The Equalizer: Season 5 Episode 6 “The Fight For Life” – Recap and Review

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Category	Details
Originally Aired	December 1, 2024
Network	CBS
Director(s)	Benny Boom
Writer(s)	Faythallegra Claude
Character	ACTOR’S NAME
Aunt Vi	Lorraine Toussaint
Curtis	Christopher B. Duncan
Evelyn	Michael Michele
Miles	Stephen Bishop
Delilah	Laya DeLeon Hayes
Cameron	Nathaniel McIntyre
Robyn	Queen Latifah
Mel	Liza Lapira
Harry	Adam Goldberg
Marcus	Tory Kittles

Storyline Recap

Nothing Wrong With Some Innocent Flirting – Aunt Vi, Curtis, Evelyn

With another community police meeting, everyone is ready to tease Aunt Vi, but she doesn’t appreciate it. However, her good friend Evelyn has no issue egging it on and even volunteers Vi for a demonstration. In this demonstration, focused on self-defense, Curtis gets hurt by Vi, but with that, she offers breakfast as an apology, and it seems this could be the start of something outside of their meetings.

Meet A Parent – Miles, Delilah, Cameron

Delilah is serious about being with Cameron, and though she is looking into colleges and universities nowhere near the tri-state area, she plans to keep him around so she has her dad, Miles, meet Cameron. As you can imagine, Cameron’s lack of interest in jumping from high school to college raises an eyebrow for Miles, but by the end of the episode, Cameron’s sneaker business and his understanding of economics impress Miles enough to give him his blessing.

In and Out Of Prison – Robyn, Mel, Harry, Marcus

This week’s client is trying to figure out what happened to their sister, who was supposed to get out of prison recently. From what it seems, the paperwork was done for her release, but there is no sister. Robyn decides to have Marcus and Harry help her go in as an inmate, and Harry hacks the system so Mel can go in as a corrections officer.

Ultimately, they learn that between a correctional officer and an inmate, there is a fighting ring with half a dozen inmates fighting on a regular basis, with the sister being the current champion. From what it seems, as long as the person can still draw, they are kept alive, but once it is clear that people won’t bet on them, they are put in a death match and then shipped to relatives.

Luckily, the sister is found, and Marcus is able to help shut down the whole operation just before Robyn, Mel, and the sister end up getting killed.

It’s All About Making The Effort – Robyn, Miles, Marcus

The longer Marcus is in the tri-state area, the more he and Robyn are tempted to explore what could be. However, with him eventually heading back west, neither wants to start something that can’t be maintained. This is good for Miles, who is making headway with Robyn, and Marcus happens to see the two together before they go to dinner – potentially ending the need to think he should extend his stay and continue this “Will they or won’t they” situation.

Other Noteworthy Information

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Review

Trajectory (77/100): Decline, Plateau, Climbing
Between Mel showing signs she still struggles with having to harm the innocent paired with Miles making his moves, things are in a decent place. However, as “The Equalizer” pushes your suspension of disbelief that they can hack into prison and quickly get out, paired with Aunt Vi’s storyline venturing towards another pleasant but dull relationship, things are steady but certainly not in a great place.

Highlights

Miles Being Integrated In and Marcus Pushed Out

I recognize that Marcus’ network, especially with him becoming a federal agent, is very useful for situations like Robyn got into this episode, and considering a lot of the cases she takes on, she usually deals with people who have regional, national, and sometimes international power or connections. However, I have yet to be convinced that Robyn needs a love interest, never mind that the love interest needs to be Marcus Dante.

Now, Miles is easier to accept because there seems to be more of a relationship that can be repaired than a relationship we have to be convinced of. Miles being let into what Robyn does, being able to help, and sharing a kid with her eases the idea of them getting together. With Marcus, I never felt like they integrated their personal lives. They worked together, and that relationship was based on proximity and convenience. Hence, Harry pushed Marcus to do more and work harder rather than throw in the towel because he’d actually have to put in some effort.

But that’s Marcus. In many ways, I often feel he is led by what is in front of him. Marcus becoming a cop can be seen as due to that is what he grew up around and what he knew. I’d even submit that him getting married, having kids, getting divorced, and more all likely dealt with him doing what he thought he should, had to do, or what he was told was going to happen, rather than taking the reins of his life.

Which, for Robyn, isn’t enough and shouldn’t be enough. She is almost done raising one child, she doesn’t need to get a grown man to step up, show out, and really make it clear he wants her.

Mel’s Recovery Not Being Over

As things go on, Mel’s issues become more complex yet clear. If it is a black-and-white situation, she can operate without issue. They are bad guys, shooting at us, bang bang, the good guys win. However, like with that correctional officer she had to knock out, if it is someone innocent or unaware of the larger system that they are part of, things become more complicated.

Her training as a soldier is unraveling, and she can’t focus on the end goal anymore. Now, the details matter, and with that, it can’t just be her life or death. For Mel, it is also the life or death of the people involved, especially if they exist in the gray.

On The Fence

How Believable Is This Story

You could submit the cases Robyn has been through in “The Equalizer” rarely were believable. From how many bullets have flown by her and she has seldom been hit, the explosions not leaving burns, and her family not being further traumatized by what has happened or more entities who Robyn messed with. A lot of what “The Equalizer” gives us, case to case, as time goes on, seems to push you more and more to suspend disbelief beyond reason.

In this episode, I get that Harry is a top-level hacker, and prisons likely don’t have the best cyber security. However, getting Robyn and Mel in, discovering a fighting ring, and then getting out as they did? At one time, wasn’t Robyn supposed to be slightly under the radar? At this point, I get she has made allies throughout law enforcement, but I feel we’re overdue for someone of power to want to rein her in because surely she is complicating cases beyond those she helps out.

Aunt Vi and Curtis

I think the issue with Aunt Vi and Curtis is, as much as I love seeing a Black queer woman on network television and two Black people of a certain age getting cute and flirty, Aunt Vi in a woman-loving woman relationship feels more special. Note that seeing characters 50+ years of age, in general, is necessary, especially Black women. However, with Aunt Vi’s most notable relationship being queer and how they quashed that relationship, Curtis feels like a compromise choice. One that allows Aunt Vi to date and be more than stuck in the house but a little less different.

Again, recognizing all those under the bi and pan umbrella, something about Aunt Vi being with a man just feels cowardly.

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