TV Review: Scorpion (TV-14)
In the mid 1980s, the world was enthralled with one of the greatest television shows to hit the airwaves. It was a show wherein one guy would solve many problems and cases by concocting some of the greatest plans and tools. Some would even go so far as to say that this man could solve just about any problem with a paperclip. Hopefully you've guessed by now that I am referring to the TV show McGyver. McGyver is arguably one of the most iconic character to ever be created, and deep down in our hearts, we thought that there would never be anything else like it... that is, until now. Enter Scorpion.
Scorpion follows a group of geniuses who come together, at the request of the FBI, to save the world. Despite the fact that four genius are immensely qualified to solve many cases, we are quickly thrust into a world where intelligence is not always the answer. This is why the group recruits a relatively normal single mother to help ground them to reality. They are also frequently challenged to grow by their FBI handler.
Scorpion has a lot of the creativity that viewers found in McGyver. The group always seems to be able to save the day by creating something out of almost nothing. Their combined IQs help them to deliver almost real-time calculations for their plans. One issue that the group is confronted with relatively early on in the show is that sometimes calculations are not the only way to solve a case. Often, success relies on the triumph of the human will. Sometimes it even means admitting that certain emotions exist even beneath the walls that their intellects construct.
I do find quite a few moral and religious themes in the show. For starters, we're introduced fairly early on to the main character's atheism. He takes on the role of the typical atheistic scientist who claims that he cannot prove God; therefore, God does not exist. Because he has often navigated the world by himself, he believe that he is all he needs. We do see him open up as he learns to rely more on his friends and as he discovers more about his feelings. Some of the other group members will reference faith, and perhaps fans of the show will get a bigger glimpse into this as the show continues (it is currently in Season 2).
Philosophically, Scorpion opens up many moral conundrums. The characters are often confronted with decisions that seem to have no good outcome. They can sometimes get caught in calculations without so much as thinking about individuals and their families. This is why they had to recruit the waitress who does a good job putting people first. In each episode, the group seems to be confronted with a new struggle wherein there seems to be no immediate answer. It is often only by coming together that they can not only save the day, but make the best possible decision afforded to them.
Bottom-line: I would recommend this show to older teens and adults. I am a bit baffled as to how the show received a TV-14 rating and a show like The Flash received a TV-PG rating. Scorpion carries the making of a good-natured show that tackles many complex issues, much so like McGyver did in the 1980s. Perhaps the sheer complexity of the verbage that the characters use along with the scientific materials that they reference is something that only older audiences can appreciate. In the end, it is at least worth a look at the pilot episode.
