Scorpion Review: “Shorthanded” (Season 1, Episode 4)

The mission of the week thankfully involved physical action as much as it involved nerds sitting at computers and typing fast. The adventure saw the gang repel from one building to another, and then crawl through the air vents (even though that trope’s been disproved) to get to Connelly’s office. When Toby falls through the ceiling, he leads casino security on a merry chase through the building, allowing Happy to continue the mission to find the evidence on Connelly’s computer. It’s not technically exercise, but Sylvester is forced to drive when a cop forces him to move the gang’s van out of a loading zone. Everyone worked up a sweat in this one, which might suggest the show will do better if the team doesn’t lean on the black-suited agents as much to do the literal heavy lifting (or running).

We eventually learn that Connelly’s daughter Renee, who’s dedicated her life to working for he father’s casino, used the team’s security upgrade and evaluation as a cover to steal the $10 million in an “armed robbery.” She’s ticked at her father for not recognizing her contributions so she’s going to start her own casino in an “Eff You Dad!” hissy fit. I’m not sure what kind of casino you can build for $10 million in Las Vegas, but if that was the dream, so be it. Eventually Walter concedes to call Gallo when Renne takes Toby out the desert for an old-fashioned Vegas burial, and Cabe saves the day, and the nerds.

But because this is one of those times where no one learns anything, Toby agrees that Walter’s been a good friend covering for his gambling issues, and Walter agrees that he should try and be more understanding and compassionate. Since Gallo leaves the two by the roadside as a lesson that they should listen to him, Toby and Walter decide to put the few bucks they have together to gamble up enough money for a pair of first-class plane tickets home. Lesson learned, I guess. Don’t indulge your gambling addicted friend, unless you need more money fast.

Story-wise, Scorpion didn’t exactly break new ground so much as travel down a well-worn road full of potholes and patches, but it was having a good time doing it and it felt like the the show had a pretty good handle on the characters and how to best use the team. The stakes weren’t high in this one, just the reputation of the team was at risk, so it will be interesting next week to see how they handle a much more serious crisis: a “cataclysmic meltdown” of a nuclear reactor. Then again, Homer Simpson once averted a meltdown with “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” so maybe they’re overstating the problem.