The Equalizers

The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 15: Dead Drop

A florist unrealistically falls into danger with an unrealistic organization specializing in the hazily-defined criminal network of dead drops. But whatever, the important thing is that this is a big great "gang's all here" epsisode. For this nonsense case, Robert is calling all his agency friends (Mickey, Jimmy, Sterno, Dana), battling Jason the annoying agency guy, and checking in his old friend Control. The odd plot is overshadowed by watching the Equalizer lead a team of all his agency buds. And then at the end, he goes up against the dad of Brandon and Brenda Walsh.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 14: Out of the Past

The Equalizer defending the current husband... of his ex-wife! Against a crazy dude just out of prison who has a cough... and it's fatal. The problem of this episode we've seen the Equalizer solve before, but the cast is great in this one - some legends, some up-and-comers, all very strong. This episode is the first one aired in 1986 after a few weeks off over the holidays, and they came in swinging.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 13: Back Home

Equalizer Christmas episode! Like all classic Christmas stories (Wonderful Life, Christmas Carol), this one oddly revolves around crusty old bankers. To add Equalizer flair, this banker is also the negligent landlord of some pleasant old "geezers"... and an aspiring arsonist... and hires a hit against his wife. A lot to dissect in this one, like opening individually wrapped Russian dolls.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 12: Reign of Terror

The Equalizer has to save a health clinic in the slum from being overrun by a glam apocalyptic street gang, and all without using a gun. Not because he lost his whole arsenal of guns or anything, but the new doctor in town insists... and because he's had some rare troubled thoughts about his past aided by a theatrical pantomime shooting gallery where ex-agents go to think.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 11: Desperately

We've seen it before - a woman looking for an escape from her boring household goes into the city, then within an hour is in way over her head. In this case, she's the target of a trained assassin! Luckily her friend knows of this guy called the Equalizer who can help protect her, take on the larger assassin racket, and maybe even help her marriage. Some great stuff, including Robert McCall consulting Dana, the expert on the seedy underbelly of New York City.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 10: Bump and Run

The Equalizer often butts heads with the police department for doing the work he feels they should be doing. His judgemental eye turns to the city courthouse this episode after a client of his needs protection from two vengeful bump-and-runners. Also on his plate (get this) - a serial killer who believes he's acting with the same moral code as the Equalizer! Also Robert's loyal cohort Mickey makes his triumphant return, this time showcasing his softer side as he falls in love with the woman he's protecting. Lotta levels in this one.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 9: Mama's Boy

Folks, this one is must see TV. It's got so many elements of a great Equalizer episode - several celebrities, bad guys who can't stop talking how bad they are, a ludicrous portrayal of the world of crime, and a complicated Equalizer plan that makes no sense (but does include him deep undercover as a suave player in the drug scene). It's got family strife, martial arts, and one of the most memorably bizarre scenes of the show to date.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 8: The Distant Fire

The Equalizer teams with a hitman to save the life of a woman they were both romantically involved with! Take a guess, of the three men - Robert McCall; a hitman; her current husband, an embassador - which one she loves most? And can never shake from her mind after all these years. Also there's a new personality at the agency who is not a fan of McCall. And a chase on an aircraft carrier. Top tier TV!

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 7: The Children's Song

Robert McCall and his son Scott (William Zabka) are off to a cabin to chop some wood and have a special talk. But soon they have to protect a hitchiking woman (Dana Barrow, Audrey Griswald!) -- and themselves! -- from a bunch of country hoodlums (led by Bradley Whitford!). Also Ed O'Neil and Kelso from Scrubs! The story is narrower in focus than previous episodes, but that just makes the plotholes that much bigger.

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The Equalizer Season 1 Episode 6: The Confirmation Day

Louie Ganucci (Burt Young!) gets involved in the dumbest heist and needs protection against the local mob boss (Joseph Wiseman - Dr No!). Louie's son (Ilan Mitchell-Smith - Weird Science!) brings in the Equalizer to mediate as only he knows how - go right to the highest bad guy with an elaborate plan that could only work within this show's specific fictional universe. Also there's some other team of bad guys.... and a 3 minute second plotline about a Norma Desmond type.

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