DVD Review of “The Equalizer: Season One”

TV Review!

The Equalizer: Season One DVD cover

“The Equalizer: Season One” Review by Suzanne 9/15/21

This is a vigilante show, which is similar to a superhero show. There’s a thin line that sometimes can be hard to find. Batman is a vigilante, but he has no super powers.  Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) is a former CIA agent who now secretly helps people who are victims of evil doers (especially female victims).  She has a team helping her, including her former CIA handler (played by the amazing Chris Noth). She tries to redeem herself with each person she helps – she has a lot to make up for from her shady past. She also lives with her Aunt Vi (the always-underrated Lorraine Toussaint), who helps her raise her teenaged daughter, Delilah.

There’s a lot of great action in the show, but the violence has been toned down quite a bit since the 80’s version of this series.  Perhaps they think that female audience members won’t like it. At any rate, it gives them time to focus more on story and characters. The first season was a big hit, and the second season is doing pretty well. CBS is packed with remakes and reboots, but this show stands out as one of the best. Queen Latifah herself deserves a lot of the credit, but the writing is also very good.

The DVD has some nice extras: 3 behind-the-scenes specials, as well as the regular deleted scenes and gag reel. This would make a good gift for any teen or adult.

MORE INFORMATION:

Buy This DVD!

THE EQUALIZER: SEASON ONE
Street Date: September 21
Format: DVD
Description: THE EQUALIZER is a reimagining of the classic series following Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption. Robyn’s clandestine work remains a secret from her smart and observant daughter, Delilah, and her aunt Vi, who lives with Robyn to help her balance life as a working mother. Joining Robyn as champions of justice are William Bishop, her former CIA handler and longtime friend; Melody “Mel” Bayani, an edgy bar owner and a colleague from Robyn’s past; and Harry Keshegian, a paranoid and brilliant white-hat hacker. As Robyn aids the oppressed and exploited, her work garners the attention of shrewd NYPD Detective Marcus Dante, who doggedly seeks to uncover the identity of the vigilante known as The Equalizer.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

cast of "The Equalizer" on CBS

Review of “The Equalizer”

TV Review!

Cast of "The Equalizer" on CBS

“The Equalizer” on CBS Review by Suzanne 2/8/21

It’s nice to see a woman (particularly an African-American woman) kicking ass and taking names on TV. However, I’m not too fond of the concept of this show (as I wasn’t of the original series, either). That is, I’m not too fond of vigilante justice, whether it comes from a cop or a former CIA agent. Sure, I’m fine with vigilantes like Dexter, Batman, and Supergirl because those are not at all realistic. They’re fantasy shows. No real person could be like them. No one person should have the power to just shoot people and get away with it. I’m not saying that this show is gritty and realistic, because it’s not. It doesn’t quit fit into a fantasy world, either. It walks a fine line between reality and fantasy, much like most broadcast TV shows. If you want gritty reality, watch shows on AMC or HBO. Those who loved the original 80’s series, or the Denzel Washington movies, may not enjoy this one as much for that reason.

In this new series, at least they’ve toned down the violence from the original show. Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) doesn’t seem to kill people. She does use violence, but she doesn’t kill. I’m not sure if that makes the show better or worse. Perhaps they think that having a woman killer won’t fly on broadcast TV. I hope not. It makes sense, though, because of the changes they made in the story (compared to the original 1980’s version). Edward Woodward’s McCall went after violent offenders (the focus was on the villains). This McCall defends women that are being targeted (the focus is on the victims). This makes her a little less vigilante and a little more superhero. Because it’s 2021, she has a computer geek helping her out (like most dramas do now). Woodward’s McCall hid in the shadows, at night; while she works during the day, using disguises.

What makes this show great is that she has a sordid past that she’s trying to make up for. She has a police detective who both helps her and wants to put her behind bars. This makes for an interesting dynamic. They also have a sexual attraction between them. Besides making up for her past, McCall experienced some serious trauma that she’s having to deal with, which affects her daughter. This makes her a very interesting character to watch, which is great if you watch the show.

MORE INFORMATION:

THE EQUALIZER is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award® nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah (“Chicago,” “Bessie”) as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption. Robyn’s clandestine work and her personal life collide when her smart and observant daughter, Delilah, and her aunt Vi, who lives with Robyn to help her balance life as a working mother, discover her secret career as a vigilante. While Robyn contends with uncertainty at home, she is joined in her pursuit of justice by William Bishop, her former CIA handler and longtime friend; Melody “Mel” Bayani, an edgy bar owner, and sniper from Robyn’s past; and Harry Keshegian, a paranoid and brilliant white-hat hacker. As Robyn aids the oppressed and exploited, she sometimes works with Marcus Dante, an NYPD detective who once sought to uncover her identity, but now respects the need for Robyn’s type of justice even as he often questions her methods.

Begins its second season Sunday, Oct. 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available live and on demand on the CBS app and Paramount+.

 

ON AIR: Sundays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT)
ORIGINATION: New Jersey

FORMAT:

Drama (Filmed in HD)

STARRING:

Queen Latifah (Robyn McCall)
Tory Kittles (Detective Marcus Dante)
Adam Goldberg (Harry Keshegian)
Liza Lapira (Melody “Mel” Bayani)
Laya DeLeon Hayes (Delilah)
WITH: Lorraine Toussaint (Viola “Vi” Marsette)
AND: Chris Noth (William Bishop)

PRODUCED BY:

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:

Andrew W. Marlowe, Terri Edda Miller, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), John Davis, John Fox, Debra Martin Chase, Shakim Compere and Joseph C. Wilson
CREATED BY: Developed for television by Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller, as based on the original series co-created by Richard Lindheim

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theequalizercbs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theequalizercbs

Instagram: @theequalizercbs

CBS Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBSTweet

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

Queen Latifah and Chris Noth of "The Equalizer" on CBS.