This episode, and thus review, comes with content warnings of race hate crimes, particularly around antisemitism.

Harry and Mel deal with an outbreak of antisemitism as McCall faces problems closer to home.

It will come as no surprise to know that the show has come to revisit the spectre of the far-right, specifically Nazism, and issues related to this. Sadly we are still having to talk about it – incidents of hate crimes remain prevalent internationally and reports can be discovered on social media with minimal effort.

The latest in a spate of crimes sees Team Equalizer on the scene and affords Harry a rare opportunity to take the lead, as he finds himself back in contact with his home community after a lengthy absence. This allows for a focus upon a different aspect of his backstory, his estrangement from his now deceased mother.

The episode contains numerous interesting observations in terms of Harry’s lived experience, which often appear understated, yet provide important detail about his upbringing. The very first thing is in reminding us of his Jewish and Armenian descent – he mentions more than once he knows a thing or two about persecution. He details this with Dante early in the investigation, telling us about the daily threat he endured, as did previous generations of his community. The return also provides him an opportunity to explore the truth about his mother. Appropriately, this becomes something of a rite of passage for Harry, as he rekindles his relationship with his faith, a matter which becomes integral to the resolution of the case.

Dante provides an essential support role here. It would have been easy to have overlooked the reference to his own deadly ordeal faced on-screen last season, yet his support always does just enough to remind us that his own lived experience is relatable, if not precisely identical. There are a couple of moments where his words could be throwaway if not for the subtle reminders he provides of knowing much of which Harry is going through, including his frankly righteous anger. Yet this applies to his antagonists too; certain villains have opportunities to turn their hatred upon him, yet they save it for the Jewish community they are targeting, not solely for the fact that he occupies a position of authority. It is simply not his story upon this occasion. Yet at all times, we are well aware Dante understands in full who and what he is dealing with.

The fact that the focus remains upon Harry’s story and experience allows the episode to balance its serious messages with his own brand of humour, and to be precise, his capacity for humour and warmth proves another integral element to the story. The writing is as smart as any seen on the series, its strength being key moments where it says just enough if the viewer knows what to look for, as well as far louder reminders to knows who might not have caught the meanings as readily. A good example of the louder voice is Dante reminding us all that, “hate is everyone’s problem.”

McCall’s subplot related to Delilah’s custody runs throughout the episode, with something of a callback to the first episode, during which we witnessed McCall seriously contemplating quitting her mission. Although not the main thrust of the episode, McCall’s conflict with Miles and how far she is willing to go to maintain custody place her in the background this time around. In the end, although she cannot bring herself to destroy him, Aunt Vi has far fewer qualms. She remains at the heart of the family, and will stop at nothing to maintain its harmony. McCall, after some heavy soul-searching, even figures out a way to reconcile her dangerous calling with its unavoidable presence within her family life, in the process resolving her internal conflicts on the matter.

For all that we are left with a happy ending overall, there is tragedy in the title of the episode, which reminds us that one of the worst atrocities recorded in history, the Holocaust, remains one of the darkest warnings from modern history of the dangers of hatred towards targeted sections of humanity. It is increasingly evident that some have forgotten the lessons, or wilfully choose to ignore it. Not this show, though. Social issues are its very heartbeat and although aspects of this episode have been seen previously, this remains a timely reminder of dangers faced and how to tackle them. Yet even for such a vast subject, it is the small details which give this episode its strength. These include the team’s ultimate ability to face an incredibly serious threat and not only neutralise it as usual, but also to diminish its potency with an element of ridicule and slapstick towards the end. Harry’s gift is one which keeps on giving, much to the benefit of this episode.

Another 9/10.

Russell A. Smith