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The Equalizer returns, and with Harry in jail, so comes the question of whether Robyn can continue without his expertise.
| Aired | 1/2/2022 |
| Network | CBS |
| Directed By | Neema Barnette |
| Written By | Erica Shelton Kodish |
| Introduced This Episode | |
| Alma | Andrea Cortés |
| Pedro | Logan J. Alarcon-Poucel |
Recap
The Struggle To Help Harry – Bishop, Robyn, Mel, Harry
Getting Harry out of jail seems impossible. Everyone Bishop speaks to gives a no by default, Robyn’s name doesn’t carry far enough, and Harry refuses to work for the government in order to get his freedom. Mel respects this, but you can tell it is hard on her since she and Harry truly love each other, and it seems like their relationship could be with a thick piece of glass between them from now on.
A Substitute, Not A Replacement – Alma, Robyn, Mel, Dante
While Harry is away, Mel tries to step in, but she is no match for Harry’s abilities to sleuth, recover data, and more. Which, with Alma, this week’s client, trying to get her son back after they were separated via her getting deported and him ending up in the system? Harry is needed more than ever.
But, luckily, Dante is more than willing to step up, and he and Robyn make decent headway. Naturally, it is never quick enough for Alma, and a few false positives rattle her nerves. However, what really throws them all for a loop is when they learn Alma’s son, Pedro, swapped names with another kid, and when they double back, using the name of the kid Pedro swapped with, there are no records.
This solidifies, alongside a shady caseworker at a foster home, that Pedro has been put into an illegal adoption ring. One that leads to the guy working at the foster home dying because he tried to handle the Alma x Robyn situation. Thus creating a dead end since he was the only accessible person who may have known anything.
The Golden Ticket – Harry, Mel, Bishop, Robyn, Alma, Pedro
That is until Robyn realizes no kid can just go missing and walk away from a foster home, especially one monitoring children under ICE. Thus, she and Mel track down the ICE officer responsible for that district and follow him to the sweatshop Pedro was at. This leads to Robyn handling multiple men with guns and even killing the ICE agent, but with them being corrupt, she is able to walk out of the situation, even with cops around, with Pedro and reunite him with his mom. Then, to add icing to the cake, she arranges for Alma to get a three-year visa to stay in the country.
Oh, and to really put some whipped cream on top, Bishop uses his get out of jail free card with the president of the United States to get Harry his freedom. But, the caveat is, Harry can NEVER touch a computer again. Something that Robyn finds comical, but Bishop is dead serious about this. Though, while he notes the terms to Robyn, all Harry is thinking about is embracing his wife and being glad they can touch skin to skin again.
Things To Note | Question(s) Left Unanswered
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- I know Robyn has a little more leeway now but how is she going to kill an ICE agent, crooked or not, and just walk away like it is nothing?
- Considering the actor who played Bishop got fired (#MeToo situation), will they recast the character or just kill him off?
- WHEN ARE WE MEETING DELILAH’S DAD?
What Could Happen Next
- Harry trying to adjust to having his freedom, yet not being able to touch a computer
- Hopefully, meeting Delilah’s daddy – but please don’t have it be an Equalizer case dealing with his girlfriend we met ages ago
Review
Highlights
Still One Of The Few Shows Which Compels You To Take Note Of The Guest Stars
I feel that The Equalizer might be one of the few shows to truly make it so a guest star can be seen as a star. The way things are built around them, the screen time they get, the performances they are allowed, it makes it so, even if they only get one episode, they are allowed to have an impact.
Take Alma’s situation. It taps into the ongoing situation of kids being separated from their parents after their parents sought asylum and how the various organizations working with, or part of the government, fail the kids, their families and create a system where exploitation is easy. All the while, as much as Robyn is helping and doing the leg work, they rely on someone you may not know to present and handle the emotional impact.
That kind of trust in guest stars, especially ones who aren’t famous, may not just be rare but feels like a reminder of how guest spots used to be in terms of launching people’s careers. This really shows how solid the cast and leads must feel to be the consistent presence on each episode, yet often play a supporting role to an unknown.
On The Fence
Wishing They Made Us Sweat It Out A Few Episodes
They rushed it. Harry could have been in prison and sweated it out a little longer. Especially when you consider who Bishop had to meet and speak to? Them just casually dropping Bishop had a get out of jail free card the president could enforce? It really leads you to question how this show is supposed to build up a tense moment, have us suspend disbelief, when it can pull something like that? All in one episode!
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