The Equalizer’s first seasons can now be seen on a free streamer, but it may surprise you where! What does this mean for the future of the series?
Fans of The Equalizer are still waiting to hear word on the show’s fate. The CBS series wasn’t among the wave of renewals the network handed out in February, yet it also hasn’t been canceled yet. There are some concerns over the ratings as well as the salary for star Queen Latifah.
This reboot of the 1980s series with Edward Woodward stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, a former CIA operative who returns home to New York. Robyn soon hires herself out to help people in need who can’t turn to the cops, engaging in some amazing adventures.
The show does seem to have its fans and building up support, with Deadline reporting there are negotiations for a sixth and potentially final season. An upcoming episode will also serve as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off starring Titus Welliver.
Helping is the show has become popular in some streaming services. Like all CBS shows, it’s on Paramount+ and the first four seasons are streaming on Netflix. Now, in a surprise, the first four seasons of The Equalizer have dropped on the free streamer Tubi.
How does Tubi have The Equalizer?
The arrival of The Equalizer on Tubi is a surprise in many ways. For one, it’s still running on CBS while Tubi generally acquires shows that have been long canceled. There are exceptions for some Fox series, which makes sense as Fox Corporation owns the ad-supported streamer.
That makes it more surprising for any CBS show, past or present, to be on Tubi. CBS and Universal Studios own the show and thus not a likely target for Tubi.
It should be noted that the streamer happens to have the first two Denzel Washington-starring Equalizer movies that helped inspire the reboot series. It’s likely Universal sold Tubi the rights for the CBS reboot as part of this deal.
Interestingly, there is yet to be a streaming home for the original 1980s CBS series that inspired both the movies and the current reboot. This can be a great move for the show as being on Netflix is okay but that requires a subscription fee that some may not afford.
Tubi, however, is free (albeit ad-supported), meaning you can watch The Equalizer’s first four seasons anytime you want. That makes it more likely that the show can connect with viewers who skipped it on CBS and build up a bigger audience that will watch new episodes on the network.
Will this help The Equalizer season 6 happen?
This could be a key for The Equalizer getting a sixth season, as CBS can see the rise in viewing for past seasons and how there’s still a strong audience for the show. With several other top CBS shows being canceled, The Equalizer could have a better chance of surviving at least one more year.
At least fans of The Equalizer have a great place to check it out for free and see how this hit show has grown over the years.
The Equalizer Seasons 1-4 streaming on Tubi, Netflix, and Paramount+. Season 5 airs Sundays at 10/9c on CBS.