A subway mystery initially looks like a suicide while Dee and Vi initiate a far cosier private investigation of their own.

A more traditional style of case than has been seen in a while awaits McCall this time around, from the intriguing introduction to the victim’s wife to a satisfying conclusion. One fine addition to the episode is an excellent guest star in Marvin Jones III as Clay Johnson. Jones has been most regularly seen as Tobias, the major villain in Black Lightning and brings a lot of presence to Clay, albeit thankfully with much less menace. It feels intentional that there is a nod to the superhero genre which comes with him, as Clay’s formal introduction sees an oft-trodden tale of a blind character who has developed extrasensory abilities elsewhere. In the tradition of Rutger Hauer, Charlie Cox and Donnie Yen – twice – his combat prowess rivals that of Team Equalizer’s frontline. However, despite any concern which may manifest about this, it is quickly put aside as more of a nod than an episode focus as more about him is revealed. Specifically, he is a military veteran who lost his sight in action, and this provides a connection between him and McCall’s team, despite any efforts at resistance he sustains. Although apparently secondary to the main plot, in which it becomes clear that the victim is in fact the subject of a hit due to knowing too much about the wrong people, Clay’s ordeal speaks to the plight of under-supported veterans known well to McCall and Mel.

Yet there is another layer even to this in the wider episode scheme. Clay hustles to survive, but he does have someone to care about, even if it is not reciprocated. His tough and in control persona is just that – there is a fragility there which is well balanced throughout. He would be a good fit for McCall’s team, but his fierce independence refuses that possibility.

This episode’s main villain, Mo Brown, also works well. There is the right balance of measure and menace to make McCall work to handle him, and it adds that need for a sense of justice for the viewer’s satisfaction very well, especially when coupled with the reason the victim died in the first place.

Dante has a busy time, as memories haunt him from his forced truth serum ingestion and quite correctly, he is guided to speak with the only person who can truly aid him with the matter – McCall. Although early in the season, closer moments between McCall and Dante have remained relatively scarce, though their teamwork on solving cases has never been better. As is regularly the case though, the timing of this matter is distinctly imperfect, in that Dante’s new captain is not on board with the work of an Equalizer yet and sees little more than a vigilante; a conflict of interests for law enforcement authorities as their very existence undermines their job. Dante must find a balance between these issues, which means working more discreetly. This appears to be the season where the slow burn between the two may finally become escalate to sparks flying, yet the show will be quick to remind us that it is rarely that simple.

Vi and Delilah meanwhile simply go to check on an elderly family friend in his care home and find that he initially seems to be thriving. Upon closer examination however, a pile of unchecked bills reveals that Mr Otis has become subject to credit card fraud. Having Dee and Aunt Vi as his friends can only be bad news for the fraudster, as the two set about resolving this by the time he is back from his bingo session. It is a fun side quest and Mr Otis himself is a highly entertaining figure, and not just to the show’s audience!

The main intended takeaway message from the episode is the plight of military veterans in the US, which the show is well set up to highlight, and even repeat. With the backgrounds of McCall, Melody and even the likes of the recurring Briggs as veterans and survivors themselves, the emphasis is focused at the real-life audience to consider them in this episode, yet at the same time subtly fits the season’s wider story so far with the damage done by their masters. Michelle remains out there and although not mentioned this time around, Clay’s struggles as an injured veteran and his fierce independence as a hustler offer a different aspect of the same wider space. That McCall and Mel recognise that their main aid in getting through is not even that they have a focused calling, it is that they have, and are, a close-knit family. McCall has both her blood relations and her found family in Team Equalizer always keeping her grounded. Mel certainly has the latter, but also has the role this episode of reminding us that she is not immune from the consequences of the past either.  It is a gradually revealed tale, but there is impact due to the sum of its parts.

Verdict: A very distilled essence of an old-school Equalizer episode in that there is a client, a cause, and a situation that only she can solve, with some fun juxtaposition between superhero narrative elements and her own world, in which there are some life matters even the team cannot fix. Yet, we see McCall take on a disguised undercover persona, her trademark blend of ruthlessness and compassion, and enough clever twists to keep us guessing. 8/10

Russell A. Smith