The Equalizer (1986) – Torn, and Unnatural Causes

Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) is Torn in this episode written by Carleton Eastlake from a story by Maurice Hurley and Joel Surnow. It first aired on 5 February, 1986. McCall is asked by a young girl, Laura (Melissa Joan Hart) to help her and her mother, Jessie (Caitlin Clarke) from her abusive father, O’Toole (Robert…

The Equalizer (1986) – Dead Drop, and Wash-Up

When an innocent bystander, flower shop owner Barry (James Murtaugh) gets involved in a smuggling operation that is using mailed packages as a dead drop, he’s targeted for a quick end. But McCall (Edward Woodward) may be up to the task of helping him in Dead Drop. Written by Maurice Hurley and Joel Surnow, this…

The Equalizer (1985/1986) – Back Home, and Out of the Past

It’s Christmas in New York, but that doesn’t mean Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) is expecting a silent night. Back Home was written by Joel Surnow and Maurice Hurley from a story by Neil Cohen, and it first aired on 18 December, 1985. His son, Scott (William Zabka) is still in Paris, and trying to organize…

The Equalizer (1985) – Mama’s Boy, and Bump and Run

Christine Baranski is denied a chance to shine in Mama’s Boy when the narrative shifts to include her ex-husband, Gilbert (Jim Dale) as Victoria (Baranski) turns to Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) for help when her son is on the verge of becoming a drug dealer. And hey look! There’s Alex Winter in a bit part…

The Equalizer (1985) – The Children’s Song, and The Distant Fire

William Zabka is back as Robert McCall’s (Edward Woodward) son, Scott, and there’s a television debut for Bradley Whitford, Ed O’Neill shows up as a local doctor, and Dana Barron from National Lampoon’s Vacation is this week’s person in need of help from McCall’s Equalizer. The Children’s Song was written by Howard Chesley, Joel Surnow…

The Equalizer (1985) – Lady Cop, and The Confirmation Day

Lady Cop, the fifth episode in The Equalizer’s first series boasts some pretty big and interesting names. It was written by Maurice Hurley and Joel Surnow from a story created by Hurley, Surnow and Kathryn Bigelow(!). It first aired on 16 October, 1985 and sees Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) continuing to wrestle with his inner…

The Equalizer (1985) – The Defector, and The Lock Box

Very quickly The Equalizer has shown that its willing to go dark and gritty, and while there are some dark moments in The Defector, The Lock Box is even darker. The Defector was written by Heywood Gould and first debuted on 2 October, 1985. An old friend, and former agent of the USSR, Felix (Joe…

The Equalizer (1985) – Pilot, and China Rain

I don’t know what the first episode of The Equalizer was that I saw, but I remember where I was, and I knew I found the concept and execution interesting, even at 14. It was grittier than a lot of the episodic television that was being broadcast at the time, a little darker, and had…

Miami Vice (1985) – The Dutch Oven, and Buddies

It’s back to the glitzy yet dangerous streets of Miami as Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas) continue delving into the world of vice. First up this week is Ditch Oven, written by Maurice Hurley. This story first debuted on 25 October, 1985. When Trudy (Olivia Brown) has to take a…

Miami Vice (1985) -Whatever Works, and Out Where the Buses Don’t Run

Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas)  find more darkness under the glitz and glamour as I dive into this week’s pair of episodes of Miami Vice. First up is Whatever Works. Written by Maurice Hurley, the episode first debuted on 4 October, 1985. Sonny’s Ferrari Daytona Spyder gets seized by police…