# List of The Equalizer (1985 TV series) episodes

The following is an episode list of the 1980s CBS, cult classic vigilante series, The Equalizer.

## Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 22 | 22 | September 18, 1985 | April 8, 1986 |
| 2 | 22 | 22 | October 8, 1986 | May 27, 1987 |
| 3 | 22 | 22 | September 23, 1987 | May 4, 1988 |
| 4 | 22 | 22 | October 26, 1988 | August 24, 1989 |

## Episodes
### Season 1 (1985–86)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | Rating/share (households) |
| 1 | 1 | "The Equalizer" | Rod Holcomb | Michael Sloan | September 18, 1985 (1985-09-18) | 83517 | 18.3/32 |
| Robert McCall, disenchanted with "The Company" (an otherwise unnamed American intelligence agency), quits and starts his own detective agency. His first cases are helping a computer clerk whose life is in danger after he stumbles across some incriminating data, and a woman being stalked by a crazed man. Guest Star: Jerry Stiller as Brahms. ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | "China Rain" | Richard Compton | Story by : Victor Hsu Teleplay by : Joel Surnow & Maurice Hurley & Victor Hsu | September 25, 1985 (1985-09-25) | 61204 | 14.3/23 |
| When a Chinese maid's young son is snatched by mistake in place of the son of the woman's wealthy employers, McCall is hired to locate the boy. Includes appearances by Lauren Tom as Mrs. Tom, Jodi Long as Mrs. Lin, and Tzi Ma as Mr. Lin. First appearance of Keith Szarabajka as Mickey Kostmayer. ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Defector" | Rod Holcomb | Heywood Gould | October 2, 1985 (1985-10-02) | 61213 | 12.1/20 |
| McCall comes to the aid of a Russian double agent who wants to defect to the west but when the man is murdered, McCall must protect his ballerina daughter, Irina Dzershinsky (Melissa Leo). Meanwhile, McCall also helps a teenager stand up to a group of bullies while balancing time with his latest mistress. ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Lock Box" | Russ Mayberry | Story by : Frank Military Teleplay by : Frank Military & Joel Surnow & Maurice Hurley | October 9, 1985 (1985-10-09) | 61216 | 15.0/25 |
| Seventeen year-old Edie Griffith is abducted by DeGraumont (Adam Ant), a pimp who runs an anything-goes, invitation-only brothel. Her parents, Sam (J. T. Walsh) and Eleanor (Maureen Anderman), hire McCall to find Edie. Includes appearances by Lori Petty as a Hooker, Luis Guzman as a Gypsy Cabbie, and David Alan Grier as the Desk Sergeant. ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Lady Cop" | Russ Mayberry | Story by : Kathryn Bigelow & Maurice Hurley & Joel Surnow Teleplay by : Maurice Hurley & Joel Surnow | October 16, 1985 (1985-10-16) | 61208 | 14.4/23 |
| A young policewoman, Sandra Stahl (Karen Young), hires McCall when she finds that her partner, Nick Braxton (Will Patton), and his cronies are corrupt. To ensure she doesn't blow the whistle on them, Braxton uses Stahl's own gun to kill a bum (Raynor Scheine). Left with no alternative, Stahl and McCall set a trap for them. First appearance of Mark Margolis as Jimmy. ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Confirmation Day" | Richard Colla | Story by : Eric Blakeney & Gene Miller Teleplay by : Edward Adler & Heywood Gould | October 23, 1985 (1985-10-23) | 61205 | 12.9/21 |
| A teenage boy hires McCall for help after his father, Louie Ganucci (Burt Young), steels a truckload of antiques, which results in Louie's friend being killed, and Louie in deep trouble with mob boss Eddie Vanessi (Joseph Wiseman). McCall takes the boy and his mother Marie (Lois Smith) to a safehouse until he can resolve Louie's predicament. McCall also helps an eccentric old lady, Henrietta Fields (Anne Jackson), who is sure someone is stalking her. ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Children's Song" | Richard Compton | Story by : Howard Chesley Teleplay by : Howard Chesley & Maurice Hurley & Joel Surnow | October 30, 1985 (1985-10-30) | 61203 | 14.0/24 |
| McCall takes his estranged son Scott (William Zabka) for a weekend away in the country to try and bond, but they don't exactly have a quiet time when they end up protecting a girl from a group of young thugs led by Dillart (Bradley Whitford) who killed her boyfriend and now intend to keep her from talking. ||||||||
| 8 | 8 | "The Distant Fire" | Alan Metzger | Story by : Robert Sabaroff Teleplay by : Robert Sabaroff & Maurice Hurley & Joel Surnow | November 6, 1985 (1985-11-06) | 61201 | 11.8/18 |
| McCall is forced to team up with a known hitman, to save the life of a woman they both used to love from a killer. First appearance of Saul Rubinek as Jason Masur. ||||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Mama's Boy" | James Sheldon | Heywood Gould | November 13, 1985 (1985-11-13) | 61219 | 13.5/21 |
| A single mother, Victoria Baines (Christine Baranski), hires McCall to straighten up her troubled teenage son Ronald (Adam Horovitz), who is going off the rails after falling in with a drug runner with martial arts skills. ||||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Bump and Run" | Richard Compton | Story by : Jim Trombetta Teleplay by : Maurice Hurley & Joel Surnow | November 20, 1985 (1985-11-20) | 61214 | 11.8/19 |
| McCall helps a foreign student, Sydney Blake, after one of a trio of "bump and run" thugs dies in an attempt to car-jack her. The remaining two thugs, Abmennet (Charles S. Dutton) and Tessor (Nathan George), vow to make her pay. McCall must also uncover the identity of a copy-cat vigilante who is shooting punks in the name of The Equalizer. To find who bought the .44 magnum used in the shootings, McCall questions "alleged" illegal arms dealer, Sugar Fly Simon (Meat Loaf). Ronnie (Mark Linn-Baker) provides some technology to help trace McCalls phone calls. At the precinct where the calls were traced, defense attorney Donald Polk (Brian Bedford) exchanges literary quotes with McCall. Mickey guards Sydney, and they fall for each other, much to McCall's dismay. ||||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Desperately" | Donald Petrie | Charles Grant Craig | December 4, 1985 (1985-12-04) | 61221 | 12.4/20 |
| Desperate housewife Allison Webster (Blanche Baker) is lured by a stranger, Geoffery Dryden (Ray Sharkey), into breaking into an apartment where he murders a man. Her friend Samantha Page (Tovah Feldshuh) helps her contact the Equalizer, who recognizes that Dryden is a professional hit-man. Dana Caldrin gives McCall his intell on the hit-man's identity and on Macklin (David Margulies) who hired him. Dana's hooker acquaintance Sindee (Roma Maffia) gives him additional "weird" information. ||||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Reign of Terror" | Richard Compton | Story by : Steve Bello Teleplay by : Steve Bello & Coleman Luck | December 11, 1985 (1985-12-11) | 61220 | 13.2/22 |
| Doctor Timms (Lester Rawlins) quits the hood because he's just too tired of dealing with Crips thugs. The incoming Dr. Elly Walton (Lonette McKee) refuses to pay the gang tribute, in the form of drugs, so her nurse Irma Portman (Rosemary De Angelis) calls The Equalizer. Dr. Walton sends him away; she doesn't want "another man with a gun" in the neighborhood. So McCall takes the opportunity to visit Immanuel Pena (Tomas Milian), who he helped defect from Cuba. Dr. Walton calls the police and her friend Lt. Mason Warren (Fred Williamson) responds. Mason confronts the gang, beats up their new leader "Head" (Joe Maruzzo), and tells him not to bother his friend Elly. However he has no real power of arrest, as he is no longer with the local precinct. So the Crips intimidate all her patients instead. McCall must strategize on how to defeat them without using lethal force. Includes one the first TV roles for Paul Calderón as Crips gang member, Rat Heart. Note: Despite a reference to the Crips, the dialog does not specify whether the gang portrayed is an actual set of the real-life L.A. gang, or just creative license. ||||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Back Home" | Alan Metzger | Story by : Neil Cohen Teleplay by : Joel Surnow & Maurice Hurley | December 18, 1985 (1985-12-18) | 61209 | 13.6/23 |
| Resident thugs Ben (Paul Herman) and Joe (Jude Ciccolella) terrorize elderly residents of a rundown apartment block with a Doberman pinscher, prompting Monty Wynn and his wife Lilly (Allen Swift and Anne Pitoniak) to call McCall. They and other tenants need protection from harassment by the landlord and banker owner Guthrie Browne (Frank Converse). McCall asks George Cook (Charles Hallahan) to stay with the couple for a week while he gathers intelligence. He discovers that Guthrie hired hitman Karn to kill his estranged wife Andrea Browne (Marisa Berenson). McCall asks Lt. Mason Warren to plant information to misdirect him. He then arranges a disturbance at Browne's bank which prompts Browne to order the building to be torched. The race is on to get everyone to safety and save the building. Includes an appearance by Helen Hanft as Mrs. Washburn. ||||||||
| 14 | 14 | "Out of the Past" | Richard Compton | Cyrus Nowrasteh | January 15, 1986 (1986-01-15) | 61224 | 12.2/20 |
| Aided by ex-con Fenn (Brad Dourif), Eddie Washburn (Stephen McHattie), a deranged and dying felon harasses Walter Wesley (Barry Primus) who testified against him. Walter's wife Kay (Sandy Dennis) calls McCall for protection; she is McCalls ex-wife, and mother to their son Scott. McCall enlists the help of Eddie's parole officer, Michael Cub (James Gammon), who roughs Eddie up and warns him away from Walter. After Eddie shoots Cub, Walter confesses to being more than just a witness against Eddie, and McCall arranges a meeting to resolve their grievances. Includes the first credited TV role for Jasmine Guy as Gloria. Sylvia Miles also appears, as Fenn's mother. ||||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Dead Drop" | Donald Petrie | Maurice Hurley & Joel Surnow | January 22, 1986 (1986-01-22) | 61230 | 13.3/22 |
| An innocent florist, Barry Konig (James Murtaugh), is targeted for murder after having his name marked on mail in a dead drop by Sam the doorman, who is subsequently stabbed by "the guy in the blue coat with the fur collar" (Robert O'Reilly). McCall assembles a team of contacts including Mickey Kostmayer, Jimmy, Dana Caldrin, Sterno, and Ginger Brock (Robin Curtis) to stake out and tail anyone using the drops. Dana's girl Sindee provides the name Grant Lawseth, an NSA agent, who shows up at a dinner to meet "red parka man." As they all try to reason with Lawseth to call off the hit on Barry, Control's nemesis Jason Masur shows up threatening to fire McCall's contacts. Regardless, after consideration they continue to help McCall to find "the big fish" in control of the ring. McCall reports his findings to Det. Mason at the 75th precinct, and warns Masur not to push Control or it will become personal. ||||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Wash Up" | Richard Compton | Mark Frost | January 29, 1986 (1986-01-29) | 61228 | 11.9/20 |
| McCall is hired by two skyscraper window washers, Pete (Bill Cwikowski) and Lenny DeWitt (Brian Tarantina) who are certain their boss Michael Riegert (Robert Davi) will kill them for trying to form a union. Complicating matters, McCall's housekeeper Lettie (Yvonne Wilder) and her two sons, Jorge and Ishmael, temporarily move into his apartment. Sterno gives McCall background on Riegart. Among other problems, losing his contract puts him under pressure to square his debt with a mob boss (Joe Spinell). So he stabs Lenny and puts his knife in Lenny's hands. Lt. Isadore Smalls can't get enough evidence to refute Riegart's claim of self-defense, but does lead McCall to Ladonna Page, who agrees to help Jimmy and Alex (Michael O'Hare) set up Riegart for arrest. Includes the first TV role for John Michael Bolger as a Bartender. First appearance of Ron O'Neal as Lt. Isadore Smalls. ||||||||
| 17 | 17 | "Torn" | Russ Mayberry | Story by : Joel Surnow & Maurice Hurley Teleplay by : Carl Eastlake | February 5, 1986 (1986-02-05) | 61211 | 11.9/20 |
| Jessie Moore (Caitlin Clarke) asks Det. Smalls for protection from her abusive husband Mike, who is about to be released from prison, just as McCall shows up at the precinct. Smalls says he has no client business there, until Jessie's young daughter Laura says she's the one who called him. Jason Masur also hires McCall regarding someone who betrayed him years before, a contact named Brian (Charles Knox Robinson). McCall learns that arms dealer Shumway is also in town, and that Veronica Whitney (Zohra Lampert) is Brian's paymaster, so he sets a trap for Shumway. With Brian on the run, and Mike coming home, McCall is torn on which case to close first. Includes one of the first TV roles for 9-year-old Melissa Joan Hart as Laura Moore, and, the first TV role for Robert John Burke as O'Toole, Brian's case worker. Patricia Richardson also appears as a saleswoman in her mother Veronica Whitney's store. ||||||||
| 18 | 18 | "Unnatural Causes" | Alan Metzger | Story by : Susan Woollen Teleplay by : Susan Woollen & Coleman Luck & Scott Shepherd | February 12, 1986 (1986-02-12) | 61233 | 11.7/19 |
| Francine Grant, a librarian helping McCall with research, becomes the latest victim of the Orchid Killer (Kevin Geer), who strangles lonely middle-aged women answering his "Mr. Goodheart" newspaper ad. McCall asks Det. Smalls for details, but was also hired by aspiring actress Sally Ann Carter (Kim Delaney), who was duped by a flashy pimp, Anza Serrato (Bobby DiCicco). McCall warns Anza off, but he roughs Sally up again, so he contacts Jimmy who suggests going to Anza's boss Peters who works for "those guys." McCall contacts an old operative, Kelly Sterling (Gwen Verdon), who helps entrap the Orchid Killer. ||||||||
| 19 | 19 | "Breakpoint" | Russ Mayberry | Story by : Scott Shepherd Teleplay by : Scott Shepherd & Don Carlos Dunaway | February 19, 1986 (1986-02-19) | 61226 | 13.2/22 |
| McCall attends a wedding reception for Benjamin and Deborah Wade when terrorists kidnap philanthropist Gustav Herant (Aharon Ipalé), a traitor to their (unnamed) Middle Eastern nation. Hostages include Deborah, City Councilman Frank Stevens, Gwen Hunter (Phyllis Newman), and saxophonist Otis Hendricks (Richard Hamilton). Lieutenant Ferraro calls to negotiate, and Findlay talks to Mickey who fails to con his way in. Mickey tries the sewers, basement, vents.... Meanwhile, a cop posing as a doctor tries to slip McCall a .22 pen-gun, but he is shot. Saved by his vest he's told to leave, but the leader moves up the timeline, killing Otis. Intent on stopping them, McCall starts with his restroom escort (Tony Spiridakis). Mickey arrives late to the party but gets one last shot in. Includes early TV roles: Tony Shalhoub's first as the Terrorist Leader; Patricia Clarkson's second as Deborah Wade before her film debut in The Untouchables Ned Eisenberg's third as a terrorist; and Dann Florek's fourth as Lt. Ferraro before joining L.A. Law, and Law & Order. Earl Hindman plays Findlay, and Lt. Elmer in Season 2, and Wilson in Home Improvement. ||||||||
| 20 | 20 | "No Conscience" | Richard Compton | Mark Frost | March 26, 1986 (1986-03-26) | 61231 | 10.6/20 |
| In a club, Vicki (Kelly Curtis) writes her number on a matchbook and gives it to Mitchell (D. W. Moffett), a womanizer, who then gives it to Dana. Mitch is kidnapped and beaten by an industrial spy (Linda Thorson), but has no clue what they want. Given 36 hours to find "it" he hires McCall. After seeing Vicki's friend Theresa (Laurie Metcalf), the he remembers the matchbook. They check on Vicki and find it, but she's been killed. McCall has Jimmy analyze it and finds a microdot, but Theresa swaps it. McCall discovers the switch after his cabbie contact, Mr. Signorello, reports in. McCall and Mitch have to take a big gamble with the spy and her thugs. ||||||||
| 21 | 21 | "Unpunished Crimes" | Alan Metzger | John Burke & Grenville Case | April 1, 1986 (1986-04-01) | 61227 | 11.1/20 |
| Frank Donahue (Dan Hedaya), inventor of a fuel injector, claims IP theft by Penatrax CEO Stuart Cane (John Cullum). Whitney (Lee Wallace) says they never settle nuisance cases. Presented a logbook as proof, Cane starts destroying it and fakes a knife attack. Frank is shuttled out. After they burn his remaining records, his son Rick calls The Equalizer. A bomb goes off in his workshop, so his unsupportive wife Susan (Regina Baff) leaves with his other son Ed (John Cameron Mitchell). McCall invites everyone stay at his place. Sterno gives McCall intel on Cane, including ties to Red Wind terrorists led by Gianni Greco (Jon Polito). McCall enlists Greco to run a game on Cane to uncover his unpunished crimes, with a little "help" from other CEOs, Charles Webber (Clifford David), George Cox (Walter Bobbie), and Richard Phillips. ||||||||
| 22 | 22 | "Pretenders" | Richard Compton | Scott Shepherd | April 8, 1986 (1986-04-08) | 61234 | 10.8/20 |
| Rookie reporter Beth Mackie (Chad Redding) suspects her neighbor John Parker (Tony Musante) of criminal activity. Officer Dysan is no help, so she goes to her editor Brian Barclay (Philip Bosco), who doesn't see a story. Her colleague Flynn (Bruce Jarchow) only hits on her. Her sympathetic colleague Dack (Albert Macklin) refers her to The Equalizer. When Parker threatens Beth, McCall warns Parker directly and talks to Det. Smalls, who surreptitiously gives McCall Parker's file. Jimmy says he's using a false identity and protected by Control. Beth's friend Cynthia is killed, and Beth narrowly escapes. McCall gets Beth to a safe-house, and discovers Parker's plot, but not before Beth gets into trouble. Chad Redding plays an NYPD Detective, Sergeant Alice Shepard in the remaining seasons, starting in "A Place to Stay." ||||||||

### Season 2 (1986–87)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Rating/share (households) |
| 23 | 1 | "Prelude" | Richard Compton | Carleton Eastlake | October 8, 1986 (1986-10-08) | 17.0/28 |
| Dictator General Astiz, who McCall helped bring to power, kidnaps American journalist Frank Morrow (Martin Shakar). His daughter Jenny (Lori Loughlin) asks McCall to rescue him. In a surveillance van McCall sees Jacob Stock (Robert Joy) who has a tip to find Vincente (Jaime Sánchez). Frank tries a con, only to find Frank's torture sanctioned by Agency operatives Eric (James Rebhorn) and Stoller, so he confronts Control. Scott isn't pleased with his father. McCall says he doesn't really know the world, and not to judge him. McCall goes after them with a little help from Stock, the police, and the press. Includes erly TV roles: Kelly Lynch's first as a Bartender; Tim de Zarn's first as Stoller. First appearance of Earl Hindman as NYPD Detective Lieutenant Elmer. |||||||
| 24 | 2 | "Nocturne" | Richard Compton | Carleton Eastlake | October 15, 1986 (1986-10-15) | 17.5/28 |
| Music critic Kate Parnell (Jessica Harper) hears the voice of a man who raped, beat, and blinded her eight years prior, but Det. Smalls has little to go on. Her friend calls McCall after hearing an intruder, so McCall asks the doorman Jeremy (Thomas A. Carlin) about his missing keys. His contact Logan (Michael Parks), who is suicidal after a failed mission, tries protecting her. Matters worsen when Kate reviews Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, and someone tries to kill her. McCall cashes a chit from computer expert Joshua (Brad Sullivan) to create a voice simulation, and Smalls sends an APB. McCall asks former police officer Julian Coe's secretary (Tanya Berezin) about the voice. McCall and Logan race to intercept the suspect. Features the 1986 #4 R&B hit single "Count Your Blessings" from Ashford & Simpson's Real Love album. |||||||
| 25 | 3 | "A Community of Civilized Men" | Alan Metzger | Daniel Pyne & Scott Shepherd | October 22, 1986 (1986-10-22) | 12.9/21 |
| The widow Julia Jacobs (Tammy Grimes) is pressed by Mr. Cooper (Lewis J. Stadlen) to pay her husband's debts. She asks McCall for help after collectors Michaels and Wirth vandalize her business. McCall has his IRS contact Wilhite look at Cooper's books and warns him off, but Julia is killed. McCall suspects her daughter Valerie is being targeted by a third party, a ghost named Zahn (Lewis Van Bergen). Control wants McCall's help with project Genesis. Includes early TV roles: Bruce Altman's first as Michaels; Zach Grenier's first as Wirth before his film debut in Kenny and Working Girl; Jennifer Grey's third as Valerie Jacobs; Patrick Kilpatrick as Webster; and Marlene Willoughby as a Peepshow Girl (uncredited). |||||||
| 26 | 4 | "Joyride" | Russ Mayberry | Jim Trombetta & Charles Grant Craig | October 29, 1986 (1986-10-29) | 14.4/26 |
| Teens Michael Winslow (Christian Slater) and Steve takes a hearse on a joyride, but are unaware of the crack cocaine in the coffin. Steve tries to find a buyer through their friend Rachel (Kristen Vigard). Mike's mother Ruth calls McCall for help, so Mike and Mr. Winslow (Eddie Jones) show McCall the hearse, which now has a dead body in the coffin. Before Control can find out, McCall pays off a gambling debt for his Company contact Sonny Raines (Cleavant Derricks). In return, Sonny gives McCall intel on the hearse owner Norton R. Selby (Roger Robinson), and Jimmy bugs his funeral home. McCall goes to find Steve and the drugs, and calls Det. Smalls when they find Steve dead. McCall goes after Aurelio and Selby, and tries to save Rachel from herself. This was the final role for Olga Bellin as Mrs. Winslow before her death a year later. |||||||
| 27 | 5 | "Shades of Darkness" | Donald Petrie | Jack V. Fogarty | November 5, 1986 (1986-11-05) | 14.1/24 |
| National Guard Lieutenant Dan Turner (Lenny Von Dohlen) sees deranged mercenary Rick Dillon (Bill Sadler) escape after murdering Nancy Polinski. Leo Barnes (Sam Coppola) witnesses Dan over Nancy's body. After being arrested, Dan's priest Father Martin O'Donohugh (Edward Binns), who was with McCall in the army, contacts The Equalizer for help. Judge Paula G. Walsh (Olympia Dukakis) releases Dan on his own recognizance, angering Nancy's father Frank Polinski (J. J. Johnston). Dillon tells Dan he is going to hunt him, and he starts with Dan's sister Lorraine. Martin takes McCall to see a recruiter (Caroline Kava) to identify the mercenary, and the hunt is on. |||||||
| 28 | 6 | "Nightscape" | Aaron Lipstadt | Carleton Eastlake | November 12, 1986 (1986-11-12) | 15.7/27 |
| After a brutal subway gang-rape, Amanda Kaufman (Frances Fisher) asks McCall to stop her husband Jim (Thomas G. Waites) from exacting revenge. McCall suggests she talk to a friend, so they call Zena. He asks Det. Smalls for computer access so his hacker contact Jonah can determine the suspects' routine. McCall intercepts Jim, just as he is about to shoot Ricky Franklin and two others who are the wrong guys. As the real perpetrators are about to rape Zena, McCall intercedes, after which he finally admits to Allison what he does. Includes early TV roles: Tim Guinee's first as Rick; Mark Boone Junior's first as "Time" (so-named for the watch they steal); Madeleine Potter's third as Zena; and Lisa Banes's fourth as Allison. Matthew Cowles plays one of the rapists. First appearance of Austin Pendleton as computer expert Jonah. |||||||
| 29 | 7 | "Counterfire" | Alan Metzger | Scott Shepherd & Coleman Luck | November 19, 1986 (1986-11-19) | 16.0/26 |
| Waitress Anne Fitzgerald (Lisa Pelikan) asks McCall to protect her from being killed. He tracks down Terry (Laura Dean), a hooker who put Anne's name in the obituaries, but says it was a joke from her john, Thomas Marley Jr.. Then, elderly blind conman Tom Clark (William Hickey) fakes being hit by McCall's car, after which Marley frames McCall for Clark's murder. Lieutenant Kramer interrogates McCall. At arraignment, Judge Maurice Sanderling (Sully Boyar) denies bail, but Control arranges a distraction to extract McCall. Marley reports his progress to his incarcerated father (Leonardo Cimino). After Marley tries to kill Anne, she tells McCall that Clark gave her that alias, and her real name is Diane Snyder, but is it really? On the run with his face in the newspaper, McCall races to thwart Marley and clear his name. Includes Vincent D'Onofrio's first TV role as Thomas Marley Jr.; Mickey Freeman's last TV role as a Comedian; and Miguel Pinero's very last role as a Drunk before his 1988 death. First appearance of Charles Cioffi as Lieutenant Kramer |||||||
| 30 | 8 | "The Line" | Russ Mayberry | Steve Volpe | November 26, 1986 (1986-11-26) | 15.9/28 |
| McCall is called by Miriam Blain (Novella Nelson) whose son Randy is killed accidentally by five men of the West Grove Citizen's Patrol. They lie to Lt. Vocek (Joe Grifasi) saying Randy was committing a crime. Jimmy gathers intel on patrolmen and local police who try to set up McCall. When they fail, patrolman Al Weaver goes after Miriam in her home and she kills him in self-defense. Her son Eugene tries to buy a gun from local thug Jumpin' Jack (Giancarlo Esposito). Patrolmen Vic Roselli and Lou Marsh receive blackmail photos, so they suspect patrolman Ben Carrigan, and they turn on each other. McCall intercedes when Vic tries to kill their leader, Marty Bennett. This is the last on-screen role for Donald Buka as Ben Carrigan. |||||||
| 31 | 9 | "Tip on a Sure Thing" | Donald Petrie | Scott Shepherd | December 3, 1986 (1986-12-03) | 16.2/27 |
| Maria (Denise Dumont), the wife of jockey Luis Rivera (Daniel Faraldo), calls McCall after a bookie named Chance (Robert O'Reilly) has his associate Pike (Ted Ross) kidnap their son Roberto in an attempt to fix the outcome of a horse race between Survivor Too and Notaquita. McCall enlists Sonny Raines's help, who leads them to his own "blind" bookie Barry (Nestor Serrano). Notaquita's trainer, Oscar Peabody (Roberts Blossom), tries to encourage Luis, but Mr. Greenleaf (Paul Gleason) learns of Roberto's kidnapping and tries to cash in as well. McCall and Ronny must find Roberto before the race begins to save him from being killed. Warner Wolf makes a cameo appearance as himself. |||||||
| 32 | 10 | "The Cup" | Mario DiLeo | Story by : Andrew Sipes & Carleton Eastlake Teleplay by : David Jackson & Carleton Eastlake | December 10, 1986 (1986-12-10) | 16.4/27 |
| Mickey's brother, Father Nicholas Kostmayer (Dennis Christopher), hears Stephen's criminal confession right before a drive-by kills Stephen. After a second attempt on Nicholas, his Bishop (Colin Fox) demands police protection from Lt. Elmer. McCall and Mickey learn that Stephen was part of a Polish group that was infiltrated in a KGB plot to discredit Solidarity using a false-flag assassination. Nicholas slips out, allowing Spetsnaz commander Monica another chance to kill him, but McCall and Micky intercede. They all race to a conference for the new Russian Ambassador Sikora to thwart the plan. Includes Lanny Flaherty's first on-screen role as a Policeman, and New York media personality Donna Fiducia appears as newscaster Diane Waters. |||||||
| 33 | 11 | "Heartstrings" | Russ Mayberry | Loraine Despres | December 17, 1986 (1986-12-17) | 15.4/25 |
| Vanessa Daniels' baby son Tommy is kidnapped by a nurse (Jana Schneider). Nurse Frank calls security, and chief of administration Eugene Whitman (David Margulies) meets Vanessa just as FBI Agent Frank Carter (Michael Margotta) arrives. Carter predicts a ransom or disturbed person as the motive, but Vanessa rules it out and calls The Equalizer. McCall suspects an illegal adoption broker, so Mickey distracts hospital personnel while McCall checks maternity records. He learns that the client for Tommy is Hector Kouros (Aharon Ipalé), and Whitman arranges the adoptions. Control warns McCall that Kouros is an Agency asset, and thus off-limits. The kidnapping nurse calls Vanessa to meet, but it's a trap by Norell. McCall and Mickey confront Kouros to get Norell's location and must now save both Vanessa and Tommy. Includes Carol Woods' first role as Nurse Frank. Vanessa Daniels is played by Michele Dotrice, whom Edward Woodward married the following year. |||||||
| 34 | 12 | "High Performance" | Russ Mayberry | Jack V. Fogarty | January 7, 1987 (1987-01-07) | 17.3/29 |
| Construction worker Sally Stevens witnesses hit-man Jordan (Michael Wincott) killing Mr. Tremayne's wife. Lt. Kramer arrives on-scene but there's no body, so she calls The Equalizer. She becomes the next target when Jordan notices her watching. Due to his acrophobia, McCall enlists Mickey's help to review the construction site. Mickey also finds a button from the wife's outfit in the apartment. To find who hired Jordan, McCall asks Dorian (Doris Belack) who else bought the same outfit from her clothing store. Armed with his identity, McCall sets a trap for him. Includes early TV roles: Patricia Charbonneau's third as Sally Stevens; James Remar's fourth as Tremayne. |||||||
| 35 | 13 | "Beyond Control" | Alan Metzger | Coleman Luck | January 14, 1987 (1987-01-14) | 15.4/26 |
| After the death of KGB mole John Ferman who infiltrated the Company, McCall and Mickey meet with Control who says he needs protection from KGB hit-man Paul Coble (Brian Bedford). He also asks McCall to retrieve top-secret files that Fermen copied. Two agents chase Fermen's niece Elaine Ferris (Liane Curtis) and she calls police after her apartment is tossed. Her neighbor Mrs. Hammerschmidt (Paula Trueman) hands her a letter from her uncle that was delivered, but it is in code. Coble, assuming Fermen's niece must have the files, goes after Elaine at her bank but fails, so instead he kills her boss Winston Erdlow (Josh Mostel) as a distraction to escape. While Mickey and Elaine try to crack the coded letter, Coble abducts Control to trade McCall for the files. McCall takes out his own insurance with comrade Durkin, and a stand-off ensues. |||||||
| 36 | 14 | "Carnal Persuasion" | Leon Ichaso | Dennis Manuel | January 21, 1987 (1987-01-21) | 15.5/25 |
| Judge Howard Tainey (John Cullum) offers to release tugboat skipper Jake Hughes (John Laughlin), who was convicted of heroin possession, but only if his wife Lisa Hughes will have sex with him. Lisa insists the drugs were planted. She calls McCall who asks Judge Paula G. Walsh (Cynthia Harris) about Tainey. She says Tainey has powerful allies. While Jimmy monitors Tainey and Mickey protects Lisa, McCall questions dock dispatcher Zeke (Louis Zorich). Zeke says Antonio (Raymond Serra) framed Jake who refused to smuggle for him. Tainey is also receiving bribes through Antonio's man Frank (Rocco Sisto). McCall confronts Tainey to save Jake and stop the smugglers. |||||||
| 37 | 15 | "Memories of Manon" | Tony Wharmby | Coleman Luck | February 4, 1987 (1987-02-04) | 15.0/25 |
| 38 | 16 | "Memories of Manon" | Tony Wharmby | Coleman Luck | February 11, 1987 (1987-02-11) | 15.2/25 |
| Part 1 : A joint American/Canadian task force, led by Quebec police Inspector Phillipe Marcel (Anthony Zerbe), is destroying mob operations along the Eastern seaboard with the assistance of an informant code-named Chrysalis. Mob boss Frank Dorgan (George DiCenzo) and his associate Jean Carmack (Jon Polito) kidnap Phillip's daughter Yvette (Melissa Sue Anderson), and threatens to kill Phillip if she doesn't provide the identity of Chrysalis. Yvette turns to her godfather Control, who asks McCall to protect the Marcels. Control reveals that Yvette is the daughter of McCall's beloved former operative, Manon, but doesn't reveal her other secret. To get Yvette away from Mob enforcers Ernie Slackman and Al Geiger, McCall asks Mickey and Billie Bump (Maurice Hines) to carry out an operation of "diversion and psychological warfare." McCall meets with Yvette to tell her he will help, and that he knew her mother. Later when Slackman tries to kill Yvette, McCall and Mickey force him tell who ordered it. Mob boss Tom Calvert who is under indictment puts pressure on Dorgan to take care of Chrysalis. So Dorgan orders Slackman to abduct Yvette again, and in the process Mickey is shot. Part 2 : McCall must now play Dorgan against Chrysalis to thwart Chrysalis' plans and save the Marcels, while also coming to terms with his own connection to Yvette. Kathleen Dezina who plays Manon, also plays the Dream Mother in Season 4, "Lullaby of Darkness" Frank Adonis plays the Limo Driver |||||||
| 39 | 17 | "Solo" | Alan Metzger | Carleton Eastlake | February 18, 1987 (1987-02-18) | 15.8/26 |
| A woman is wanted in Pennsylvania for a policeman's murder...and McCall is the woman's new lover. This episode includes the first television appearance of Kevin Spacey. |||||||
| 40 | 18 | "A Place to Stay" | Alan Metzger | Story by : Marc Rubin Teleplay by : Marc Rubin & Carleton Eastlake & Coleman Luck | February 25, 1987 (1987-02-25) | 18.5/30 |
| McCall takes the case of a runaway child who has been taken in by a child porn artist. Ed Lauter plays the runaway's father, and musicican Tim Cappello appears as a shopkeeper. |||||||
| 41 | 19 | "Coal Black Soul" | Richard Compton | Scott Shepherd | May 6, 1987 (1987-05-06) | 14.6/27 |
| McCall deals with someone who claims he can't stop killing women and also has his eyes on a female psychiatrist. |||||||
| 42 | 20 | "First Light" | Richard Compton | Jack Fogarty | May 13, 1987 (1987-05-13) | 15.7/28 |
| Scott takes on his father's role as "The Equalizer" while his father is away, and his case involves a merchant seemingly harassed by local thugs...but Robert's true nemesis holds a grudge from World War II. Lori Loughlin reprises her role as Jenny Morrow, and Quentin Crisp plays a theater set designer. |||||||
| 43 | 21 | "Hand and Glove" | Alan Metzger | Coleman Luck | May 20, 1987 (1987-05-20) | 12.7/22 |
| An invalid woman has nightmares, and one of them comes true when one of the figures from them appears in her room. William H. Macy plays the woman's psychiatrist. |||||||
| 44 | 22 | "Re-Entry" | Aaron Lipstadt | Story by : Dennis Manuel Teleplay by : Scott Shepherd | May 27, 1987 (1987-05-27) | 13.4/23 |
| McCall is called on to help a man who was tricked into committing a crime. This episode includes guest stars John Goodman, David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter), Steve Buscemi, Joe Morton, and a cameo by Stewart Copeland. |||||||

### Season 3 (1987–88)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Rating/share (households) |
| 45 | 1 | "Blood & Wine: Part 1 & 2" | Alan Metzger | Coleman Luck | September 23, 1987 (1987-09-23) | 14.4/24 |
| 46 | 2 | "Blood & Wine: Part 1 & 2" | Alan Metzger | Coleman Luck | September 23, 1987 (1987-09-23) | 14.4/24 |
| McCall and a monk (Telly Savalas), who was a terrorist before his conversion, must track down the monk's former partner. |||||||
| 47 | 3 | "Suspicion of Innocence" | Russ Mayberry | Robert Eisele | September 30, 1987 (1987-09-30) | 14.0/24 |
| A mentally retarded man (played by Vincent D'Onofrio) witnesses the murder of one of his coworkers in an alley, is charged with the crime and enlists McCall to help prove his innocence. |||||||
| 48 | 4 | "In the Money" | Aaron Lipstadt | Ed Waters & Scott Shepherd | October 7, 1987 (1987-10-07) | 14.2/24 |
| A woman crosses some corrupt stock traders. |||||||
| 49 | 5 | "Encounter in a Closed Room" | Jim Johnston | Story by : Ann Lewis Hamilton & Scott Shepherd Teleplay by : Ann Lewis Hamilton | October 14, 1987 (1987-10-14) | 12.7/22 |
| A Soviet defector's parents have been kidnapped by the KGB and will only release them if she convinces another defector to return to their home country. Guest star Michael Moriarty. |||||||
| 50 | 6 | "Mission: McCall: Part 1" | Alan Metzger | Ed Waters & Scott Shepherd | October 28, 1987 (1987-10-28) | 13.4/24 |
| McCall is kidnapped by the KGB and Scott enlists help of a former Agency colleague Richard Dyson (played by Robert Mitchum) to free him. Frances Fisher plays Francesca, Harley Gage's KGB case officer. |||||||
| 51 | 7 | "Mission: McCall: Part 2" | Alan Metzger | Story by : Ed Waters & Coleman Luck Teleplay by : Ed Waters & Scott Shepherd & Robert Eisele | November 4, 1987 (1987-11-04) | 13.1/23 |
| Part 2: Dyson enlists former deep cover operative Harley Gage to assist him in rescuing McCall from his KGB captors. |||||||
| 52 | 8 | "Shadow Play" | Russ Mayberry | Robert Eisele | November 11, 1987 (1987-11-11) | 12.8/21 |
| McCall must help colleague Harley Gage protect a government witness from assassins who are looking to keep him from testifying before a Congressional Oversight Committee. |||||||
| 53 | 9 | "Inner View" | Marc Laub | Jim Trombetta | November 18, 1987 (1987-11-18) | 13.2/24 |
| McCall is enlisted by a psychic who claims to have seen a serial killer's next murder. |||||||
| 54 | 10 | "The Rehearsal" | Alan Metzger | Robert Eisele | December 2, 1987 (1987-12-02) | 9.9/17 |
| McCall and Gage are trapped in a theater with an acting company after someone plants bombs at all the theater's exits and cuts the phone lines. Chris Cooper appears. |||||||
| 55 | 11 | "Christmas Presence" | Michael O'Herlihy | Coleman Luck | December 16, 1987 (1987-12-16) | 13.4/24 |
| McCall and Gage are called on to protect a six-year-old boy with AIDS, whose grandmother is dealing with increasingly violent harassment from their scared neighbors. |||||||
| 56 | 12 | "A Dance on the Dark Side" | Jonathan Perry | David Lightstone | January 13, 1988 (1988-01-13) | 12.2/21 |
| McCall must protect a police switchboard operator who overheard a policeman talk about his former partner's murder and is now being threatened into silence. |||||||
| 57 | 13 | "The Child Broker" | Mark Sobel | Mick Curran | January 20, 1988 (1988-01-20) | 13.9/24 |
| McCall helps a young woman whose boyfriend is being used as a pseudo-slave. |||||||
| 58 | 14 | "Video Games" | James A. Contner | Peter McCabe | January 27, 1988 (1988-01-27) | 13.4/24 |
| An investigative reporter tracking information on a call-girl operation and his daughter's death goes missing. |||||||
| 59 | 15 | "Something Green" | Luis Soto | Kevin Droney | February 10, 1988 (1988-02-10) | 11.9/20 |
| A diplomat has kidnapped his son (Macaulay Culkin) from his ex-wife and has $10 million in mob money in tow. McCall is called on to stop them from leaving the country. |||||||
| 60 | 16 | "The Mystery of Manon" | Bradford May | Coleman Luck | February 17, 1988 (1988-02-17) | 11.9/19 |
| 61 | 17 | "The Mystery of Manon" | Bradford May | Coleman Luck | February 24, 1988 (1988-02-24) | 9.3/17 |
| Control's goddaughter Yvette Marcel returns, asking Control and McCall for help with her father Phillip, who has received information that his wife Manon - long believed to be dead - may still be alive. With Phillip now dead, McCall and Control must discover the true identity of the woman who believes herself to be Manon - and expose the shadow party controlling her. |||||||
| 62 | 18 | "No Place Like Home" | Tobe Hooper | Robert Eisele | March 16, 1988 (1988-03-16) | 13.5/24 |
| A man on welfare is in need of help from McCall to protect him from his abusive landlord. |||||||
| 63 | 19 | "Last Call" | Michael O'Herlihy | Robert Crais | March 23, 1988 (1988-03-23) | 13.2/24 |
| Kostmayer and several others are taking hostage by a rapist on the run from a Mafia assassin. |||||||
| 64 | 20 | "Regrets Only" | James A. Contner | Robert Crais | March 30, 1988 (1988-03-30) | 14.0/25 |
| A woman is stalked by her ex-husband. |||||||
| 65 | 21 | "Target of Choice" | Mark Sobel | Kevin Droney | April 6, 1988 (1988-04-06) | 14.2/24 |
| A murderer is paroled, and the man who helped put him away finds out he is living in his neighborhood. |||||||
| 66 | 22 | "Always a Lady" | Marc Laub | Story by : Scott Shepherd Teleplay by : Peter McCabe | May 4, 1988 (1988-05-04) | 11.9/21 |
| McCall is called on to try to save a former colleague, who is apparently framed for money theft. |||||||

### Season 4 (1988–89)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | Rating/share (households) |
| 67 | 1 | "The Last Campaign" | Richard Compton | Lee Batchler & Janet Scott Batchler | October 26, 1988 (1988-10-26) | 17.0 | 11.9/18 |
| A state senate candidate (Stanley Tucci) is blackmailing the incumbent (E.G. Marshall) to endorse him for election. ||||||||
| 68 | 2 | "Sea of Fire" | Alan Metzger | Story by : Peter McCabe Teleplay by : Peter McCabe & Coleman Luck | November 2, 1988 (1988-11-02) | 16.1 | 11.7/18 |
| McCall is called on to help a high school principal deal with a gang who raped a female student in the school gym. David Strathairn appears in one memorable scene as a man who describes a near death experience. ||||||||
| 69 | 3 | "Riding the Elephant" | Donald Petrie | M.K. Lorens | November 9, 1988 (1988-11-09) | 14.7 | 10.6/16 |
| Two Thai nationals are being hassled by a racketeer with connections to McCall's past employers. Features James Hong and Mako. ||||||||
| 70 | 4 | "Eighteen with a Bullet" | Richard Compton | Bruce A. Taylor | November 16, 1988 (1988-11-16) | 16.3 | 11.4/17 |
| McCall and Kostmayer help a young singer escape the clutches of her manager, who is up to no good. ||||||||
| 71 | 5 | "Day of the Covenant" | James A. Contner | Robert Eisele | December 7, 1988 (1988-12-07) | 11.0 | 7.7/12 |
| Scott's girlfriend is targeted for assassination by an Afrikaner fanatic as revenge for the killing of his wife. ||||||||
| 72 | 6 | "Splinters" | Paul Krasny | Coleman Luck | December 14, 1988 (1988-12-14) | 15.1 | 10.8/17 |
| Kidnappers take Kostmayer hostage and torture him in an attempt to turn him on McCall. Christopher Meloni appears. ||||||||
| 73 | 7 | "Making of a Martyr" | Bradford May | Wayne Powers & Donna Powers | January 11, 1989 (1989-01-11) | 16.0 | 11.3/18 |
| A gun control advocate receives threatening phone calls. Sally Jessy Raphael appears as herself. ||||||||
| 74 | 8 | "The Sins Of Our Fathers" | Paul Krasny | Tom Towler | January 18, 1989 (1989-01-18) | 16.6 | 11.1/17 |
| A mobster's son is kidnapped as part of a revenge plot against his father. ||||||||
| 75 | 9 | "The Visitation" | Bradford May | Robert Eisele | February 1, 1989 (1989-02-01) | 15.6 | 11.0/17 |
| An ex-lover of McCall's is forced to help victims of a virus carried by two men who have killed an international arms dealer. ||||||||
| 76 | 10 | "Past Imperfect" | Russ Mayberry | Gail Morgan Hickman | February 15, 1989 (1989-02-15) | 17.2 | 11.9/19 |
| A cartel uses a man's estranged son to try to make the man do what they want him to. ||||||||
| 77 | 11 | "Trial by Ordeal" | Marc Laub | Coleman Luck | March 1, 1989 (1989-03-01) | 13.9 | 9.8/16 |
| McCall defends Control against treason charges filed against him by The Company. ||||||||
| 78 | 12 | "Silent Fury" | Russ Mayberry | Donna Powers & Wayne Powers | March 8, 1989 (1989-03-08) | 14.4 | 10.0/16 |
| McCall helps a deaf robbery victim. Cynthia Nixon appears. ||||||||
| 79 | 13 | "Lullaby of Darkness" | David Jackson | Coleman Luck | March 30, 1989 (1989-03-30) | 16.9 | 11.9/19 |
| McCall is called on to help a mother and daughter escape their abusive home life. ||||||||
| 80 | 14 | "17 Zebra" | Alan Metzger | Jacqueline Zambrano | April 6, 1989 (1989-04-06) | 17.4 | 12.1/19 |
| McCall investigates the death of several homeless people who have died from heart attacks while in ambulances. ||||||||
| 81 | 15 | "Starfire" | Bradford May | Robert Eisele | April 13, 1989 (1989-04-13) | 16.7 | 11.7/19 |
| McCall helps a man (Michael Moriarty) who is convinced he is an alien being hunted by killers. George Plimpton appears. ||||||||
| 82 | 16 | "Time Present, Time Past" | Gordon Hessler | Tom Towler | April 20, 1989 (1989-04-20) | 15.1 | 10.8/18 |
| Scott and a Bulgarian defector (who was aided by his father) are kidnapped, and Scott enters his father's line of work when he tries to rescue the man. ||||||||
| 83 | 17 | "Prisoners of Conscience" | Marc Laub | Robert Eisele | April 27, 1989 (1989-04-27) | 14.7 | 10.4/17 |
| McCall tries to free a Chilean poet from the grasp of a man who killed his father years ago.Edward Woodward's son Tim Woodward plays Captain McCall. ||||||||
| 84 | 18 | "The Caper" | Alan Metzger | Tom Towler | May 4, 1989 (1989-05-04) | 15.0 | 10.8/17 |
| A cleaning woman (Maureen Stapleton) witnesses a murder and tries to solve it. ||||||||
| 85 | 19 | "Heart of Justice" | Bradford May | Gail Morgan Hickman | May 11, 1989 (1989-05-11) | 14.6 | 11.2/18 |
| A man hellbent on getting revenge on the men who attacked his wife enlists McCall's help when he finds out someone else has gotten to them first. ||||||||
| 86 | 20 | "Race Traitors" | Robert E. Warren | Donna Powers, Wayne Powers, & Gail Morgan Hickman | June 29, 1989 (1989-06-29) | 11.6 | 8.3/16 |
| McCall comes to the aid of a black family being harassed by racists. Guest star Laurence Fishburne. ||||||||
| 87 | 21 | "Endgame" | Alan Metzger | Coleman Luck | August 10, 1989 (1989-08-10) | 11.2 | 8.3/15 |
| A man who is a master of strategy games uses his knowledge to plot revenge against two sisters. ||||||||
| 88 | 22 | "Suicide Squad" | Marc Laub | Jacqueline Zambrano | August 24, 1989 (1989-08-24) | 11.2 | 8.2/15 |
| McCall aids a young student who has turned to drug dealing after he loses his athletic scholarship at college. Ving Rhames appears. ||||||||

## Home releases

At present, the following DVD sets have been released.
| DVD set | Company | Release date |
| The Equalizer: Season 1 | Universal Home Video | February 12, 2008 |
| The Equalizer: The Complete Collection; Limited Edition | Visual Entertainment | August 19, 2014 |
| The Equalizer: The Complete Season 2 | Visual Entertainment | August 26, 2014 |
| The Equalizer: The Complete Season 3 | Visual Entertainment | October 24, 2014 |
| The Equalizer: The Complete Season 4 | Visual Entertainment | November 25, 2014 |