The Equalizer: Season 5 Episode 7 “Slay Ride” – Recap and Review

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Category	Details
Originally Aired	December 8, 2024
Network	CBS
Director(s)	Chris Fisher
Writer(s)	Ora Yashar, Terrence Paul Winter
Character	ACTOR’S NAME
Palma	Karen Sours Albisua
Marcus	Tory Kittles
Miles	Stephen Bishop
Robyn	Queen Latifah
Delilah	Laya DeLeon Hayes
Cameron	Nathaniel Logan McIntyre
Aunt Vi	Lorraine Toussaint
Armando	Hemky Madera
Harry	Adam Goldberg
Mel	Liza Lapira

Storyline Recap

La Maldad – Palma, Marcus, Miles, Robyn

While no decision has been made regarding Big Ben yet, Marcus does decide to do a job to take down a notable hitman named Palma. She, also known as La Maldad, is the daughter of a major cartel leader, and initially, Marcus was under the impression that she was willing to snitch on her dad. With this in mind, she is taken to the hospital where Miles works. He ends up her surgeon, which puts this love triangle in focus as Robyn comes to the hospital to drop Miles some food and runs into Marcus in the process.

As this happens, you see the men size each other up and then are on their way.

The Boy Might Be A Keeper – Delilah, Cameron, Aunt Vi

Unfortunately for Delilah, on the day she was supposed to meet Cam’s family because things were getting that serious, the cartel took over the hospital, seemingly to kill Palma. Because of this ending up on the news, it is all Delilah can think about, and with that, she understands if Cam decides to leave for his family dinner rather than stick around.

Thankfully, he doesn’t, which comforts Delilah and impresses Aunt Vi, but the longer he stays, the more Aunt Vi and Delilah almost slip up and tell Robyn’s business – beyond her being a veteran.

It Isn’t Reciprocal The Way You Want – Palma, Marcus, Miles, Armando, Robyn, Harry, Mel

Ultimately, it was discovered that those who took over the hospital and assumingly were looking to silence Palma, like Armando, were really trying to rescue her. Also, a member of Marcus’ team was feeding them information. But they were no match for Robyn, Harry, Mel, and Marcus. Even with kidnapping Miles, that wasn’t enough to keep each one from getting a bullet.

But all of this may have provided some much-needed clarity. Yes, Miles can roll with the punches, even laugh and joke after having a gun to his head, but with Marcus helping to save his life, that’s a plus in his corner. Plus, for Robyn, while Miles may always be family, a friend, and Delilah’s father, whether he could become a boyfriend, never mind her husband again? That is a more difficult ask.

At one time, it seemed Robyn and Miles’ shared past gave him a leg up, but now it seems to be what is holding him back. However, with Marcus still not taking the initiative and allowing Robyn to live in her femininity, he might be more liked, but she will not pursue it.

Other Noteworthy Information

• Check out our show reference guide for more information.

New Character Descriptions

Palma

Palma is a notable, if not legendary, hitman who ends up captured by Marcus.

Armando

Armando works for Palma’s father and is tasked with rescuing her after she is shot and requires surgery.

Review

Trajectory (76/100): Plateau
It’s more of the same when it comes to “The Equalizer.” Delilah is a highlight, the villains are hyped up only to lose their credibility within the same episode, and Robyn’s love life seems like an obligation because she is the lead.

Highlights

Cameron and Delilah

When Cameron stepped back into the house after being given the option to leave, he said he was just telling the ride-share driver that they no longer needed the car – I was sold. I know first loves often become a person’s first heartbreak, but this is a scripted show, and if Robyn can survive all she has without ending up with a limp, Delilah’s first love could end up being her person she is with until the end of her days. These two are just too cute and fit wonderfully into Delilah’s storyline.

Low Points

How Quickly Big-Name Villains Get Handled

One of the things that increasingly irks me about “The Equalizer” is that it quickly hypes up these people Robyn or Marcus are going against and then has them wiped out or diminished in one episode. You’re telling me this cartel is such a badass, or this person is so dangerous, only to be wiped the floor with within a day? Robyn and the rest don’t need to be propped up and pushed to seem more badass. What they do need, though, are credible threats, for those are in short supply, and when one does pop up and lives beyond the episode they are introduced in, we don’t see them for so long it is easy to forget they existed.

So here is hoping that when “The Equalizer” returns on February 16, unfortunately at 10 PM, they’ll pick up a real villain to help deal with being pushed off to the news hour.

On The Fence

The Beginning and End Of The Love Triangle

I’m #TeamMiles all day, but it seems that with Robyn trying to let him down easy, any chance of that happening is nil, even if Miles is going to continue to pursue Robyn. This sadly means Marcus is alone in the running, but as has become clear, Robyn wants Marcus to step up, and while the writers are likely to push him to do so eventually, I’m of the opinion that is not something he’d naturally do.

As noted previously, Marcus presents himself as someone who has to be pushed and given direction, and once he has it, he does as he is told, likely with excellence. However, give him options, and he’ll fumble. This, to me, isn’t something Robyn deserves or seemingly wants. The Miles saga really pushes the idea Robyn wants to be pursued, she wants to have that proverbial ability to be in her soft, feminine era, even if just at home or with her man.

I mean, that is what Marcus has over Miles – Robyn knows, physically, that Marcus can handle himself and is more than something nice to touch. And while you could submit that Harry and Mel show having a guy who may not be a badass in the field is still attractive, notice how they have been showing Harry’s value is beyond his lab. He may still bust his ass and have nerdy moments, but increasingly they have shown him capable of hand-to-hand combat and using a gun.

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