McCall receives an emergency CIA call…

After weeks of not having an espionage-centred episode, we return to such an adventure in some style. And after weeks of wondering when it would happen, Mason Quinn has arrived, meaning viewers can finally put a face to the name.

McCall gets an emergency CIA call from Agent Marcela Mendes which McCall cannot, and of course does not, ignore.

Carter Griffin, played by Brett Dalton, a notable face as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Grant Ward, is present as Mendes’s former handler, and for the purpose of this episode, McCall’s link to the CIA. For a rare change, a character does not ask who she is and receive an enigmatic answer; instead he recognises her instantly, apparently something of a fan of her previous work.

It is revealed that the recently deceased Mendes was a former student of McCall’s, which allows for flashbacks. McCall’s recollections show a different side to her than we have seen previously, showing her during her time working for the Company and a reminder that her recent calling represents a radical difference in her life. McCall’s instruction was taken on board by Mendes and a little advice she provided held sufficiently strongly that even in death she was able to provide a vital lead to the investigation.

As expected, the stakes raise considerably as the team uncover the reason for the emergency: the sale of a targeted electromagnetic pulse weapon being brokered by black market businessman Daniel Blake. However, Blake is neither the real story, nor even the only British accented villain to surface. His client is none other than McCall’s narrative arch-nemesis, Mason Quinn! Quinn does not disappoint in his arrival in that he looks and sounds exactly as we appear to have been set up to expect, and this is no bad thing. Smooth-talking, dapper, confident – everything we want in the formula and dare it be said, Chris Vance bears something of a resemblance to Julian Sands in this role.

Although Quinn has not been around long enough to establish a fully rounded character on screen, the seeds sown over the threat he poses are more than enough here. He already begins with a unique edge over McCall in that his mere presence appears sufficient to cloud McCall’s usually impeccable judgement. This dynamic freshens matters considerably, as not only does it negate McCall’s ability to stay one step ahead of her opponents; indeed, Quinn appears frequently at least a step ahead of her. Ultimately, he even hands them a genuinely rare defeat, which only serves to cement his place as a serious villain. In fact, there is evidence that he holds awareness of McCall as an opponent, but as yet does not truly consider her a threat to him, citing her moral code as a weakness, not a virtue. By the end of the episode, for good or ill, McCall at least has his attention though.

There is a Pandora’s Box with regards to Quinn in that Bishop left McCall a file of intel on him, but strongly advised that she never open it. However, although Bishop’s mark is all over the episode, he also written out emphatically. Some of the episode’s resonance is a little marred by real life matters in that Bishop’s off-screen death perhaps carries less emotional impact than it ought to have, though the cast, in particular Queen Latifah, sell it well. Queen Latifah really shines in fact as the control and composure she has built a reputation for erodes entirely in Quinn’s presence. Melody prevents McCall from failing herself utterly in the end as witnessing Bishop’s death clouds her judgement to the point where she cannot see herself almost breaking her own code, blinded by her hatred of Quinn enough to almost forget about harming innocent bystanders to get to him. We can expect their opposing levels of respect for morality to be a lynchpin of their conflict when they clash again.

Despite the episode being firmly centred around espionage, it would have been impossible to completely ignore the impact of the previous week’s events. The continuity is smartly built in as Dante is in no shape to assist McCall operationally, but emotionally is another matter. He appears in scenes with his ex as he continues to recover from his own ordeal, but the real place for him is that he is the only one McCall can turn to for comfort in the aftermath of the event.

Meanwhile Aunt Vi’s love life gets a brief mention in the show’s family appearance, though it is Harry who has the most time on B-plot as he wrestles with the re-emergence of a one-time good friend of his who let him down. Harry has to address whether forgiveness and a second chance are possible in this case. The fate of Bishop finally reminds him that life is short and he chooses reconciliation. McCall seemingly has no such luxury.

One final thing to note about Quinn is that the episode took pains to note his penchant for going after families to ensure he gets his way.

Verdict: The scene is well set for Mason and McCall’s future clashes as the Equalizer will not be heeding his threat to stay out of his business. Far from it, we can reasonably suspect. 8/10

Russell A. Smith