The Equalizer: Season 5 Episode 13 – Recap/ Review
As Marcus Dante shows his luck has no bounds, Robyn and Mel handle a soldier who went AWOL due to unsafe conditions.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Episode 13 “A Few Good Women” Details
| Air Date | March 23, 2025 |
| Network | CBS |
| Director | Terrence Laron Burke |
| Writer | Vanessa K. Herron |
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Recap
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Delilah
With getting a rejection letter from her safety school, Hartstone, she becomes worried about what this may mean for the schools she is invested in attending. So, with the advisement of her aunt, she asks and she finds out that her social media profile, including finding out she was arrested defending her beliefs, is what led to her likely not getting in.
This is worrisome to learn, but Delilah is ten toes down on continuing to do what is right.
Military Justice: Mel, Robyn, General Franklin Knight
With Robyn approached about an issue with a soldier going AWOL, she works with her former commanding officer, General Franklin Knight, to try to figure out what happened. Long story short? The soldier was raped, her attempts to get justice were thrwarted by her commanding officer, and to make matters worse, General Knight initially refused to step in. Mel, who was also assaulted, not in the military but at a job she had previously, tries to relate and help the soldier feel seen, but that isn’t justice for her.
Hence, the soldier escalates things to the point of being willing to kill, and Robyn and Mel have to step in. Thankfully, though, when all is said and done, General Knight steps up and does what is right, and while justice isn’t served in this episode, the first steps toward it are.
God Watches Over Children And Fools: Captain Watkins, Marcus Dante, Robyn
With his team being bound for Miami, Dante decides to quit rather than leave everything in New York. This means he is unemployed, and with Captain Watkins initially not wanting him back under her command, his options are either working in Staten Island, starting from the bottom, or perhaps pursuing a new line of work.
Luckily for Dante, a chat with Robyn helps Captain Watkins give Dante a chance, but only if he follows the rules and refrains from assisting Robyn with her work. In the past, she was unable to get justice for a single mother due to a former partner cutting corners and sometimes working outside the system, so she is serious about by-the-book police work. With his other options not being particularly appealing, Dante agrees to this, but whether or not he keeps his word is a whole other thing.
Cast and Characters
| Previously Introduced Character(s) | Actor |
| Delilah | Laya DeLeon Hayes |
| Mel | Liza Lapira |
| Robyn | Queen Latifah |
| Captain Watkins | Indira G. Wilson |
| Marcus Dante | Tory Kittles |
General Franklin Knight (Dorian Harewood)
General Franklin Knight was Robyn’s commanding officer when she first joined the military and affectionately named her “Boots” (barely out of training) due to her commanding presence that exuded someone of a higher rank. Yet, she was still relatively new to the base.
Review
Trajectory (78/100): Decline
I’m starting to wonder if “The Equalizer” changed its writing staff. Two episodes where the case of the week is intertwined with character development? Robyn’s commanding officer in the military being met, Mel revealing her past assault, and it furthering the case at hand? Honestly, it makes it so, if it wasn’t for Marcus, this show would come off so good.
And don’t get me wrong, I get that I may very well be in the minority regarding not appreciating Marcus’ role. But the ways they handle his character are perplexing to me. This man just quit a federal task force, which he was basically pushed onto or risked firing, and he thought he could just get his job back? Never mind, all it took for Captain Watkins to change her mind was a phone call from Robyn?
I mean, I get her workload has increased and recruiting cops is not only hard, but training and having quality ones must be an immense challenge, but all of this feels less realistic than Robyn doing a private investigation into military matters and getting the job done within a few days. Heck, with the way “The Equalizer” is edited, maybe not even a few days, but less than 24 hours.
But I’ve been in the camp of Marcus being downgraded from a series regular, or even written off, for a while now, since I just don’t see Robyn and Marcus as a cute couple and think their relationship is purely based on proximity more than anything else. Add on his storyline as an individual hasn’t been that great or focused on, and as noted in the numbers below, he drags the show a bit.
Highlights
- Cases Continuing To Intermix With Character Development [83/100]
On The Fence
- Marcus Dante [74/100]
“The Equalizer” Guide
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In the series finale of The Equalizer, you’re reminded of the best and worst parts of the series.
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The Equalizer: Season 5 Episode 17 “Acceptance” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
Robyn became The Equalizer not only to help people but to have time for days like this – to see Delilah glammed up and going to the prom.
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The Equalizer: Season 5 Episode 16 “Sins of the Father” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
In an episode built to test if the audience may want a spin-off, you aren’t necessarily given characters who you’d want to see more of.
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