‘The Equalizer’ Season 3 Ends on Deadly Cliffhanger for McCall’s Team
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Equalizer Season 3 finale, “Eye for an Eye.”]
A major betrayal carried out by Robyn McCall’s former CIA leaders came back to haunt her in The Equalizer Season 3 finale. And the conflict, which left Mel, Harry, and Dante’s lives hanging in the balance, will continue into Season 4, which was green-lit by CBS in May 2022.
The finale began with Robyn (Queen Latifah) and Mel (Liza Lapira) running for their lives in an empty warehouse, shielding themselves from gunfire while they looked for a way out. The episode then flashed back to tamer times earlier that day. It was a run-of-the-mill afternoon filled with Robyn working on her car, Mel and Harry (Adam Goldberg) grocery shopping, and Delilah (Laya DeLeon Hayes) and Aunt Vi (Lorraine Toussaint) on their way to the movies. But the day was harshly interrupted when Robyn, Mel, and Harry were all attacked.
Having made it out unscathed, Robyn and Mel set off to find out what the syringe the attackers attempted to plunge into Robyn’s neck was filled with. It was a truth serum that basically had its own self-destruct feature. Once injected, the person would die 90 minutes later. (True Lies also dealt with a truth serum in the Wednesday, May 17 two-part series finale on CBS.)
Michael Greenberg/CBS
They discovered the coordinated attack was organized by a group of violent rebels from Venezuela — people who were betrayed by Robyn and her team when CIA orders drew them out of the South American country. Robyn lost her best friend, Michelle, and their teammate in the aftermath of that departure, and the immorality of pulling the operatives out of Venezuela when they were needed most is what made Robyn leave the CIA for good. But why was she being targeted, and why after all these years?
That’s where Colton Fisk (Donal Logue) gets involved. Fisk was one of the men behind the decision to leave all those years ago. He was abducted and tortured by this group in the episode because of his ties to the betrayal, and because he had been working with Robyn for weeks, the group seemingly was using her to get to him. She and Mel were tied up in the next room trying to figure out an escape, but the plot would soon thicken.
Meanwhile, Harry was rushing to find the antidote to the truth serum, with which Dante (Tory Kittles) had been injected. Before they were abducted, Robyn and Mel heard Dante in his hazy state confess his love for Robyn over the phone. And Delilah and Aunt Vi found themselves in a hostage situation in a convenience store by a gunman.
To get everyone out safely, Aunt Vi tried to relate to the robber, Drake’s (P.J. Sosko), humanity. After losing his job, struggling to find more work, and losing his wife, Drake was unhoused, desperate, and at his wit’s end. Taking nonperishables and wool socks clued Vi into his circumstances, and she was able to talk him down from the ledge before anyone was hurt. As police stormed into the store, Delilah threw her body over his out of protection and yelled that his gun wasn’t loaded. She was right, and Drake was arrested but unharmed along with everyone else in the store.
Safety wasn’t guaranteed for Dante, however. As the lethal side of the serum began to kick in, Dante passed out. Without the antidote (its creator had been shot in the head in his lab), Harry turned to a defibrillator that would hopefully revive him. It worked, but it wasn’t long before they were both back in harm’s way.
Michael Greenberg/CBS
When the Venezuelans apprehended Robyn, she swore she saw Michelle, her presumed dead colleague and friend. It turns out, Michelle survived the building collapse Robyn thought had killed her. It did kill their friend, but it only traumatized Michelle. Deserted by the CIA and seemingly Robyn, Michelle had spent the years since plotting her revenge against Robyn and the CIA.
The plan to hurt Robyn was just the “appetizer” to the group’s master plan. With little time left in the episode, it was hard to see how Robyn and the team would make it out safely. They wouldn’t. The episode ended with Fisk and Robyn still held captive, and with Mel, Harry, and Dante strapped to chairs in a room full of kerosene. The room had cameras, and Michelle forced Robyn to watch in horror as someone threw a lit match onto the fuel, setting the room ablaze. The look of terror on Robyn’s face was the last shot of the season.
With Season 4 already a sure thing, fans will get to see what happens next (though the WGA writers strike will likely delay when Season 4 production begins and, by extension, is released). The premiere started with a life-threatening scene that seemed impossible to escape, but Robyn and Mel still made it out. Do you think the premiere will do the same with Mel, Harry, and Dante? What did you think of the bold season Season 3 finale? Let us know in the comments below.
The Equalizer, Season 3, Streaming Now, Paramount+
Conversation36 Comments
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G
Going to ruin this show with ridiculous plots. Go back to episodes of equalizer helping people which is primary premise of show. Have to suspend belief for some of episodes but getting ridiculous.
23 1
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G
I love this show, BUT........Why do writers like to have cliffhangers to end a season? The last show of the season should end on happy notes. Good things should take place. Do writers think I am going to say, "I can't wait until September to see what happens. Let's rush through the summer." Just my opinion.
21 2
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B
I HATE cliff hangers!!! They piss me off so much sometimes I don't even want to give the show air time when it comes back! That is just to damn long to wait!!!
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O
Denzel Washington should show up in Season 4 and save them all!😛
10
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G
ha!
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D
This show has gone off the rails, in my humble opinion. It used to be an entertaining show with nice tidy endings. I liked it much better when the episodes were stand-alone episodes where Robyn helped other people. The storylines are awful now. And the show is kind of ridiculous. I know it's just a TV show and some stretching of credibility is necessary, but, come on....Robyn and Mel are constantly being shot at (by what seems semi-automatic weapons) and they fire one shot back and kill someone? And the fight scenes? They are laughable. I mean, I literally laugh out loud. And...when did the show become so violent? Sure, it's a "cartoon" type of violence..but..still. /end of rant
11 2
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J
The scene of Robyn watching the room with Harry, Mel, and Dante trapped inside burning was excruciating. (Although I doubt that's real, it's a mind game against Rob, I suspect.) ~
I thought Aunt Vi's interaction with the would-be robber was a little too cheesy and eye-rolling for me. I didn't care for that storyline. ~
I too want the show to get back to helping innocent citizens get out of complicated citizens. Hearing all these old stories about Robyn's former life (and her 'best friend,' who we never heard of before, so that means she has to show up now) is boring.
11 2
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P
It’s an immature thought that, after following the show throughout 3 seasons, that the only way I’d return to watch the next season is because of a cliffhanger. Instead, it frustrates me.
I much prefer the integrity of writers who do substantial plots that can stand on their own merit without the use of trickery. Good writing makes me return to a show. Cliffhangers make me question if I should
8 1
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C
I have questions that may help to figure out what’s next. However, Fisk texted someone before he was kidnapped. Will they be rescued by whoever he texted? Will Michelle realize that she is being used and have a change of heart? Are there sprinklers in the room that have been turned off and can be turned back on? Is someone dreaming and it’s not a real issue? Will Aunt Vi and Delilah do some equalizing of their own and come with help to rescue them? That’s all I have.
8 1
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G
Pretty sure that call will help save (part of) the day
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G
I THINK THIS SHOW IS AWESOME. WHAT A CLIFFHANGER. I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT SEASON.
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B
Queen Latifah's purpose is to make people THINK about social situations of today. The store robbery and talking about having nowhere to turn, I think, speaks to many Americans who are struggling these days. I liked that part. I was very frustrated with the whole Michelle scene. I am very into the characters - as if they are real people - and that is what great acting is! It is a great show if it can pull us in that much! I agree that cliffhangers are the worst - but it makes us think and keeps us watching - the whole point I guess. Great show! Great finale! Hats off!
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G
Love the show but not impressed ending. A cliffhanger is fine for a seasonal break such as the holidays or short 2 week window but to end a season like this is frustrating! I would be counting the days to pickup the next season as most fans would, so ending like was totally unnecessary.
6 2
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G
You do realize that's the point? Get ratings up & viewers to return
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R
Hate cliffhangers!!
3
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O
Absolutely shocking and awesomeness
3
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C
This show is the best on TV
Why would you cancel a show that's great
2
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G
I Thank Thay Make it out a Live
2
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P
they need to bring back an episode to finish off this huge cliffhanger this isnt fair now we gotta wait months to see what happens but i hope the characters all stay alive and keep up there good work as a team goin
2
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B
Robyn told Mel just before they got taken from the car that we need backup, then Robyn made a call on her phone that rung one time or a signal to somebody, which I always wondered how she started doing what she do and who encouragesd her,, but with that said I believe Robyn has a secret backup named DENZEL WASHINGTON...just my thought and he will save them all the EQUALIZER WAY.
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R
I agree. I hate end of season cliffhangers
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G
I am sick and tired of cliffhangers. And why? To entice me to continue watching in a few months? Give me a decent ending & I'll WANT to come back for more. Manipulating me just insults me. (Oh, and btw, she did get the text out to her mystery "back up" option before they got nabbed, so I know how they're gonna get saved. I'm just not sure I care.)
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R
it was a stupid episode. mccall and mel should've met up with dante with the antidote. obviously they weren't that far away from them. not 90 minutes anyway. because dante is still alive and theyre all in the same place
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O
I hated it, and it made me angry. I felt the writers betrayed me and it erased so many amazing good qualities I found in the series. I did guess it may have been a fake scene, but resent it, rather than making me excited for the next season.
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G
That would be an improvement.
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R
I love the show. I know they are trying to diversify the stories to intertwine helping good people with spy craft as well. I want the suspense as well as everyone else. I love the espionage edge added in. I just think they have to be careful to craft a story that is intertwined well. However, just like NCIS, they have to give each fan what they want. Don't ever cancel this show. It has great potential to grow when they have great writers.
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O
Hoping that everyone will be safe. If any of them die, not watching the show. Getting a bit too violent
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G
You know you'll be back though. Even if just for that first epsidoe. 😉
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O
Ummm…they’d be dead by now in real life…plus don’t warehouses have sprinkler systems but then again fire started with a starter of some type. Whatever…
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G
I’ve enjoyed this show all season, but I thought this finale was really bad. Terrible script, ridiculous cliffhanger. There were so many other choices the writers could’ve made. The whole storyline with Vi was cheesy and over scripted. The Venezuelan part was over the top. Very disappointing.
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O
Ed and Michelle were mentioned in the first episode. Robyn has also mentioned them after whenever she talked about why she left the CIA.
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C
Just like everyone else, i hate cliffhangers!! Now we have to wait months to see what happened. So wrong!
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R
Terrible ending not knowing if her team got out safely
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G
At Equalizer were ruthlessly playing!
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R
I hate cliffhangers! This episode was so far of the storyline. Not sure if I care enough the continue watching the show.
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O
I want Queen Latifah to find away too save Harry, Mel and Dante. AND Have Dante & Robin start dating alittle as give Aunt V & Delilah alittle More actions showing they can handle themselves
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