Scorpion, “Super Fun Guys,” was written by the team of Adam Higgs and Nick Santora and was directed by Bobby Roth and it was kinda fun! Higgs is new to the writers’ room this year, and I’m betting he’s Canadian as his last three writing credits are Canadian: Haven, Orphan Black, and Republic of Doyle. One thing you can say about this show is that it’s found a formula and it sticks to it pretty closely. The case at the heart of the episode is exciting with its usual twists and turns. Of course, we’ve got some spectacular costumes to enhance the action. Overall, however, what sets this program apart is still the characters and the acting. This week it was Sylvester’s (Ari Stidham) turn to shine.
We see just how far Sylvester has come when he gives up a chance to see the
Super Fun Guy movie filming to be with Megan (Camille Guaty) as she undergoes an experimental procedure. He also keeps the secret from Walter (Elyes Gabel) when Megan asks him to. Stidham is excellent in the episode as you can easily see not only how much he cares for Megan but also how much it costs him to keep the information from Walter. I can’t help but think that Walter is not going to be very forgiving when he finds out.
The episode starts as it typically does with what’s going on with the team. The Super Fun Guy theme is introduced right away as Sylvester is reading one of the comics to Megan. We maintain the superhero theme as we cut to the garage and Toby (Eddie Kaye Thomas) taking out part of a pillar with his right hook as he and Cabe (Robert Patrick) continue his boxing training. Happy (Jadyn Wong) immediately bursts his superhero bubble by telling him the pillar is water damaged and throwing an orange into it!
This sets up a nice little sub-plot for Ray (Kevin Weisman) to step in and say he’ll fix the garage up for them. It’s a nice little metaphor about his reinforcing their emotional home. Of course, he also steps in to try to help Sylvester. Ray tells Sylvester that there are always opportunities to be strong. While Sylvester is missing his opportunity to see the superhero movie – and get to dress up like one – Ray points out that he has the chance to be a real superhero. Ray asks him if he wants to stop feeling powerless, and they take Happy’s motorcycle to deliver the picture of the team to NATO, saving all of them.
Peri Gilpin is back as Cooper, and I think it’s going to be fun to watch her grow through association with the team. This time the team has to neutralize a nuclear missile in Kazakhstan. They go undercover as a documentary film crew. The usual problems ensue with the usual excellent banter – “You literally lowered the boom on me!” While I doubt a lot of the “science” that was going on – and whether even that “tiny” bit of radiation wouldn’t melt your face, seeing the entire team in spandex was totally worth it! It’s hard to say whether Paige (Katharine McPhee) could be any hotter or whether Cabe could have looked any more like Angus Young from AC/DC. Regardless, they all looked amazing as they did their hero walk. And it was a nice throw back to the hero walks of the first season.
I did love the scene when Happy goes into the munitions factory and gets stuck in the chute. Naturally, Toby goes in to save her – and take her pants off. Loved his line: “Dear Diary: It finally happened!” And a shout out for the great stunts the show provides every week too. I will say that Walter shooting that missile into that abandoned tunnel was rather silly. Does anyone really think that shot was possible?
It’s nice to see that Toby has also evolved. Cabe is impressed by his right hook when Toby jumps in to save him. Cabe decides to finally take him sparring, and it’s clear despite Cabe saying he ruined it, that Toby is right that they are becoming friends. Toby also decides that he’s not going to settle for being Happy’s friend. He says he’s simply quitting her cold turkey, but I’m betting he can’t do it!
There’s a nice moment at the end between Paige and Walter too. Walter thinks of Sylvester and brings him his Super Fun Guy costume. Walter is definitely in tune with emotions enough to see that Sylvester isn’t telling him something, but also doesn’t press him. When Ray turns up with a misspelled Scorpeon tshirt, Walter lets it go, and Paige compliments him that he’s making real progress. For his own part, Walter can’t help but compliment her back on how nice she looked in that costume!
Another fun episode. What did you think? Do you think Walter is going to be angry with Sylvester? Do you think Toby can really give up Happy? Favorite scene? Favorite costume? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
