Skip to content
MovieCove
Scorpion

Scorpion

This team is pure genius.

2014–2018Ended4 seasons93 episodes~43 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

Eccentric genius Walter O’Brien and his team of brilliant misfits comprise the last line of defense against complex, high-tech threats of the modern age. As Homeland Security’s new think tank, O’Brien’s “Scorpion” team includes Toby Curtis, an expert behaviorist who can read anyone; Happy Quinn, a mechanical prodigy; and Sylvester Dodd, a statistics guru.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Scorpion?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Scorpion streaming on Paramount+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Scorpion?

Scorpion earns 5 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Under-30s.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Scorpion worth watching?

Scorpion's Midcredits score is the 69th percentile of all shows, from 69K ratings across 2 sources. 76% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

69th percentile

Better received than 69% of shows

61st percentile among Action68th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)73rd
Approval (how many liked it)62nd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

76 /100

73rd percentile of all shows

72nd percentile among Action71st percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

76% liked it

62nd percentile of all shows

51st percentile among Action61st percentile among 2010s
76% rated it 7–1024% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

98th percentile

65K ratings across platforms

92nd percentile among Action98th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 10% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

This show is a wildly unrealistic, over-the-top action fantasy that prioritizes fun and escapism over factual accuracy.

Fans praised

  • entertaining, fun, and thrilling weekly ride
  • likeable, quirky genius characters with strong chemistry
  • character-driven family bonds and relationship arcs

Detractors panned

  • laughably unrealistic science, tech, and plotting
  • insulting to intelligent viewers with lazy writing and clichés
  • one-dimensional stereotypes of geniuses and autism

What stands out

ActingDivisive65

likable ensemble chemistry but uneven, some wooden performances

HumorDivisive65

quirky and often self-aware comedy, some forced gags

PacingDivisive65

fast and energetic but repetitive last-second saves

CharactersDivisive62

quirky misfit geniuses with endearing found-family dynamics but stereotypical traits

Emotional impactDivisive60

heartwarming found-family and underdog stories for fans

Effects and spectacleDivisive60

over-the-top action set pieces, CGI average but fun

TensionDivisive60

clock-ticking suspense undermined by predictability

Plot and storyDivisive25

formulaic, contrived, and full of technical impossibilities

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 17 points higher than men.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 25 points higher than over-30s.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 11 points higher than non-US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 7 points apart

Episodes

4 seasons

Season 4 · 2017 · 22 episodes · 7.1 average across 5 rated episodes

  • S4E1

    Extinction

    Sep 25, 201760 minTMDB rating 7.2
  • S4E2

    More Extinction

    Oct 2, 201759 min
  • S4E3

    Grow a Deer, A Female Deer

    Oct 9, 201760 min
  • S4E4

    Nuke Kids on the Block

    Oct 16, 201738 minTMDB rating 7.4
  • S4E5

    Sci Hard

    Oct 23, 201760 minTMDB rating 7.5Season best
  • S4E6

    Queen Scary

    Oct 30, 201738 min

Watch experience

What is Scorpion like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Wry, light and intense — a relentless watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ThrillingWarm
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulAbsurdist · 6% of shows: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show holds its material with a knowing wink, embracing absurdity for entertainment while playing the genius team dynamic straight.
The rideThe series maintains a high-energy, suspenseful feel across most episodes, balanced by warm character interactions.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional three-act structure: setup, complication, and resolution.
Episode formatEach episode typically presents a self-contained national security threat, while a longer arc develops the team's relationships and personal stories.
Season formatEach season introduces a new overarching threat or challenge while keeping the same core cast and setting.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunRousing · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves viewers entertained and occasionally inspired by the team's resourcefulness.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterInvasion
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% (this title) · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Invasion: An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).

18% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeIn a typical episode, Team Scorpion faces an external threat (a terrorist plot, natural disaster, or technological malfunction) that attacks national security, requiring them to outthink and resolve the crisis.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsPurpose
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show celebrates how a misfit team of geniuses finds belonging by using their abilities to protect others.
StanceThe show celebrates the idea that a found family of brilliant misfits can work together to solve problems and protect society.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingA secret government-contracted tech garage in Los Angeles

Content guide

Is Scorpion okay for kids?

TV-14

Scorpion is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (32/100), sexual content at mild (31/100), language at mild (29/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (17/100) and frightening material at moderate (37/100). Overall it is heavier than 12% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 18 other countries
  • UK12
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • IndiaU
  • LTN-7
  • MexicoAA
  • Netherlands12
  • PhilippinesG
  • Portugal12AP
  • RO12
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporeG
  • Spain12
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 13% of all showsHeavier than 12% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 24%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 32%
Profanity
Mild
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 19%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 15%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 36%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is frightening material, heavier than 36% of TV-14 shows.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Scorpion have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Scorpion?

Cast

Elyes Gabel
as Walter O'Brien
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Katharine McPhee
as Paige Dineen
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Eddie Kaye Thomas
as Toby Curtis
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Jadyn Wong
as Happy Quinn
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ari Stidham
as Sylvester Dodd
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Robert Patrick
as Cabe Gallo
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Riley B. Smith
as Ralph Dineen
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Scott Porter
as Tim Armstrong
Rising: A short career with a standing when this show came out above the median working actor today.
Kevin Weisman
as Ray Spiewack
Tina Majorino
as Florence

More like this

What are shows like Scorpion?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Scorpion include MacGyver (2016), The Sweeney (1975) and Starsky and Hutch (1975).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with Scorpion?

70 other shows share the rarest tag below, premise: outbreak. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.