State’s Attorney Ed Kelley, an old friend of Nate’s, comes to Nate and Sophie with a problem. He’s being blackmailed for substance abuse, with manufactured evidence. The scheme originates with Reed Rockwell, a hotshot media and political consultant.
The crew’s usual methods won’t work on Rockwell since he has no public profile and therefore no reputation to ruin. They first have to make him a hero in order to bring him down.
Tropes stolen in this job:
- Admiring the Abomination: Hardison is actually pretty impressed by Rockwell's ability to manipulate truth and data, and earlier Sophie calls the legal blackmail "elegant." Nate does not appreciate it, either time.Hardison: I almost want to ask him to join the team.
Nate: Hardison, this man has his boot on my friend's neck.
Hardison: I said "almost." - Evil Counterpart: Rockwell and Nate are both in the business of ruining people's lives, though Nate sticks to ruining the lives of people who deserve it. While devising the con they need to run, Nate realizes that it needs to be the same con he'd run on himself, which only serves to magnify his self-destructive tendencies.
- It's Personal: Trying to help an old friend, Nate is harsher and more short-tempered than usual on this job.
- Serious Business: Hardison cares about CG. And Star Wars. A lot.
- Shout-Out: The episode's title is one to Andy Warhol's famous remark that "in the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes"
