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Season 1 – The Equalizer

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Equalizer 1985 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Robert McCall is a retired secret agent. Having become disillusioned by all the rigamarole that comes with secret agenting, McCall starts to look out for the little guy. Calling himself "The Equalizer," McCall puts ads in the paper marketing to desperate people in desperate situations. McCall usually takes these cases for little or no money (he lives in a posh Manhattan apartment). Acting as both bodyguard and investigator, sometimes using his government resources, McCall usually manages to save the day.

Critics Reviews

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Steve Daley Chicago Tribune You'd think the producers might invest The Equalizer with a touch more imagination in the show's production. Dec 5, 2018 Full Review Tom Shales Washington Post The Equalizer, at least to judge from this very attractively atmospheric premiere, could become a welcome guest in many an American home. Dec 4, 2018 Full Review Howard Rosenberg Los Angeles Times He snarls at the thug. "Now if I ever see you walking down the same street she's on again, I will kill you. Leave the lady alone!" Nice, huh? And the great thing is that the thug doesn't leave the lady alone. He doesn't believe McCall. You won't either. Dec 4, 2018 Full Review Joan Hanauer United Press International Woodward is impressive as a suave middle-aged operator who exudes power. Mar 6, 2019 Full Review Jeff Jarvis People Magazine Nothing's realistic about The Equalizer, neither the premise nor the attempt to make Woodward into a Tom Selleck for the over-50 crowd. The plot's confusing and the show's as erratic as a pacemaker on low batteries. Rated: C Dec 5, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Max W The Equalizer matches City Hunter in terms of concept, but its execution feels somewhat flat and lacking in energy; nevertheless, Edward Woodward's personal charisma remains commendable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/26/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Equalizer — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Sloan

Creator

Richard Lindheim

Creator

Edward Woodward

Robert McCall

Robert Lansing

Control

Ron O'Neal

Lt. Isadore Smalls

Keith Szarabajka

Mickey Kostmayer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 18, 1985 Pilot Former secret agent Robert McCall resigns and opens a one-man security company; guest Patricia Kalember. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 25, 1985 China Rain Kidnappers mistake a Chinese boy for the son of wealthy parents. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 2, 1985 The Defector McCall (Edward Woodward) poses as a homeless derelict in an effort to foil attempts on the life of an old friend. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 9, 1985 The Lock Box A man from the Midwest turns to McCall (Edward Woodward) for assistance when his daughter is abducted. Guest star: Adam Ant. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 16, 1985 Lady Cop A policewoman's life is in danger after she realizes that her fellow officers are involved in corruption and murder. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 23, 1985 Confirmation Day McCall helps a man who unknowingly delivered a shipment of contraband for a friend with mob connections. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 30, 1985 The Children's Song McCall and Scott head out for a weekend in the country, but wind up helping an assault victim (Dana Baron). Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 6, 1985 The Distant Fire An assassin seeks McCall's backing in an attack on a political figure (George Morfogen) and his wife (Alberta Watson). Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 13, 1985 Mama's Boy A mother asks McCall to extricate her son (Adam Horovitz) from the world of drug smuggling; guest Billy Wirth. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 20, 1985 Bump and Run A vigilante killer pins McCall's newspaper ad to his victims; Kostmayer romances a client; guest Mark Linn-Baker. Details Episode 11 Aired Dec 4, 1985 Desperately A bored housewife (Blanche Baker) leaves a restaurant with a stranger (Ray Sharkey) and witnesses a murder. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 11, 1985 Reign of Terror A doctor (Lonette McKee) in an inner-city clinic asks McCall to protect her patients from a gang; guest Fred Williamson. Details Episode 13 Aired Dec 18, 1985 Back Home McCall's (Edward Woodward) investigation of a wealthy slumlord reveals a plot to kill the man's wife. Details Episode 14 Aired Jan 18, 1986 Out of the Past A paroled robber terrorizes the current spouse (Barry Primus) of McCall's ex-wife (Sandy Dennis). Details Episode 15 Aired Jan 22, 1986 Dead Drop An innocent man (James Murtagh) becomes involved with a ring dealing in stolen information; guest Robin Curtis. Details Episode 16 Aired Jan 29, 1986 Wash-Up The owner (Robert Davi) of a window-washing operation threatens two workers who want to form a union. Details Episode 17 Aired Feb 5, 1986 Torn McCall (Edward Woodward) is torn between protecting a woman from her abusive husband and confronting an old enemy. Details Episode 18 Aired Feb 12, 1986 Unnatural Causes McCall and a former agent (Gwen Verdon) follow a single clue to find the killer of lonely middle-aged women. Details Episode 19 Aired Feb 19, 1986 Breakpoint McCall and several other wedding-party members fall victim to a terrorist plot to abduct a wealthy philanthropist. Details Episode 20 Aired Mar 5, 1986 No Conscience McCall retraces the steps of a ladies' man given 36 hours to deliver information from a mystery woman to killers. Details Episode 21 Aired Apr 1, 1986 Unpunished Crime Creative McCall sets a trap for a corporate president suspected of stealing an inventor's automotive design. Details Episode 22 Aired Apr 8, 1986 Pretenders McCall checks up on a reporter's reclusive neighbor (Tony Musante) and uncovers murder. Details

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Season Info

Director
Rod Holcomb, Donald Petrie, Richard Compton, Russ Mayberry, Alan Metzger
Creator
Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim
Executive Producer
Michael Sloan, James Duff McAdams
Screenwriter
Joel Surnow, Heywood Gould, Mark Frost, Maurice Hurley, Coleman Luck, Scott Shepherd
Network
CBS
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 18, 1985