# The Equalizer with Queen Latifah **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 2, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057 "2021-02-02T15:31:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/1 "2021-02-02T15:31:14Z")
I watched the promos for this show, and was like, “yeah right- Queen Latifah on a motorcycle!” Well, shut my mouth, turns out she really rides! > **[Things that make you go zoom! Queen Latifah takes her purple and yellow...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2328849/Queen-Latifah-takes-purple-yellow-motorcycle-spin.html)** > > Queen Latifah might be the only daytime talk show host who rides a motorcycle. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/2 "2021-02-16T17:10:19Z")
I forgot this started and caught the first two episodes on demand. Seems to me that they’re doing a good job bridging Denzel’s version with the original. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/3 "2021-05-10T01:06:14Z")
The season has progressed through an interesting story arc. I’m enjoying it. It’s rare finding a show that I look forward to each week. One nitpick, I’m growing tired of the storyline with McCall and Dante, the police detective. It’s not sustainable. He can’t keep helping her without getting canned by his department. It looks like a confrontation between McCall and the police is inevitable. I can’t see them continuing that story into season. 2. She can’t keep calling them for help and expose her cases. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/4 "2021-05-10T22:09:06Z")
This is miscasting. Queen Latifah as a badass former undercover agent, that no one suspects…nah. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/5 "2021-05-10T22:20:51Z")
Queen Latifah _is_ a badass, tho. That lady totally fucking rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/6 "2021-05-10T22:40:43Z")
I’m very happy with the series. They’re doing a very good job. And its not after the Denzel movie. Its after The Equalizer, the TV series in the late 1980’s. It, too, was awesome 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/7 "2021-05-10T23:29:55Z")
I’m expecting a season cliff hanger. Looks like it’ll be a police confrontation. Or maybe an attack against McCall’s family. It’ll be something that keeps people talking until this Fall. I hope they don’t go after the family this early. It would drastically change the dynamics of the show. I like goofy Aunt Viv and the kid. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/8 "2021-05-10T23:45:48Z")
The Denzel movie was, sorta, based on the TV show. He assumed the character Robert McCall. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/9 "2021-05-10T23:46:12Z")
…open (but very mild) spoilers. The show is about as old-school 80’s as you can get. Entirely predictable plot beats. Last week they had a therapy session and the person running the session had a couple of lines and that was it: I pointed it to him and said “that’s the murderer.” And of course he ended up being the murderer 🙂 This week they said the father was dead. So I knew he was alive 😃 (Until they made him dead, but only after the daughter got closure) Entirely predictable. But I don’t mean that in a bad way. There is so much prestige television that is trying to be “edgy” that it’s nice to get a show that just is what it is. Love the supporting characters, Queen Latifah is killing it, the show is just a nice blast-from-the-past. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/10 "2021-05-17T01:12:41Z")
The extremist group episode was well done and very topical. The threat was big enough that McCall and detective Dante were forced to work together again. I still can’t see that continuing into season 2. It’s getting too contrived. They previewed the season finale. Apparently the writers couldn’t resist bringing the violence to McCall’s home. It’s such an obvious story trope. I hope they find a way to do something original. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/11 "2021-05-17T04:43:26Z")
So NOT buying the fight scenes she’s in. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/12 "2022-05-17T03:30:26Z")
Bumping because it’s just been renewed for two more seasons. Maybe an appearance by Denzel? > **[Queen Latifah Talks ‘The Equalizer’ Season 3 and a Potential Crossover with...](https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/queen-latifah-equalizer-season-3-4-denzel-washington-1235261672/)** > > Last week, “The Equalizer” star and executive producer Queen Latifah announced that the hit CBS series had been picked up for a third and fourth season. The show, in which Latifah plays vigilante R… ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/13 "2022-05-17T11:31:32Z")
Glad to hear it. I like the show, and I’m amazed by the fact that I believe Latifah in her fight scenes. This season (so far — I’m three or four episodes behind) has become a blatantly topical-issue-of-the-week deal (ICE, Tulsa Massacre, anti-Asian violence, etc.), which I usually find annoying, but somehow I’m OK with it here. Built-up good will, I guess. I’ve always been a fan of Latifah (since _Chicago_) and Lorraine Toussaint (forever), and I love the girl (although she’s probably like 25 IRL) who plays the daughter. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/14 "2022-05-17T12:00:44Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > Glad to hear it. I like the show, and I’m amazed by the fact that I believe Latifah in her fight scenes. This season (so far — I’m three or four episodes behind) has become a blatantly topical-issue-of-the-week deal (ICE, Tulsa Massacre, anti-Asian violence, etc.), which I usually find annoying, but somehow I’m OK with it here. Built-up good will, I guess. what everyone forgets is so was the original also …there was the little kid with aids that was being harassed by blue-collar punks who were drunk and unemployed and had nothing better to do … the homeless family that was getting shaken down in a hotel voucher scam … the original had a cop that helped out a lot but I think he was a captain or lieutenant and pretty much owed his career to calls help …they just delved more into McCall’s past near the end …which led to a situation that was played for smirks back then but is cringey when I think about it …it comes out McCall had 2 kids by 2 different women and they didn’t know he or their sibling existed well in an episode the son is helping them protect a girl whos the daughter but she doesn’t know it well the teenaged boy gets interested in her and they’re getting very chummy (in fact they almost made out if I remember right)until he’s told "erm no that’s your sister " and he throws a fit but keeps his promise not to tell her until a few episodes later when shes still mad that he started giving her the shoulder , At least it seems they don’t have the obnoxious Archie bunker sidekick whose only reason is to have it pointed out the Reagan era was the gilded age light I think his name was mickey I remember the actor hated the character and possibly the show also so they replaced him with a wiseass sidekick that ran questionable operations that helped him personally or made him money ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/15 "2022-05-17T14:59:19Z")
I’m still watching. I’ve noticed the stories are shifting away from the original premise, Helping people in trouble. They seem to focus more on CIA ops. McCall supposedly had retired from that work. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/16 "2022-05-17T15:10:28Z")
I’ve watched maybe two episodes this season. They’re sitting on the DVR for a binge-watch over my extra long holiday weekend – I’m taking a half-day on the 26th and a full day on the 27th. Yeah, I did tell the DVR to keep recording for an extra half hour in case “60 Minutes” runs long. Didn’t do that last season and missed the very end of a couple of episodes. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/17 "2022-05-18T03:20:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > They seem to focus more on CIA ops. McCall supposedly had retired from that work. This show is a spiritual successor to the Hawaii 5-0 reboot and they are basically identical in how they are structured: The heroes do things regular cops can’t or won’t do. The heroes often roughly interrogate the wrong person. The big computer spits out clues as required to move the plot along. There is an Asian gal who is the team’s sniper and eye candy. There is one cop you can trust, the others not so much. Anyone else who is helpful at first usually turns out to be the baddie they are looking for. The CIA is all up in everyone’s business all the time and operates domestically without hesitation. But if you liked Hawaii 5-0, now is a great time to be watching CBS because 5-0 also lives on in NCIS: Hawaii which is basically the same show minus the torture (5-0 had a floor drain under the interrogation chair, I wish I was kidding) and minus the dumb arguments between characters. Well, mostly. They also try to stay Team Non-Lethal most of the time, something 5-0 definitely did not do. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/18 "2022-05-18T16:40:35Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > what everyone forgets is so was the original also Thanks. I didn’t know that, as I think I watched maybe three episodes of the original. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/19 "2022-05-18T22:20:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m still watching. I’ve noticed the stories are shifting away from the original premise, Helping people in trouble. > > They seem to focus more on CIA ops. McCall supposedly had retired from that work. as I said they did that in the original series but then it was more of "mc calls past comes back to haunt him " as he had to personally deal with the results of some of his and controls choices 10-20 years after the fact ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057/20 "2022-05-18T22:49:11Z")
Is Chris noth still playing the “control” character? or have they caught up to him being removed? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-equalizer-with-queen-latifah/932057.md?page=2)