The Equalizer Season 5, Episode 7, "Slay Ride" serves as the fall finale, merging the spirit of Christmas with high-stakes action and drama. The episode kicks off with a couple arriving at a house lit up with holiday decorations. Just as they’re about to go inside, the man’s phone rings, sparking an argument. Things quickly take a dark turn when a woman appears in the street, aiming to shoot the man. Dante (Tory Kittles) shoots her before she can cause harm, but in her final moments, she swears to kill him in revenge.
Meanwhile, Robyn (Queen Latifah) is preparing a Christmas Eve dinner for Miles (Stephen Bishop), who’s on-call at the hospital. Aunt Vi (Lorraine Toussaint) notices the meal is Miles’s favorite, but Robyn explains she just wants to drop it off for him, as he's working late. The family moment is interrupted when Delilah (Laya DeLeon Hayes) reveals she’s nervous about meeting Cam’s (guest star) family. Robyn, trying to ease her anxiety, opens up about running a background check on Miles’s family before meeting them herself. It’s a humorous and relatable moment that shows Robyn’s care for her family, especially in navigating the uncertainty that comes with relationships.
At the hospital, Dante and his partner Shaw are monitoring La Maldad, a woman with ties to the cartel who is cooperating with the FBI. Though she’s willing to testify against her father, she holds a personal grudge against Dante for shooting her. Robyn arrives to deliver dinner to Miles, and their brief interaction with Dante hints at an underlying tension. It’s clear there’s something deeper between Robyn and Dante, and as the episode unfolds, we see how this dynamic plays into the high-stakes situation at the hospital.
The suspense builds when La Maldad’s condition worsens, and Robyn’s encounter with two paramedics—one sporting a cartel tattoo—leads her to call Dante, warning him of a potential attack. As the cartel’s sicarios infiltrate the hospital, things spiral out of control. Robyn orders a lockdown, but the sicarios take hostages and kill anyone who stands in their way. Harry (Adam Goldberg) steps in to assist from the tech side, hacking into the hospital’s security system to keep track of the sicarios’ movements. Meanwhile, Mel (Liza Lapira) rushes to the hospital with her “big gun” to provide backup, proving once again how dedicated and resourceful Robyn’s team is.
I found it both thrilling and intense how Robyn handled the situation. Her cool-headed approach to organizing the defense within the chaos was a testament to her leadership. The tension between the characters, especially Robyn and Dante, adds an emotional layer to the story. Dante’s vulnerability is revealed when he’s injured during an explosion while trying to protect the hospital. Their teamwork is what keeps everyone alive, but the episode continually reminds us how unpredictable the stakes are.
As the sicarios demand La Maldad be handed over or else they’ll kill the hostages, Robyn shows her resolve, refusing to give in to their threats. Mel takes out two of the hostage-takers with Harry guiding her through the security system, which is one of the many clever moments that make "The Equalizer" so enjoyable. It's refreshing to see how these characters, especially Robyn and Mel, rise to the occasion in such dire circumstances.
When La Maldad’s illness turns out to be a ruse, the tension reaches its peak. Dante and Robyn realize the sicarios’ true aim isn’t to kill La Maldad, but to get her out of the hospital. The situation grows even more personal when Shaw betrays them, and Miles is taken hostage. It’s a heartbreaking moment, but it’s also a turning point for Dante. Miles’s desperate pleas for Dante to fight back bring out a vulnerable side to him, but it’s Robyn who ultimately saves the day by taking out Shaw. I was relieved to see Robyn’s decisive action in this moment, and it made me appreciate how much she’s grown as both a leader and a protector.
Back at home, Delilah decides not to go with Cam to his family’s Christmas celebration, worried about the violence unfolding at the hospital. Cam, showing a lot of maturity, decides to stay with her instead, offering her support. Their quiet but heartfelt moment was a nice counterbalance to the chaos earlier. As they share a quiet evening with Aunt Vi, we see Delilah’s growth as she expresses her trust in Robyn, who has always been there for them despite the dangers she faces in her work.
The episode takes another touching turn when Mel gives Harry a gift—a guitar—after years of not liking his previous gifts. Her sincerity and the thought behind the gesture are sweet and show a different side of their relationship. The emotional payoff comes when Harry reveals that the guitar is meant to help her voice be heard. It’s a beautiful moment, reflecting the deeper bonds these characters have with each other.
In the final scenes, Robyn and Miles return home to embrace their family. The family reunion was heartwarming, and it reminded me of the core of the show—how, despite all the chaos, Robyn’s family is her anchor. Robyn and Miles have a conversation about their relationship, where Miles pledges to wait for Robyn to find her way back to him. It’s a powerful moment, but also one filled with uncertainty, showing how much they’ve changed since their past. I found myself wondering if they could ever fully reconnect, but I’m glad Miles is willing to wait for her.
The episode concludes with the group at the bar, toasting to Christmas, but there's a twist when Delilah and Cam share a kiss. It was a sweet moment, and I felt the show gave them both room to grow and explore their own relationship, away from the shadow of the chaos surrounding them.
In sum, "Slay Ride" was an intense but emotionally rich episode that brought the Christmas spirit to life in a world of danger and unpredictability. It’s clear that Robyn’s team is strong and deeply connected, and despite the intense action, the moments of emotional depth are what really stood out. The way the episode balanced heart-pounding moments with heartfelt interactions between family and friends was a testament to what makes The Equalizer so captivating.
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