The Equalizer Season 5 Episode 1 Review: The Lost Ones

If viewers were afraid things would change for Robyn after Mel decided to step back from the team, The Equalizer Season 5 Episode 1, “The Lost Ones,” proves them right. McCall’s life is put at risk because she is working alone and because the only team member she has left must tend to his wife.

No one can judge Mel for deciding to take a step back. She must take care of herself and her mental health. But we also can’t deny this decision affects Robyn directly.

A job that could be done easily (if one could say that) with a full team turns into a nightmare and a danger when only two remain. The question now is, how much of it can McCall do without support?

Robyn’s first scene of the season, in which she has a nightmare about being kidnapped by herself and no one coming to help, is only a premonition of what’s to come. She ends up being put in that same situation: tied to a chair, being tortured and alone.

This time, Robyn is lucky that the two kids she helps save come back for her. But can we count on that happening on every episode?

Understandably, Robyn doesn’t want to replace Mel because she believes her friend might return to work. However, with what we see of Mel on “The Lost Ones,” the chances of that happening soon are slim.

Even though Harry is of great help, his priority is Mel, which also puts Robyn at risk. Just like we can’t blame Mel for stepping back, we can’t blame Harry for prioritizing his wife’s well-being.

So, isn’t it time Robyn found someone else to help out? She needs that NYPD connection that Dante used to provide and that extra manpower that Mel brought to every case, keeping Robyn safe and sound.

The Equalizer Season 5 Episode 1, “The Lost Ones,” doesn’t just focus on Robyn after she loses two of her team members. The episode also shows viewers how Dante and Mel are doing. To understand the whole picture, it helps that we see what these two characters are doing after leaving the team behind.

On the one hand, Mel is still struggling with her PTSD. However, what can be highlighted from this experience is her newfound friendship with Delilah.

Mel helped Delilah with her training and finding herself, so it makes perfect sense that Delilah is now trying to help Mel find herself again. It’ll be interesting to see how this friendship grows when Mel and Robyn’s friendship seems frozen in time.

On the other hand, Dante’s perfect new job doesn’t seem too perfect. He disagrees with the way his coworkers handle suspects, and by the look on his face when Harry calls for help, he misses his New York team.

While he is supposed to be thriving, he still holds on to the life in the city and the work he used to do with the equalizing team. Could he be regretting his move?

Towards the end of the episode, after being injured and facing death, Robyn mentions that there is no team and that she can only trust herself. However, at that moment, she trusts Miles again.

While she waits for Delilah and Aunt Vi to sleep before entering the house, she doesn’t shy away from Miles and the help he offers. She would have never allowed him to see her at her worst in the past, but now he is the only one who can help.

Once again, we are faced with a love triangle. Even though Robyn seems still interested in Dante, and they both imply they miss each other, she allows her walls to come down in front of Miles.

At the same time, Miles is doing everything in his power to win his family back.

The chemistry between Stephen Bishop and Queen Latifah continues to outshine that between Latifah and Tory Kittles. As things stand now, there is a possibility that Miles will find his way back.

The Equalizer Season 5 Episode 1, “The Lost Ones,” is a solid start to the season that sets the mood for what’s to come. We will likely see more of Mel’s PTSD journey and Dante’s new colleagues.

Most importantly, the season seems to be setting up Robyn’s life to be in greater danger than it usually has been. Hopefully, this will push her to realize she needs to find new people to join her or take a step back from the work she loves to do.

Could there be someone else she trusts? Or will this be the end of her equalizing career?

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The Equalizer airs Sundays at 9:30/8:30c on CBS.

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