The Equalizer Season 5 Episode 5 Review: Take My Life ... Please!

Critic’s Rating: 3 / 5.0

Mel is back with Robyn on the job.

And Delilah is ready to make a big decision.

And Robyn admits she still has feelings for Marcus in The Equalizer Season 5 Episode 5!

But there’s more! After weeks of waiting, we learned new information about Aunt Vi’s ongoing health scare.

Okay — before we get into everything that’s happening in the personal lives of our favorite characters, let’s get to this week’s case.

Mel is back with Robyn, working the case of a stand-up comedian who needs saving from a hitman.

And there is a twist to the case — the stand-up comedian hired the hitman to kill him.

Yes, this had my attention, too. It made a boring case much more interesting.

So why would someone hire a hitman to end their life? In the case of this comedian, Craig Harris, he has been struggling to pay the bills.

Worth More Dead Than Alive

The situation made him decide he was worth more dead than alive.

Craig asks his friends to end his life so his wife can unknowingly collect benefits from his life insurance.

Robyn looks as shocked as anyone when she learns about this crazy plan. She also doesn’t trust his friends when he shares that he plans to call it all off.

Robyn points out that his friends are the beneficiaries and may not be as trustworthy as he thinks.

Robyn, Mel, and Harry quickly do their homework on Craig’s friends. After some interviews, they learn there is quite a bit of history between them, and some of it isn’t without resentment and grudges.

Robyn Hesitates Over Mel Returning To The Field

Robyn and Mel track down Craig to tell him all of his friends have alibis after a car tries to run him down.

Watching Robyn and Mel hit the streets together again feels like the good old days.

But it is with some hesitance on Robyn’s part. Mel has to repeatedly reassure her that she is ready to work in the field.

Craig is almost murdered once again when he accepts some fast food delivery from a man in the park.

The comedian may be funny, but he lacks common sense, which makes this episode frustrating to watch at times.

Robyn and Mel bring him to a safe house to keep him safe after they learn Craig’s stand-up jokes have also earned him some enemies.

It isn’t long before Harry digs into Craig’s past relationship with his ex-wife and learns she also has a grudge. Is anyone else missing Harry in this episode? We have yet to see much of him with Mel back in action.

Robyn experiences his ex-wife’s anger firsthand when she arrives to attack Craig with a baseball bat.

It’s Mel who realizes that the ex-wife isn’t the suspect. There are more people out for Craig, who decides to take off in his car to make amends for his insulting jokes.

Craig takes to the stage at his local club to apologize and talk about how he has hurt others when one of his comedy peers pulls a gun on him.

Robyn arrives in time, saving Craig from a fatal shot. Robyn thanks Mel for being someone she can trust on the job and in her personal life.

Marcus Faces Big Decisions Involving Big Ben

Equalizer fans know all about the drama between Big Ben and Marcus. For years, Big Ben was in prison and frequently wrote Marcus letters.

Marcus never read the letters, but after his father’s sister visits him and hands him the letters, he finally seems open to finding peace in that part of his life.

For now, it seems like he’ll be sticking around to care for his father.

Aunt Viola’s Biopsy Addressed

The storyline involving Aunt Viola’s cancer scare was first introduced weeks ago, with no mention since.

It isn’t until now that we’ve learned more about the matter.

Robyn discovers the pending results of her aunt’s biopsy on an iPad when the two are talking about Marcus.

When Delilah enters the room, she stops them from talking about the scary possibility. By the end of the episode, we learn Aunt Vi is cancer-free!

Delilah Decides To Move Forward With Her College Career

Delilah has made up her mind when it comes to her life after high school.

Earlier in The Equalizer Season 5, Delilah was unsure whether to attend college or enter the workforce.

Now, she’s touring schools with her dad and wondering if she’ll be accepted on merit or for her skin color.

Aunt Viola brings her to meet some college kids at a local school, and the experience is eye-opening for her. They feel safe and free to express themselves, giving Delilah hope that she’ll find the college she needs.

Robyn Sets Aside Her Feelings For Marcus To Maintain Their Friendship

It felt like old times with Marcus still home as he dealt with his father’s health and memory loss issues.

But after he attempts to kiss Robyn, she turns him down and politely reminds him he’s still living on the West Coast.

She’s playing it safe, and we can’t blame her. She can’t separate her feelings and wants more, even though she previously thought she could deal with them just being friends.