The Equalizer 1985
“If the rules are against you he'll change them. If the odds are against you he'll even them.”
What is The Equalizer?
The Equalizer is an American action crime drama television series that originally aired on CBS from September 18, 1985, to August 24, 1989. The show was co-created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1985
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 88
- Runtime
- 48 minutes
- First aired
- Sep 18, 1985
- Last aired
- Aug 24, 1989
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- CA, US
- Networks
- CBS
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Crime, Drama
- Updated
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 88 episodes and an average 48-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
The Equalizer is an American action crime drama television series that originally aired on CBS from September 18, 1985, to August 24, 1989. The show was co-created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. The series stars Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a retired intelligence agent with a mysterious past. Other cast members include Keith Szarabajka, Robert Lansing, and Mark Margolis. In the series, McCall operates a private crime-fighting service for victims of the system who have exhausted all other means of seeking justice. As a former agent of a secret government agency, McCall utilizes his professional skills to help threatened clients. By fashioning himself as The Equalizer, he promises to even out the odds for those who have nowhere else to turn. Today, the original 1985 series is considered an action franchise that has become a staple in television and at the multiplex, though it is noted that the original program can be difficult to access for contemporary viewers.
Should you watch it?
“A former secret agent helps victims of the system find justice as a private crime fighter.”
- compelling premise
- justice-focused narrative
- limited information on series specifics
Watch it if you enjoy stories about individuals providing justice for those who have nowhere else to go.
The series focuses on the operations of a private crime fighter helping victims of the system.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Pilot: The Equalizer Sep 18, 1985
- E2 China Rain Sep 25, 1985
- E3 The Defector Oct 2, 1985
- E4 The Lock Box Oct 9, 1985
- E5 Lady Cop Oct 16, 1985
- E6 The Confirmation Day Oct 23, 1985
- E7 The Children's Song Oct 30, 1985
- E8 The Distant Fire Nov 6, 1985
- E9 Mama's Boy Nov 13, 1985
- E10 Bump and Run Nov 20, 1985
- E11 Desperately Dec 4, 1985
- E12 Reign of Terror Dec 11, 1985
- E13 Back Home Dec 18, 1985
- E14 Out of the Past Jan 15, 1986
- E15 Dead Drop Jan 22, 1986
- E16 Wash Up Jan 29, 1986
- E17 Torn Feb 5, 1986
- E18 Unnatural Causes Feb 12, 1986
- E19 Breakpoint Feb 19, 1986
- E20 No Conscience Mar 5, 1986
- E21 Unpunished Crimes Apr 1, 1986
- E22 Pretenders Apr 8, 1986
Season 2 · 22 episodes
- E1 Prelude Oct 8, 1986
- E2 Nocturne Oct 15, 1986
- E3 A Community of Civilized Men Oct 22, 1986
- E4 Joyride Oct 29, 1986
- E5 Shades of Darkness Nov 5, 1986
- E6 Nightscape Nov 12, 1986
- E7 Counterfire Nov 19, 1986
- E8 The Line Nov 26, 1986
- E9 Tip On a Sure Thing Dec 3, 1986
- E10 The Cup Dec 10, 1986
- E11 Heartstrings Dec 17, 1986
- E12 High Performance Jan 7, 1987
- E13 Beyond Control Jan 14, 1987
- E14 Carnal Persuasion Jan 21, 1987
- E15 Memories of Manon (1) Feb 4, 1987
- E16 Memories of Manon (2) Feb 11, 1987
- E17 Solo Feb 18, 1987
- E18 A Place To Stay Feb 25, 1987
- E19 Coal Black Soul May 6, 1987
- E20 First Light May 13, 1987
- E21 Hand and Glove May 20, 1987
- E22 Re-Entry May 27, 1987
Season 3 · 22 episodes
- E1 Blood & Wine (1) Sep 23, 1987
- E2 Blood & Wine (2) Sep 23, 1987
- E3 Suspicion of Innocence Sep 30, 1987
- E4 In the Money Oct 7, 1987
- E5 Encounter in a Closed Room Oct 14, 1987
- E6 Mission: McCall (1) Oct 28, 1987
- E7 Mission: McCall (2) Nov 4, 1987
- E8 Shadow Play Nov 11, 1987
- E9 Inner View Nov 18, 1987
- E10 The Rehearsal Dec 2, 1987
- E11 Christmas Presence Dec 16, 1987
- E12 A Dance on the Dark Side Jan 13, 1988
- E13 The Child Broker Jan 20, 1988
- E14 Video Games Jan 27, 1988
- E15 Something Green Feb 10, 1988
- E16 The Mystery of Manon (1) Feb 17, 1988
- E17 The Mystery of Manon (2) Feb 24, 1988
- E18 No Place Like Home Mar 16, 1988
- E19 Last Call Mar 23, 1988
- E20 Regrets Only Mar 30, 1988
- E21 Target of Choice Apr 6, 1988
- E22 Always a Lady May 4, 1988
Season 4 · 22 episodes
- E1 The Last Campaign Oct 26, 1988
- E2 Sea of Fire Nov 2, 1988
- E3 Riding the Elephant Nov 9, 1988
- E4 Eighteen With a Bullet Nov 16, 1988
- E5 The Day of the Covenant Dec 7, 1988
- E6 Splinters Dec 14, 1988
- E7 The Making of a Martyr Jan 11, 1989
- E8 The Sins of the Father Jan 18, 1989
- E9 The Visitation Feb 1, 1989
- E10 Past Imperfect Feb 15, 1989
- E11 Trial By Ordeal Mar 1, 1989
- E12 Silent Fury Mar 8, 1989
- E13 Lullaby of Darkness Mar 30, 1989
- E14 17 Zebra Apr 6, 1989
- E15 Starfire Apr 13, 1989
- E16 Time Present, Time Past Apr 20, 1989
- E17 Prisoners of Conscience Apr 27, 1989
- E18 The Caper May 4, 1989
- E19 Heart of Justice May 11, 1989
- E20 Race Traitors Jun 11, 1989
- E21 Endgame Aug 10, 1989
- E22 Suicide Squad Aug 24, 1989
Frequently asked questions
Who is Robert McCall?
He is a former agent of a secret government agency.
What does Robert McCall do?
He runs a private crime fighting operation.
What does the title The Equalizer mean?
It refers to McCall's service of evening out the odds for victims of the system.
Who is the target audience for this service?
It is for victims of the system who have exhausted all other means of seeking justice.
Is this series about audio software?
No, the series is about a crime fighter, not audio equalization tools.