You Can’t Take Command: Scandal Season 4 Finale Recap
Let’s get into the Scandal season 4 finale!
The List – Mellie meets with the devil in a black suit: Rowan Pope, and he says his name is Damascus Bainbridge. He wants to give her money if she pays attention to an issue that is important to him. He’s all smiley like a Cheshire cat as he hands her a folder, which she opens to find pictures of her and VP Andrew Nichols doing the horizontal boogie. This is when she knows the person in front of her ain’t about that support life. She excuses Lizzie Bear from the room and asks him who he is. He responds with “You do not ask me who I am, Mrs. Grant. You ask me what I need.” Aw shit.
Oh and in that folder is the files on Operation Remington. This is when she really realizes that she’s not just in front of a goon, but a goblin.
Dazed and spooked, Mellie goes to the White House, where Fitz is strategizing her campaign with Lizzie. What “Damascus” wants is a list, and she tells her campaign manager to get her that list.
Grand Jury – Jake is about to testify about B613 in front of the Grand Jury and Olivia tells him to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. She knows that her bae will go down too, because of his role in Remington but she’s ready to make that sacrifice. In fact, she calls him to congratulate him on Mellie’s impending Senate win, and the call sounds final when she says “Goodbye, Fitz.”
After Jake testifies and the court adjourns for the day, Olivia is almost giddy with the fact that the deed is done. Until Huck comes over to say that shit has hit the fan. Liv goes outside and David stumbles off a bus and retches all over the street. In the bus are the shot, slashed and slain bodies of the 16 grand jurors. ALL’EM DEADER THAN DEAD. You do not snitch on Rowan Pope and expect that it’ll stand. That monster got those people who heard Jake’s testimony killed RIGHT OUTSIDE the damb federal building. And THAT was the list he wanted (and got) from Mellie. Gahtdamb, dawg.
So the crazy thing about Papa Pope is that he does bogus shit where HE isn’t the only culprit. He assures he gets away with stuff by having someone elseu who can stand to lose something attached to it. In this cast, it is Mellie. By giving him that list, she is now an accessory to the murders of those jurors. Well played, Rowan. Well played.
FINALLY, the Team of Takedown B613 gets the point that Rowan does NOT play and will take down anyone who tries to take him down. He was so dedicated to the cause that even the court stenographer, who wasn’t on the bus died that day in a “hit and run.” Even David Rosen and his white hat quit the game. “While I live for justice, I don’t want to die for it.” I ain’t mad at him. Liv is PISSED and wants to find out how to get even so she goes to see the person who knows her father best: Mama Pope.
Special Visit – Now you know Maya ain’t some softy who will offer comforting words. She sees her daughter looking all types of off kilter. Liv asks her mothers what she did and how she managed to have any control over Rowan. Because all these years, that is the one person who seems to be able to go toe-for-toe with him. Maya takes this opportunity to go IN on Olivia Carolyn.
‘You’ve got the “I’ve been in the hole” look all on your face… You sure do love a problem. You’re so vain. It’s always about you, isn’t it? The problem you create so you can solve them. The power you have to wield so that you can feel important. Did your father and I not say you were special enough when you were little? Did we not give you enough hugs? This uppity fantasy world that you decided to be a part of. It’s not real, boo. Now you need to come on down to this planet where the world doesn’t revolve around you.’
ALL THE WELPS! Liv ain’t come for this so she gets up to leave. As she storms out, her mother offers her the wisdom that she is trying to fight an enemy who people don’t even know exists. Ah HA. It means tells the powers that be.
Snitch Stitch – Mellie is freaking out because of her role in the murder of the jurors and so is Lizzie, since she had to fetch the list. FLOTUS goes to Cyrus Beene and confides in him about her meeting with Damascus Bainbridge, and when she mentions his threats about Remington, he automatically knows who the source is.
Beene the Beast goes to see Pope the Poisonous and wonders why he had to murk all those jurors. Rowan says he ain’t bout to go down like a chump. Besides, Cy should be lucky he ain’t kill David, and he will consider that a favor to him.
Liv shows up to the CIA headquarters (in this amazing white blazer) with Jake, to tell Director Lowry, head of the org about Papa Pope. She even comes with receipts, which she shows when the lady tries to tell her she’s making up lies. To be fair, her story sounded as likely as it is to get actual news on Fox. But with the B613 files, Lowry couldn’t deny. She tells Liv and Jake to sit tight so she can make a move.
When she walks into the main hallway of the CIA building, Cyrus Beene is there waiting for her. She wants to file documents to get Rowan Pope arrested, because it seems that everyone knew about B613’s existence from decades ago. EXCEPT, they thought it was a 3-4 person operation that was just in charge of top secret kills. They had no idea it was this Medusa monster, which means they didn’t know JACK about it. Cy looks at her and lets her know to stand down because her neck might don’t make it.
“Honey – I’m gonna call you Honey because I don’t remember your first name and I don’t care. Honey, you want to be reasonable about this because a shadow intelligence organization operating quite happily and powerfully in secret inside the FBI, CIA, NSA, if there was such a thing, well that would be like a sleeping lion. And isn’t it safer to tiptoe around the lion? What do you think happens if you poke the lion? Whose face does the lion rip off first? I think it rips off Honey’s face first.”
ALL THE WELPS THAT EVER WELPED IN WELPVILLE. She gets the point, because next thing that happens is that Jake and Olivia are thrown in jail. They came to snitch and THEY got locked up. Ain’t that about a bish??
Meanwhile, back at the White House, Lizzie sees Mellie is distressed and she tells her she wants to know everything, because clearly, they BOTH had something to do with the jurors dying. Later that night, Fitz gives a rousing speech in Mellie’s honor, praising his “best friend” as Lizzie looks on.
No Choice – Cyrus summons David, who thinks he will be getting fired. Beene is all “Nah.” BUT he wants him to drop the B613 takedown or else his weakness might end up in some tragic accident. His Achilles heels is Abby Whelan, and this threat is enough to get Lemony spooked. He leaves Beene’s office, and passes Abby in the hallway without acknowledging her. When he emerges from his office, she wants to know what’s going on but of course he shuts her down. “I can’t have a soul. If I had one, I would never accomplish a thing.”
David goes to the jail where Olivia and Jake are being held separately. To each of them, he passes an affidavit they must sign or they’ll be charged with treason. The document says that they made up any and all things about B613. Each one signs it when they see the other’s signature (probably forged) because there will be no freedom for them if they don’t. Director Lowry is seeing to that herself. AND, Mama Pope is told that if she signs an affidavit denying the existence of B613, she can be free. Needless to say, she asked for a pen quick, fast and in a hurry.
Winning – Finally back home, and in black pajamas, Liv gets a call and it’s from dear old dad. He wants her to know that she’s won. B613 is wiped completely off the map. There is no Command. ALL the documents proving the existence of the top flight secret spy organization of the world have been destroyed (and Rowan himself killed the agent who blew them up). She has won, and Rowan Pope is dead. He is now Eli. He slips in a shady thanks because he’s actually kinda pleased with himself and his newfound “freedom.”
Mellie did win the senate race, and as she’s onstage thanking her constituents, Fitz is on the sideline watching. Lizzie approaches him and allasudden starts talking. That hater spills the beans on what really happened to the jurors, and how Mellie gave their names up. His look of pride falls into pure disdain, and I wanna fight Liz’s face. This is her revenge for the woman who was sharing a peen with her. All this time, we were wondering why she was choosing to help Mellie, and turns out she was just biding her time until she could stick her where it works. ‘
In the words of my friend Kellee, “You can’t trust no bitch you shared a dick with.”
THAT is a word, ladies and gents. Mellie shoulda never trusted her ass.
Eli Down – In the OPA office, Liv tells the Gladiators that her father is walking. There is no evidence about the existence of B613 left, they’ve signed affidavits and Rowan is getting off scot-free. Quinn points out that Huck has $2 billion of B613 money stashed and Liv gets a bright idea.
Papa Pope is sitting in his office at the Smithsonian when police show up to arrest him. He is being charged for embezzling funds from the museum for decades. Liv and Jake show up to the station to find him in a cell full of commoners but it does nothing to humble him.
Rowan: I’ve brought down regimes, Olivia. Assassinated dictators with my own two hands, shaped history with a single phone call.
Olivia: Rowan did that. Command did that. He had power. But you?… You were right. We couldn’t take Command. But we can take Eli Pope.
As they walk away, he screams OLIVIAAAAA!!! So dramatic. So right.
Beast Unleashed – Quinn walks into Huck’s office and says she saw the bodies of the murdered jurors. Their wounds were so familiar, and she knows Huck is the one who killed them. LAWDDDTTT!!! Why would he do that? He says he had no choice because he wanted to protect his family from Rowan’s wrath so he did that job for him. Bullshit, sir. You’re just an untamed beast who wanted to kill. Quinn holds a gun to her mentor’s head and he stares her down, looking kinda pitiful.
Get Out – Cyrus, President Ghost and Mellie are in the Oval Office, and what is supposed to be celebrating turns sour. Fitz tells Mellie that he knows about how she got the jurors killed and he is disgusted by her. “We’re not a team. Get out. Pack your bags and get out my house.”
Her attempts at defending herself do not work and he tells her to go before he gets her thrown out. HIS HOUSE. The White one. Wowsies. She walks out and Cyrus is about to speak when he’s cut down to size too. Fitz knows that HE was who Mellie told, and he willingly worked with the devil who killed his son. “You’re fired.” Aw damb.
Mission Accomplished – Jake walks Liv to the door of her apartment and she invites him in. He declines, because his job with her is done.
“This is where the ride ends. My mission is complete. It has been my pleasure…They asked me to look out for you. Both of them. Your father, the bad guy and the Preident, the good guy. They both asked me to keep you safe. They both made you my mission. And I went over the line on both accounts. I’m in love with you but you are in love with him. You are owed, Olivia. Want what’s yours? Go and take it.”
Well damb. But umm… what is Liv owed??? Surely it ain’t Fitz’s underdraws. SURELY. I guess.
Back at the White House, Mellie’s bags are packed and she leaves the White House, looking downtrodden and dejected. Cyrus hands over his ID cards and keys to Abby, who watches Lizzie carry her stuff into Beene’s office. She’s the new Chief of Staff. WHOA.
Fitz goes to Liv’s apartment and rings the doorbell but there’s no answer. He returns to the White House and goes on the balcony. As he looks out on the lawn, Liv surprises him from behind. Nina Simone’s “Here Comes the Sun” plays as the two make-out and the episode ends.
First of all, Fitz be the first one judging when he got a trail of bodies behind him, acting like Mellie purposefully killed 16 people. AND on the Cyrus tip, that man has saved him more times than he knows. To just peace both of them out is wack as hell and so on par as to why he cannot have nice things ever. He is self-centered and has a short memory. Plus, he’s especially prone to overreacting to anything Mellie does.
While he’s locking lips with Olivia, he doesn’t seem to mind that HER father killed his son. He holds no type of resentment for that but he throws Mellie out for inadvertently helping Rowan murder some folks he ain’t even know. And let’s not forget that Liv was gonna let him go down with B613. Sir, bye. I didn’t realize how OVER Liv and Fitz being together I was, until I saw them on that balcony making out and was all “meh.”
Now on to Papa Pope. Olivia keeps underestimating her father. Even as Eli Pope, I doubt he’ll just go down without a fight. I expect to see him back in season 5 and I want to see more Liv vs. Rowan vs. Maya go down. Which, by the way, now that she’s free, I don’t expect she’ll take on a life of quiet, law-abiding citizenship. She’s too much of a goon to just go buy a condo in Florida. I also kinda want her and Rowan to re-unite on some older Bonnie and Clyde thing. WANT.
So Huck and Quinn. I bet we’re gonna find them doing the spy slippery slide on the OPA conference table. I know she didn’t pull that trigger to shoot him. I’m sure they both just got turned on and ended up sexing it out. They’re so nassy. I love it.
Mmhmmm.
Basically, everyone lost power in this finale, and their power was mainly based on their alliances. Fitz and Cyrus’ bromance is over and his BFFship with Mellie is done. Cyrus lost the only thing he had to live for: his job. Liv doesn’t know it yet but she cannot trust Huck, who is so blood-thirsty that he’ll work for her father! Quinn lost respect for her mentor. David lost his white hat, which he held so dear.
The ONLY person who gained anything was Liz, who ascended to White House Chief of Staff. THAT kills me because it makes no sense for Fitz to put her in that position just because she snitched on his wife. What he should have done is make Abby his Chief. He trusts her more and knows her. DAFUQ, President Ghost???
Anyway, this episode was probably my least favorite Scandal finale yet. When it was over, I was like NAWL. NOPE. NAH. I was not satiated and I wanted a re-do. There was no real cliffhanger, and even the pieces that seem tied up feel frayed at the edges.
Shonda Rhimes tweeted that the ending was highly debated in their writer’s room and I see why. It didn’t seem satisfying.
Fun fact: we had a verbal knock down drag out fight about this ending in the writers room. #ScandaIFinale
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) May 15, 2015
What are your thoughts, Gladiators? ROAR in the comments.
Edit: One of your geniuses has made a BRILLIANT connection. In the finale of season 2, Fitz laid out his plan to Mellie, about how one day she will indeed be leaving the White House and he’ll take up with Olivia. She even has on green in the scene. As she packed up her bags and left in season 4’s finale, she was in a green suit too. Watch:
I see what you did there, Scandal writers.
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
74 Comments
“You can’t trust no bitch you shared a dick with.”
#dead
#trulydead
#laymeoutinmygooddress
#donotresuscitate
I think that’s from the Book of Trina. lol
LMAO!!! You laid me out with the Book of Trina…
I didn’t know luvvie knew my sister Kellee!
Love this! On point and so funny (as usual)! LOVE your recaps.
I think Fitz is not judging, he is feeling betrayed once again as he did with Defiance. If he and Mellie were a true team, he feels she should have come to him.
Also, MamaShonda came full circle with the ending of this finale. Mellie even looks like she is wearing the same dress.
https://youtu.be/d8ArBE1FW_g
That’s exactly how I interpreted that storyline, too. Mellie went to Cyrus for help when she should have gone to Fitz. He didn’t even find out about it from her after the fact. Lizzie had to tell him.
Fitz ain’t here for Mellie’s brand of fair weather friendship.
But there has been plenty that Fitz has kept from her. Think about the fact that if he had told her about B613, Remington and who actually killed her son she could have properly dealt with Rowan. In a way it’s his fault those jurors died.
Fitz is the ultimate cheater the kind that wants his woman to remain loyal and do everything he himself is incapable of doing, it’s not fair. Then I am so pissed her promoted Liz te woman who at one point teamed up with Andrew to take him out. That made no sense to me. I can’t believe it but I’m rooting for Mellie and Cyrus to team up and serve him.
“Fitz is the ultimate cheater the kind that wants his woman to remain loyal and do everything he himself is incapable of doing, it’s not fair. Then I am so pissed her promoted Liz te woman who at one point teamed up with Andrew to take him out. That made no sense to me. I can’t believe it but I’m rooting for Mellie and Cyrus to team up and serve him.”
YAAAAASSSSSS!!!! And then there’s this!
Hell Yes!! I concur completely! I am all here for a Cyrus and Mellie team up. Fitz is so far up Olivia’s ass he doesn’t even realize he has invited the devil to his table yet again.
I just watched the last episode of season 4 and I agree with you..It was really hypocritical of Fitz to kick Mellie out for something she was not even aware of..At the end of the day though, I think he was just looking for an excuse to get back between Olivia’s “magical thighs”…It would not have mattered what Mellie did or did not do, she didn’t stand a chance…It is disappointing actually, because I personally liked that he and Mellie seemed to be connecting and getting closer again, as partners and friends atleast, which is basically how most successful marriages past the 20 year mark are supposed to look like…but noooo…He wasnt going to have any of it, Poor Mellie..I do think that Cyrus deserved to be kicked out though, for blackmailing Rosen and for letting Rowan get away with his crimes..
“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. And like that, poof. He’s gone.”
~Verbel, The Usual Suspect
If Olivia Carolyn Pope thought for any second that she has gotten over on her dad, we need to take away her Gladiator card. She is sadly mistaken. If he’s not dead, Command will return! Hell, even James came back in flashbacks. Bars will not and cannot hold Papa Pope/Eli/Rowan/Command/Grand Goon. I expect to see him in Season 6. And I will guess Mama Pope will be the one who will get him out.
As for Mya? The world needs to be careful. She was only asked not to talk about B613. They didn’t require her to not be a terrorist. Wrong move.
I’m thinking we may need a new nickname for David. He is still alive so he is avoiding a lot of unfortunate events. Bless his heart!
Another reason I don’t believe Command is over? He still has Huck.
After ALL the stuff Fitz has done, he kicks Mellie out? Because she gave a list? Granted she is an accessory to multiple murders. He, on the other hand, IS a murderer. Forget Remington. Has everyone forgotten he killed Verna? I haven’t. His memory is really bad. I despise him when he does this.
And if Fitz thinks he can just kick Mellie out and there won’t be any repercussions, he is sorely mistaken. Mellie should pull out that Remington file. Wait, as Senator can she recommend someone be release from jail? IJS
This ending left me feeling bland. Was it over? Ok/ Whatever. I would rather Liv be with loose-lipped Russell than Fitz at this time. He is just…Yuck!
I think Fitz is mad about Mellie thwarting the plan to bring down B613 and give him an out with Olivia. They still want Vermont and that would have given it to them. Mellie worked with the man who killed his son, yes, but she really got in the way of his long term plan to be with his boo thang, Olivia.
Ya that Mya part was some pretty weak writing. Straight up HORRIBLE. Along with Fitz kicking out Mellie for doing something he himself did in the past for the same person only worse, he knew what he was doing – orders or not – and killed 300+ people. She didn’t know who command was or what he was doing with those names. He knew she was blackmailed/tricked and he still pulled this. The writers have written him so badly in the past – he’s WAYYYY too stupid to realistically be president, let alone survive to that age and still be that stupid, childish, naive and ignorant.
Bad writing is bad writing. I’m surprised these writers still have jobs.
the finale was written as if she wasn’t sure it was getting renewed.
^^^This^^^ is what was saddest for me.
My thoughts exactly at the writing as if she was trying to tie up loose ends…I’m like: WHAT? That’s it? That’s the best you could come up with Shonda? What happened, girl?
Scandal’s been headed down a slippery slope since those two tired episodes with Liv’s supposed kidnapping. Oliva running back and forth down a four-foot hallway looking like “Farina” in a dime store wig, does not good TV make. That was so unbelievable, I lost faith in everybody in the writers room. The lawn chair episode gave me hope that things were headed back to the “Scandal” that once was. This finale was just luke warm milk toast. Luvvie, reading your re-cap had more fire than watching that episode. “You can’t trust no bitch you shared a dick with.” Now, that is scandalous writing!
Farina? ROTFLMAO! #dead
“Farina in a dime store wig..” !! (•O•’) !! Hahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!
*faints from laffing!*
By the way what happened to Russell? He didn’t get killed like those other B613 goons.
I was a little excited about seeing Olitz together. But how they came together makes me think some of it was planned because Fitz had to get rid of Mellie some way. Plus Daddy Pope getting busted was like a Plan B to me.
Unfortunately, I agree about Huck and Quinn more nasty sex between those 2. I do hope Quinn at least let’s Liv know or maybe Jake has figured it out that it was a Huck assassination also.
I agree with you. Liv and Fitz can’t be together unless Rowan and Mellie are out the way. This was all part of their planned reunion.
I just watched my last episode of Scandal. This ended pissed me off to no end. I ABHOR FITZ and his self-righteousness and Olivia’s dumb side heaux self. When the tough gets going and it QUICKLY will she’ll go the same way of Magnificent Mellie get kicked out during one of Fitzs tandrums. Fcuk Olitz! I’m disappointed in Huck. He was the most loyal. Cyrus and Mellie are the main two reasons why Fitz even has a residence in DC right now, and I hope they kill him dead.
this may be longer than I expected since this is my first real time deciding how I feel about the season finale.
I don’t for one second believe that B613 is dead. He said that everyone that knew his face was dead, right? So what about the lower level agents that hadn’t seen him yet? What if Ellen’s bae (EBae) is B613 now? I really think that she knew what she was doing with that introduction to Poppa Pope.
Cyrus is jobless? I wonder where he will land. Will he take over Command now? Cyrus being fired was rather unsettling.
Why did Prez go so far left? I understand his response to Mellie. They were supposed to be a team. Mellie had no idea that letting Pope in her life meant that she was going to be indebted to him for life, but if she had confided in Prez, she could have remained clean. But why fire Cyrus? Cyrus has been the most consistent character on this show. Prez should not have been surprised, not by a longshot.
What did Pope say to make Huck kill all those people? I still don’t know how that happened. Talk about protecting his family from Pope, Huck was the one that snitched in the first place.
That finale didn’t make much sense to me and it was rather unsettling. I am not that happy that Olivia is back with the Prez because I think his anger at Mellie is going to be shortlived and I don’t want another triangle to play out all next season. I want the cases of the week. I want Olivia back. Not the lip-quiver.
Luvvie, I soooooooo agree with your opinion after the recap!
Here are my thoughts:
I noticed that Russell didn’t appear or come up ONCE in this episode. But we know he’s still alive because he wasn’t one of the people to be shown killed when Rowan was talking to Olivia. Could HE be the one to get Rowan out of jail? After all, the spy Rowan had killed was sent to rescue him.
Liv did NOT know Fitz threw Mellie out. There is NO way she would be so bold than to be on that FRONT lawn facing balcony kissing all over Fitz and jumping in his arms. Nah, B.
Quinn won’t kill Huck. EVER. Ain’t no Scandal without Huck’s crazy ass.
liv said Charlotte (no idea who that is) was very informative so she must’ve told her the haps with ole Mellie Mell getting the doorknob to the good Lords original split.
Charlotte is the secretary outside Fitz office. The one who always covered with mpMellie when he was off with Olivia.
Not satisfying at all! I always kinda thought Fitz was doing right by Mellie in order to win back Liv’s respect for going to war over her. Fitz has no high horse to sit on. He needs to chill being mad for Mellie when he ain’t even warned her about Rowan. He’s also stupid for not seeing how Lz played both Mellie AND Cy.
I did not like this finale. It was all wrapped up so nice and tidy..NOPE not buying it. Yeah prez ghost be on one but he had it with Mellie. He was truly trying to do right by her. Him and Liv happily ever after NOPE. I want a do over of this finale because papa pope is a goon and he did not go out like a G.
Fitz is Hypocrite in Chief. He puts Mellie out for being blackmailed into handing over a list, knowing that he’s killed people with his own hands. And of all people to kick to the curb, Cyrus is the wrong one. He wouldn’t have been governor or anything else without Cyrus.
My favorite part of this episode was when the cop who came to arrest Eli shut him down before he got started on an epic read. That was the signal that someone finally got Papa Pope. Not that it will last, he’ll figure a way out.
“My favorite part of this episode was when the cop who came to arrest Eli shut him down before he got started on an epic read.”
Yeah, his feelings were ultra hurt! He was looking like ‘you must not know who I am’
My second favorite was Daddy Pope screaming Olliiiivvvia the way Captain Kirk screamed Khhhhhaaaannn!
Olitz is the worst! Hate it!
Your recap was fabulous as always. Thx for cracking me up over and over
I soo wanted Olivia to pretend to beg Jake a lil bit. Those bright blue eyes just looking at her and she couldn’t muster up one weak ass ‘I love you.’ Boooo! Yes, I’m only really worried abt love. Lol.
I still, for the life of me, can’t figure out why Fitz flipped out so hard on Mellie! She honestly didn’t know. But he knows he shot down a plane, cheated, smothered Verna, and his daddy raped her! Ok, it’s not his fault abt the rape but so what? I’m adding it to his quite lengthy cons list any damn way. Ain’t nobody gon check me because we all know he’s a dirty bird. Dirty birding everywhere. Anytime she acts human and makes a mistake he gotta jump in face calling her smelly and murderous. Fcuk you Fitz and that raggedy horse you tryna ride around on .
I didn’t dislike this epi. It was fine to me, but it did feel a strange series finale of getting what we originally wanted after 10yrs and a few mind changes. Now we’re pouting like well yes I wanted Olitz in 2011 but not now! Lol.
I first thought it was some kind of dream sequence. Like Bobby Ewing getting shot on Dallas… Maybe the opening scene of next season will be a gotcha moment, and Fitz only imagined holding Olivia I his arms while pondering the ruins that used to be his life.
I TRULY believe it was all a dream. Honestly. And then she wakes up or FItz wakes up, or someone does to realize she is still in the Sun or something… it has to be wild and far fetched but crazy enough to actually be feasible.
Yes. I want it all to be a dream.
I want it to be a dream also.
It was feelin’ a whole lot like a reset. I know Shonda did that at Grey’s and I wonder if that was on her mind for Scandal too.
Is Scandal gonna be more House of Cards than Alias next year? Fitz and Olivia vs Mellie and Cyrus? Hm.
There is NO way in THEEE entire world I could’ve let those blue eyes and all that man candy walk away from me all easy like that. Olivia is a fool. Fitz vs. Jake? Chile please! It’s not even a question. All he wanted was her. All she wanted was Fitz’s immature, amnesiac ass…and to make jam. Dumb. I was so vexed with this ending!!!! I’m over Olitz. Can we get THAT on a t-shirt? When does HTGAWM come back on?
This show has been very hit or miss this season, and as much as I love Daddy Pope and his indignant monologues, this nonsense with him and Olivia needs to stop. Her mother told her best when she read her the riot act about this fantasy world she created that revolves around her and her sense of right and wrong.
How are you going to be set on taking down your own dad but steadily sucking face with some weak azz married man who has kicked you to the curb more than once, had you followed and done a whole bunch of raggedy mess that is at least equally worthy of contempt as what Daddy Pope did in the past? Heck, at least Rowan thought he was acting for the good of the Republic.
I don’t feel bad for Cyrus’ ole cutthroat azz. He was past due for some payback, and I doubt that we’ve seen the last him unlike babies Ella and Teddy who are apparently in Witness Protection.
The Mad Men series finale sucked too, so it must be something in the water.
Fitz needs to watch his back & so does Olivia. Command is not dead and he will be back. I see why Fitz cut off Cyrus, but Mellie? That’s something I didn’t understand. Mellie and Cyrus are bound to come back for revenge. Quinn is worried about Huck. Huck can’t be trusted. Jake’s feelings are shot and he’s gone. Abby’s forever out of the loop.
Fitz has no one. Olivia has no one. If she ever thought she had Fitz or thinks she really has him now she’s a fool. You’ll lose him how you got him.
Fitz is definitely going to have to watch his back. + Olivia needs to start making wiser decisions and thinking further ahead. (& how was she just kissing him on that balcony without questioning him about anything?)
I hope to see more of Jake. I liked him & Olivia did him dirty. He put up with a lot (his own fault though), and risked his life for her on several occasions. But like he said that was his mission.
At this point both Olivia and Fitz deserve every misfortune. Make better choices. Also, I’d love to learn more about Rowan’s backstory.
*like* for all of the above.
I never did like Olitz
Even though I’m disappointed that Mellie was so out of the loop and easily duped, I would like to see her and Cyrus as a team. What was that allegory she and Cyrus used about being in the President’s inner circle back in season 1?
Well to be fair as I have to constantly remind my best friend, Jake wasn’t exactly Prince charming. So we just forgot that he choked her and pushed her up against the wall while everyone she worked with looking on. I try to keep fact from fiction but that tidbit has always plagued me abt him. And they just skipped right past it like it was nothing! Nary a word abt it by any of the involved parties. Nothing since the last the time I said it because I vow to spread this reminder as far and wide as I can.
I was mad at Jake. I think he went out like a punk. I am so not here for Olitz. At all.
1. I didn’t know how much I needed that Cyrus gif till I saw it. Thankyouverymuch.
2. I *really* wanted Mellie to be an underestimated mastermind who would least know who she was dealing with. But nope. #booboothefool
3. Never before in my life did I want so badly to see a character get shot on TV, even though I knew it wasn’t going to happen. Huck tugged at most of our heartstrings at some point, I know, but the man is beyond hope or help. For his sake and for the sake of everything and everyone he touches, I wished Quinn would get on with the business of administering that mercy killing…”expeditiously” But of course, she wouldn’t.
4. Love triangles are bad enough, but that Romance/Bromance/Torture/I shoulda killed you but I changed my mind Triangle that Charlie, Huck, and Quinn have is just…I can’t even.
This episode didn’t do much for me. I have so many thoughts about this episode but will try to keep things shawt. First off I must say I’m sick of Papa Pope and I’m tired of hearing about B613. B613 took over the last 2 seasons of Scandal. I do hope the opening of S5 starts with Justin Timberlake & T.I.’s song Dead and Gone, but why I have an eerie feeling it’ll be resurrected by Mama Pope. Lawd. I’m physically and mentally exhausted about Huck’s killing ass, his character is beyond repairable to me, if Baby Huck off’d him I’ll donate to the charity of his choice and happily skip right along. Jake’s ‘girl bye’ moment was needed, dude finally realized he’ll never have her heart. Jake go stand in the sun w/someone else. Hint for Jake: You’re fine and prollly have a few B613 dollars stashed away, you’ll be a’ight! Why Fitz went off on Mellie and Cy is crazy. Fitz acts like he’s the saint w/the white hat when he’s anything but. Did he forget smothering Verna? Dude, you killed an old ass lady in the hospital AND she was already dying. Just wasn’t dying fast enough for your crooked behind. I never liked Olitz so that balcony scene some people were giddy about made me frown up so bad I still have the frown lines. I didn’t have frown lines before, I checked. Season 4 has been my least fav thus far, I’m still a Gladiator for now but errr…
Dead and Gone…PERFECT song choice for next season. Should be the theme of the season. Love it. Love it. Kudos to you!
What I need now is an episode called “Of Mice and Men” in which Quinn doesn’t kill Huck right away (they get interrupted by some emergency I guess), but by the end of the episode, Huck is dead via gunshot wound to the back of the neck (the way Charlie wanted to be killed, once upon a time) – by either Quinn or Olivia.
Meanwhile there are subplots of well laid plans going awry and all that.
This seemingly perfect ending is a setup, y’all. Don’t count Queen Shonda and her trusty writers out yet.
Next season – and to me there was never any doubt that there would be another – is set to be the mother of all mother-f’ing battles (excuse my French). You’ve got Liv vs Mellie coming. Mellie vs Liz. Cyrus vs Liz. Liz vs Fitz (in spite of what that make out session leads us to believe). Huck vs Quinn…ooops, sorry, Quinn vs Huck. I don’t think they’ll be “knocking boots” to work this one out. I do think he’ll have to pay for this betrayal. So Huck will bow down to Liv and Quinn. He’ll still be a Gladiator though.
And Abby, my girl through all of this; she and David are the true white hats of this season and will be the standards by which to wear white next season. Abby is still a Gladiator, just doing it from the White House. And she will be instrumental in taking folks down. She doesn’t like or trust Liz. So, Abby vs Liz.
Then, the Grand Goon of them all, Mama Pope is free at last? Lord have mercy! Next season is gonna be off the chain. There is no telling the havoc she will cause. And, I’m here for it all! Although, I’m sure she’ll break my heart in some way by hurting someone I love. But, such is life in Scandal-land.
So, maybe I’m in the minority, but I am not mad at this finale. It’s the calm before the storm. Never trust a happy ending on this show. Sh&t’s about to get real.
*Edit
Sorry. I meant to say “Liv” vs Fitz.
Them writers needed to keep on fighting until there was nothing left but teeth and toenails because they could have keep this wack ass finale.
How is the mid-season break finale better than the season ender?
Fitz is perpetually in the dark. He is so damn dim! Olivia’s momma got her together with a swiftness. Yup, Liv does think errythang is about her. Liv couldn’t believe Jake left her sugar walls. So she does the obvious thing and goes back to Fitz. Fitz and Olivia ain’t got it in since Jesus was a child and they meet up with some junior high school make out session!!
As the camera panned out, I just kept saying “That’s it?”
P.S. Where is Russell the Love Muscle?
And, if we’re throwing in hope for next season, bring back both Senator Pudding Pop (SPP) and Russell.
Because then we can have a Russell vs SPP (but he ain’t down with OPP). And, make SPP very bad-ass. While he was “away”, let him have dropped the boring (Olivia’s perspective, not mine) and picked up so much Denzel Washington/Will Smith swagger that it’s like a magnetic current drawing you to him like a moth to a flame. And, we all know what happens when you play with fire…
Yes, all of what everyone has said. Adding – I still think Ebae is B613, especially now that it’s been announced she is a “regular”, as opposed to a guest star?
And… Shonda changed the ending. It was also announced a few days before the finale aired that Shonda had gone into the editing room and re-cut the ending, and no one knew what she had changed it to. Well, we know now. But what I really need to know is:
WHAT DID SHE CHANGE IT FROM???
http://www.people.com/people/videos/0,,20922463,00.html
One of the few things I didn’t like about the finale was the talk that Liv had with her mom. No, you and her father did not hug her enough. You both abandoned her at 12. You were a terrorist and said there was a bomb on a plane and got locked up for over 20 years and her father shipped her off to boarding school, so no, you did not. You failed as parents.
But, I think this finale set up season 5. I think Shonda finally realized the error of her ways and erased B613. I don’t think Rowan is coming back. He killed everything connected to B613. Like Olivia said, Eli is powerless. So, if we see him at all, it will probably just be prison visits. And, I don’t think Mya is going to do anything that will get her locked up again.
So, I think we’re going to get the political intrigue we had in the beginning, but were denied once B613 took over the show. I would like to believe we have seen the last of Jake (how anyone thinks he is a viable love interest once he wrapped his hand around Olivia’s neck and slammed her against a wall is beyond me), but I think Quinn will kill Huck and he will take Huck’s place at OPA. Otherwise, Jake has no place on the show.
I hope we get Cyrus/Mellie vs Fitz/Liv/Liz, because you know Cyrus and Mellie are not going to take this lying down. I hope we get conniving Mellie back, because her story line has been painfully boring this season. I want the political animal back.
In all fairness, both Rowan and Maya are stark raving psychopaths who kill as easily as they blink. How good of parents were they ever going to make, anyway? Perhaps the only reason Olivia has ANY form of conscience is because Maya left and Rowan sent her away for school.
Rowan “Eli” Pope is too much of a narcissist to leave things be, so if he is to leave the show permanently Olivia will need to have him killed in prison. Maya has no reason to retire – the first thing she did when she got out of the hole was get involved in more terrorist action. If she cared about staying out of prison she’d have laid low the first time.
“I didn’t realize how OVER Liv and Fitz being together I was, until I saw them on that balcony making out and was all “meh.””
YOP! My sentiments exactly. I dunno how Shonda’s gonna make the next season work with Olivitz together in the White House and Mellie gone and doing the senator thing. I just don’t see it. I think that there will DEFINITELY be trouble for Ghost face if he thinks America (whether fiction or otherwise) is going to be OK with him being in the White House with a black woman. His approval ratings were low from jump. Can approval ratings go into the negative? He’ll find out!
The one thing I did enjoy was how she played Papa Pope. Cutting him off at the knee caps and making him realize he can’t move mountains anymore as Command/Rowan… that face was priceless. He may as well have said “D’oh!” The bitter taste left in my mouth was my boy Jake just giving up. He fought for her for a while and now he’s like “eh. Mission accomplished.” Sho’ll didn’t like that. And, I’m sorry, if those two guys were standing next to each other, titles aside, you choose Jake. Full lips and overall cuteness win over… whatever look that is Fitz has going on. :-\
Mellie has leverage – she knows about Remington, and a Mellie scorned is worse than a hibernating bear who just woke up and didn’t see her cubs but caught you eating bear jerky.
Olivia knows about Remington – she hates her dad, but runs to a man who killed a plane load of innocent civilians?
Fitz – is there a weasel called the fitzweasel, ’cause if not there should be. He can’t forgive Mellie but he’s cool with himself?
The reason I love this show? Erry lass one of ’em is nucking futz.
When S5 starts,I’m expecting this to be one of Livs’ hostage dreams. #yeahthatwillfixeverything
I think Fitz is hella hypocritical, like everyone else has pointed out. But I’m of the opinion Mellie deserved to be kicked out. While she was appropriately horrified to learn she inadvertently facilitated the grand jury murders, but she got over that *ish PRETTY DAMN QUICK no???. She was all.. “Oh, that old massacre?? I did it for US baby!!” Ummm… eww.
It makes zero sense to appoint Lizzie as Chief of Staff tho. Fitz makes no damn sense. EVER.
Also, where the hell is Russell, and where is Charlie?? I didn’t see Charlie go down – so either B613 is alive and well, or B614 is the new flavor.
I’m not sure Olivia did what Mamma Pope was talking about. I thought when she said his enemies couldn’t see him, she was hinting that Pope and crew should out her dad to all his terrorist and criminal enemies. Use them to help drive him to ground, then go in for the kill shot themselves. It didn’t sound like she was talking about a legal remedy at all. It confused me that they went to tell government agencies right after that.
I wanted to slap Fitz-stain through the TV when he told Mellie to get out of his house. Excuse me fool? I don’t care how corrupt government has gotten, and how much corporations have taken over. That is NOT your house. It’s the people’s house. We loan it to you while you do your job. Then you GTFO and go back to your life. Don’t be using power we give you to kick a woman out.
Honestly though, I thought firing Cyrus was long overdue. Maybe now he can try his hand at raising that child whose name I can’t remember because we’ve seen her ONCE since James died.
It seems we all agree this finale was a bust. I loves me some Shonda, yous know I do. But the season premiere better come back with a bang.
Nah..I don’t agree the finale was a bust. It resets the show for awesome storylines in S5. I have no idea where else people wanted it to go. The whole thrust of the season was ‘taking down B613’ and Fitz/Mellie partnership, which we all know was just a farce, and Mellie’s political run. Where else could they have ended to set things up for next season? This show is not to make people comfortable with their fairytale ideas and indoctrinated societal norms. It has to address real issues.
These two people (Fitz and Mellie) should have led separate lives a long time ago. Who gets married just for partnerships? No romance? Stay with your spouse long after the marriage is dead because you owe them? Is that what people consider good marriages? Sacrifice? Come on people.
I like where the show is headed. Shonda will be blowing a lot of societal comfort zones wide open *cough* patriarchal sanctity of marriage BS beliefs and can love survive all odds *cough* and I am here for it!
Buckle up people! Don’t come back if you feel like you want to stay comfortable in your beliefs because that is not what Scandal is about.
I totally agree with Fitz being mad at Mellie. It’s not about whether he’s done bad things it’s about her going to him with her problems instead of Cyrus. They were in a great place and she should have trusted Fitz. Fitz probably would have had Cyrus sort it out but still he would have been in the loop. Now he knows Lizzie Bear has stuff on him thanks to Mellie. That’s probably why he’s let Lizzie bear in.
I too was disappointed with the end of this episode but I thought maybe it was because I find Fitz to be a bit of a douche. (I even feel Rowan/Eli’s read of him on “A Door Marked Exit” to be true: He is a boy.) Thus him and Olivia together is a almost an eww for me, sorry Olitz shippers. At least the Olitz shippers must have loved the ending or so I thought.
A lot of the take down of Command portion was well thought out. Although the possibility someone mentioned that Maya Pope/Marie Wallace meant letting Rowan’s enemies know who he is was intriguing. I think Marie Wallace could pull that off. Maybe she will next season or maybe she will take her own advice and stop making that man so important. She might do it to protect Olivia though.
The end of the episode seemed rushed and unfinished I am not surprised to learn is was a result of last minute editing.
Really Jake? I dig your Arthurian knight if being with that person is what makes you happy that is what makes me happy/ content to love from afar thing. I always felt that was your vibe. I get that at some point you have to move on when even offers of friendship and emotional support are rebuffed. Plus they were threatening your Mama. I would head back to Indiana myself. The way the parting is such sweet sorrow scene was written though . . . inadequate. I would even go so far as to say lazy. The “I want you to know, I need you to know that not choosing me is Okay” in the “An Innocent Man’ episode had more of an emotional wallop as goodbye scene. (and made me want to jump his bones or at least gather him to my tiny bosom.)
Then Fitz had to sqander the goodwill he had been building with me with his more respectful supportive friendship with Mellie by throwing her out of the people’s house thank you very much. It gave me a disgust of him once again.
I have long thought that if I were Olivia’s mother or friend I would discourage her from that relationship. It is bad for her. Now being a peace loving sort I would not go so far as to orchestrate the blowing up a church full of people to prove my point like Maya Pope did in latter half of season three but as a mother I understand that when your kids are hard-headed you sometimes have to go to extremes. That extreme is not how I roll but I get it, Maya I get it.
Finally the balcony scene seemed manufactured purely to make the majority of the fans happy (Olitzers). It did not have a ring of authenticity to it because there was not enough meat to it make it seem real or sustainable. So even if Fitz wasn’t a self centered jerk (from my point of view) it was not believable and a bit of a let down.
I really look forward to your hilarious summaries. Just want to “say” to and about the characters
1. I like Lauren more than Charlotte. Lauren and Tom were my two favorite supporting players. Yes I know Tom killed an innocent kid and later called him brush.
2. About the Jake grabbing Olivia by the neck and drawing a gun on the rest of her staff at the end of the episode “The Fluffer” she had just put his job, the president, and an unknown number of people and possibly agents in danger and he is a trained assassin. His character would not be believable if he had tenderly held he hand and said “Olivia darling, do you understand the mess you have created?” Besides Olivia was indignant with him rather than terrified so she knew he would not really hurt her. When Huck asked her earlier that season (puppy or no) if her father was Command “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and almost choked her she was genuinely afraid.
3. Jake don’t worry I still remember the account number 942540920 (I think) and that the password is Emily if you need me to get the rest of that 2 mil in the Cayman’s to your mama should things go south.
4. While I do not usually prefer Fitz the episode with Ella’s christening Season two the name of which eludes me when Fitz follows Olivia as she is leaving the reception grabs her and they make the sex in the security closet is HOT. So apparently Fitz and Olivia did not always make me go eww
*like* for this commentary
This:
“Olivia darling, do you understand the mess you have created?” made me chuckle as my mind read it in my “Rhett Butler” voice.
I absolutely, positively HATED Olitz at the end.
Hated it.
And, up until that point, I loved the finale.
I loved Rowan using Huck to kill all those people.
I loved the words of wisdom from Mama Pope, who is now free – how scared should the world be at that fact.
I even liked the takedown of Papa Pope.
I like Jake of State Farm’s ride into the sunset.
The intense scene between Huck and Quinn.
But, Olitz? Hell no.
Fitz has some nerve, kicking Mellie out…for what?
And getting rid of Cyrus? Dumb move.
I’m at the end of finale season, and Scandal’s ranks among the least satisfying.
“First of all, Fitz be the first one judging when he got a trail of bodies behind him, acting like Mellie purposefully killed 16 people. AND on the Cyrus tip, that man has saved him more times than he knows. To just peace both of them out is wack as hell and so on par as to why he cannot have nice things ever. He is self-centered and has a short memory. Plus, he’s especially prone to overreacting to anything Mellie does.”
LUVVIE!!! ALLADISRIGHTHERE!!!!! I haven’t liked Fitz since season 1. He’s always seemed like a bish to me. Now, I’m absolutely positive… He REEKS of BishA$$Ness!!! UGH! I CAN NOT STAND Fitz, with his uber-hypocritical, self-rightous self! Ain’t he the one who smothered Verna DEAD with his bare hands?!?!?!?!
And Cyrus.. He’ll be aw-ight! I’m convinced he has the mark of the beast tatted on his sack! Lol!
Girrrrrrrrrl. I’m so over OLITZ. Like…build a bridge, b!tch! Over. Them. Cyrus is command now. Papa Pope storyline ain’t over yet. I cannot stand Lizzie Bear. She’s a shaft sumbitch. And I agree: It all ended too neatly. There was no BAM cliffhanger. Lots of loose ends but no major WOW moment.
To tell you the truth, I haven’t watched much of this season. Scandal faded for me a while ago, but these recaps are fire and I do not miss them or the comments. Luvvie, you better write that book. And shucks, if Shonda is listening/reading, she should make a call and get you on that writing team and holler at some of the folks in the comments. Her current writing team needs help.
So did anyone catch that Cyrus was partly responsible for Olivia’s kidnapping? All this time, and it was him all along. Also Cy and Mel had to GTFO. All this behind the scenes to “protect Fitz” is really to protect themselves. Every. Single. Time. Every injustice Mellie has suffered has been to protect her position. Same with Cyrus. For all his love of James, it was nothing to pimp him out to protect his interests. Miss Rhimes had them both say how they are an “animal” and a “monster”. Believe folks when they tell you who they are.
President Ghost is a killer. So is Charlie, Huck, Quinn, Rowan, Maya, Jake, Russell, Sallie, etc. When half the cast is a killer, I can’t still be shocked and apalled about Verna, when she was on her last legs and about to drop dime.
Ugh, I did not like this episode at all. I’ve really never liked Fitz and his misogynistic nonsense, but I was trying to give the Mellie/Fitz BFFship the benefit of the doubt. He was starting to earn some points finally by at least trying to show up for her and support her dreams, but it’s Shondaland so I should have know it was going to blow up.
How can stone cold killer Fitz who shot down a plane full of people and outright killed Verna get mad at Mellie for inadvertently killing 16 jurors? I’ve seen the argument that he was pissed because they were supposed to be partners and she should have come to him first and not kept things from him. I’m going to call bs on that because the only reason she didn’t know who Rowan was or what he was capable of is because Fitz never told her. He didn’t come to her, he kept things from her, so I don’t understand how he thinks she was in the wrong for doing the same to him.
“I’m going to call bs on that because the only reason she didn’t know who Rowan was or what he was capable of is because Fitz never told her. He didn’t come to her, he kept things from her, so I don’t understand how he thinks she was in the wrong for doing the same to him.”
*bloop*
*welp*
All those years that she was a “just” a civilian wife, I could see why he wouldn’t discuss all the uh… “occupational hazards” of his career with her. But as soon as she stepped up to begin her political career; he should have probably realized that she needed to brought up to speed on a few things.
I know she feels bad, but Mellie did NOT kill those jurors. Rowan being who he is, could have gotten the list either way, I mean, even Quinn and Huck or Jake or Russell could have easily gotten that list. But, he had to rope Mellie in, with the donation from a man who didn’t exist? Put it on her conscience. The list is now her Remington. Something she can’t spin, something that will forever be secret except she’s tired of life.
If Fitz had been more open with Mellie (fine, she didn’t have the clearance) but if he had. She would have known who Rowan was, and that Rowan would NEVER release Operation Remington. Or pictures of Fitz and Olivia. Rowan was mostly bluffing.
And uhm, did anyone think it weird that Liz had a picture of Command and Mellie on her phone? I think that was a cheap slip, something he’d never do, and even if he did, he’d hack the photo away sharpish.
The nerve of Fitz. SO bluddy spoilt. To do this to Mellie & Cy, as if they haven’t dedicated their lives to protecting him, at least making sure he sleeps alright at night. Even if they’re going to have Vermont, it’s wrong for them to start this way. Fitz owes Mellie. I think she’d be just as good as he, at least.
Fitz acts irrationally, especially when he’s been betrayed, which has happened often over the past 4 seasons. Not surprised he kicked Mellie to the curb. He did the same to Liv at Verna’s funeral, after he found out about Defiance. I have no sympathy for Cyrus, as much as I love him. He has schemed and plotted against Fitz and Olivia since Season 1, after Fitz confided in him about his affair with Liv. Remember, Cyrus works for Rowan.
Can’t wait for season 5 with Melrus battling Olitz.
I think Mama and Papa Pope are punking us all…THEY are Command and running the whole country! Yeah, ya’ll. Black folks secretly running all this shiznit. Talk about reparations…running the country like bosses. Let that sink in for a moment…
Season 4 was a HOT ASS MESS! From once Liv got kidnapped until this sloppy, thrown-together ish like the wedding your 10 months pregnant cousin who’s marrying NukNuk had before his next trial date season finale–Shonda and the writers was drinking too much of Liv’s DuBilay. I’ma need them to use the summer to get to AA (My name is Shonda and I’m a wineoholic…hiiii Shonda!), dry out, say the Serenity Prayer, and get back to good writing and plot.