The Checklist: The Equalizer (S2 Ep1) “Prelude”
This Sunday night, a reboot of the The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah will premiere on CBS in the coveted post Super Bowl time slot.
When you combine Hollywood’s reboot love with the ratings success CBS has achieved in the last decade revisiting classic series like Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver and Magnum P.I. and the profitability of the two Equalizer films starring Denzel Washington… it really is no surprise that The Equalizer is getting another shot on TV.
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In honor of the television return of The Equalizer, this edition of The Checklist will put an episode of the original series starring Edward Woodward to The Checklist test. The episode that was randomly selected was The Equalizer’s second season premiere entitled “Prelude”.
- Synopsis: An investigative reporter is abducted after publishing an article that goes after a Central American dictator. The reporter’s daughter reaches out to Robert McCall to save her father.
#1. Is this a Scott episode?
William Zabka was back in his recurring role as Robert McCall’s estranged son, Scott. It is a surprise appearance where Robert (Edward Woodward) is concerned as he comes home and realizes someone is in his apartment, so Robert ends up greeting Scott with his gun pointed at him. Which in typical fashion gets the McCall boys off on the wrong foot… things get even worse when Scott breaks the news that he was kicked out of the Conservatoire de Strasbourg. The father and son chat is interrupted when Robert’s hotline rings, on the other end of the line is a damsel in distress. Robert invites Scott along as he goes to pay the woman on the other end of the line a visit. 1/1
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#2. Were there any notable guest stars?
The woman on the other end of the line was Jenny Morrow (played by Lori Loughlin, who you may remember from prison or The Brotherhood of Justice). Jenny’s father, investigative reporter Frank Morrow, was abducted that morning by a group of men. Jenny, knowing that her father and Robert McCall had a past when they were both in Central America, believes that Robert had something to do with her father’s abduction. In fact, when Robert and Scott show up, Jenny greets them at gunpoint (a theme on this episode apparently). Robert assures Jenny (and Scott) that he had nothing to do with Frank Morrow’s abduction as only Robert McCall can. Jenny then comes back to Robert’s apartment, where she stays with Scott, while Robert starts getting to work. 2/2
#3. Did Robert get a primo parking spot?
For those of you who may be unfamiliar, The Equalizer was set in New York City. During the 1980’s, New York City had a population north of 7 million people… yet, Robert and his sweet Jaguar always seemed to find a parking spot right in front of Robert’s destination. “Prelude” was no exception.
On the topic of Robert and his Jag, I did find it convenient that Robert wasn’t driving his Jaguar when he was driving away and being shot at by a rogue CIA agent played by James Rebhorn. 3/3
#4. Did Robert get the assist from any of his former spy buddies?
Robert McCall may have “retired” from the CIA, but he still has plenty of contacts from his days working for the Agency and he often calls upon them for their assistance.
In “Prelude”, Robert drops in on his old buddy, Agent Jacob Stock (played by Robert Joy, who you may remember as the guy that Charles Bronson blew up with a soccer ball in Death Wish V: The Face of Death) while he is on a surveillance assignment. Stock not only provides Robert with some valuable intel during Robert’s visit, he shows up at just the right time later in the episode to give Robert some additional firepower. 4/4
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#5. Was this a “very special episode”?
With its more serious tone, The Equalizer was able to tackle some tough topics plaguing society and weave them into whatever mission Robert McCall found himself on… but “Prelude” was a straight up spy adventure, with Robert McCall making amends for some of the things he was expected to do in his former CIA position. 4/5
Final Score = 4/5 (80%) Don’t let the score fool you, the episodes with Robert and Scott McCall are always the best in my opinion. I wonder if William Zabka will get an opportunity to guest star in the new The Equalizer series?