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Plot Recap
Pay It Forward – Briggs, Aunt Vi, Christine, Robyn, Delilah
With Aunt Vi’s life, for years, having been dedicated to helping to raise Delilah, her not only growing up to the point of independence, but abandoning the NYU or Columbia plan for potentially a far away military academy? It is too much. So, she tries to get Briggs to maybe scare Delilah into realizing maybe this whole military idea isn’t the greatest, and it backfires.
In Delilah’s mind, her mom was in the military, she has been trained by her and Mel, and rather than be discouraged, she is inspired by what Briggs did. So, Aunt Vi even trying to manipulate her is insulting and makes her look at her in a different light. Even if Aunt Vi apologizes.
But as Aunt Vi is trying to redirect Delilah, Robyn is a for a young woman part of this week’s case Christine. Now, whether she’ll end up like Nicki and be reoccurring or this is a one and done deal, we’ll find out in the future though, it isn’t too often we see Robyn give her card to people.
This Week’s Case – Robyn, Harry, Mel, Ari, Christine
In this week’s case, a young girl is hit by a car and put into a coma, and her mother asks Robyn to help find the person who hit her daughter. The person who did is named Ari, and he is someone on the spectrum, who loves racing. However, he got on the bad side of some local racers, had to make drastic manuevers, and thus the kid got him.
The story doesn’t end there, however. Ari is the son of a someone who works in the consulate, so he has diplomatic immunity and can’t be prosecuted. But, his parents are looking to defect because the country his dad represents is under the type of regime where his whole family could be killed for stepping out of line. So, in the car Ari was in, there was a diamond his father stole, and between the hit and run, the diamond, the buyers not getting the diamond and then kidnapping Ari, it is a very dramatic episode.
One that features Harry introducing “MEL,” his AI program which was supposed to allow him to be in the field more and help, but with it glitching one too many times, while he does help find Ari and keep the main players alive, unfortunately it seems he’ll remain in the basement for the foreseeable future.
Cast Guide
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Character’s Name |
Actor’s Name |
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Briggs |
Eden Marryshow |
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Aunt Vi |
Lorraine Toussaint |
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Christine |
Leilany Celeste |
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Robyn |
Queen Latifah |
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Harry |
Adam Goldberg |
|
Mel |
Liza Lapira |
|
Ari |
Havon Baraka |
|
Delilah |
Laya DeLeon Hayes |
New Character Description(s)
Christine
Christine works at a chop shop to make ends meet, after her parents gave her an ultimatum of their way or being homeless.
Ari
Ari is the son of a member of a consulate, who loves cars and also is on the spectrum.
Review
Highlights
The Possibility Of A Interesting Reoccuring Character
One of the things we’ve always loved about “The Equalizer” is Robyn pays special attention to people who look like her or share something in common. This is shown in the form of how often Robyn is going hard for people of color, especially Black woman, as shown by Michelle and now Christine. But, in general, just like in season one, you can see and feel something different from a woman who looks like Queen Latifah being that savior vs. someone else.
Which isn’t to say, if in dire straits, you may care what your rescuer looks like. But, as shown by Delilah, that representation of a Black woman who kicks ass, takes names, and genuine cares about you beyond the rescue, it can hit different.
Keeping Up With Harry Feeling Left Out
Just as we love and appreciate what Queen Latifah brings as Robyn, and how that creates a type of character we haven’t seen before, we also appreciate Harry. He is a married man who loves his wife, but he doesn’t look like Briggs. He is a supreme tech nerd, but he isn’t some scrawny dude who looks like he can’t put up a fight.
In my mind, Harry is repping for the dudes who don’t live in the gym but also don’t shy away from sunlight either. He is balanced between having enough game to pull someone like Mel, but also has those soft skills to be a notable hacker.
Yet, sometimes I do think, and understand, Harry feels like he should be doing more. Maybe as a guy, as a husband, or just part of the team, considering what Robyn and Mel step into. And I hope as time goes on, the show continues to explore Harry being a valuable member of the team, yet questioning if he is doing enough considering he isn’t just part of the team, but a husband and friend.
On The Fence
Wondering What’s Going On With Aunt Vi
Aunt Vi struggling with Delilah growing up, making independent decisions, and perhaps following in her mother’s footsteps are understandable stressors. However, her bailing on Trish feels like a step back. Part of her storyline previously was her getting a job outside the house, dating an old flame, and seemingly making a life post-Delilah. So, what’s with her taking a step back like this? Is it supposed to further the point of her past struggles before Delilah was under her care?
To me, they can explore how far Aunt Vi has come, without her doubling back and showing us on screen.
Background Information
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Network |
CBS |
|
Release Date |
February 25, 2024 |
|
Director(s) |
Solvan “Slick” Naim |
|
Writer(s) |
Joseph C. Wilson |
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Previous Episode |
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Series Page |
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Character Guide |
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