Television: Scorpion, "Risky Business"

It was really just a matter of time before Katharine McPhee sang, right?

The central plot of this episode involved the murder of a music blogger, leading to the understanding that his fellow musical friend was in imminent danger. Here is where it becomes clear that older writers are attempting to write younger characters. The 25-year-old's music blog was called something like Sweet Town Express. I don't remember the exact name, but it clearly was not ANY kind of name a 25-year-old music blogger would use.

Anyway, it turned out this music blogger and his friend had created a software program called The Hit Wizard that had analyzed every top pop song over the past 50 years and created an algorithm that ensured any song that fit its criteria would be a hit. This software had been stolen some 10 months prior, and now hit songs were, er, popping up. Walter and his crew take on protecting the living music guy and attempt to figure out who stole his software (and therefore, who is likely to be doing the killing).

While the guest character was quite engaging, to the point I would almost hope to see more of him in the show, the main plot was not the most interesting thing happening this episode. A subplot involving Drew trying to connect with Ralph (and vice versa), necessitating Walter's intervention as a kind of translator between the two, was nicely nuanced. And though we all saw it coming, Toby trying to find the right moment to ask Happy out to a Monster Truck rally only to be eclipsed by Happy flirting with the musician, was bittersweet. (You're overthinking it, Toby. But then, that's what geniuses do, and especially psychological geniuses.)

Less entertaining was the thread in which Walter has started gambling by racing Lamborghini; winner keeps the cars. Walter can't afford a Lambo, so he really can't afford to lose (but he does). Oops. Toby characterizes the behavior as displacement—by focusing all his attention on racing Lambo, he avoids having to think about other things (left unsaid: "other things" = Paige and Drew). True enough that people with higher IQs tend to seek out tasks that require all their focus and brain power. I do it with LEGOs and puzzles, even with my painting or writing when I'm able to really concentrate. I don't seek the adrenaline rush, though; I'd rather be lost in a book. Or writing one.

Though we've seen that Walter can get lost down "the rabbit hole," something about the Lamborghini racing felt false to his character. I realize they're setting up potential for greater complications down the road, and it's good to plant seeds early, but . . . I'm not sure this is the crop they should be growing.

On the whole, though, a solid episode.