Scorpion, “The Fast and the Nerdiest,” was written by Kevin J Hynes and was directed by producer Don Tardino, whose other directing credits include several CSI: Miamis on which he also produced. This episode has a case at its center, but in this instance the case is brought to them by a friend of Cabe’s (Robert Patrick). As usual, the case provides the excitement and action, but this episode also looks at Cabe, Walter (Elyes Gabel), and Toby’s (Eddie Kaye Thomas) biggest weaknesses – which they are mostly able to turn to their advantage.
The episode begins with Sylvester’s (Ari Stidham) bid to get on The Price is Right. I said in my last review that I bet we’d be seeing Drew Carey and there he was! Sylvester, of course, does get picked to be on the show. He refuses to actually play by the rules – which seems to completely flummox Carey! Naturally, because he “is certain of all facts” Sylvester wins big – getting him halfway to having enough money to have the new pediatric wing at the hospital named after Megan.
Toby and Happy (Jadyn Wong) are having some growing pains in their relationship. It certainly looks like Toby’s gambling is out of control at the game show. Happy confides to Paige (Katharine McPhee) that Toby’s gambling is freaking her out. She’s shocked by the betting slips she’s found lying around. Paige tries to reassure her that she and Toby are just learning their way through this new relationship.
Mick (Eric Roberts) shows up at the garage looking for Cabe. It turns out they grew up together on the same block in Brooklyn. Cabe eventually tells the team that when he was 13, Mick saved his life and went to Juvenile detention, emerging a criminal for life. Cabe does try to get Mick to go to the FBI, but he insists they’d make him testify and he won’t do it.
Paige’s first instinct is that the whole thing sounds illegal. However, it turns out that Mick is caught up with a smuggling ring that is dealing in toxic materials and a bioweapon of some kind. I loved when Mick wanted to talk to Cabe in private and Cabe opens the blinds to reveal the entire team eavesdropping.
The rest of the team aren’t very impressed with Mick, and when he steals some of the motor oil that Sylvester won, it just proves their instincts were right. Cabe, however, suggests that anyone could be a “lost Picasso” – a hidden gem. Toby immediately jumps on Cabe’s sudden use of art metaphors. It turns out that Cabe took art classes at one time.
Walter, Toby, and Happy are going to infiltrate the gang as computer techs. Once in the garage, Walter has a bad feeling right before they all have bags put over their heads! They’re taken to a different garage – one filled with suped up, expensive cars. Walter and Happy are impressed! While Walter looks at the computer, Toby suggests that the records could be kept non-digital, so he and Happy ask if they can look around at the cars.
Happy is appalled when Toby tries to set up a bet with Tommy (Avi Bernard) over Walter drag racing against Tommy. It does give Happy the opportunity to check the office and find the records. Walter stalls until his ego finally gets the better of him and he races Tommy. His ego won’t let him let Tommy beat him either. One of the gang members finds Happy with the records and Toby gets pistol whipped.
They do get an address, however, and Paige and Sylvester investigate. It turns out that the bioweapon is specifically targeted to take out the Aztec population. They’ll gain worldwide attention by taking out the indigenous population. It turns out that Mick has taken the weapon himself. He tells Cabe sorry, but he had to take his shot.
Cabe knows Mick won’t leave without his girlfriend Lorraine (Joely Fisher). They manage to talk to Lorraine through the television, and she recognizes Cabe. Cabe is sure that once they rescue her, Mick will cut a deal with him. There’s a great sequence with them breaking her out of the room, but in the end, Mick cuts her loose. Lorraine chooses to save herself.
Meanwhile, Happy once again voices her concerns to Paige over Toby’s gambling problem. Paige sees that Happy is worried that Toby will end up in trouble again as he has again and again in the past.
There’s a great chase scene ending with Cabe and Mick playing chicken. Was there ever any doubt that Cabe would win? Cabe takes Mick into custody. He also apologizes to the team for involving them. He tells them that he wanted to believe that Mick could change. I thought this was a nice subtle nod to Patrick’s time on
The X-Files, which just finished its limited season 10 run – if you aren’t familiar with
The X-Files, the tag line is “I want to believe.”
Paige, however, tells Cabe not to apologize. She points out that he saw their team when everyone else looked at them and saw only misfits. It’s a wonderful trait to see the best in people and their potential – their hidden Picassos.
Walter also apologizes for letting his ego and pride – his Achilles heel – put the team at risk.
Toby, however, tries to say that his vice – gambling – actually helped the team! That is the last straw for Happy and she pulls him aside. Jadyn Wong really delivered a spectacular performance in this episode and just knocks it out of the park in this final scene. She has done a beautiful job building this character and creating a nuanced layering of her emotions. Here we really see her expose Happy.
She tells Toby that she’s afraid. She wants stability and security to be happy – the things she didn’t have growing up. When she sees his gambling, she sees someone with the potential to be very unstable. Toby then burns all his bets. He tells her he’s never going to gamble again. His one last gamble is the biggest of his life – that he can land her – and he hugs her.
Walter asks Cabe if he really thinks people can change. Walter wants to change his own behavior – and it’s what he’s been trying to do all season. Walter has found out about Cabe’s art classes, so he’s actually signed Cabe up for an art class at a community college!
The final scene has Cabe in class, sitting in front of a blank canvas. He’s completely incongruous sitting there in his suit! Cabe tells the instructor that he’s not sure that he’s still a guy who paints. She asks him if he was before, and he tells her he had a friend who encouraged him. When she remarks, he sounds like a good friend, Cabe responds he was. But of course, he now has an even better friend in Walter in the present. I’m betting that Cabe is still a guy who paints.
I liked the different facets this episode brought out. Patrick and Wong deliver really excellent performances. It’s these personal storylines that are the parts of the story that I really look forward to most. What did you think of the episode? Favorite scene? Car? Do you think Toby really can give up gambling? 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.
