Randy, Red, Superfreak and Julia: Scandal Season 4 Premiere Recap
The Scandal season 4 premiere begins on a beach far, far away. Olivia Pope is luxuriating in this dope one piece suit when Jake from State Farm joins her for some 15-minute hanky panky. WELL THEN. Liv’s natural hair game was giving me what I needed though.
Julia Baker – The 2 of them get a delivery from some dude on a boat and it’s for ’94 Du Bullay wine. The guy hands them an envelope and it’s addressed to “Julia Baker.” They wonder who it could be from because they’re 100 miles off the coast of Zanzibar and no one knows they’re there. Jake tells her not to open it but of course she does, and she finds a newspaper clipping saying Harrison was found dead. WELP! Bye, Brolivia Pope.
Shoutout to Shonda and team for this homage to Diahann Carroll. “Julia Baker” was the name of the title character of the show “Julia” from 1971. That was the last primetime TV drama with a Black woman as lead, before Scandal came on the scene in 2012. So dope.
The Return – Liv and Jake return to DC to bury Harrison and he reminds her that they just need to be in and out. Prolly so he can be in and out of her on a beach. I ain’t mad, doe. Liv walks into the OPA offices and sees it’s empty. No more Gladiators. Inside, she sees maps that pinpoint her location when Quinn walks in. She tells her old boss that she was able to find her using the wine she ordered. Look at Huck Jr. all growed up! Harrison’s body was found in the desert next to Adnan’s. Where’s the rest of OPA?
Randy – Huck is now Randy, a computer tech guy at some local shop. Olivia and Quinn show up and he asks “Are you back for now or are you back for good?” She says she’s only back to bury Harrison and he yells “NEXT CUSTOMER!” That is officially the new “BYE FELICIA!” Quinn says she comes in once a week but he’ont pay her no mind. Meanwhile, Abby is now press secretary at the White House. She’s running the front and looking the best she has ever looked. THIS is why she was standing next to Cyrus in the Scandal Prom pic. YUPPP. And yall thought I was reading too much into it. See?
Musty Mellie – Speaking of, President Ghost has removed most of his cabinet and the Attorney General. Mellie rolls in while rocking a house coat and UGGs. “Mellie, I thought we were going to try and get dressed today.” “It’s only day 2 for the shirt. And these panties are fresh out the dryer.” LMAO!
Musty Mellie is in the building, ladies and gents! And what is this new hairhat that Cyrus is rocking? It looked like a feather duster. #MendItMoses
Lizzy Bear – Liz, the RNC Chairman comes to visit Cyrus (who calls her Lizzie Bear against her will). She’s there because President Ghost doesn’t want to fundraise, his new bipartisan outlook and Mellie being MIA. He is not pressed and sees her out. Welp.
Gladiator Show down – Abby meet up with Quinn, pissed off that the “superfreak” is bothering her again. Olivia walks up and tells her she’s back to plan the fallen gladiator’s fune. Abby goes IN and tells her that she’s by her lonesome because she abandoned them all. “He would have wanted you to care about him before someone put a bullet in his brain. He would have wanted his gladiator, his champion to be here fighting for him while there was still a chance he could be found alive.”
“You abandoned them too, Abby…You went four blocks away into the most powerful house on the planet and you left them out in the cold. I was on the other side of the world!… What kind of champion, what kind of gladiator does that make you?”
AW SNAP!!! The women storm off and Quinn follows Olivia who yells “DAMBIT GO HOME, QUINN!” I’ve been saying that since season 1. She won’t listen to me.
Jake shows up at David’s office wondering why he didn’t use all those documents he left him to bring down B613 but Lemony Snicket tells him that he is scared dinnamug of what’s in those files. Jake wants David to take down the bad guys while he was gallivanting at the Sybaris Island with Liv. Selfish.
Dinner with Papa – Olivia goes to dinner with her daddy and she asks if he had anything to do with Harrison’s death. Rowan the Grand Goon lies to her eyes and says he did not. Then he tells her that he got rid of her mom because of the whole poisoning Fitz’s son thing. Papa Pope knows he be lying like a Persian rug and lying like I blink. Mama Pope is in the hole. Olivia talmbout “You did the right thing. She was a terrorist. She killed his child.” GURL…
Good/Bad News – Back at the White House, Cyrus, the squirrel on his head and Abby are chatting and Cy is pissed that she didn’t tell him Liv is back in town. “Do I need to explain to you how dangerous Olivia’s return is to this White House?” Yes, because those “secrets between her thighs” might wreck shop and render Fitz unable to stand up straight. Again, this is why Abby was standing next to Cyrus in the Scandal Prom pic. They’re gonna be working very closely this season. Number 2 (Cyrus’ new name) rolls into the Oval Office and says he gotta talk about something important. Fitz replies with “Mellie is doing better. She’s washing her hair.”
LMAO! Saints, #LettucePray for #MustyMellie. Poor baby is going THROUGH it. Cyrus tells him that Olivia is back in town and Fitz wants him to find out how long she’s in town for. LAWD!
Planning Pause – Jakes walks in on Liv watching a report on how Fitz don changed, ranting about the food he just got. She’s having a hard time picking a coffin for Harrison. Ain’t nobody gon tell her that I already planned his fune? I already saved her all the trouble and made some arrangements (Harrison’s Gone, Our Gingham’s Dead: Fune Plans).
Ennehweighs, the phone rings and it’s from outside the door. They open it and some girl says her boss needs to speak to Olivia. A woman says “This is Senator Vaughn. I think I just killed Senator Sterling” and we see a man laid out face down on the ground in a mansion.
David goes to the storage unit to revisit the files Jake gave him when he gets a call from the White House. I’m not even gon ask why he’s still carrying a BlackBerry in 2014. THAT’s the real scandal here. Lemony walks into the White House and Cyrus Beene asks him if he wants to be Attorney General. WORD??
Murder Wasn’t The Case – Liv arrives at Senator Sterling’s house and Vaughn is telling her that he tried to come on to her and in the process of getting him off her, she pushed him down the stairs. His finger moves (so he’s still alive) and Liv calls 911. By the next morning, she already has the top lawyer on the case but she’s talmbout she’s only in town for a couple days. Ok, girl. Olivia is all of us when we’re standing on a corner talmbout “I’m about to go” but 1 hr later, we’re still finishing our story.
Liv shows up at Huck’s job and invites him to Harrison’s funeral. She asks what happened with his family and he goes in.
“I am not Huck anymore. I stopped being Huck when you left. My name is Randy…When you walk in here, I hope. Randy doesn’t hope… Hoping is bad for Randy do so not come back here unless you are back for good. NEXT CUSTOMER!” OOP.
Mother Mellie – Mellie and Fitz go to the cemetery to visit their son and the grieving mother lays down on the grave. OMG I HAZ THE FEELS! *wall slides in the name of grief* This is why her wig is dusty :-(. She’s in her house robe and UGGs and her pain is palpable.
Jake Goes In – Jake is kissing Olivia’s bawdy and she can’t even relax because she’s thinking of her Senator Sterling case. She interrupts their segzy session to call her not-client (yeah ok) and Jake is frustrated so he goes in!
“We both know we’re not standing in the sun. We both know you’re standing in the shade of 1600 Pennsylvania. As long as we’re back, it’s his turn. Despite the fact that I’m the one you like to ride. That I’m the one who makes you moan. The who reaches you in places that he can’t begin to touch.”
HERE ARE THE PANNY DRAWLS, JAKE!!! YOU CAN HAZ ALL OF IT WITH THAT RANT. Hey boo.
Back at OPA offices, Quinn is working on the Sterling case with Liv (that rant ain’t make no difference to her, I see). At the White House, Fitz asks Cy if Olivia will be staying because if she is, then he’ll tell Mellie. Cy tells him that we all know that they’ll just see each other and crumble into sex bliss and President Ghost stands there looking like a little boy who can’t argue about the fact that he wants that chocolate bar.
Vaughn Says – Liv, Senator Vaughn and the Clark (lawyer) sit to talk about what happened that night and when Vaughn’s story keeps changing, Liv gets her alone. Liv says she wants to know what really happened and calls Quinn. Huck Jr. realizes that all the women who Sterling hires look like her (brown hair, brown eyes and curvy). Senator Vaughn is blond and skinny. AW SNAP! That describes his secretary Kate. SHE was the one who was assaulted by him and the senator was covering for her.
It is interesting to note that throughout this episode, Olivia has been in black. No white or beige to be found.
Suspicions and Shade – David is suspicious of the offer to become Attorney General because he’s a Democrat and the Grant Administration is Republican. He tells Abby he doesn’t #TRUSS it and he thinks she might have told them about the files Jake gave him. She tells him that they didn’t even let HER know and his obsession with those files pissed her off and it broke them off. But she still encourages him with “You wanna change the world, you wanna fix the world, become the Chief lawyer of the United States of America. Get on the inside, get yourself some power and use it!”
Senator Vaughn admits to Olivia that she might have set up her staffer to be assaulted by Sterling so she could get his vote to pass the Equal Pay bill. Because yes, it makes sense to use the body of another woman as currency with a man to get women equality. Kate overhears the convo and a disgusted Liv storms out saying she’s leaving DC.
Burying Brolivia – The Gladiators show up one-by-one next to Harrison’s black coffin at the cemetery. When Quinn wonders why it’s just them, Olivia tells her “He didn’t have people. He just had us.” DAMBIT. Abby and Huck come to pay their respects and as the casket is lowered into the ground, they pour rose petals on it.
Aretha’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” plays and THE TEARS!!! DON’T TROUBLE THE WATER. DON’T BURY THE GINGHAM! *tornado rolls* HE WAS GONE TOO SOON! As Olivia collapses in Jake’s arms, Jake sees Papa Pope sneak watching in his car like he wasn’t the one who told Tom to pull that trigger. Rowan is Satan’s locker partner.
Mellie’s Read – Musty Mellie is hanging out on a White House balcony in her trusty UGGs and pajama pants when Fitz joins her. “I’m not going to jump. I’m not going to try and kill myself. I’m not you.” WELL DAMB! President Ghost tried to kill himself? LAWD. Where is the government therapist at? Surely GrantCare covers it. He tells her that Liv is back and says he hasn’t seen her and won’t.
“WHEN you see her and then you come home all hot and bothered and you decide that you’re a good family man and then you climb into my bed and on top of me… I’m saying that when you see her, you will tell me because I’m going to want some warning. I don’t know if I can even imagine getting turned on by you right now. Oh and FYI, when you stick your hand into my panties, the other thing I just don’t do anymore is wax. So it’s 1976 down there. The point is, when you see her, you’ll tell me.”
The amount of fucks that Mellie does NOT have to give is commendable and I am here for all of it. She has not one solitary damb left to give. Drunk and Musty Mellie is everything we all needed and she’s going to be my favorite again this season.
No More Sybaris – Jake walks up to Liv and says their plane is ready. She tells him that she has to stay because what would Harrison say? “Are we gladiator or are we bitches?” Harrison is DEAD, ma’am. You better return to the beach and sip all the wine and get all the midday orgasms from Jake and stop playing these bald-headed games! Liv never wants to have nice things, man! Go back to Sybaris Island! Ugh.
Back to Life – David Rosen is publicly nominated as attorney general against the wishes of the RNC president, Liz. Olivia makes a public statement representing Kate against Senator Sterling while rocking her first white ensemble of the episode. It’s a suit and it fits like YES GAWD. Afterwards, she’s in the OPA office when Huck shows up with a phone for her. The team is getting back together.
Liv, Kate and Senator Vaughn walk through the halls of Congress and President Ghost is across the room of the main hall and him and Liv lay eyes on each other for the first time. As the two cross paths, not breaking stride or anything their pinkies almost touch. They both smirk as they keep walking, and it’s a more intimate moment than when Jake is kissing on Olivia’s bawdy.
And so it begins.
The title of the episode is about the broken Gladiators and these new personas they’re taking on with little to no stickiness. By the end of the episode, Randy (Huck), Red (Abby), Superfreak (Quinn) and Julia (Olivia) are finding their way back to each other. And even though Abby is no longer at OPA, her tie to them isn’t broken.
Speaking of Abby, she looked the best she’s ever looked in all 3 seasons in this episode. My goodness. The camel double-breasted coat she was in and the oxblood one gave me tea for my fever. Her hair was LAID too. Shonda has said season 4 is Abby’s and I’m kinda here for it. I’m digging her bigger role already.
Now, we all know Olivia and Fitz will make their way back to each other. It’s just a matter of how long it’ll take. As a bandwaggoner shipper for them, I can’t make up my mind on whether I want this to happen or not. Sometimes, they annoy me to no end and then other times, their bomb chemistry has me rooting for “one minute.” IDK. We shall see. All I know is that I don’t want Olivia being some crumbling mess next to him. THAT IS ALL I KNOW! And Jake? Well, he’s the king, President, CEO and Executive Director of the Friend Zone. Bless his heart.
One thing about this ep was that I couldn’t get myself to care about the case of Senator Sterling and Vaughn. I said I want Olivia back to solving cases but now that she is, I’m kind of bored by it. Chile, I don’t know what I want. I’m looking forward to seeing how this season unfolds. I AM SO HAPPY THIS SHOW IS BACK!
So Gladiators, what are your thoughts on episode 1 of Scandal season 4?
Hush up, you old fool. Miss Sofia home now!
Many have asked and I haven’t seen How to Get Away With Murder. Well, I saw the first 10 minutes but fatigue and jet lag kicked in and I couldn’t focus. I’ll re-watch it. Will I be able to recap it, though? Not sure. These Scandal ones take a lot out of a G (approximately 3-5 hrs) so if I really like it and choose to recap it, those won’t show up til Saturday mornings. We shall see, doe.
Get these blogposts directly in your inbox! Sign up for my weekly LuvvLetter below:
It is time to write that book. Come into The Book Academy and learn how to go from IDEA to INK.
Related Posts
88 Comments
Welcome back now go get some sleep
So hoping she stays with Jake, but knowing it’s not likely.
I’m really happy that there was no licking of Huck or Quinn’s faces, though.
Mellie had me feeling for her this episode. And died at her “It’s 1976 down there” comment.
And I loved Jake’s reads.
I’m hoping she stays with Jake too because she gets all weak with Fitz and can’t do shit.
Abby’s coat had me laid out in a church faint. My question, Mama Pope just stewing in the hole?
“Mama Pope just stewing in the hole?”
Just like Beef Stew in a Crock Pot.
Great recap! This was written like a true “G”. Loved it! Thank you, I can’t wait to read more
So we not gonna talk about the “Underground Railroad” I know its a real thing but…
Yaassss!!! I was like…what?!?!
THANK YOU! Lol I was caught between laughter and anger because out of all the sammiches to be named after the Underground Railroad, it’s BBQ pork sandwich?! #TheyTRIEDIt!
First of all WELCOME BACK to Scandal & Luvvie’s recaps!
Secondly to all those who stole Luvvie’s graphic and tried to claim it as their own: a pox on ALL your houses may your pillows all have fleas and your collards greens be mushy!
I am happy to see the show return. Luvvie grown up BabyHuck, MustyMellie and her not giving a damb self and glamorous Abby.
The hem of that white suit jacket is giving me life.
“HERE ARE THE PANNY DRAWLS, JAKE!!! YOU CAN HAZ ALL OF IT WITH THAT RANT. Hey boo.” Luvvie, guuurl I am right there witchu!
Yep!
*fans self*
Giving Honor to Gawd, who is the head of my life, I just wanna testify that I am grateful for this offering that you have presented to the Congregation Scand-el!! But umm…I may need to repent because I did not go straight to the Grande Dame (Dihann Carrol) – I thought of Julia (Sugar)Baker!!! LOL Welcome back, boo! Thanks for the recap!
I thought Julia Sugarbaker too.
It was a good premiere. I think Olivia knows her father had something to do with Harrison’s death, but she’s smart enough not to to show that she knows this time. She learned quite a but from last season with both parents. She has every intention of taking pops down for good this time. Jake…listen.. that rant in the bedroom..ain’t no way Liv should have let him out of that bed after that. Abby looks good, I’m waiting to see what happens when her ex-hubby shows up. I knew David wasn’t going to do anything with those files, he talks a good game but in the end dude is courage the cowardly dog. I’m still not impressed with Quinn at all. Mellie laying on her son’s grave had me verklempt, and that “It’s 1976 down there.” statement had me cracking up. She has no time for Fitz’s crap and is letting him know it. Fitz’s suicide attempt was more about Olivia leaving than it was his son’s death. Jake knew Olivia wasn’t going back to that dang island with him the moment they stepped foot back in DC, I don’t why he was still talking like they were really going to be in and out. And why was he so damn giddy when his woman was trying to plan a funeral for her friend? It was very dismissive, very B-613. And that walk by that Liv and Fitz did at the end, these two touched the air next to each other and that was all that needed to be done..game on!
I can’t wait for episode 2 next week. Olivia got her swangin, her white suit on, her goons, her main and her side…she back!
Jake was extremely dismissive of her while she was in her feelings over Harrison. I’m sure she may have had a sense of guilt over leaving and all I was hearing from Jake was, “me, us, me, me, you with me, not him, but me” . UGH!!
She said she doesn’t know if she believes him because she can’t trust her gut around him. I don’t think Olivia is sure of anything regarding her parents.
Yes. Yes to the recap, and the last line of asetdivine’s comment!! Lolllll
I’m so glad u mentioned Cyrus swifter duster inspired hairstyle. Lol. Lawd knows i was struggling trying to visually fix it on his head. But I’m loving the way it’s coming back like it started; by Pope actually doing political work. I was almost resigned from being a gladiator.
Jake just doesn’t do it for me. He’s too pasty or something. Plus his stroke game must be whack if he had all of that to say and she still was trying to make phone calls during play time. Plus that sandwich thing had me giving him the side-eye. Mellie…poor Mellie. Abby looks good. When did Quinn decide to be a gladiator again? Maybe I need to go back and watch the last season. Cyrus and that hair…Yeah so umm where is baby Ella? Unless they can find another man to give us the chemistry of Fitz and Olivia it will be hard for us to cheer for another man.
Oh…and The Limited will be deep in my pockets because YES I will have those coats and doing my Olivia walk!
LOL at “Olivia walk”.
OMG I totally forgot about that Scandal collection at The Limited. May have to make an appearance at one of their stores this weekend…
I am not here for Jake and will never be! Have people forgotten he put Liv in the hospital? That he choked the ish out of her at OPA? Say what you want be Fitz would never do that to her. Plus I’m pretty sure Jake is being controlled by Rowan and that it was his job to keep her on that island away from Fitz. Jake isn’t a good dude and he told Liv that in S2. The episode was slow but I’m glad it wasn’t over the top. Shonda hit the reset button at the end of last season. Time to rebuild slowly. Great recap Luvvie!
Everything you said!! People’s memories are short and selective. There is nothing sexy about Jake and Liv. She’s not with the one she loves so she chilled with the one she was with. Jake mistook acceptance of his strokes as submission. Clearly all talk since the phone ringing had him shook that Fitz was on his way.
I don’t think Fitz treats her much better. Snatching her up for sexy times whenever he gets horny. Honestly I think neither is really good for her in the long run.
Ok yes we may be brushing aside the shadiness that is Jake, but Fitz be treating her like CRAP when he gets in his feelings. I didn’t forget when he was all “I’m talking to my WIFE” and when he was yelling at her talkin bout “Can you just shut up?!??!?!” that time. Fitz is the WORST. And I for real used to be here for Olitz but I’m just done. At least Jake is on his grown man-ness and be all sexy and he-can’t-do-you-like-I-can business.
Nicole, respectfully there is a difference between yelling at someone, and choking the hell out of someone. A difference between being sexually aggressive (consentually) and shoving a woman down in the ground so hard she has to be hospitalized! Jake is a creep. In light of everything that’s been happening in the media lately I’m surprised Shonda is still pushing that relationship. I’d rather see her with Edison and his corny self than with Jake and his Ray Rice ass…..
‘Jake and his Ray Rice ass’ lol yep
OLAKE are all over the place here. She doesn’t love Jake. Plain and simple. She and Fitz have the real thang. I hate to break it down to you guys, but Jake is a temp.
That electric ALMOST touch they did? Maannnnnn. You could almost see the current between their fingers! LOL
That was the one moment that let me down. Shonda already used that on Christina Yang & Owen on Grey’s Anatomy.
Great recap! Mellie is definitely in my top two fave of the characters. Jake know he ain’t nothing but a rebound and I have a feeling he is going to snap on Olivia once the fact she does nothing but play him sinks in. By the way I was completely dead @Lemony Snicket!
that is what I have been saying, Liv needs to be careful with how she deals with Jake because he is going to go psycho crazy on her if she goes back with Fitz or when cause we all know she is going to go back.
Well, I’ve been waiting for crazy Jake to really shine since Scott Foley has said multiple times that he LOVES playing crazy so I’m pretty sure his sex appeal is going to go out the window and he’s going to become the creepy stalker OR we’re going to find out he’s still working with Rowan after all – I did not appreciate that look they exchanged at the funeral. In the meantime I’m here for Olitz as I’m here for #teamanybodybutfitz
OLAKE***
I give the episode a C. Tired of Fitz and Mellie’s dysfunction. Getting tired of Olitz, and been tired of Jake. So why am I still watching? A girl can dream. Mellie gets no sympathy from me. Like many mourners, it’s all about the guilt. Tired of her and that funky robe already.
That bedroom scene between Liv and Jake reminded of the scene between Edison and Liv in S2 when Edison was whining about not getting any nooky in days. Liv’s response was basically, okay, let’s just do it and get it over. Same thing she basically said to Jake. This is when you know Liv has kicked your butt to the curb.
Liv’s press conference on the steps of Congress has laid out the season, I believe. Will she choose to stand in the sun with Jake, or in the shadows with Fitz? Liv used the press conference to get support for Fitz’ Equal Pay bill. She is always taking care of that man. She even talked about standing by Kate, which I believe she was sending one of many messages to Fitz.
Want to see what Olitz’ conversation gonna be about next week. Him probably telling her it’s over, again, and he wants to make it with Mellie. Yawn.
Ditto…I was underwhelmed. I could have just read the recap and kept that hour of my life. But will I watch again this Thursday? YOU BET YOUR LIFE!
Sorry but I am NOT here for another whole season of Olivia and that weak ass boy of a President Fitz pinning away for each other. This man is married with a grief stricken wife at home and he’s probably wondering how he can get Olivia alone. I’m glad Mellie has less than 2 wet rat asses to give about his pathetic ass. In his being pathetic he brings Olivia down too. Have to agree with Papa Pope cause his daughter is so much better and more when she is not choosing to put her life on another 4 year layaway plan for him. Sure after these next 4 years there will be another reason they can’t be together. I am ALL Team Jake he could be what she needs if she stop fantasizing about making jam in Vermont with that fool Fitz. So I for one am not going to count Jake out because personally I am so over Oltiz its time for them both to move on. Some times you can love someone and not be meant to end up together, I hope this is the case with Olivia and Fitz.
Cosign! All of the above.
PREACH!!!!
But you know Shonda never lets us have nice things.
I really enjoyed the easy start to season 4. I am looking forward to seeing more of Mellie in her IDGAF mode. That electric air crackle between Liv and Fitz?! Yessss! But please, please Aunty Shonda don’t let them get back together I’m here for Liv being Liv from season 1 and not Liv from season 3.
“HERE ARE THE PANNY DRAWLS, JAKE!!! YOU CAN HAZ ALL OF IT WITH THAT RANT. Hey boo.”
The best line off the recap
Yassss hunty, great s4, ep1 recap!!!!! #teamjake #teammellie
I am definitely Team Mellie right now. I love how she is just done. It’s the best of drunk Mellie mixed with sad Mellie and F the world, i’m doing me for once Mellie. Sad it took her son dying but she deserves to be free from all the pretending and political fakeness. Do you Mellie! I’m here for you.
Mellie needs to pull the trigger and file for divorce because at this point Fitz isn’t going to do it because he pities her. Quinn stepped up and found Liv and has been watching Randy, Abby has moved up to the WH, Liv is back handling her business with her speech at the end, I am going to need Mellie to be the strong woman that she is and know her worth and divorce Fitz
Why does everybody hate Fitz?? Like he did all this shit himself. Jake from the beginning knew that Liv did not want him he just kept inserting himself into the situation until she gave into him… Also once again I say Liv knew what she was getting into when she walked into the man’s hotel room first season so all this how Fitz treats Liv is a bunch of crap…. they both have acted badly with each other so I don’t think is fair to lay the blame all at his feet.
Mellie gets NO sympathy from me this is the same lady who lied about a miscarrage
Fitz is a weakling, knows it and instead of manning the fuck up – he treats the people around him like shit. Not just Liv, but Mellie, Cyrus and anyone else who makes the mistake of seeing something special in him and/or loving him. The shitty things that these people have done do not give him license to toss them aside when his poor little feelings are hurt. I used to love Fitz, I used to think it was part of some sort of twisted character arc but I’m past the point of caring. Let’s not forget Mr. Morals killed an elderly woman on her death bed for no reason other than his career. Aside from my own vicarious desire to ride Jake, I could do without Liv being with him as well – she needs to find Liv, on her own and then find herself a dude who is on her level and not an emotional terrorist or just a mere distraction.
I am not here for Mellie didn’t she try and kill herself once as well??? And now she is mocking Fitz for the same thing….. I mean they are both grieving the same loss I think she was being a heinous bitch for that …. I do like Olitz but I want Fitz to find his own power away from Liv, Mellie and Cyrus… And Jake is and pathetic in his own right he knew from jump that Liv was with Fitz and he just kept pushing until he could find away in to her life and then started with all that stand in the sun bs….. I still don’t truss him B613?? anyone.
And Poppa Pope is pure T evil I mean he lied to that girl without even blinking!!
Loved your recap, Luvvie! Hated the show. #SCANDAL? Over it
Fave lines
Luvvies … they’ll just see each other and crumble into sex bliss and President Ghost stands there looking like a little boy who can’t argue about the fact that he wants that chocolate bar.
BWAHAHAHAHHA
Shonda’s … when you see her, you will tell me
Heartbreakingest scene – Mellie laying on the grave!
Welcome back!
Jake doesn’t do it for me, but when he started talking all that trash I had to sit up straight and get a fan. I did not know he had it like that.
People on Twitter were saying that Cyrus had a quick weave, and I hollered because it was so accurate.
I thought the episode was good and look forward to more gladiating this season now that Kerry is no longer preggers.
Hey, Luvvie! Thank you for all you do…. Hope you’re encouraged that you have the streets of the Innantz salivating for you Escandalo recaps because no one else does it like you!
First of all, for all of you cute yet delusional OJake fans: it ain’t gonna happen! If you have to remind your lover of all the things (you think) you made him/her feel, that means it wasn’t memorable. All Liv and Fitz had to do was walk by each other’s breathing space and I felt flutters down my spine and I wasn’t even in the same room and their chemistry blew up the place.
Jake is a nice looking self-operating, self-cleaning dildo.
How/why did Liv keep her place? How/why did someone know how to contact her? How did all these folk know she was back in town?
Abby looked great but I’m not enthused that Shonda is saying this is her season. It might be her season but this is (supposed to be) Liv’s (and Fitz’s show/life).
Shonda, please hear us: Quinn is pointless. Ease her out swiftly.
Shonda: is Harrison dead or alive? I ask for Columbus Short because per his tweets, he think there’s still a chance he can get back on the show. If he’s gone for good, let him know. If you plan to recast Harrison, that’s ok, too. Just pick the right (BLACK) dude.
Please warn us about Papa Pope’s next epic read so we can get ourselves together and have a recovery plan. He saved Season 3.
I may have been the only person who didn’t notice Cyrus’ hair. I usually have to watch episodes twice but his hair(piece) got so much attention so I’m sure I’ll notice it now.
Welcome back Gladiators!
girl I was so committed to sitting at the lunch counter and singing freedom songs until you posted I didn’t even see when you did. This oppression/suppression of posting you had me under was REAL as the must on Ms. Mellie.
I love this Mellie we are seeing right now, I am all #teamMellie about to get tshirts and errthang.
I hope Ms. Shonda don’t have Liv and President Ghost copulate all season cause that presha build up will be AWESOME as that scene where they didn’t touch but their auras copulated like a lioness in heat.
Thank you, Ms. Luvvie. Your recaps are AWEsome. Did y’all notice how when Liv and Fitz walked past each other, everyone else disappeared like they were the only two people on earth. Sigh, it ain’t over. Sorry Jakey. You’re in the friends with benefits zone.
But I have questions. Does anybody else wonder what Olivia meant when she told Abby ‘I’ve always forgiven you!’? It seems like more than the David Rosen thing. I wanna know what they’re history is. I’m ready for Abby’s season!! (but I do not like her hair better than season 2 when she got some sex appeal and smoky eye makeup)
Sybaris…. LOL!
Wait, am I the only one who DIDN’T read all of that into the Liv/Fitz Pinky Tango scene? For me, I saw that scene like it was sort of a test that each of them gave themselves like “if I walk by and we don’t touch then it’s a sign that I can do this moving on thing” and then when they didn’t touch, to me there was a weird relief in both their expressions, like they were both secretly holding their breath hoping that they could finally put their feelings behind them and the ‘pinky near-miss’ was the confirmation they both needed to convince themselves that ‘yeah, I am over him/jer. I can put this behind me.’ Of course, we know that they are fooling themselves because after all, this is Scandal and Scandal is Olitz, but that’s how I read it.
Also, if this is the case, that would set things up for the season for when they realize (as we already know) that they were fooling the hell out of themselves thinking it was over and they could move on.
The first time I watched it, I saw what you saw. The second time, Liv’s smirk looked like “Oh yeah, he still wants me”.
As cheesy as it always is, I still want 402 to start with them dreaming about each other, then waking up with someone else. Because that’s what happens when you see someone for the first time after a few months.
Yeah, that’s how I read that scene too…
Okay, glad it wasn’t just me. I feel like Shonda being Shonda is not going to give it to us that easy. She’s going to make the Olitz shippers work for any Olitz time, so starting them off like this sets things up nicely for a whole season of Olitz Delusion, until ClosetGate 2.0.
But other than Olitz, I have to say this season’s opener was just bleh for me. I found myself pretty much rolling my eyes, face palming, and rolling my eyes again throughout most of it. Except for Harrison’s funeral scene. I did shed some thug tears there. Dammit, Shonda!
But basically yeah, eye rolled through most of it. Starting with Liv’s curly full head of weave one minute, to her Olivia laid 100% best-yaki-human-hair-20″ sew in, the next. Are we supposed to believe that she was “washing and going” on the island, but “blow-dried /flat ironed it” out for DC? I mean, don’t get me wrong, the DC “laid-like- Olivia” do was giving me even more life than usual, but TWO full weave sets for just two diff locales? Kerry Washington’s hairline must be like “I need a break, y’all”.
Joke really thinks he can let Livvie into DC and then hop back to la la land? Livvie really thinks Joke has what it takes to keep her happy? These two, smh. So far, the only joke they have together is that whole Gettysburger gag which is old. Newsflash Liv, Gettysburger is no match for “One Minute”.
Cyrus’ hair plugs are just…no words.
Portia Di Rossi as Lizzie Bear, ugh. No, Portia. You can’t be in Scandal, you haven’t even got your Scandal-pace down yet!
I’m having a hard time buying Abby as the new WH Press Sec. She’s way too tall and lean/gangly to be doing the Liv-power walk up and down Penn Ave in pencil skirts. It just makes her look like an intern. If they want to make her WHPS position credible, I think they should give Abby a whole diff than we’ve ever seen (we’ve seen her in this get up before), so that it’s clear that this is a whole other person not someone trying to fill in Liv-shoes. With her height she would look really fly in some tailored wide-legged, high waist pant suits in some warm fall colors to highlight her skin/hair.
I’m over Huck moping. Seriously dude, either leave town, or get back into B613 or challenge Liv to a duel and duke it out once and for all, or something but this whole “Huck is a hard ass thing is played out.
Fitz: I wonder what Tony thinks of Jeff’s hair plugs. Whose idea was that, even? Shonda? Make Up? Jeffrey? Is that actor life or character life? Like, are we supposed to think that life has been so much less stressful for Cyrus since Liv left that he’s actually managed to grow more hair? I don’t get it.
But otherwise, Tony was looking his usual fine self this season. I don’t even care that he’s deceiving himself thinking he’s over Liv. As long as I can get some profile shots of “Tony-posted-up-by-the Oval-Office-window-deep-in-thought” (coz apparently, the man does his best thinking by that dang window), I’ll be good. Some shirtless Tony would be a bonus. Some One Minute Tony, even mo’ betta. You get the drift. #HereForOlitz24/7
I have to admit that I will not miss Harrison. Other than providing some nice eye candy, he didn’t really add anything to the show for me and the thinness of his story line/character arcs were starting to be really, really hard to ignore.
That whole senator assault case thing was tired. I had no interest in it what so ever and was like “Seriously Liv, this is not the case to stay in town over.”
Scene stealer of this episode: MELLIE. That read gave me life. The pageant queen hair did not, but #Iaintbovvered, who needs realistic hair when you’re giving someone a piece of your mind? Poor Fitz couldn’t even come back with anything, coz Mellie wasn’t havinnit!.
I’ll be watching this season but only for Olitz. Shonda lost me at last season with the mess she pulled with the show.
Hooray, you’re back! Greetings from Australia! Love, love, LOVE your re-caps, Luvvie. Always spot on and LOL funny!
Was so over Olitz last season, but after seeing that ‘almost picky touch’? WOW. MAJOR chemistry.
Poor Jake. And E-EEEW, what was with that revolting speech he gave Olivia??? Made us all moan, but in a REALLY BAD way!
Heartbroken for Mellie and adore her #freshpantiesandcereal
ps- Luvvie, PLEASE try to do recaps for “How to get away with murder”. Would love to hear your take on Ms. Keating’s seemingly diabolical shenanigans.
I don’t know why Mellie is so wrecked about her son. The way the show made it seem, she and Fitz saw the kids twice in their entire lives, and that was only for a weakend and a press conference. We needed more scenes where Mellie really bonded with the kids for me to believe it – they were introduced too late in the series. Remember, Mellie faked a miscarriage in front of the cameras to get votes – she can be ruthless. I forgot, what happened to the man who Mellie was in love with – did he get fired? I needed more from that relationship.
I sure hope Mama Pope escaped, and chews through the prison bars like she chewed through her wrests last season. Even tho’ I know she’s evil, she still fun and the best part of Scandal and I love the scenes with her and Olivia.
I also have a pet peeve when characters die and they aren’t mentioned ever again. I’m still grieving James, why isn’t the show?
Mellie feels some kind of way because she never really gave her son the love he needed. Whole time she was thinking that he was really Big Jerry’s son.
Love love love your posts and love the comments that follow. So many insights, so many things to think about! As Luvvie said, I’m kind getting a bit bored of the OPA cases. I’ve just re-watched the episode and fast forwarded on all the case crap. I just wanna see the deep, down dirty emotions!!! Jake is such a fool. Why he is so insistent on being with a woman who he himself knows is only with him, because she can’t be with the one person she really wants to be with. He even said it himself ‘we both know it’s not my turn anymore,’ and talked about being under the Prez’s shadow! So why is he still hanging around, no shame! Mellie is on total form this series. She doesn’t care about anyone, she’s taking care of herself and doing what she needs to do. And although I am team Olitz, I don’t know where this is going, at all. I think that end shot of them could mean many things and not just the usual conclusion of them and their amazing chemistry. And sorry, I am the only one who felt that it was a bit tacky!!!??? He just happened to be there at that exact moment???? I know what Shonda was trying but I think it could have been executed better. It was a love-hate scene for me. I think these two who are now both in other relationships (no matter the quality of them!) are going to be more adult about their feelings for each other and I think that is what that walk-on-by-scene was about. To me, they were silently saying to each other that they love each other more than anything but they’ve got to do right and go about it in the right way. Without damaging the whole world around them. But ultimately, they are going to try hard to keep everything above board, I think there is going to be a return to season one and two flashback scenes, where there is a lot of hand sexing, eye locking and more love talk than love action. But I ain’t Shonda, so what do I know? Loving Abby’s new look, Cyrus’ squirrel hair, not so much.
I am extra not here for the season of Abby. Jake has inserted himself into the middle of the situation but at the end of the day, Liv flew off with him and has been getting beach head and Gettysburger salads brought to her for a good while now. Whatever mess comes out of that situation is ultimately her doing.
Luvvie- welcome back! Your posts are so fantabulous, we could hardly wait for you to recap Scandal. I do hope you like #HTGAWM enough to recap it because, we’ll go back and watch the first one…Whoo! It needs, WE NEED your spin on it.
Back to Scandal…your post was so on point. I was switching my allegiance back and forth the entire episode:
– Ojake
– Randy-don’t-give-a-Huck (his Next Customer reminds me of the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld…”No soup for you, NEXT!”)
– Redhead Abby was on fire (pun intended)
– Musty Mellie – YASSS!
– Olivia is BACK
– Jake from State Farm can get it!
– When Olivia and Randy/Huck were going back and forth I was hollering, especially when she purposely broke the phone and he just calmly gave her paperwork to fill out. Two seconds later I had tears in my eyes when he said “when you come in here, I have hope and I cannot hope”.
– When Mellie was lying on that grave..I was UNABLE! Tears tears tears
– Back to Mellie when she said “it’s 1976 down there”
– Back to Olivia at the end when she did the feminist speech of LIFE while doing the Gladiator Walk of Slay past her forbidden, distant lover (cue the Marvin Gaye song)
Whoo-hoo this episode had me on an emotional roller coaster of feelings! Loved the end when Olitz walked past each other and everyone else disappeared…until they shaded each other like they were each invisible…except for those fingers reaching for each other, and the self-satisfied smirk they both had. HAWT!
Countdown to Olitz 2.0!
I like the part when Abby and David was talking and he said they call you ‘Red’ she said cause I have red hair…David said you have a colorist!…that was so funny to me…lol
Nice episode a good introduction/setup for season 4. I have to say that although I am not a fan of Olitz( unless there is a presidential divorce Im done with Olivia in the side chick role) Jake is not doing it for me.There is just no chemistry it seems so forced! I watched a Maxwell video on utube called BAD HABITS and Kerry was his love interest and their chemistry was SMOKING. The love scence reminded me of VERMONT . Its on utube check it out . Maybe SHONDRA can reach out to Maxwell to play Olivias next boyfriend? What does Cyrus have on top of his head?
These are the funniest recaps! Cracking up at GrantCare. I’m torn about Fitz and Olivia, too! There are moments when they are on screen, and I want to throw my remote at them, but then other times I’m rooting for them so hard!
I know I am liking Jake being with Liv right now but at the end when Olitz passed each other I was like YES!!!!
So…we’re not gonna talk about how Huck turned into a Pop Copy employee?! Lol as soon as I saw him as Randy, I cried laughing, thinking about the Pop Copy skit he was in from Chappelle’s Show!
Haaa
This episode was ok. I just feel like nothing is resolved. Liv left to fix things and stuff only got worse. I need her to get her G back and clap back to her dad and Mellie this season. I need Fitz to act like a freaking PhD Rhodes Scholar and quit letting folks punk him. Mellie is a mess, but I like it. She can stay as is. Cyrus needs a wig trim. Uhmmm…oh and Jake: Am I the only one who noticed that Everytime he reads Liv (which I like), he is low-key hating on Fitz? I feel like Jake is the half brother left out in the cold. Is he the kid of the secretary Big Gerry was bangin? His hatred of Fitz be turning him into the Hulk. But that ain’t gonna help when Papa Pope comes for him about failing his mission again (keeping Liv from Fitz) AND those B613 files…ijs
While I was waiting for your recap, I read recap on other blogs because I wanted to know what happened in the episode. But you what? NONE were as good as yours!
I’m glad you’re back Luvvie. And Thank you so much for blessing us with your weekly Scandal recaps and all the other post on your blog.
“And Jake? Well, he’s the king, President, CEO and Executive Director of the Friend Zone. Bless his heart.”
This gave me life and only you could have put it like that! Poor Jack, though. I hope he’ll get a girlfriend who’ll actually love him back. I don’t mind if he died instead, though.
Jake was the one who asked to go along with her at the end of last season. He already know she don’t love him so if he wants to stick around to be second best that’s his choice. But don’t make no noise when done you know the score
I kept waiting for Musty to crack in Cyrus’ hairhat, but other than that, I was loving this episode. I’m personally glad she’s back to cases, because I needed some relief from B613 an’ dem. As for Ms. Pope, She will never have a normal relationship ( with a single, non-murdering, non-abuser) because, like she told Edison, she likes ‘messy’ love. I never saw the appeal of Jake or Fitz, personally.
“It is interesting to note that throughout this episode, Olivia has been in black. No white or beige to be found.”
Actually, the one-piece swimsuit was white and she had on another bad ass white coat when she went to see Abby. It was a “its handled” coat and gave the strut too. She may be on her way back! Then came the white suit…..
Olivia is that friend we all have and continue to stand by that pines for the married boyfriend who will never leave his wife until she finally moves on to the guy that had secret surveillance cameras in her apartment. Honestly, I think I am there for her because in my fantasy life that loyalty is rewarded around closet cleaning time. Because IRL I would be telling my girl to press charges and seek therapy.
How I’m so late to this party I don’t e’eem know! The premiere was a tad boring to me, maybe it was the case Olivia was working on but heck it didn’t seem that important to me. Did ol’ dude die? Anyhow…I’m not a fan of O & Jake. Did she forget he choked her butt? That should be front and center anytime he’s w/in 500 feet. Her and Fitz is old, nothing good is coming out of that relationship. I’m bored w/them too. He needs to sell that house in VT cuz she won’t be making any jam w/him. Now, what they need to do is bring on someone new (and available) as a love interest for O. Cyrus’ hair..did he miss hair and makeup that first day. Maybe he’s been busy and just didn’t have time to sit for alladat! Quin, how can Q be back at OPA? She was the traitor of all traitors! She pulled a gun on O? Now she’s back like that was the dream season of Dallas. Huck, dern Huck can’t survive worth nothing w/o O! He’s Randy to me from now on…Randy can’t deal worth a flip! NEXT CUSTOMER! Mellie has been my girl for the past few seasons and it doesn’t look like she’s going to let me down this season. #teammellie
In the middle of my work day…. this is what I needed. And these quotes are the reasons #iLive
“he’ont” LMAO!
“Here are the Panny drawls”
“Next Customer = “bye Felicia”
“GrantCare”
#MustyMellie
I’m giggling like a fool! Next Customer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
recap was figgity-fire as usual. Has no one noticed Livi’s one constant is her wine glass the size of the cradle of life? She is too AMAZEBALLS to be tammbout ‘My name is Olivia and I am…’ Don’t fall down the drunkard rabbit hole gurl!! WE GOT YOU!! ijs.
[…] Recaps EVAR check out Luvvie Ajayi of Awesomely Luvvie, her pop culture and humor blog, including This Episode’s Recap. There were some pretty fine TV moments, and I think Luvvie captured most of them. Some Twitter […]
I’m so, SO upset that I missed the eyebrow-drag/wig-snatch. #amish
Ugh: Livfitz, fitzliv. or whatever is getting on my nerves. Liv needs to move on and stick to being a gladiator. We all know fitz is just going to use her then set her aside for some lame a$$ reason. I like Jake because he’s a humble guy. I’ve never seen him with another girl or play games with liv. Fitz is horrible. It’s already been 3 seasons and he still treats both liv and Mellie like crap. The last scene really took the cake, it’s going to be the same damn cycle again. This should be the time for fitz to redeem himself by accepting his responsibilities and do some real presidential work.
[…] on popcorn, shushing the dog and talking about decidedly unScandalous things. When I read Luvvie’s recap I actually had to go back and rewatch the show! That’s how much I missed! (Jill apparently […]
All I can say ih…Abby was painted and dusted to da gawds and that Birkin she was toting was created to give LIFE to those less fortunate…
I was sent this link by a buddy of mine and it was certainly one of the funniest recaps of Scandal that I have read. With that being said, I will agree to disagree on some parts. I LUVS ME SOME JAKE!!!! No eyebrowed Fitz makes me wanna hurl at times because I have never seen a weaker man on tv. Get over it, boo! YOU and LIV will NEVER be together or we won’t have no dang show! I’m so sick of those two. Ain’t nobody making no jam and preserves in mason jars in Vermont. They are like two Titanics in the night…ummm we know how it’s gonna end. SUNK! Yes, lawd Cy with that dead badger on his head….*hand claps* Tres’ awful! Now, back to fine ole Jake…umm he’s the ONLY one who can really tell Liv off. Waiting on your recap of the 2nd episode. I don’t know how I feel about Abby being in the WH but yes, Miss Red has her fashionista on POINTE! And I mean BALLET pointe! Quinn/Huck? Lawd…I just don’t know about those two. Mellie is my favorite character…crazy, musty, eating chips and bowling. I KNOW that when she emerges from her mourning period my girl is gonna be a force!!!
“Cyrus, the squirrel on his head and Abby are chatting…” made me thisclose to spit-taking all over my work monitor. Also, ragging on Lemony’s 2014 Blackberry usage made my whole day.
So glad to have Luvvie’s Scandal reviews in my life again!