It would not surprise me if there had been some Parker/Hardison canoodling. I have the impression it's the emotional side of the relationship that flummoxes her more than the physical. That said, it would also not surprise me if they were still in limbo and nothing more has happened than what's been onscreen.

I think that nothing has happened, because Hardison wouldn't accept a physical relationship. And that kiss was so awkward and lovely that I can't imagine that it's gone any further.

Yeah, that's what I really believe, but if the show tells me different I won't squawk.

As I recall, Hardison told Parker that the pretzels would be there whenever she was ready. I had the impression that they were in limbo, and Hardison was just waiting for Parker.

Right. That was in the Double Blind Job, at the start of the season. What I was referencing above was their quick exchange before hopping off the train caboose in the Big Bang Job. It made me think they would be going off afterward and doing it.

The interaction last night, of course, proved that theory wrong.

From talking to John about the future possibilities of their relationship I'm pretty sure they're not there yet.

How many kisses have they had that had nothing to do with the case? I remember Hardison getting rattled twice (once in the basement, and once in Lucille, but those were cons).

Interesting to me that Nate said "you can't con a con artist" where in every episode of Hustle the premise is "you can't con an honest person." Leverage operates on the premise that you totally can, and in all honestly, haven't they conned some con artists?

That jumped out at me, too (my actual thought when he said it was "I wonder what ita ! thinks about that", since we had had that discussion re: Hustle), but then I decided it was less of a basic axiom (as Hustle's seems to be) and more a jumping off point to get to "let's use this guys vigilance against him".

Eta parenthetical aside

Isn't this the first time Hardison has kissed Parker? In the past, she has kissed him as part of a con, but I don't recall him doing the same.

And that kiss was so awkward and lovely that I can't imagine that it's gone any further.

Yes. This.

I think I assumed more solely based on them holding hands in The Van Gogh Job. Or something.

I'm fine with the idea that they haven't gone that far, though.

I was just so proud of Aldis Hodge in that episode -- he did such a fantastic job. HARDISON. And Beth Riesgraf, too! That shuddery sigh in the cemetery before she walked away ... MY HEART.

Isn't this the first time Hardison has kissed Parker?

As far as my memory serves, yes.

Yeah, Amy, Aldis was on fire. Every tear... And Beth's voice breaking on "my friend!" was too adorable.