The Equalizer: Season 4/ Episode 1 “Truth for a Truth” – Episode Recap & Review
“The Equalizer” returns and pretty much undercuts everything we saw in the season 3 finale.
[Unless Said Otherwise] Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Plot Recap
Well, That Ended Quickly – Mel, Harry, Dante, Robyn, Briggs, Michelle
Despite the position Michelle had Mel, Harry, and Dante in, thanks to one of Bishop’s proteges and seemingly the new head of his company, Briggs, everyone gets out fine. This includes Michelle, who is now on the run, and despite what happened, Robyn wants to help her.
Death Isn’t Justice – Diana Greene, Mel, Harry, Dante, Robyn, Fitz, Donald, Michelle
Because Robyn doesn’t want Michelle killed or stuck in some black site cell for the rest of her life, she butts heads with the new CIA Director, Diana Green. As you can imagine, this isn’t appreciated, and the more Robyn calls upon Mel, Harry, and Dante to help, the more Director Greene seems to want Robyn to understand the position she is putting herself in.
This especially becomes true when, to keep Michelle alive, Robyn potentially kills CIA agents. Thus making it seem she is ready to go from someone the CIA pays no mind to into a potential terrorist.
Which may make you wonder, where is Fitz in all this? Well, he is in the hospital, seemingly on his death bed, and he reveals that Michelle and her associate know what’s in File 314. This file everyone assumed was the name of all the agents involved in Venezuela but what Michelle was looking for was who pulled everyone out, thus causing her trauma.
The answer? Donald Leland, former congressman, and current secretary of state. Who, of course, is on Michelle’s radar and so Robyn wants to intercept her killing him for, once she does, Robyn can’t help anymore. So, Robyn and Mel kidnap him, stop Michelle from killing him, and they knock her out in time for Fitz to miraculously show up like he wasn’t just in the hospital, and CIA Director Green to be close behind.
Right Back To Where We Started – Robyn, Dante, Aunt Vi, Delilah, Captain Watkins, DA Grafton, Fitz, Michelle, Briggs, Harry
The episode begins with the push that Robyn and her team could be killed, but by the time it ends, we’re right back to things being relatively chill. In fact, things are so good for everyone that just as Dante goes into Captain Watkins office thinking that DA Grafton is there because he is about to be fired, we learn he has been cleared, reinstated, and likely Harry is the one who got him his badge back.
On top of that, while Robyn was chasing Michelle, she asks Briggs to watch over her family and while he was there, enjoying Aunt Vi cooking for the family, we’re reminded college is what’s next for Delilah as she asks him about his career trajectory and Aunt Vi? Well, with Delilah making her next move, she has to determine what’s hers? She found purpose in being a full-time aunt and without Delilah there, waiting on Robyn to get home won’t be enough.
But, before the episode ends, we see Michelle, who Fitz took into his care, break free of him and seemingly end up on the loose with it not being clear if she should be considered a villain, an anti-hero, or any sort of threat to Robyn, beyond a threat to her conscience.
Cast & Characters
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Character’s Name |
Actor’s Name |
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Mel |
Liza Lapira |
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Harry |
Adam Goldberg |
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Dante |
Tory Kittles |
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Robyn |
Queen Latifah |
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Briggs |
Eden Marryshow |
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Michelle |
Ilfenesh Hadera |
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Diana Greene |
Margaret Reed |
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Delilah |
Laya DeLeon Hayes |
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Aunt Vi |
Lorraine Toussaint |
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Captain Watkins |
Indira G. Wilson |
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DA Grafton |
Jennifer Ferrin |
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Fitz |
Donal Logue |
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Donald Leland |
Philip Casnoff |
New Character Description(s)
Diane Greene
Diane Greene is the new CIA Director, replacing Director Suri Nash, who isn’t as hardline as Director Nash, but still is very much a loyal soldier.
Briggs
Briggs is the leader, or one of the leaders, of Bishop’s Security Team now, and from his conversation with Delilah, we learn he was in his high school’s ROTC, went to West Point, spent 15 years in army intelligence, and speaks 3 different languages.
Donald Leland
Donald Leland is the current, former, as of the end of the episode, Secretary of State, who issued the order to withdraw from Venezuela due to him holding properties there.
Review
Highlights
Aunt Vi and Delilah’s Storyline
While it isn’t clear what the long term plans are for Aunt Vi or Delilah, what is appreciated is their storylines moving forward. Aunt Vi, with a girlfriend, a career in education, and surely other opportunities on the horizon, is evolving and breaking away from being in the house for the majority of her screentime. Delilah? She isn’t just a daughter or niece, she is becoming a young woman. One who, through Mel, has already shown herself as a fighter, but now might follow in her mom’s footsteps.
Which, who knows, could lead to a spin-off, maybe phasing out the character, anything can happen and with how steady this show is, especially with things generally ending well, having something that feels unknown is exciting.
Michelle As A Long Term Villain
It isn’t clear what the plans are for Michelle. Robyn and her will continue to have a complicated relationship due to Michelle feeling abandoned, and add in she knocked her out and handed her to Fisk? This could add onto her issues. But, with killing off Mason Quinn, the show could use a new long term villain and who better than Robyn’s protégé?
Low Points
Erasing Any Sense Of Worry
Harry, Mel, and Dante all surviving Michelle’s trap, unscathed, was a terrible decision. Then, add in Dante getting his job back like nothing happened? It undercuts any sense that, if anyone is in trouble, there is a need to genuinely worry when Robyn can be caught dead to rights and suddenly someone like Briggs can show up.
Now I get it, there is no reason to kill a major character right now. Heck, the only reason Bishop was killed off was because Chris Noth got caught up in a allegations against him. But if we’re going to have a show that is now 4 seasons in, there has to be some real form of risk involved and the idea that, whether it is Mel, Harry, Dante, or even Robyn, their line of work comes with risks, and even if they don’t die, they can become impaired in a way which slows them down.
After all, none of these people are spring chickens and considering the litany of injuries it is safe to assume Robyn has gained, I don’t think I’m in the wrong for thinking we should see some signs of damage.
On The Fence
How Do You Kill CIA Agents And Then Walk Into A Director’s Office Like It’s Nothing?
I know realism isn’t something that should be expected from a show like “The Equalizer,” or any show that has gun fights, explosions, cars flipping, and yet from one episode to the next, characters are barely limping, scared, scarred, or even bruised. However, I’m trying to understand how Robyn can likely have killed at least two CIA agents and the director does nothing, the person who was the lead on apprehending or killing Michelle says and does nothing, and everyone moves on.
Never mind, after Robyn kills at least two officers, she can walk right into the CIA Director’s office without an escort or anyone saying a word. I get she has history and a storied career, but she quit and it hasn’t been long since it was believed she could be called in for favors at a moment’s notice. So, I’m a bit confused.
Background Information
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Network |
CBS |
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Release Date |
February 18, 2024 |
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Director(s) |
Solvan “Slick” Naim |
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Writer(s) |
Joseph C. Wilson, Adam Glass |
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Previous Episode |
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Series Page |
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Character Guide |
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