The Equalizer: Season 5 Episode 11 – Recap/ Review

A child being kidnapped leads to Delilah getting the chance to step up and Captain Curtis to re-engage with Aunt Vi.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 11 “Taken” Details

Air DateMarch 9, 2025
NetworkCBS
DirectorTasha Smith
WriterVanessa K. Herron, Rob Hanning

Recap

This Week’s Case: Robyn, Delilah

This week, a woman’s child is kidnapped at the mall while Robyn and Delilah are prom dress shopping. Robyn takes the reins, gathers the crew, and saves the child. However, it is one of those saves which is just in the knick of time for between focusing on a predator hunter, two addicts who kidnapped the kid, and then the pedophile who was willing to kill himself and the boy, if another few minutes passed, we would have seen the rare failure for Robyn.

Taking Things Slow: Aunt Vi, Captain Curtis

Aunt Vi has feelings for Captain Curtis, and because of that, she wants to explore whether or not they could move forward. Things get testy as the differences in how he should have handled things are brought up, and even when she tries to get him to see the other side. However, part of the reason she is so passionate about this is an interaction a cop had with her brother, Robyn’s dad, that changed his life and her hopes things would be better, especially with a Black Captain, and Curtis gets it.

He understands how much the badge protects him and how he can be, and seemingly has, fit a description without it. But knowing change isn’t overnight, he seems committed to making changes when possible while admitting that some procedures are necessary so that he can feel safe doing his job.

Cast and Characters

Previously Introduced Character(s)Actor
RobynQueen Latifah
DelilahLaya DeLeon Hayes
Aunt ViLorraine Toussaint
Captain CurtisChristopher B. Duncan

Predictions

Robyn (Queen Latifah) and Delilah (Laya DeLeon Hayes) in The Equalizer: Season 5 Episode 11, directed by Tasha Smith (CBS)
  1. I feel like there will be some significant event at Delilah’s prom that will further remind Robyn how much Delilah may want her in her life but has genuinely become sufficient enough to handle things herself in a notable way. I’m talking working with Harry to see camera feeds and really kick some butt.

Review

Trajectory (82.5/100): Climbing

Highlights

Aunt Vi’s Conversations With Captain Curtis [82/100]

One of the things Aunt Vi needs more consistently is for it to be made clear that she has a life outside of whatever is going on with Robyn or Delilah. Whether it is dating, talking about her relationship with her brother, or just having friends, for too much of the show’s existence, she has been in that kitchen, maybe in the living room for a change of scenery, but primarily trapped in that house.

So, when it comes to her conversation with Captain Curtis about what her brother went through, talking about Robyn in a way that doesn’t de-center her in the conversation, I need more of that. I hope we get more of that, and while acknowledging Aunt Vi is a supporting character, I want her to have just as much consistent growth and adventures as everyone else, even if just in her own way.

Delilah Getting To Step Up [83/100]

We are a Delilah stan. She has presented consistent growth on “The Equalizer,” given us a notable storyline each season, and while still very much in Robyn’s orbit, she has her own life, friendships, and even a relationship. In this episode, you see a culmination of sorts of that. She not only gives us a sense of coming of age through dress shopping and what she picks out, but also you have to take note of how she steps up.

Is she trying to put herself in danger? No. But she knows she isn’t a helpless child who should just wait at home for news. She can gather friends, go beyond what Amber Alerts can do, and use her knowledge of modern software to do potentially more than Harry. For lest we forget, Harry is a hacker, not a designer, and while he has people skills, his comfort zone is in front of huge screens.

So, with Delilah hitting the pavement and talking to people, whether it was the woman who saw the kid in the parking garage or consoling the mother, we feel that, eventually, Delilah isn’t going to be in a position where she can volunteer but must.

“The Equalizer” Guide

Links

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.