Scorpion - Kill Screen - Review

Scorpion returned from hiatus with “Kill Screen” and its third highest ratings! The episode was written by the team of Nicholas Wootton and Paul Grellong and was directed by Jace Alexander whose many credits include Forever, The Blacklist, Rescue Me, and Law & Order. It was another tightly written episode – with lots of throwbacks to previous episodes. They’re expecting us to be smart too, and I love that!

Once again, the main plot reveals something about one of the main characters even while the entire team works together to solve the time sensitive case – naturally with many lives hanging in the balance. In this case, Walter’s (Elyes Gabel) identification with Ralph (Riley B Smith) leads to him inadvertently putting Ralph in danger. It also gives Drew (Brendan Hines) ammunition to use against the entire team to convince Paige (Katharine McPhee) to come to Portland with him.

One of the best things about this show is that it always finds ways for each team member to make a significant contribution to the case at hand. We are also already seeing lots of character growth, and we see that they balance each other and care for each other. For instance Sylvester (Ari Stidham) realizes that it’s inappropriate to congratulate Ralph on handling his first arrest so well! Toby (Eddie Kaye Thomas) immediately questions whether Walter is rebuilding the rocket just to win the $50M prize for Megan or whether he’s doing it for Ralph because “rebuilding a rocket ship – what little boy doesn’t dream about that?” We know that’s how Walter got into trouble in the first place and we’re reminded of Cabe (Robert Patrick) coming to save Walter from Homeland Security after he tried to get blueprints from NASA for his wall when Cabe and Walter have to do the same for Ralph.

McPhee and Gabel deliver great performances in this episode, but I have to give a shout out to Riley B Smith who is really outstanding in this episode. We first see him under the covers, playing a video game, just like every kid – though you might substitute a book for the computer for many. It’s such a part of childhood. Yet, when you look at his face as he’s playing, the concentration and general lack of emotion are extremely adult-like. It’s no wonder the entire team forget he’s a child. I love the way they interact with him – none of them speak down to him.

However, Toby is right to call Walter on treating Ralph like an adult, and he reminds Walter that mentoring a young person has to be about more than having fun, it has to be about being the adult in the relationship and providing boundaries to keep Ralph safe. It’s easy to see Drew as the bad guy because we, as viewers, don’t want to see the team split up, but in reality, Drew does have valid concerns. Is the team denying Ralph a normal childhood? Ralph isn’t a normal child though, he’s gifted. When Drew and Walter confront each other at the Department of Justice, Paige breaks them up and tells them it’s not about them, it’s about Ralph. Ralph has already made his preference known. He’d rather work on the rocket with Walter than spend time with Drew. And it’s also interesting that Ralph only wants to talk to Walter after the DoJ picks him up.

McPhee is really great in this episode as we really get to see her maternal side come out. She may not be gifted, but she isn’t stupid either. She has set limits for Ralph – like asking to use her laptop and not going to sites she hasn’t approved – but like all children, he tests his limits. It’s hard not to dislike Drew when he questions her parenting! It’s easy to see Paige evaluating everything as the episode unfolds – is the support of the team and what they can offer Ralph worth the danger it may place him in? She tells Eckherd (Spencer Garrett) that Scorpion only helps people. She really believes in what they do, and it’s why she agrees to let Ralph play the game again to help catch Calvin (Lawrence Kao).

Drew tells Paige at the end of the episode that “I know it’s my fault you’re here, so I’m going to work my ass off for that gig in Portland to give you and Ralph a shot at something else.” He tells her it’s not about getting back together with her, but that it’s about being a family in the same place and safe. However, Paige asks, “What if we don’t want to leave?” After all, Ralph has never been happier, and this is a great job – easily the best she’s had. Paige is also making a difference and saving lives. I have to wonder if Drew would have pushed so hard if Ralph was still doing poorly in school and Paige was working at the diner.

I loved the last scene between Walter and Paige. He actually apologizes but also points out that Ralph saved innumerable lives. Unlike Drew, Walter won’t make promises he can’t guarantee. After all, how can Drew guarantee that Portland will be better – or even safer? Walter tells Paige that Ralph is his first priority – providing a safe place where he can reach his potential. Walter makes two jokes in the scene – Paige isn’t amused by the first, but she is by the second, when Walter reminds her of a scene from “A Cyclone.” He asks her if she remembers the riddle he gave Ralph about what to call a group of jellyfish. She does – it’s a smack – and then he tells her he’d be fine with her giving him one if it made her feel better. Paige knows what the team does for Ralph, but is it enough to balance the danger he may be in? It is clear that Walter is putting Ralph first, however.

There were a lot of moments I really loved in this episode. When Toby manages to get Minidanger – aka Nate (Octavius J Johnson) to respond to him by insulting him, it’s hilarious. Even more so when he explains that “ego-mania runs rampant with artists, writers, and game designers.” Are the writers poking fun at themselves here? I think they are! In fact, the entire gaming convention is a fun scene. We learn that Sylvester has a past as El Guapa as he crushes the video game to get them all in. It’s hilarious watching the Game Rep (Georgie Guinane) as she is utterly amazed at Sylvester’s play and then suddenly realizes who he is. It’s a little sad when Happy finds the video of a young El Guapo celebrating beating the game. The young Sylvester seems a lot more happy and less introverted than the Sylvester we know.

I loved Toby fixing tipping off Nate by telling everyone they could have a secret prize hidden in their capes, but the crowning glory was Cabe taking out Nate by borrowing a Halberd from a cos-player! Nate leads them to Calvin, and they seize Calvin’s safe. It’s hilarious when Toby gets sprayed when he fails to crack it – but we also see that Walter is just as astute at calling Toby on his behavior. Walter tells Toby they don’t have time for him to try to prove Happy (Jadyn Wong) wrong about him being clumsy. Of course, Happy has to come in and cracks the safe easily – using the same technique with a water glass that we also saw in a previous episode. Thank you show for realizing that we didn’t need it explained again!

We do get to see what Toby does do well that no one else can do when he saves Nate’s life. Loved him asking Happy for a tampon and then literally jump starting Nate’s heart, and then how proud of him Happy is when they get to the hospital! Toby then uses his knowledge of anatomy to give Walter advice on the rocket – further emphasizing how their different strengths compliment each other.

I thought this was a great episode with plenty of action plus character development and the humor we’ve come to expect. It was an especially nice moment – that I’ve saved for last – when Walter has to literally put his life in Ralph’s hands. Paige facilitates by interpreting how certain Ralph is by his scoop endorsement. Once he knows Ralph is certain, Walter doesn’t hesitate to jump into the dark, trusting that Ralph has gotten it right.

What did you think of the episode? Do you think Paige will really consider leaving with Drew? Do you think she should? Did you have a favorite moment in the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Finally, here’s a bit of fun. Over the hiatus I went to visit Zuma Beach where most of “Dominoes” was filmed – see the pictures 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, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. 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.