The Equalizer: Season 3/ Episode 10 “Do No Harm” – Recap/ Review

Once again, Robyn finds herself racing against time, with Marcus’ job affected by whether she delivers on what she promises.

Aired (CBS)	March 5, 2023
Director(s)	Ron Fortunato
Writer(s)	Ashley Charbonnet, Kim Rome
Newly Noted Characters
Bruce Gregory	Derrick Williams
Lauren	Paula Jon DeRose
Emily	Juliana Davies
Previously Noted Characters
Robyn	Queen Latifah
Aunt Vi	Lorraine Toussaint
Delilah	Laya DeLeon Hayes
DA Grafton	Jennifer Ferrin
Marcus Dante	Tory Kittles

Recap

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The Old Neighborhood and Old Ways – Delilah, Robyn, Aunt Vi

With there being a cultural exchange assignment at school, Delilah plans to cook gumbo in honor of her family’s Louisiana heritage. But, she makes the grave mistake of not asking Aunt Vi to help and instead gets a recipe from the internet. This leads Aunt Vi to take her to a place in the old neighborhood where she and Robyn are from called “The Brass Spoon.”

Now, why haven’t we seen this place before? Robyn’s dad. This place was one of his favorites, and being back there brings back fond memories and is a reminder of his death. Though, to Aunt Vi’s chagrin, with the long-time owner dying and her son not having her recipes, the restaurant has largely gone vegan. Luckily, Aunt Vi is able to replicate, to a degree, the old owner’s recipes, and allows Delilah to taste authentic gumbo.

But, the happy day ends on a sour note as Robyn’s ex serves her with papers to get full custody of Delilah.

A Mother’s Love and Sacrifice – Robyn, DA Grafton, Marcus, Bruce, Lauren, Emily

Robyn’s case this week is helping a mother named Lauren, who has taken a handful of medical professionals hostage for the sake of her daughter, Emily. Robyn is called in since her reputation as “The Equalizer” has spread, and while Marcus hasn’t forgotten the last time Robyn was involved in one of his cases, he does his best to advocate for her.

However, with a man like Bruce Gregory involved on the tactical team who is supposed to handle the situation, he makes it clear he is not Robyn’s ally. He is tasked with getting a senator’s son out safely. Damn Lauren and whatever she is going through. But, with Robyn’s connection with DA Grafton and Marcus and getting through to not only Lauren but Bruce, Emily is able to get her surgery, and Lauren may end up in jail, but at least she doesn’t end up shot.

Things To Note

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. How long will the custody case last, and will Robyn sacrifice custody to continue being an Equalizer?
2. Has Aunt Vi made a decision on teaching yet?

What Could Happen Next

1. Hopefully, more information on Robyn’s father since he clearly had a profound effect on Vi and Robyn

Review

Highlights

Multiple Sides Presented About The Issue

While it is easy to understand Lauren’s predicament, you also have to look at it from the perspective of one of the hostages. Lauren is a desperate woman who, like many of us, finds the hospital system’s bureaucracy difficult to navigate, never mind expensive, even with insurance. Yet, it doesn’t condone what she did or her getting what she wanted. We see her in jail when it is all over, and it is made clear she presented at times more risk than benefit to her child.

The Importance Of Culture And Places That Remind You Of Home

When it comes to the background, for the most part, all we know is Robyn’s family is Black. However, by deepening it by noting they’re from Louisiana, talking about the neighborhood they come from, and presenting a sense of community, it goes deeper. It provides us specifics that allow us to see beyond skin tone and reminders of the racism that happens to or around Aunt Vi. We also get a sense of the joy and positive things as well.

Mentions Of Robyn’s Father

Take, for example, Robyn’s father. He is a bit of a ghost, seldom mentioned, but he clearly had a profound effect. Hopefully, especially as this custody case comes up, maybe they may talk about him more, and he’ll be less of a ghost and more of a strong, but not present, character.

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