The Equalizer: Series 1 [DVD]

For starters, The Equalizer was a great show. It's also one of my favourites. This DVD release is very much anticipated, not least by myself as my VHS recordings (from when it was repeated on ITV in the very early 90s) are wearing out. I've ordered Season 1 as a pre-release, and eagerly awaiting it's release day.

So, why do I think it was such a great show? The show's main premise, of a semi-retired ex-intelligence officer (called Robert McCall) who hires his `services' to ordinary people, was a great starting point. This provided a refreshingly different take on the usual run-of-the-mill cop shows. It led to some fantastic stories, with far more variety than the more usual cop-hunts-bad-guy routines. It ran for 4 seasons - hopefully they will all be released on DVD in due time.

The show tackled some taboo issues well before any other show dare - there are episodes on HIV, child abuse (both physical and sexual), baby kidnapping, rape, deafness, blindness, learning difficulties and gun control. In fact, no other show has ever tackled some of these subjects, even since. This is along with episodes where McCall takes on the mafia, muggers, drug gangs, street gangs, Russian spies (remember the cold war was still on in 1985-87), a variety of hitmen, corporate bad guys, evil landlords, rogue ex-intelligence agents, bad cops, pimps, dodgy lawyers, peeping toms, ex special service soldiers, arms dealers, etc. In one episode he's hired to deal with a classroom of rowdy kids. In another he gets set up and is arrested for murder, but is then broken out of jail by his agency friends. Often, the main plot line is augmented with another interesting touches - in one episode McCall had flu, in another he'd already been shot and was still hobbling around, while in another his kitchen was taken apart by an inept repair man, which he then tried to deal with whilst rescuing a family from a hit-man. There are very few car chases - which says something in its own right.

Of importance was how McCall dealt with the situations. He planned his responses - never went in blasting (unlike many cop shows). In short, McCall was a thinking man's good guy, but there is also violence in this show - sometimes subtle, sometimes very direct - and sometimes more than you see in today's shows, with McCall quite blatantly beating or killing people. But the violence was always well used, never over done - and in more than one episode he speaks of his regrets and his disliking for some of the things he's had to do.

Other characters also played a major part in the show. McCall was certainly no one-man band. He knew lots of people whom he could call upon. His main sidekick was Mickey Kostmeyer (a much younger man still working for the same agency that McCall used to) but others usually joined in. The detail added by the other characters provided an nice extra dimension to the episodes. Indeed, you could quite easily imagine these characters each having a show of their own - the character expansion and depth was that good.

My favourite episode (`Dead Drop' in Season 1) sees all of McCall's friends helping a man who has been caught up in a dodgy distribution network. This particular episode is quite wonderful - it's very well written, funny and the interplay between the various characters is teased out with superb effect.

Despite some of the darker plot lines, humour was also present, with some banter between the characters. Various references to other TV shows and movies were also made. The shooting locations in and around New York City were excellently chosen. The cinematography and camera work was also brilliant. Attention to detail was fantastic. The accompanying musical score and theme tune was unique and brilliantly employed (composed by Stuart Copeland, of The Police fame). Edward Woodward's wonderful acting skills are demonstrated to the full, as was the skills of other cast members. The high production values are very apparent. I could simply go on and on.

The Equalizer can rightly be compared with the best shows of today - it stands up excellently, even now, more than 23 years later.

So again, just why do I think it was such a great show? Simple answer - it worked. Everything came together so sweetly. It's very rare for this to happen in a 45 minute TV show, but in The Equalizer, it happened in every episode.

UPDATE - 23 April 2008...

Having just received this, after pre-ordered for 4 months (!) - I'm disappointed with the picture quality. The episodes are great, but some of the picture quality is poor, in fact my 18 year old VHS recordings from ITV are better !! Some scenes are very grainy (much worse than my VHS tapes), there is evidence of some over-compression, and some of the colour is washed out in some scenes. There are no extras. Although I am a fan of the series, I think I'll be keeping my VHS copies!

There are many shows out there, some more known than others. Some are certainly much more heard of than The Equalizer. So, why pick this one up?

Well, to put it short, this show is smart.

Robert McCall is a self-retired operative of "The Agency". He left because of all the suffering and killing he caused, believing he was doing good for the people (he actually was, most of the time). Deciding that on his own he would help more people and cause less harm, he walked out. Now he works for little pay to protect the lives of those who are not in position to help themselves. In New York, of all places.

Let's start with saying that Robert is not a simple one-sided "good cop" character. He lived for quite some time, did a lot, seen a lot. He has flaws, and his character is rich. And he has a piano, on which he plays from time to time. His grown up son and his ex-wife play a large role in several episodes, mainly to show that he doesn't only care for his job. He also has many friends and contacts, which he often calls for help if the going gets really tough. His clients are not simple, and they can be anyone of any age or gender. Robert does not only rescue "damsels in distress". Young boys and 30-something men need help quite frequently. The "bad guys" are also well done, being corrupt businessmen, serial killers, VERY stupid teenagers... and sometimes even women.

The acting is top-notch, as is the cinematography. The picture quality is quite good for a TV show from the 80's. The action scenes are professionally done, and the violence (where without it?) is not held back, making 15+ rating quite reasonable. There is some good fighting and... at least one death per episode (almost every one). The gunfights look like they were choreographed by someone who knew the thing.

The music was composed by ex-drummer of The Police, and it suits the show extremely well, capturing action, suspense and even occasional romance.

The only downside is that there aren't any extras on this DVD set. And there are no subtitles either. But on the other hand, PAL release is completely unedited, while Reg. 1 release has many musical changes and has poorly mixed sound. If you are buying the European release, you are getting the best deal out of the 2.

So, with all that being said, why not buy yourself some good action/crime series to watch in the evening?

This is a long overdue release as far as i am concerned of one of the best,if not THE best tv show of the 1980s.

I was only a child when this was shown firstly on ITV here in the UK but i never missed an episode when they were shown.

Ever since dvds came out this was the series I Wanted in my collection with there being 4 seasons made a total of 88 episodes in all.

Robert Mccall - the character brilliantly played by Edward woodward is a loner living in New York city , who's trying to overcome demons from his past working for
"The Company" or CIA, by helping ordinary people who are in trouble for whatever reason , and have nowhere else to turn to who contact him via reading his ad in the newspaper.

He also has friends from his past who he calls on to help him on his various missions to overcome the bad guys ,and solve the problems his clients have faced.

each episode is one story , and throughout the entire seasons 1-4 there are only few duff episodes - although they are only slightly less enjoyable.

I was beginning to think this show would never be released with near enough every other 80's tv show available ie magnum ,miami vice,a -team ,knight rider etc , but with The Equalizer movie being released in the future it was inevitable the show would appear at some point.

All in all a great show that was prematurely cancelled by CBS after only the 4 seasons , such a pity it didnt run for 2 or 3 more seasons.
and i cant wait to buy them all on dvd or hd-dvd.