The Equalizer: Season 2/ Episode 14 “Pulse” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

Robyn’s greatest enemy makes his grand entrance as her greatest ally makes a grand exit.

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Aired	4/10/2022
Network	CBS
Directed By	Paul Holahan
Written By	Joe Gazzam
Introduced This Episode
Paulie	Max Darwin
Carter	Brett Dalton
Marcela	Maria River
Mason Quinn	Chris Vance

Recap

Old Friends, Same Me – Vi, Paulie, Mel, Harry

In an episode filled with familiar faces, one we don’t see is Vi’s little Connecticut girlfriend, who remains uncast. But, at the very least, we know they are going strong. This isn’t something that can be said about any of Harry’s old associates. While Mel has begun telling people Harry is alive, when it comes to the people Harry knew, like Paulie, he has been keeping a low profile.

However, with being spotted and the events in this episode, Harry gets past Paulie not coming to his funeral and allows him back in his life. Though we don’t get to hear him explain what happened.

A Call From An Old Protégé – Marcela, Robyn, Carter

Throughout Robyn’s career, she has trained many people, and one of her old proteges, Marcela, calls her with a red flag code – meaning she is in a life or death situation. This is alarming to Robyn since she is out of the game yet getting a call like this, so she investigates. This leads to Robyn meeting Marcela’s handler, Carter, after discovering Marcela’s dead body, and there being an immediate distrust between the two, even though Robyn’s reputation precedes her.

Yet, with not trusting Carter comes Robyn picking up what clues she can. Be it a microdot image from underneath Marcela’s nail, a likely now dead Chinese translator’s bracelet, and all the information Robyn needs to lead her to discover Operation Black Widow, a targeted EMP weapon currently developed soon to be tested and sold.

A Familiar Face – Carter, Mel, Harry, Robyn, Mason, Vanessa, Dante

So who is requesting the test? Who will the EMP weapon be sold to? Mason Quinn – Robyn’s arch enemy. But, to make matters worse, Mason is targeting a plane Bishop is on, returning from Europe. Which with so many planes in the New York City area taking off and landing at any time, it makes Harry’s job of finding the right plane hard and dangerous. Yet, Robyn forces the issue is asking him to commit a federal crime without giving him enough time to shield himself.

But, in the long run, they are too late. Mason outwits Robyn and Carter, who was trying to assist, and Bishop is killed. Luckily, before Robyn joins his fate, Mel shows up and helps Robyn and Carter survive to live another day.

This leads to at least one positive thing: Dante and Robyn talking. For both, they don’t seem to have an outlet besides each other, as Dante refuses to open up to Vanessa. But when it comes to Robyn, there seems to be hope he may finally speak up and talk about all he has gone through, just as much as Robyn may speak about losing Bishop in such a tragic way.

Things To Note

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. So what are they going to do with the weapon and the Russian scientist now that there is proof the product works?
2. Did anyone else think Carter was a traitor at first?

What Could Happen Next

1. Harry gets back in trouble with the government since Robyn’s desperation put him in a tight spot
2. Dante and Robyn’s relationship progresses
3. We may end up meeting Vi’s old flame

Review

Highlights

Arcs Are Happening

Could The Equalizer be leaving its episodic ways behind? Between Vi talking about the woman she loved, Quinn’s appearance, and Vanessa not disappearing after an episode, could this be a shift in the show? Honestly, we hope so.

Don’t get us wrong, The Equalizer remains one of the top shows when it comes to its casting and writing for guest stars. However, it has long needed a central villain like Mason, and when it comes to Robyn? Simply put, they needed to give her a life. Everyone is in or getting a relationship, pursuing something that gives their life meaning beyond work, while all Robyn does is put her life on the line episode after episode.

But now, it seems what was paused with Dante may finally begin, and while it isn’t clear what is next for Dante, at the very least, he could become another asset to Robyn’s organization, even if he doesn’t have the badge.

On The Fence

How They Got Rid Of Bishop

With Chris Noth (Bishop’s Actor) being accessed of assaulting multiple women, he was expected to be written off. However, him being killed with an EMP weapon of the magnitude we saw? It was sort of anti-climatic.

Don’t get me wrong, I get recasting is an awkward move, and few productions will ever take a chance and wait things out, hoping that an allegation is false, since oftentimes we learn they are true. Yet, even if Bishop’s death triggers Mason becoming a regular villain on this show, it still feels like Robyn is going to move on quickly from it.

Almost like killing Bishop was an opportunity the show long needed to shake things up, and Noth’s accusations did them a favor so they quickly wrote in his death being caused by Mason Quinn to bring Mason back into the fold.

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