think, on leadership, teamwork, and growth through her changing relationship with Hardison, as well.

What Hardison’s Exit Means For Parker & Leverage: Redemption Season 3

The Writing’s Always Been On The Wall

As Riesgraf alludes to above, the Leverage: Redemption season 3 premiere sees Aldis Hodge’s Hardison elect to take a hiatus as he feels the group’s work isn’t doing enough to put a long-term stop to the corrupt rich and powerful marks they target every episode. However, while it’s left unclear where he actually goes, Hardison does still assure Parker nothing will change in their relationship, and that he’ll consistently stay in touch with her during his sabbatical.

Though sure to be a disappointing update for fans of the character, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Hardison continues to be a small part of Leverage: Redemption‘s cast in season 3. The first two seasons of the sequel show saw him similarly appear in a limited capacity, all of which was due to his busy schedule filming the likes of Showtime’s City on a Hill and Black Adam. He also previously confirmed Cross season 2’s filming impacted his Leverage: Redemption season 3 role, while assuring he’d still be there.

Given previous seasons of the show explained his absence as being on other jobs, his taking a complete break from work should be a big arc for Parker in Leverage: Redemption season 3. Much of her evolution in both the original and sequel shows has been tied to Hardison helping her see a new side of the world beyond thieving, thus making any threats she faces this season without him requiring her to process things herself. With the trailer also teasing a past threat coming after her, Hardison’s absence also comes at a high-stakes moment.

Our Take On Hardison’s Exit Impacting Parker In Leverage: Redemption Season 3

A New Layer Of The Character Is Getting Unlocked

Parker has always been one of the most fascinating characters for me, particularly as she’s undergone the growth she has through her bond with Hardison, that I’m really curious to see how Leverage: Redemption season 3 sees her work without the knowledge of having him as something of a safety net for the job. I’m also very curious about her tease of how it’ll affect Parker’s long-term view of the job, as it now leaves me wondering whether this season might also serve as an exit for her.

New episodes of Leverage: Redemption season 3 air Thursdays on Prime Video.