“Scorpion, inspired by a true story, is a high-octane drama about eccentric genius Walter O’Brien and his team of brilliant misfits who comprise the last line of defense against complex, high-tech threats of the modern age,” says CBS when describing this show. Unfortunately, like the source material, it is only half true.

First of all, Walter O’Brien is a real person and so is Scorpion Computer Services, but CBS’s version is mostly fiction. The premise is basically true (although Walter grew up in Ireland not the U.S.) but he did indeed get in trouble for downloading information about the space shuttle program. He just thought the drawings (blueprints) would look cool on his walls. The show is pretty much fictional from there on out. (Click here to view a short video of Walter talking about his life and the TV show.)

That in itself is not the problem with this show. The problem lies with the claims of it being a “high-octane” drama. While the pilot episode eventually became “high-octane,” (with an unbelievable solution), the majority of the show was incredibly dull mostly taking place in an empty diner. The publicity material made the show look funny and exciting, but the end result was neither making for a real disappointment in viewing. They briefly describe the misfit characters and their strengths, but the show didn’t elaborate on their character’s personalities at all. Instead of action, there is a lot of talking and “geek speak” if you will.

Elyes Gabel and Katharine McPhee do well together as Walter and Paige Dineen, (a waitress with her own genius of a son), but their budding friendship is unconvincing. The other Scorpion members should have been a lot more fun than they were. Perhaps they would have been had the series been given some time to develop their characters. Unless this series gets some major work done on it, don’t expect it to last very long.

Scorpion airs Mondays at 9:00 p.m. on CBS.