Product Details

• Actors: Edward Woodward, Sandy Dennis
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: February 12, 2008
• Run Time: 1064 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000YENUOK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,744 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "The Equalizer - Season One" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Golden Globe® winner Edward Woodward stars as private detective Robert McCall, a sophisticated former government agent atoning for the sins of his past by righting the wrongs of a flawed legal system in the groundbreaking hit suspense series The Equalizer. Follow this intense anti-hero in all 22 gripping first season episodes as he protects innocent people who feel they have nowhere else to turn. Following the clues each step of the way are some of Hollywood's hottest guest stars, including Luis Guzman (Out of Sight), Bradley Whitford (The West Wing), Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Tony Shalhoub (Monk). Nominated for seven Primetime Emmy® Awards and two Golden Globes®, The Equalizer is a provocative, action-packed murder-mystery series you won't want to miss!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

156 of 161 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer." November 14, 2007

By Greg Boll

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Equalizer, with its distinctive theme song, written by Stewart Copeland, founder and drummer of The Police, premiered in September of 1985. It was, almost certainly, one of the better shows to come out of the 1980s. The gritty, "street-smart" aura of the series, which ran for four seasons, in many ways encapsulated the "pulse" or the "feel" of life in New York City during this seminal decade. This said, those watching the show today will be impressed by how well it holds up and remains contemporary more than 20 years on.

Edward Woodward's "made-for-the role" presence as retired Cold War operative Robert McCall, "The Equalizer," infused a razor-sharp energy into the series, complemented by a regular supporting cast that included Robert Lansing as "Control," Keith Szarabajka as Mickey Kostmayer, Mark Margolis as Jimmy, William Zabka as son Scott McCall, and Richard Jordan as Harley Gage....

Many other well-known actors also made guest appearances on the show, including Jerry Stiller, Vincent D'Onofrio, Robert Mitchum, Adam Ant, Christian Slater, John Polito, Macauley Culkin, Melissa Sue Anderson, Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys, John Goodman, Laurence Fishburne, David Alan Grier, Michael Moriarty, Tony Shalhoub, Roma Maffia, Telly Savalas, Steve Buscemi, Kim Delaney, Sylvia Sidney, Quentin Crisp, Anthony Zerbe, Joe Morton, Lori Petty, Luis Guzman, Robert Davi, William Atherton, Frances Fisher, Patricia Clarkson, Dann Florek, Laurie Metcalf, Bradley Whitford, Ray Sharkey, Dana Barron, Jasmine Guy, Austin Pendleton, Saul Rubinek, Joe Maruzzo, Robert Joy, Burt Young, Mark Linn-Baker, Lauren Tom, Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Alex Winter, Meat Loaf, David Leisure, Christine Baranski, Charles Dutton, Dan Hedaya, Tovah Feldshuh, Marisa Berenson, Brad Dourif, Melissa Joan Hart, James Eckhouse and more.

The DVD set offers Season One's episodes, listed below, as well as commentary by the show's creator, Michael Sloan, and a bonus preview episode for Season Two entitled "Beyond Control."

1-01 Pilot Episode
1-02 China Rain
1-03 The Defector
1-04 The Lock Box
1-05 Lady Cop
1-06 The Confirmation Day
1-07 The Children's Song
1-08 The Distant Fire
1-09 Mama's Boy
1-10 Bump and Run
1-11 Desperately
1-12 Reign of Terror
1-13 Back Home
1-14 Out of the Past
1-15 Dead Drop
1-16 Wash Up
1-17 Torn
1-18 Unnatural Causes
1-19 Breakpoint
1-20 No Conscience
1-21 Unpunished Crimes
1-22 Pretenders

A new film re-make of "The Equalizer" is also being planned, with an anticipated release in 2009.

So.... "Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer." Or, at least pop in a DVD, pull up a chair or flop on the couch and watch some great TV!

May 2012 Addendum: Season 2 of THE EQUALIZER was released in Europe in March 2012, and Season 3 is scheduled to be released there in June 2012. Still no information on any releases of these seasons in the United States. Hopefully that will happen soon! Read more ›

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An unobjective recommendation December 27, 2007

By Coleman Luck

Format:DVD

As one of the writers and producers of The Equalizer, I'm very happy that what we did is finally coming out on DVD. The only sad note is that my friend, the legendary Jim McAdams, Executive Producer of the series, passed away in September of 07 and never saw it happen.

Coleman Luck

79 of 83 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Odds Are No Longer Against Fans Of This Great Series November 21, 2007

By Terence Allen VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

To Europeans and foreign film fans, Edward Woodward will always be remembered for playing the title role in "Breaker Morant." But to American television watchers, he will be remembered for playing Robert McCall, the wily and dangerous ex-covert operative in "The Equalizer."

McCall is a former CIA-type (and at least one episode hints at him being a former mercenary) who has devoted all he has to his career, losing his marriage and distancing himself from his young son in the process. He decides to quit the espionage business and work as a vigilante, helping people in distress. His occasional accomplice is Mickey Kostmayer, another covert operator and former Navy SEAL.

At one time or another, Woodward conveyed every emotion in the book playing McCall- menace, savagery, fear, doubt, loneliness, sadness, humor, joy, etc... The Elizabethan-trained actor had the talent to play such a complex role, and he did to the hilt, and the great supporting cast and numerous guest stars did nothing to hurt the appeal or attractiveness of the series.

Having The Equalizer come out on DVD whets one's appetite for the planned feature film, but whoever plays Robert McCall will have large shoes to fill, and many great memories to overcome.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Equalizing the Problem June 3, 2008

By The Equalizer

Format:DVD

The eighties were full of series.Mainly Miami Vice dominated this era but The Equalizer was a series for people who liked good old fashioned stories.An Ex Agent tries to help people in different dangerous situations.Edward Woodward was cool as ice as the main character.But be warned if you buy this set.As i researched mainly because of right problems the Music in this box differs from the original episodes.It was changed for this release.So if you are not a hard core fan this set is for you to go.If you are it's better to stay away and look for the R2 set which was released in Europe.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars WARNING!: Wait for the EQUALIZER complete series!!! January 19, 2010

By Seth F. Weaver

Format:DVD

I'm a big fan of Edward Woodward and "The Equalizer." I received the first season on DVD for Christmas in 2008. I couldn't wait to see more shows. So I searched the whole internet for the complete series and AMAZON referred me to clickdvd.com.
BEWARE! DO NOT BUY the EQUALIZER from this source!
First they don't deliver what they promise. I was promised superb packaging with episode title and info. Each disk has a great Equalizer label on it with a hand written number in a VHS box each DVD in a plastic CD sleeve. They said that all these were brand new. They had all been PIRATED off of A&E, USA, and PLUS cable channels complete with BAD reception, flipping pictures, and an occasional commerial, plus the announcements over the closing credits to stay tuned to A&E for the next great program. There are some episodes that are just perfect it must have been a good reception day in China. (That's were the DVD were sent from.) I'm going to keep this set because it took me so long to get them and I love this show. PLEASE BE WARNED about clickdvd.com, if the price sounds too good it's probably PIRATED!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "My reasons are my own"....McCall February 18, 2008

By Richardson TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Terrific news....The Equalizer is out on DVD!
This series was just terrific and touched a nerve when it originally ran. What isn't to like? An older gentleman trying to get his karma correct by offering to help those in society who can't seem to get the police to listen or fall through the cracks one way or another. Who hasn't needed a big brother to help us at one time in our life? The pilot suffers from less than stellar acting and production but by the time the actual episodes came out the acting was terrific , the production values great and the stories wonderful.

The DVD set review. First off...to those unhappy with the packaging I'd like to say that in the past Universal has demonstrated their ability to make sexy packages and terrible product so the reverse is welcome. The fairly nondescript package hold 5 single sided dual layer DVDs...and this is great news to all of us who know of Universals penchant for double sided flipper discs that freeze and skip! The episodes look great as well. This series seems to have been filmed rather than video taped which many of that era sadly were...so they look good. Did I mention that the show also featured some fun gunplay? Yeah...its all good
an interview with Edward Woodward would have been terrific but I'm just glad to have a solid DVD set of the first year and looking for more!
order without worries..

OOOPS..I almost forgot. This show also featured arguably one of the all time best opening sequences highlighted by the brilliant theme music composed by Stewart Copeland (The Police), guaranteed to be pulse quickkening!