The Equalizers

The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 11, Heartstrings

With a title like this, you know this episode is explicitly designed to tug at your heartstrings. And tug it does! And who's there to help? None other than Michele Dotrice whom Edward Woodward marries the month after this episode airs! Not only that, but the real life married couple Loraine Despres and Carleton Eastlake worked on the script together! The plot does not disappoint: a stolen newborn baby, the sordid world of baby brokerages, and Mickey's soon-to-be iconic (probably) diversion techniques. Show note: Chuck apologizes for the frog in his throat and referring to the Dotrice family as Doltrice several times but oddly not every time.

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 10:The Cup

Is tackling religion, the KGB, and Polish trade unions too much for one tv episode? Not for the Equalizer! And not only that, this episode marks the return of EQ's trigger happy sidekick Mickey Kostmayer! The two of them have to protect a priest (Mickey's brother, ooh, character development) who must keep his silence after a member of Solidarity confides in him. And the KGB's in there too giving the whole thing an Americans vibe. Top tier episode!

Additional audion credit: bkarwowski, Stockwaves

The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 9: Tip On A Sure Thing

Once again, the Equalizer is on location in New Jersey! This time at Monmouth Park after a jockey's son is kidnapped so that some bookies can win big. A nice departure for the Equalizer, and a nice departure point for us to discuss Star Trek 4 The Voyage Home, Rocky 4, Hot Shots, the Super Bowl Shuffle, and more. That's what's nice about The Equalizer, it's an inspiration.

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 8: The Line

A meaty concept: The Equalizer goes up against a ragtag citizens patrol group. Between them, a vengeful brother, and the actual police, the show could reflect on different viewpoints and methods for doling out justice. But unfortunately we don't get much of that and those searching for larger themes might be left wanting. But there's still plenty of absurdity, some good bursts of action, a punchline to one of the few through stories (Jimmy's divorce), not to mention both Gus Fring and Hector Salamanca from Breaking Bad in the same episode! (unfortunately not in the same scene).

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 7: Crossfire

"The best of season 2 so far." Heard it here first. After a few weeks of women in (creepy 80s) peril, we're back to a fun crazy Equalizer. He's been framed for murder! By Vincent D'Onofrio! Who's an arsonist! And the Equalizer has to be sprung from prison by Control! A lot of weird plot points, action scenes, gadgets, bold criminal psychology, and an ending which may hint at a new focus for the Equalizer in the future (or maybe not). Top tier Equalizer episode which of course means the topmost tier of television in general.

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 6: Nightscape

Look, we know. It's another plotline with a woman getting assaulted. This season's got a lot of those. But if we get past that, there's a lot of stuff to report on - like how EQ goes to a computer data friend to triangulate the criminals, or Equalizer getting uncharacteristically emotional. Or hey, the Equalizer's on a date! It's been a while! Good for him, he's found love and he's more in touch with himself. Let's just focus on that and forget everything else.

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 5: Shades of Darkness

The plot on its own: The Equalizer goes up against a crazy mercenary killer who framed a National Guardsmen for murder. Sure that's probably a passably entertaining hour of television. But if we know the Equalizer a) "crazy" will be over-the-top deranged evil b) the world of mercenaries will be portrayed purely for entertainment and not based in reality c) they'll throw in some other out-there details just to taste, in this case religion and the paranormal. Similarly we pack the podcast for maximum entertainment: scene reads, analysis, and Soldier of Fortune magazine.

Stream The Equalizer at https://www.nbc.com/the-equalizer

The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 4: Joyride

A 16 year old Christian Slater stars as Michael Winslow (just let that sink in for a minute) who stumbles into a dangerous world of drugs after taking joyride in a hearse which contains a coffin filled with crack. I mean, do we still need to keep describing this episode? It should go without saying that this world of drugs is nowhere near reality. Also the Equalizer is at his most bloodthirsty, just going around murdering criminals. Another can't miss episode.

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 3: A Community of Civilized Men

Listen. Episode 2 of season 2 was amazing. Episode 4 is amazing too. But they're not all winners. You'd think an episode starring Jennifer Grey which aired halfway Ferris Bueller and Dirty Dancing would be can't miss TV. Every show is entitled to a dip in quality every once in a while. But is it so bad it's good? Is it an underappreciated gem? Yeah I guess and probably not, respectively. But are we still here recapping it? Man, we had a hazy few years where we were accepting deals with gypsies and witches left and right and we're still sorting through a lot of paperwork, but yes yes we're still here.

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The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 2: Nocture

True, it's getting harder to watch old Equalizers lately: it's somehow disappeared from Roku apps and nbc.com is sometimes flaky ( https://www.nbc.com/the-equalizer ), BUT this is one jam-packed entertaining episode that needs to be seen. And yes sure true, the larger plot of this episode is a pretty rough (a woman hears the voice of her attacker who made her blind), BUT see what flowers are at your feet: a powerhouse cast; poetry analysis (which our own Chris Daniels guides us through); a blockbuster-grade plot to find the attacker through voice recognition; and, the purple jumpsuited elephant in the room, an extended musical performance by Ashford and Simpson! Absolutely not to be missed.

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