The Checklist: The Equalizer (S3 Ep18) “No Place Like Home”
In the series The Equalizer, Edward Woodward brought class and dignity to action TV in the 1980’s. Woodward plays a former spy, who uses his skills and training to help people who have the odds stacked against them and need some equalizing in their lives.
In The Equalizer’s second appearance on The Checklist, we will take a look at the 18th episode from season 3 of the series entitled, “No Place Like Home”.
- Synopsis: Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) receives a phone call from a young boy whose family has been evicted from their home and forced to live in a welfare hotel. The landlord of the hotel is strong arming the tenants into taking part in his welfare scams… but the tenants now have someone to even the odds!
Now let’s see how “No Place Like Home” stacks up on our Checklist…
1. Is this a “very special” episode?
TV shows, especially those that have the good fortune of making it past their first season, often use their popularity to spotlight an important social issue. In “No Place Like Home” the issues of unemployment and the less fortunate are tackled. We get to see first hand how an average middle class family can have their lives turned upside down after the loss of a job. 1/1
2. Is The Equalizer’s ad in the paper shown or referenced?
Yes! Young Billy Whitaker spots the ad while his family is at the welfare office and immediately calls for help, as bonus he even addresses Robert as The Equalizer. 2/2
3. Were there any notable guest stars?
One of the main characters in this episode, Bill Whitaker, is played by Michael Rooker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Cliffhanger fame. Bill Whitaker lost his job and is forced to move his pregnant wife Paula and young son Billy into a welfare hotel. Another bonus here as the great Ed Lauter pops up once again, this time in a smaller role than the last time we put The Equalizer to The Checklist challenge. 3/3
4. Does Robert get assistance from any of his former spy buddies?
As skilled as Robert McCall is, even he can’t do it all on his own. He calls on two of his friends, Mickey Kostmayer (Keith Szarabajka) and Jimmy (Mark Margolis) to help him take down the evil landlord and help get the Whitaker family back on their feet. Aside from the star of the show, Edward Woodward, Keith Szarabajka has the most episodes of The Equalizer to his credit. 4/4
5. Does Robert’s Jag make an appearance?
This one surprised me… I thought with so many characters down on their luck in this episode, that the producers would refrain from showing us that Robert McCall has a sweet Jaguar he rides around in, but the Jag does make an appearance in this episode. 5/5
- Final Score = 5/5 (100%) It certainly doesn’t get more Equalizer than “No Place Like Home”.
