The Equalizer Season 2 Episode 5: Shades of Darkness
Aired on CBS: November 5, 1986
Directed by: Donald Petrie
Written by : Jack V. Fogarty
Featuring: William Sadler, Olympia Dukakis, Edward Binns
The plot on its own: The Equalizer goes up against a crazy mercenary killer who framed a National Guardsmen for murder. Sure that's probably a passably entertaining hour of television. But if we know the Equalizer a) "crazy" will be over-the-top deranged evil b) the world of mercenaries will be portrayed purely for entertainment and not based in reality c) they'll throw in some other out-there details just to taste, in this case religion and the paranormal. Similarly we pack the podcast for maximum entertainment: scene reads, analysis, and Soldier of Fortune magazine.
Stream The Equalizer at <a href="https://www.nbc.com/the-equalizer">https://www.nbc.com/the-equalizer</a>
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Nightscape

The Equalizer aired on CBS from 1985 to 1989. It inspired two Denzel Washington movies and a reboot with Queen Latifah, but the original series with Edward Woodward is largely forgotten (It can be streamed on nbc.com or the NBC Roku app. Your move, Peacock). In a perfect world, it would receive all the nostalgic love of your MacGyver, your Magnum PI, your A Team, your Knight Rider. The premise - a retired special agent puts an ad in the paper to help those who feel the odds are against them (take that, paper clips and talking cars). Never heard of it? Not a problem. Vince, Chris, and Chuck take a deep dive into the show one episode at a time - incredibly absurd plots, well-known guest stars in every episode (sometimes 4 or 5!), and all other aspects of this show that make it a true hidden gem.
Note: This is pure episodic TV, very few larger plots and themes, so no need to listen in order. This podcast, like say the celebrated show Parks+Rec, had a gestation period, and our full crew kicked in on season 1 episode 16, so you might want to skip ahead.
Photo Credit: Bill Heck