50 GREATEST FICTIONAL BADASSES

#11 – ROBERT MCCALL from The Equalizer.

In an episode of my second favorite TV show of all time, ex-Company agent turned guardian-of-the-common-man has a crooked cop against the wall. The cop’s drugged, dazed, and Edward Woodward (playing McCall) is yelling over and over at him: “I Do Not…Forgive.” 

It’s a pivotal moment. You watch the Equalizer because it’s the same vein as Dirty Harry, but after seeing a few episodes, you realize Robert McCall is contemplative, pragmatic, coiled up emotionally. He doesn’t forgive evildoers lightly because he could never forgive himself for his past sins. 

At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss the show. A silver-haired Brit riding around 1980s New York pretending to be the Lone Ranger. But The Equalizer was a top-run production. Its episodes had cool guest-stars and an even cooler opening theme. The supporting characters were rich and well-rounded, the misadventures realistic. Most compelling of all was McCall’s purpose: a man so haunted by his work in government wet-works, he realizes he has to balance the books or his conscience (his soul) will be forfeit forever.

There were never really answers at the end of the episodes. Sure, bad guys would perish, women would be saved, children reunited with parents — but it left you with a cold feeling McCall would always be adrift. One person saved or a thousand would make no difference; it would never be enough to balance the books.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1NiNKwueE

“What do you know about the world, boy? And just who the hell are you to even attempt to judge ME.”