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The Equalizer

1985 – 1989Show4 seasons88 episodes

Action & AdventureCrime
62
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic536.4

A nostalgic, intriguing crime series about everyday modern life and crime.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

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Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

4 seasons · 88 episodes · best: S4E10 "Past Imperfect" 8.6

Episodes

7.4
7.6
7.4
7.5

Story

If the rules are against you he'll change them. If the odds are against you he'll even them.

Robert McCall is a former agent of a secret government agency who is now running his own private crime fighting operation where he fashions himself as "The Equalizer." It is a service for victims of the system who have exhausted all possible means of seeking justice and have nowhere to go. McCall promises to even out the odds for them.

Feels like

  • Classic Detective Procedural
  • Witty Banter & Wordplay
  • Socially Conscious Crime Drama
  • Edward Woodward Performance
  • 80s British Television Aesthetic
  • Moral Ambiguity in Justice
  • Intellectual Mystery Solving
  • Character-Driven Narrative
  • Nostalgic Comfort Watch
  • Realistic Police Work

Cast

24 of 559 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Alan Metzger, Richard Compton, Russ Mayberry
Written by
Coleman Luck, Scott Shepherd, Maurice Hurley
Produced by
Heywood Gould, Joel Surnow, Marc Laub
Music by
Stewart Copeland

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 18, 1985 · August 24, 1989 · Ended

First aired
September 18, 1985
Last aired
August 24, 1989
Status
Ended
Length
4 seasons · 88 episodes
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Action & Adventure, Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
French, German
Made in
Canada, United States
Available in
1 country

Tropes

Demolitions Expert, Manly Tears, In Harm's Way +9

  • Demolitions Expert
  • Manly Tears
  • In Harm's Way
  • Police Are Useless
  • Bluff the Imposter
  • Appropriated Appellation
  • Anonymous Ringer
  • Shell-Shocked Veteran
  • Sex Slave
  • Never Be a Hero
  • Busman's Holiday
  • Protectorate

12 of 112 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Equalizer?"

Questions about The Equalizer

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Equalizer?

It streams in 1 other country, but not in the United States.

Is The Equalizer worth watching?

62
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 62 (IMDb 7.8 and Metacritic 53). Audiences rate it higher (71 out of 100) than critics (53).

Is The Equalizer okay for kids?

ViolenceStrong language

Yes: its content advisories are violence and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch The Equalizer?

70 h

About 70 hours: 88 episodes in 4 seasons of about 48 minutes each, aired from 1985 to 1989.

What tropes does The Equalizer use?

Demolitions ExpertManly TearsIn Harm's WayPolice Are UselessBluff the ImposterAppropriated AppellationAnonymous RingerShell-Shocked VeteranSex SlaveNever Be a HeroBusman's HolidayProtectorateand 100 more

TV Tropes lists 112 tropes for it, including Demolitions Expert, Manly Tears, and In Harm's Way.