The Checklist: The Equalizer (S1 Ep7) “The Children’s Song”

I could be an old curmudgeon and tell you that there is nothing good on television these days or that Hollywood has run out of ideas. But that would simply not be true. In fact, one could argue that the bar has been raised and television is better than ever.

But to me there is still something about revisiting the classic shows of yesteryear. Like spending time with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while, rewatching an old favorite is like chicken soup for the soul.

I recently sat down and rewatched my favorite episode of The Equalizer starring Edward Woodward as Robert McCall. The episode entitled “The Children’s Song” is the seventh episode from the first season of the show and it originally aired on October 30, 1985. Can my favorite episode of The Equalizer pass The Checklist test?

• Synopsis: Robert is hoping to spend a quiet weekend in the country with his son Scott before Scott goes off to school in France. But the weekend ends up being anything but quiet when Robert and Scott find themselves waging war with some local goons.

1. Is this a Scott episode? 

If the synopsis was unclear, this is in fact a Scott episode. William Zabka (Cobra Kai) plays Scott McCall, the estranged son of Robert McCall.  The episode opens with Scott breaking the news to his father that he has been accepted to the Conservatoire de Strasbourg and that he leaves in just a few days. Wanting to make things better between them, Robert suggests a weekend in the country where they can have some quality father/son time. Scott is reluctant at first, but indulges his father. The tension between the McCall boys is high as they drive from NYC out to the country. The the two even get into an impromptu wood chopping contest. 1/1

2. Was this a “very special” episode? 

The Equalizer was never afraid to tackle hard hitting subject matter and while it may not have been the intent of the episode, “The Children’s Song” clearly depicts the dangers of hitchhiking. Melinda and her boyfriend Jayck (nice spelling of Jake) are outside a littlle gas station/convenience store/roadside diner looking to hitch a ride to Toronto. Three not so good ol’ boys with a pickup agree to take them as far as the interstate… but the three goons have no intention of doing that… they take the young couple out to the woods with intentions of raping Melinda. And they come damn close and if not for Jayck hitting his head on a rock while trying to protect Melinda, they probably would have accomplished their disgusting goal… instead they had to load Jayck up in the truck and get him to the nearest hospital. The lesson here is… NEVER hithchike! 2/2

3. Were there any notable guest stars? 

Melinda was played by Dana Barron of Death Wish 4: The Crackdown fame. After Jayck dies at the hospital, Melinda finds herself back at the roadside diner with her three would be rapists as they try to figure out what they are going to do her when the sheriff comes around to find out what happened to Jayck. Fortunately for Melinda, Scott shows up looking to buy some beer (impromptu wood chopping contests will make a man thirsty) and much like his father, Scott finds himself helping a person in need.

Bonus Guest Star: Ed O’Neill (Al Bundy himself!) has a small role as a doctor at the hospital. 3/3

4. Does Robert’s Jag make an appearance?

Not only does the Jag make an appearance as Robert and Scott drive to the cabin in the woods, the Jag gets some action when Scott and Melinda make a run for it and we get some chase action with Scott and Melinda in the Jag being pursued by the treacherous trio in a pickup truck.

The chase ends when Scott and Melinda make it back to the cabin, but now they find themselves trapped inside… but what our bad guys don’t know is super spy Robert McCall is in the cabin too!  4/4

5. Does Robert get assistance from any of his former spy buddies?

With the phones lines cut and the cabin surrounded, there was no way for Robert to reach out to any of his old cronies (remember this was pre-everybody has a cell phone), so Robert has to rely on his special set of skills and know how and enlist the help of Scott and Melinda to help him gather whatever useful items they can find in the cabin to defend themselves against the prison fearing lunatics who are looking to tie up loose ends at the expense of our heroes. 4/5

• Final Score = 4/5 (80%) While it may not have received a perfect score on The Checklist, this to me is the perfect episode of The Equalizer. The father/son dynamic brought the drama and the intense situation the McCalls find themselves in brought the action with a car chase, shoot outs and even some explosions!