The Equalizer Premiere Recap: Did Robyn's Allies Make It Out Alive?
It's hard to imagine The Equalizer without Robyn's crime-fighting cronies, who have become like a second family to her.
But at the start of the CBS show's Season 4 premiere, which aired Sunday, all three members of Robyn's team — Mel, Harry and Dante — are in danger of being burned alive by Robyn's former CIA colleague, Michelle Chambers.
At the end of last season's finale, Michelle and a group of freedom fighters were determined to get revenge on Robyn and Fisk, who once helped them fight against a Venezuelan dictator. But when the CIA abruptly withdrew from the mission, Michelle and the activists were left for dead.
At the top of the hour, the outcome looks grim for Robyn's friends and a drugged and beaten Fisk — until Bishop's security team shows up. As Michelle quickly escapes, Robyn roughs up a freedom fighter before frantically searching for her crew.
Meanwhile, an exhausted and traumatized Aunt Vi and Delilah arrive home after de-escalating a robbery at the bodega. They notice Robyn is missing. As they ponder her whereabouts, Robyn locates the room where her friends are trapped, and blows the door open to rescue them. Back at home, Delilah and Aunt Vi grow more concerned when their calls to Robyn, Harry and Mel go to voicemail.
Robyn and her team locate an unconscious Fisk, but before they can decide their next step, they are taken into custody by the CIA. "I really gotta stop hanging out with you guys," Dante says.
After they are questioned by the CIA, the director tells Robyn that the freedom fighters and their leader, Enrique Vargas, are planning to kill CIA operatives and their loved ones — including Robyn and her family. Robyn warns Aunt Vi and Delilah that they may be in danger and dispatches Bishop's security to guard them.
Next, she meets up with her crew at Harry and Mel's bar. She explains that she still cares about Michelle and wants to stop her from completing her mission. They finally (!) reveal their secret office in the basement to Dante, who is instantly impressed. "He's part of this team now," Robyn says.
Realizing that Fisk likely gave up the list of CIA operatives as Vargas tortured him, Harry works to find the names, while Mel and Dante pursue a sympathizer of the freedom fighters. During their car ride, Mel brings up Dante's declaration of love for Robyn. But Dante is deep in thought about his post-suspension career. They confront the sympathizer and prevent him from running away, thanks to Mel's quick use of a shopping cart.
Meanwhile, Robyn does her part by tracking down Michelle at the home of a former colleague. Robyn asks Michelle to abort her mission; in turn, Michelle asks Robyn to join the freedom fighters. Robyn refuses, but before they can talk further, they are forced to take down snipers gunning for Michelle. As soon as Robyn turns her back, Michelle disappears.
Robyn confronts the CIA director about the attack and asks to bring Michelle in alive. The CIA director warns Robyn to stay out of the way.
Through Mel and Dante's questioning of the sympathizer, as well as computer wizardry by Harry, the crew learns that the CIA has been dishonest about the freedom fighters' intent; in fact, with the exception of Michelle, they are all being held in a government detention center.
Robyn collects more clues from Fisk, who is recovering at a hospital, and Harry, who is doing some more digital sleuthing. She eventually learns that the freedom fighters weren't after the list of operatives, but the name of the person who signed the order for the CIA to leave Venezuela: the secretary of state, who is trying to neutralize the freedom fighters. Robyn realizes Michelle is planning to kill the official.
Robyn and Mel quickly get to the secretary of state and take over his car in hopes of driving him to safety, but Michelle shows up and shoots the vehicle. Refusing to surrender, Michelle challenges Robyn to a sword fight. After sustaining a wound to the stomach, Robyn stabs Michelle. The CIA director shows up to the scene with Fisk, who takes Robyn to the hospital and Michelle into custody.
Later, Aunt Vi, Delilah, Mel and Harry visit Robyn as she recovers, and Dante sends flowers. Robyn tells Mel and Harry that the rest of the freedom fighters will be sent back to Venezuela.
Dante is tying up some loose ends of his own at the police station, where he learns he has been cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated – thanks to some pertinent camera footage sent to them by Harry.
But all is not well for the team. The episode ends with Michelle riding alongside guards in the back of Fisk's van. Flashing a devilish smile, we see that she has escaped her handcuffs, and the camera fades to black as gunshots ring out.
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