The Equalizer showrunner Joe Wilson has revealed why the show did not end on a season 5 cliffhanger, despite its surprise cancellation. A reboot of the original 1980s series of the same name, The Equalizer debuted on CBS in February 2021, and starred Queen Latifah as the titular character Robyn McCall, a former CIA agent who becomes a street vigilante for justice. The Equalizer season 1 debuted to strong ratings, and, though ratings declined, it seemed like The Equalizer season 6 was on the cusp of a renewal before CBS confirmed the cancellation.
In an interview with TV Insider, Wilson reveals why he made the decision not to end The Equalizer season 5 on a cliffhanger, preferring the episode to be one that could conclude both the season and the series. Wilson confirmed that the decision was made not to end with a cliffhanger because there were no guarantees that the show would be picked up for a sixth season. He reveals that those involved with the show did not want fans to feel cheated or incomplete, and so the decision was made to have a more conclusive finale. Check out Wilson’s comments below:
This finale feels like it could serve as both a season and series ender. Was it purposefully designed that way?
Joe Wilson: It was definitely on purpose. We didn’t want to end with a cliffhanger. Shows get a little older. We are going into our sixth season budget, and money becomes an issue. We weren’t sure what was going to happen, and if we did end up on that wrong side, we did not want the fans to feel incomplete or cheated in any way. So we designed it in a way that can feel like an ending, but there’s so much more to unpack.
What This Means For The Equalizer’s Ending
The Show Does A Good Job Of Tying Up Its Story In A Satisfactory Way
The Equalizer was a show that aimed to tell immersive stories and develop strong, layered characters over the course of its run. So Wilson’s comments about plans for the show’s ending do make sense. It feels like the creative team could see the likelihood of a cancellation, and wanted to make sure the show got to conclude in a way that was satisfying to viewers, as well as making sense within the narrative structure of the show as a whole.
The fact that The Equalizer season 5 managed to tell its story, expand thematically, and wrap up the show in a way that felt right means viewers are rewarded for their investment.
Robyn’s journey, and the impact her decisions had on her family and those closest to her, were explored over the course of the series, and it would not have felt right to leave loose ends in the series finale. Other shows like The Equalizer have made this mistake in the past, and this has reduced the appeal of the series in the eyes of many. Wilson’s decision was the correct one, and developing a series finale that can also serve as a season finale makes more sense creatively than having a cliffhanger ending that will never be resolved.
Our Take On The Equalizer’s Conclusion
It’s A Show That Might Be Looked Upon Favorably In The Coming Decades
Shows that lack a solid conclusion can often be frustrating, particularly after years of groundwork. The fact that The Equalizer season 5 managed to tell its story, expand thematically, and wrap up the show in a way that felt right means viewers are rewarded for their investment. For this reason, The Equalizer has a better chance of standing the test of time and becoming a classic. While it may not be a massive audience favroite right now, it is a show that was true to its theme, its story, and its audience, and this should give it power retroactively.
Source: TV Insider