The Equalizer (2021)

There’s an unspoken layer of social justice to Robyn’s mission, and I wonder how far they’ll push that angle in future episodes. (The premiere bends over backwards to show the NYPD cops aren’t the bad guys.) But it has a strong foundation to build from, thanks to Queen Latifah.

Latifah’s empathetic performance makes The Equalizer extremely watchable, as does the rest of the cast. We just hope that the cases Robyn McCall gets get better as the season goes on.

Latifah’s presence gives it a little something extra. Her charismatic underplaying draws you in, and adds a sense of mystery even when the writing is clunkily obvious. ... “The Equalizer” packs enough action to satisfy its post-Super Bowl audience, most likely. But it’s refreshing to see a few quieter moments of insight, mixed in with the good guys prevailing.

"Equalizer" isn't going to break any records or win many awards, but it's simple, it has good fight sequences and it's always nice to see a beloved star get a role like this. And even more, the idea that one person can make a difference for those who have nowhere else to turn is appealing in a world where most of us are so powerless.

Script-wise, things are woeful. But the rest is great fun. It is another derivative but satisfying franchise that knows exactly what it is doing. Comfort watching in troubled times. Go out and find her.

It’s preppy blaxploitation. That’s not to say that I don’t dig watching McCall obliterate Trumps n’ Musks. I like the show best when it abandons righteousness and goes for camp.

Gender reversal aside, there's little that's surprising about this reboot, which should make it a comfortable fit on Sundays. [15 - 28 Feb 2021, p.10]

The Equalizer's evolution continues, from that stately old British gent in the 1980s to a couple of Denzel Washington movies to Queen Latifah in a new CBS series. But the character isn't all that's changed, as the show adopts more of a team concept than the original's loner, even if the basic template -- a pretty fun one -- still involves a shadowy savior of those in need.

It’s a high-quality cast of actors but they have little to do beyond dole out exposition that pushes the plot forward while supporting Robyn’s efforts to aid the helpless.

100-proof, pure-grade, high-gloss, low-risk formula.

Latifah puts a human face on the formulaic silliness and incapacitates faceless bad guys with aplomb, but there’s nothing in the pilot that requires her to do anything but coast on her charm.

Borne out of the cult ‘80s CBS show starring Edward Woodward and 2014 blockbuster starring Denzel Washington, the 2021 iteration of “The Equalizer” mashes the two versions together to create a basic show that leans on its star to keep things interesting.

There’s potential there for a compelling Robin Hood-esque fable that could be exciting. Alas, it’s CBS, and time will tell whether the show’s creators and showrunners, Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller, will exploit any far more intriguing possibilities.