The Equalizers

The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 7: Mission: McCall: Part 2

The second in the two parter that answers the question: What will become of Robert McCall in the world of the Equalizer now that in real life Edward Woodward has suffered a heart attack? Compared to last episode, the prognosis is not so good. He's locked up in a super secret (but highly accessible) KGB fortress building (conveniently not to far from NYC), unconscious and recovering from a gunshot. Very special guest Robert Mitchum and new character Harley Gage get into crazy shenigans breaking in, talking with Russian accents, shocking themselves for some reason, seducing double agents, blowing things up, brandishing Uzis, and finally escaping with EQ on a helicopter. Once again, your humble Equalizer podcasters are the only ones out there breaking it down and considering all the ramifications in the larger Equalizer universe.

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The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 6: Mission: McCall: Part 1

We knew it was coming. During the filming of season three, Edward Woodward suffered a heart attack and the show The Equalizer carried on. What we didn't know is just how they would handle it. First, they had to throw together a story fast -a KGB kidnapping with some agency scheming, check. Second, introducing a new character in the EQ universe who may carry the EQ torch in case Woodward can't continue with the show, check. Finally, some big star power (for the CBS demographic) who may not necessarily have a detectable resting heart rate. A lot of craziness, a lot of world building, quite the setup to this unexpected but necessary two parter, and our introduction to this new phase of the show. We just wish we could have sent Edward Woodward some flowers in 1987, just as his character has done more than once, awkwardly, to women in distress in the show.

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The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 5: Encounters in a Closed Room

We're still in a limbo between the epic first three episodes of season three and when the show has to radically adjust to Edward Woodward's mild heart attack and he has to step away for a stretch. We categorize this one as "KGB Light": a bittersweet romance between a Russian defector and a scientist escaping Russian custody while in the States, some parallels between the scientist's plight and how EQ felt in the agency, and my god the coats in this episode, people. Definite Americans vibes here. Guest starring Michael Moriarty (Law & Order) and Maureen Mueller who, given her resemblence this episode, would have been a star had they made a Lauren Bacall biopic in the mid 80s.

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The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 4: In The Money

Yes this episode feels a little like a snap back to reality after the epic two parter that started the season and the potential Emmy bait acting performance in #3 (Vincent D'Onofrio in Suspicion of Innocence). Still, this one has a lot going for it: a focus on Wall Street, skeevy insider trading, some sneaky audience deception (possibly a first on the show), and some third act stunts complete with a human cannonball net. All that plus a spotlight on a lovely 20 foot patch of grassy coastline just off of some expressway in NYC.

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The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 3: Suspicion of Innocence

So. There's a lot of words to throw around - problematic, of its time, doesn't age well. A few things are for sure. This is a very special episode. The Equalizer (the show and the character) had its heart in the right place. And this episode is not to be missed. Following an epic two parter that started the season, The Equalizer turns its focus to a mentally disabled man falsely accused of murder. And Vincent D'Onofrio gives it his absolute all as the lead guest performer. And this is 1987, and The Equalizer isn't much known for subtely. Yeah, there's a lot to process. And process it we do, diligently cataloging other similar performances of the time and the larger topic of how to view past representations of sensitives issues. A very special podcast episode about a very special episode.

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The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 2: Blood & Wine: Part 2

Directed by: Alan Metzger

Yowza. Once again, they are starting out strong for season three - a two parter airing on the same night, grabbing America by their lapels and saying "We're back and we're not messing around." And it's hard to start out any more grandiose plotline than William Atherton threating to poison the entire city of New York, and God appearing to Telly Savalas and absolving him of his horrible past. We were blown away by the first part last week, and turns out that was just an appetizer, just setting the stage for all the craziness in this episode. Great outdoor shots of the city, nutso plotlines, and lots of screentime for Savalas and Atherton to shine. An amazing episode that bodes well for the rest of season three.

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The Equalizer Season 3 Episode 1: Blood & Wine: Part 1

Directed by: Alan Metzger

We are back! And The Equalizer is back for an all new season, number three, and they didn't just go big for their season premiere, they went for an all out television event. All stops have been pulled, the breaks are noticeably unpumped. It's a power play against Dynasty, and it's telling St. Elsewhere to go far elsewhere. Move over Magnum PI, you can start your eighth season next week. For the only time in its run, The Equalizer aired both parts of a two parter on the same night. And what a two parter - car crashes, Italian radicals, heaven, hell, God, the devil. Not only that, they're doubling down on guest stars - the legendary Telly Savalas as a monk who also happens to consult for the FBI. And not just any villian but perhaps the biggest "hey that guy" villains of the 80s, William Atherton (evil in Real Genius, jerk in Ghostbuster, unethical in Die Hard). Join us as we break down the new season and dig into the first half of this epic two parter.

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It happened first when the Eagles reunited and it's happening again: Hell freezing over. And in our case it's not because dumptruck full of money pulled up to our front door (ahem, Don Henley). No in our noble case it's a quest for truth, for perspective, and to not be Equalizer snobs. Of course we're talking about watching the 2021 reboot of The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah, now in its third season. We watched the first two episodes to get a feel of the premise and the structure of the show. Are we biased? Possibly, though we try to keep the "Woodward did it better" takes to a minimum. If anything it shows growth and maturity for the two of us, personally and as podcasters. Baby steps, it takes a village, we can be heroes, just for one day.

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We did it before and we're doing it again. While some may rest while they're on season break, we take it as an opportunity - to expand our minds to other contributions to the Equalizer universe, to see what traits of Robert McCall have made it into the movie franchise, which traits from the first movie are strengthened, and overall to watch a great fun movie. From 2018 in all its major motion piction glory, it's The Equalizer 2. Denzel is back as Robert McCall, he's a Lyft driver now, Pedro Pascal has joined the story. The first movie's down, we got the world building and origin story taken care of, now it's just Denzel's McCall in his groove equalizing left and right big and small. Sometimes it's the folks in his Boston apartment complex, sometimes it's off in foreign countries. One thing's for sure, he's a force of good in the world, while also seeming to enjoy breaking people's fingers.

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 22: Re-Entry

Season 2 finale! And it's a doozy. The guest list is a veritable Coen brothers movie / Monsters Inc voice cast. Pre-Roseanne John Goodman is an honest down-on-his-luck unemployed father forced into a criminal conspiracy to steal plutonium. Pre-Mr. Pink Steve Buscemi is a sleazy guy working in a sleazy electronics store. Pre-Hot Hot Hot Buster Poindexter (released later in summer 87) is a henchman. And amidst his prolific career as Equalizer composer / Police drummer, Stewart Copeland cameos as a pickpocket-for-hire. And the original EQ isn't the only episode with esteemed guest stars - our own Vince Recupito is back to cover this momentous finale. It's safe to say we are not just podcasting about a TV show from the 80s; we are historians and we are making history.

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