The Checklist: The Equalizer (S4 Ep2) “Sea of Fire”
I realized that it had been much too long since I sat down and watched one of the more unsung action series of the 1980’s, The Equalizer.
So I rectified that problem when I checked out “Sea of Fire”, the second episode in the fourth and final season of the show. And since I was watching, I figured I may as well put “Sea of Fire” to The Checklist test…
#1. Is this a “very special” episode?
The Equalizer was never afraid to tackle tough subjects over the course of its four season run on CBS. “Sea of Fire” takes a look at violence in schools and given the number of movies that tackled this subject in the years that followed this show, you could say The Equalizer was ahead of the curve.
Robert takes a job as a substitute teacher at a New York high school (years before Tom Berenger and Treat Williams) in order to neutralize the threat of the Demon Lords… a gang that is running amok at the school.
Robert battles the Demon Lords with psychological warfare, including taking his class full of gang bangers and miscreants down to the morgue, where they watch an autopsy being conducted. 1/1
#2. Is The Equalizer’s ad in the paper shown or referenced?
The principal of the school being terrorized by the Demon Lords, Elena Rodriguez (Seret Scott) calls Robert McCall looking for help… but it is never discussed how she got his number.
One can assume that Mrs. Rodriguez saw Robert’s ad in the newspaper (a staple of the earlier seasons)… where else is she going to find a retired spy’s phone number?! But I can only give out partial credit for this assumption. 1.5/2
#3. Does Robert’s Jaguar make an appearance?
When Robert meets up with Elena Rodriguez, she is walking to the hospital to visit one of her students, who was brutally beaten and raped by the Demon Lords right on school property.
Robert offers Elena a ride to the hospital in his luxurious Jaguar XJ6. 2.5/3
#4. Were there any notable guest stars?
Keith David (They Live) plays Cristo… a scumbag gangster who agrees to make the Demon Lords a part of his criminal empire.
Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard) plays Arthur Williams. Williams is a member of the school board who threatens to shut down Mrs. Rodriguez’ high school and makes it know he does not approve of Robert McCall’s tactics.
David Strathairn (The Bourne Ultimatum) plays Phillip Borchek, a man who had a near death experience and is brought in by Robert McCall to tell his students about what it is like when you die. Field trips… guest speakers… McCall went above and beyond as a substitute teacher! 3.5/4
#5. Does Robert get assistance from any of his former spy buddies?
Robert may be out of the spy game officially… but he’s got plenty of old friends he can count on. The first name on that list… Mickey Kostmayer (Keith Szarabajka). Mickey and a sniper rifle have Robert’s back when Robert goes to meet with the leader of the Demon Lords, Goat (Tito Nunez)… a smart move, since the whole thing was a setup to take McCall out… but not surprisingly, the well trained and experienced McCall was one step ahead of the gang. 4.5/5
- Final Score = 4.5/5 (90%) The badass teacher cleaning up a school storyline is one I will never tire of… The Principal, Lean on Me, Only the Strong, the aforementioned The Substitute series… I loved them all and I loved this episode of The Equalizer too.
