Queen Latifah announced the cancellation of her CBS series, “Equalizer” on Instagram on Friday. The last episode of the season aired on network television last night and my husband and I just finished it this evening. It was a very good episode.
I’m not one to follow television programming schedules these days, but it’s my understanding the series was moved to a later timeslot for its fifth season. With the show airing on Sundays, the timeslot gets jostled around a lot for sports. This probably didn’t help with the ratings.
The show has been “on the bubble”, or renewal uncertainty for a little while, and the writers of this last episode did the right thing. It’s a natural season finale, but it also worked very well as a series finale. I’m happy they chose to give the series the dignity it deserved and didn’t leave viewers hanging on a cliffhanger.
I found the series to be a respectable mix of action, the importance of family, and intrigue. The series garnered hope, and while some storylines required a bit more than the usual amount of suspension of belief, I found my investment in the series worth it. I like Queen Latifah a lot, and the supporting cast was all excellent as well. Plus, it’s a television show. It’s a form of escapism from reality, and “The Equalizer” did that well.
I’m sad to see the series end, but that’s what happens in network television. If it’s not making enough money immediately, the art is cast aside for something that seems to be more profitable.
I’m sure Queen Latifah and the rest of the cast will be appearing in new projects soon enough. It’s sad to lose this weekly viewing, and the well played interaction between the characters. I’ll miss the undercurrent of hope from the storylines.
We all need hope.
