We Do Not Touch the First Ladies: Scandal Episode 312 Recap
Shouting Match – Members of the Secret Service are standing in a hallway as Olivia and Fitz yell at each other, acting like they don’t have an inside voice. President Ghost is mad because Liv got a man (a fake one, but one nonetheless) and he’s salty that it’s Jake. “You just said you don’t trust Jake.” “I DON’T TRUST HIM WITH YOU!” Ummm… married sir. You ain’t got the right! She says she ain’t get a boo because of him.
She did it because of HER and the public scarlet letter on her chest. Iunno what’s wrong with bofa’em, screaming like they ain’t got no sense or behavior. When they huff and puff out the room, Jake is standing by the door. He heard EVERYHING. Girl… O_O
Don’t Touch – Mellie and Governor Andrew Nichols are alone in a conference room and he’s looking at her like he wants to sop her up with a cheddar bay biscuit. Owww! In a flashback to fourteen years before, Andrew is standing outside of a room hearing the convo between Fitz and Mellie. Gov. Grant is upset because his wife won’t let him touch her ever. In fact, she recoils when he even tries. GAHTDAMB, BIG JERRY! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!
Adnan’s Scheme – Harrison is buttoning up his gingham after a romp with Adnan when he gets a briefcase full of money to run an errand for her. He’s not pleased but he also doesn’t say “no.” Now that they go together seckchually again, he’s about to be her errand boy? When he’s hesitant, she says “Does she think the only thing you’re guilty of is insider trading?” AW SHIT!
Sweating Bullets – James sees Vanessa Chandler, the journalist that Publius has been snitching to, talking to Cyrus and he starts sweating like he stole something. He better learn how to keep his cool. You wanna swim with sharks, you better goon up! He goes to see Cyrus in his office and his boo tells him that he is hellbent on finding out who Publius really is. Uh oh. James has to excuse himself, though because he gets tea from another journalist that Gov. Nichols used to pop pills. AW NAW.
Command’s Commands – Jake is in his office when two Men-in-Black looking dudes drop off a folder for him containing HIS JOB. He gets information on his security clearance and all the info on all the top flight secretives operations (of the world) that B613 is involved with. They also tell him that there’s an agent who works in the White House who will be making himself known soon. WHEW! I was overwhelmed by all that tea that I wanted to take a nap on Jake’s behalf. I don’t think he realized what he was getting into as Command. Basically: EVERYTHING.
Hollis Returns – Leo and Sally are in her office and Hollis drops by. They’ve promised him Secretary of Energy if they win so he’s all friendly with them. VP Sally is distracted though, as images of her dead husband on that very floor flash in her mind. She is so unable to deal with the fact that she killed him. I guess she does have a soul afterall.
Probably Pills – Olivia, Mellie, Cyrus and Nichols are in the Oval Office meeting about the allegations that the VP candidate used to pop pills like tic tacs and he says it’s not an allegation. They wanna replace him on the ticket but Mellie defends him and wonders if something can be done to fix the information from leaking.
Get Daddy – Olivia calls Jake from State Farm and asks if he can keep track of what her pops is doing because she thinks he’s behind the pills leak. Jake shrugs her off, saying he doesn’t have time for that. Daddy Goon said he was gon WRECK SHOP and he meant it. Jake isn’t taking it seriously but umm… he might want to.
Truth About Pills – We flashback and Nichols finds Mellie unconscious and on the floor next to an empty bottle of pills. He carries her into a bathroom and sticks his finger down her throat so she throws up. OMG MELLIE TRIED TO KILL HERSELF! wall slides. hug Mellie she’s been through so damb murch! Now I want her an Andrew to go together because he saved her! DAAWWW!
On the Job – Cyrus tells James that he is hellbent on taking care of this Deep Throat who keeps fanning the fire on the Daniel Douglas death. Charlie is in the car watching a scene when he receives a call from Cy. He’s convinced to leave that job and go do whatever he was just asked to do. And Quinn is in another car watching Charlie watch Olivia and Rowan’s Sunday dinner. OH LAWD!
Sunday Dinner Dummy – Liv and Rowan are having a tense dinner and Pops ain’t here for her shenanigans. She’s of course trying to figure out what he’s up to and she ends up storming off. As she leaves, she spots Quinn and her binoculars, being the worst spy ever. Olivia gets in the car with her and asks her to “come home.” NAWL! Don’t let her back. She ain’t bout that life. Baby Huck says ain’t no home anymore since Huck licked her face and left her one tooth-less. She then tells her old boss to get out her car or she’ll shoot her. Oh betch you tried it!
Boyfriend Blowup – Olivia is home when Jake rolls in talmbout how he used his “official Olivia Pope boyfriend key.” LMAO! Shade from State Farm. Liv accuses him of having Quinn spy on her as a member of B613 and he denies it. The girl ain’t e’em B099. She just STAYS putting herself in other folks business. Ballard ain’t here for the convo though so he takes off his shirt and heads to the bedroom. She asks him where he’s going and he says as her “boyfriend” he will come over at night and take a shower. He also said he wants a fully-stocked fridge. I guess wine ain’t a whole meal. (-_-) But umm… sir. Boyfriend doesn’t mean come over everyday. DANG. Can a goon breathe?!? Clingy McSpidermonkey.
Publius Plans – David and James meet under a bridge in broad daylight to discuss how they’ll keep Publius’ identity from being found out. Because what you do when you wanna be discreet is meet during the day out in the open with the Capitol in sight. These two rookies…
Don’t Have Time – Mellie walks in the Oval Office to talk to President Ghost about not kicking Andrew Nichols off the ticket. Aawww. She doesn’t want Bae gone and she calls him to the carpet for being so whipped.
He responds by disrespecting the hell outta her and telling her to stay away from Olivia. And then he utterly dismisses her by saying he doesn’t have time and I just wanna yell STOP TALMTO MELLIE LIKE THIS, FITZ! YOU STAHP IT RIGHT NOW! He is just so mean!
Flashback to the morning after “the incident” and Andrew sees Mellie and stops her. He asks her why she was trying to kill herself and she’s very direct with her answer. “Because my father in law forced himself on me and I’m not sure if my son is his and that makes me wanna die.” WOW. Mellie needs an old woman’s bosom to lay on b/c these burdens she’s carrying. They are heavier than Hollis’ wealth! WHOOOO!
Confrontation from Pot – Olivia realizes that Nichols was covering for Mellie and she confronts her about it. She also insinuates that the FLOTUS might have been fraternizing with the VP candidate and I wanted Liv to check herself because SHE ain’t got no right. Pot, don’t you dare imply that she’s a cheater. Mrs. Grant tells her “When I was faced with a chance to cheat, I kept my knees together and I said no. WE. ARE. NOT. THE. SAME.”
OWELPIA POPE!
Fundraising Fail Friday – President Ghost and Mellie’s Bae are having a formal fundraising event and Hollis is in the house because his pockets are deeper than Cyrus’ schemes. James finds out that Cyrus is setting up Publius because he got Charlie to bug Vanessa’s phone so they see what she sees. He panics and calls David to say abort their mission of meeting the journalist to give her more tea but it goes to voicemail and leaves a message.
We see David approach a car in front of a restaurant that Vanessa is sitting in and when he opens the trunk, someone comes behind him and covers his head with a sack and throws him in the trunk. This is why I call him Lemony Snicket. His entire life is a series of unfortunate events. When you are playing with Cyrus Beene, you gotta be OVER careful. David and James are some goon rookies, man.
In the trunk, David makes a call to Abby saying he was afraid to say it that morning but “I love you.” AAWWW the trunk opens and she says “You better!” She and Huck had kidnapped him to save him from himself, Beene and Charlie. YESSS!
Dirty Money – Earlier, we had seen Harrison make a phonecall saying he wanted to donate money. Now we find out why. At the fundraiser, Cyrus is approached by a woman who turns out to be Adnan! HOW DO THEY KNOW EACH OTHER?!? Lawdddd. She introduces herself and thanks him for helping her get into the country and she says she’s given money to the campaign, because their desperation is clear. “I may be dirty but my money isn’t.” Chile… this can’t end well.
Quinn’s Worth – Jake brings in Quinn to talk to her and tell her to chill on thinking she’s some sort of army. He says she is not B613 material and she tells him to check his email. In it, he finds a picture of Rowan Pope meeting up with Leo. She hacked into the cameras at the Lincoln Memorial and captured the two men, exposing a vulnerability in the security that no one in B613 had known about. HOW YOU LIKE HER NOW?!? She walks out all self-satisfied but she better remember who made her! Baby Huck is tryna get her wings.
Coffee and Truth – Huck keeps offering Olivia a cup of coffee and on the 3rd cup (she didn’t drink any of it), he tells her that he’s bringing them to say sorry because that’s what people do when they’re sorry. Aaawwwww. Liv tells him that he went too far in his torture of Quinn and he says “You ruined her life and you made me save her. And you made me take her under my wing. Monsters eat people.” WHOOOOOO!
Paintings and Bae – After the fundraiser, Mellie passes by a bedroom where Nichols is staring at a painting of Eleanor Roosevelt. She walks in, looking all GOODT in her coral dress and the two start talking. She’s pleased that Olivia made the pills-gate go away and he feels an edge in how she says it and you can tell he knows Fitz is bout that cheating life.
I started wishing that these two would just get it in. Because let’s admit it, Mellie needs a good lay. It’s like they heard me so they started making out and I was all YESSSSSS, MELLIE! GET YOUR GROOVE BACK AS THEM PORTRAITS WATCH!!!
But she must have felt a wash of guilt because she separates from Andrew and runs out. Aaawwwww! I wanted her to get some.Maybe next time. Related: I’m the worst.
Love Questions – Once again, President Ghost questions Olivia about her relationship with Jake (and it’s not his damb business). He asks if she has real feelings for him and she pauses as the camera takes us to Command.
Double Agent – SSA Tom enters the Command’s office and drops a folder and drive on Jake’s desk. He tells him that every night, he’ll be dropping off intel he’s gathered from the White House. As he leaves, Jake asks “You’re B613?” YUPPPP!!! He pops in the USB drive and it’s footage of Liv and Fitz in the Oval Office. Her answer to his question of whether she has feelings for Jake was “I don’t know.” I was hoping it woulda been “YES” because I want her to stop being hung up on Ghostie Grant.
Elsewhere, Adnan walks into her house and a voice says “is it done?” and she says “Yes,” MAMA POPE!!! Faints
LAWDDDDDD!!!
So wayment. This WHOLE TAHM, SSA Tom has been feeding Daddy Pope w/ West Wing intel too? Like Liv and Fitz’s makeout sessions? Tom is the person closest to the president. He’s w/ him almost 24/7. He knows ALLLLLL his business. He’s also B613. Aw shit. Soooo SSA Tom’s allegiance lies with B613 FIRST and THEN the President. Which means he could ultimately kill Fitz on command from Command. Fitz has no idea that his #1 man technically ain’t even answering to HIM. SHIIIITTTT. This just threw some mess in the pot. Ultimately, it goes back to what we’ve all figured out. Fitz has the LEAST power on this show.
Now… about Mama Pope and Adnan Salif being connected. I feel like this is gonna bring us back to the Brolivia Pope theory. Adnan’s connection to Harrison is gonna flip the Gladiator table because he might have been inadvertently feeding Maya info this whole time. Also, who is she trying to bring down? It ain’t just her ex-husband? Is Mama Pope just trying to come for EVERYONE? Very possible.
So many questions. The last 30 seconds of next week’s #Scandal is gonna ruin us all. Shonda just gave us a formal warning. Ohmyword.
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71 Comments
OMG!! FIRST? ME? Anyway back take bizness. I pulled a double and FELL ASLEEP! ! WHAT THE WHAT?. Saw the first 15 minutes and the last 2! (Shedding real tears) . It’s 3:45am in Hawaii and I’m up looking for this recap. What would I do without you Luvvie
Huck is so sexy. I want to have insane sex with him, then we can hack the Gibson together. I’m a programmer if you couldn’t tell.
Okay So was I the only one to catch that Fitz setup? When they brought the briefcase to Jake and it said the inside man would be revealed to him later. Jake spoke his name into an iPad. When Poppa Pope elevated Cyrus’ security level, Cyrus had to thumbprint and sign it. They are going to use that recorded voice for something. Before Tom went to Wonderland he met with Fitz. Fitz sent Tom as the inside man. That also means all that data in the briefcase was false. Who is really running B613? Fitz is running it, he just can’t do that and be President at the same time that’s why he chose Jake.
Tom has always been B613 and we know his loyalty is always to Fitz. He was recruited just like Huck. Why would Fitz have Jake standing outside in the hall while he was with Liv? Fitz is smart and he is using his power better than most. Yeah I know you didn’t catch that.
Wow! Great insight. Best review yet.
That blows my mind more than the last 30 seconds of the show did!
That was written so well it was almost believable. However, Tom did not meet with Fitz before he went to Wonderland. That was just a flashback to when Fitz called Tom in the Oval office to tell him how to leak Olivia’s name to Vanessa Chandler in Malloy’s (the bar where the Secret Service drinks). They showed that moment to reinforce the fact that Rowan really knows everything about Fitz. Now it makes even more sense as to why Rowan was in a limo waiting outside Olivia’s apartment. Tom told him Fitz’s plan to leak Oivia’s name. Fitz has no idea of the power that B613 holds n Jake is just realizing it now. I think Jake will start to really personify the phrase “When you cut off the head, another grows in its place”
Why has the show originally about a Washington D.C fixer become a about The First Lady and her unfaithful husband? I get character development, but Mellie Grant is literally taking over the show.The story of a white woman of privilege who’s the victim of the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ has been played out before on TV, there’s nothing new here. I didn’t start watching Scandal for Bellamy Young (bless her heart because she’s delightful) and I’m annoyed that her character is now being portrayed as the saint amongst the sinners. I wouldn’t care, except it’s to the detriment of the character that I’m actually watching this show for.
The writers have dumbed down Olivia Pope in order to bring Mellie to the fore. I don’t have a problem with every character being developed, that’s what makes a good show, but never in all the other shows where the lead characters are white, do the showrunners ever forget who their lead is. Michelle and Robert King from The Good Wife are a perfect example of this. They know who Alicia Florrick is, they craft stories that mesh with her title, everything isn’t about her, but it’s linked to her. Alicia usually wins her cases too, whereas, until recently, Olivia hadn’t successfully fixed any scandals, it’s like the writers forgot what her job is. All roads lead to Alicia in TGW, whereas in Scandal, all roads lead to The White House, and invariably Mellie Grant. That’s not the show that I signed on to watch. There are lots of other shows on TV with white lead actresses who are in pain, I watch them, so why does Scandal have to turn into yet another version of those shows?
I want the strong, morally ambiguous, but always decisive Olivia Pope back. Enough with the destruction of this anti-heroine that I used to love. Enough with making her a slave to the White House. Enough with the show calling her a whore and not giving her the words to fight back.
Listen I get why Mellie calls her a whore, but it seems to be every episode now. And when Mellie isn’t calling her a whore, she’s referring to herself as a whore. I hate it. It’s misogynistic. How come nobody refers to Fitz as a whore, he’s the one who’s cheating on his wife. The other thing too is that infractions and micro-aggressions against Olivia seems to go unchecked. Cyrus and Mellie have always used her sexuality against her, yet she never responds or yells at them. Fitz seems to be the only person Olivia is allowed to yell at. The only one who’s allowed to be punished by Olivia. Something she does frequently. Why is she mute when things happen to her? Where is Olivia Pope’s voice? Why does she never defend herself?
Jake landed her in hospital after their struggle in 2x 18 when he wouldn’t let her leave, where was Olivia’s voice to rail against that? Huck choked her in episode 302, where were the repercussions of that? Can you imagine the outrage if either of those things had happened to Mellie Grant? Oh the feminists would have come out in full force. There would have been a billion column inches written to address the infractions against Mellie. With Olivia? Every reviewer brushed over both incidents. Nobody ever cares enough to mention the stuff that Olivia goes through, unless it’s an excuse to batter Fitz some more. Nobody ever connects with her humanity, and that really disturbs me. I mostly lay the blame at the feet of the writers, but I also lays the blame at the feet of the media that doesn’t think that a black woman’s body is as important as a white woman’s body. Anybody who denies that fact is living in some other alternative universe.
The problem with Shonda Rhimes is that she uses the same writers from Grey’s. She needs to hire people who aren’t Shondaland alums, then at least we’d see something fresh from a story telling perspective. For most of the pivotal scenes with long monologues in Scandal, I could show you which episode of Grey’s they were taken from. Remember when Derek showed the plans for the house that he wanted to build for Meredith and himself? I give you Vermont.
On the subject of Fitz, the writers have done a huge number on him. He is unrecognisable these days. The destruction of his character began in episode 2×13 and there has been no let up since. The writers have sacrificed character consistency in lieu of plot, and Fitz is an embodiment of that. When I read that the writers went back on forth on whether to have Fitz be the one who kills Verna, or for it to be Huck, I should have known then that this pattern of OMG, shock and awe would continue way past its sell by date. The fact that they chose Fitz because it was more shocking is probably when the show started to lose its way.
None of the characters are consistent, one day Olivia is forgiving Fitz for ‘killing’ her mother, the next she’s shouting at him because he’s jealous that her chosen beard, is a guy she had a one night stand with. One day Fitz is being all badass and cutting the head of B613, the next he’s throwing a temper tantrum because Crazy Bible Basher Sally is running against him for president. There is nothing organic or consistent on this show any longer. I saw a comment somewhere that likened it to a snow globe, the writers shake everything up, and when things settle down, nothing changes, it is all exactly the same. Fitz asks for a divorce, he ends up staying with his wife. Mellie goes on national TV to tell the nation that her husband cheated on her, nothing changes. Olivia leaves Fitz to look after her team, she doesn’t bother to speak to any of them, and they are all getting worse than ever. She doesn’t even bother to really look for Quinn when Huck sends her away. How the hell is that looking after her Gladiators? They can find a doctor who delivered Josie Marcus’s baby 30 years ago in Bumf*ck Town, but can’t find Quinn in D.C? Really? How dumb to these writers think we are?
Characters on this show are treated with contempt, the writers seem unable to build up a character without tearing another down. Why does Olivia have to be torn down in order for us to like Mellie? They are two incredible women in their own way, why does one have to be destroyed to prop the other up? Does anybody really believe that The Olivia Pope would go to the woman of the man she’s having an affair with and demand that she break up with her apparent lover without at the very least checking her facts? Would Olivia be that big of a hypocrite? Really writers? What are you doing to “arguably the most powerful woman in D.C.”? Why have you forgotten what and who your own show is about?
Why does Mellie have to be raped to make her more likable? Why couldn’t she just be an unapologetic badass? Did Walter White or Dexter have to be raped in order to make them more palatable to the audience? The destruction of one character to prop up another is amateur hour to me. It’s happening with Fitz of course, Scott Foley has the acting skills of an amoeba, so the writers are literally saying to us “HEY GUYS, YOU HAVE TO LIKE THIS GUY BECAUSE HE’S BETTER THAN FITZ IN EVERY WAY AND HE’S SINGLE!!!” The acrobatics that have been done in order to give Scott’s character relevance is staggering to me. The man cannot act, and he stands out like a sore thumb. I couldn’t even buy him as a well trained b613 super spy, and his portrayal of a man in love with Olivia Pope is severely lacking. When he’s supposed to be looking at Olivia with love, he looks like he’s constipated. When he’s supposed to be passionate, he looks like he’s constipated. I have no idea what he’s doing on this show. What does Shonda see in him acting-wise that we don’t?
If we must have a triangle, why can’t we be paid the courtesy of having an actor who can win over the audience without the destruction of Fitz Grant’s character? Right now Jake is sitting pretty because the writers are assassinating Fitz left right and centre, and by default Olivia is made to look wishy-washy and indecisive.
There is nothing consistent about Olivia and Fitz, they are behaving like hormonal teenagers even though they’ve been on this merry-go-round with each other for five years, and that’s on the writers, because the people we’re watching are at the whims of a showrunner who seems unable to keep the quality of her shows up past the third season. Shonda and her team have turned the best thing about the show into this great big elephant that’s taking a sh*t on everything and everybody. Olivia isn’t handling anything, she’s constantly being handled and man-handled by everybody else.
Shonda, please either write the damned presidential divorce, or break up Fitz and Olivia for good. The stench and dysfunction of Olitz is taking over the damned show, and I for one am sick of it.
You should share these observations with Shonda’s team!
Agreed
Indeed – this should get in front of Shonda’s team – and perhaps you should be invited to join it.
Very thoughtful critique.
Someone has finally said what we’ve all been thinking.
AMEN KENDY. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID
Hear Hear. Bless your heart for saying what we’ve been feeling.
There is such a thing as a Negative Character Arc re: Fitz
BUT that doesn’t mean the writers are doing it well. Other than that You make a lot of great points.
GREAT POINTS MADE!
Well put Kendy! Great observation of the show! You really need to be on Shondas team!
All of this. I stopped watching the show but can’t stop reading Luvvie’s recaps because they are free standing art by their damn self. I think the last episode I watched was when they had Mama Pope gnaw through her wrists to escape. I just couldn’t see in a world where this woman in being presented as an intelligent super spy she could only find the basest method of escape. It can’t have been for love of Olivia or she would have done it years before. It was brutish, repulsive and stereotypical. It could have harked back to slavery and what lengths black mothers would go to protect their children but as already mentioned Olivia had not inspired such ardour before.It was entirely to shock. And I had peeped the weekly recitation of whore or some other sexual debasement of Olivia’s character by anyone who had a tongue to speak. At her worse when Addison in Private Practice was having it off with her best friend’s ex we never heard that kind of vitriol from Naomi.
Olivia is unrecognizable. And it may very well be that this was Shonda’s plan all along but to be clear there is nothing ground breaking about the character as she currently exists. Complete character deconstruction and destruction but to what end? We have actually seen the powerless, sexualized ( but smartly dressed) black female on tv. She is old news. There isn’t even anything likeable about her anymore. How is it possible for the one powerful black woman in DC to have the two worst parents on the planet? And how can this character be written to represent the thing which will destroy both parents. She has no family, no friends, no lover, nothing. And Shonda is entirely correct we should write the shows we want to see but it doesn’t mean we can’t criticize the ones we watch. The writing has become weak and lazy and that is the true crime here. Putting all the loaded socio-cultural references to the destruction of the black family, black female and power dynamics of interracial pairings aside ( and I do because let’s face it this isn’t social commentary it is entertainment) it is just no longer good writing,that is if you like to think while you’re being thrilled. Which is a shame it had amazing potential.
When Luvvie’s recap advises me that she has returned to first principles I will be back because I am hoping Shonda will one day take back her show.
Scott Foley has the acting skills of an amoeba. *dead*
OMG. you summed up everything I’ve been saying about this show. I couldn’t even finish watching the recent epi because I was bored. BY is an amazing actress but as you stated I’m not watching this show for white girls pain. I watch The Good Wife and Revenge for that. Can a fellow sister watch a show where another sister is the lead? Even though we didn’t see much of her, I enjoyed s1 Mellie. Here was a lady that when her husband suggested “would it be so bad if all this ended” gave him a look that would make a dead person deader or before Olivia came up w/ the “plan” when Fitz wouldn’t lie about the Amanda Tanner situation, had bags packed and pretty much told Fitz “oh you on your own because I’m out” Not once did I get the impression that Mellie while she loved Power also loved Fitz to the detriment of herself. I was fine w/ her just loving POWER and that’s it!!!! I didn’t need her to love her husband at all.
They could have found smarter/better ways to flesh Mellie out and add layers w/o her becoming the sad scorned put upon wife who husband doesn’t love her (how many times has that role been played on mostly white TV?)and could have done it w/o beating down the black lead and the man she loves who happened to be the only 2 reasons why I gave this show a try in the first place. I think these writers write the characters to fit whatever half ass plot they decide to slap on the wall instead of writing the plot to fit the characters & who they are and it’s not working for me because at the core nobody is staying true to themselves and flip/flopping all over the place.
SR says you shouldn’t judge the characters but imo her writing says different. You have a show where everybody is doing stuff. Killing, torture, self mutilation, inducing labor,black mail etc etc but I’m suppose to believe adultery is the worse thing ever in life? Yeah ok whatever Shonda……….. I went in watching this show knowing an affair was taking place and guess what? I didn’t care then and I still don’t care because it’s FICTION!!!!! Which means I can like/dislike root for not root for whatever I choose w/o being made to feel bad about it.
I wish the writers would figure out where they want to go w/ Olivia/Fitz and stick to it because the back and forth is annoying. These 2 are too damn old to be doing all this flip/flopping.Either put them together or not but stop the back/forth. IMO I think it would make for an interesting story to see these 2 work there way around a real out in public relationship and breath some much needed life into this show but that’s just me. I mean come on now you can’t call yourself a good writer if you can’t write a divorced Pres dating a black woman who’s just as powerful. You can’t tell me you can’t get a 1,000 stories from that alone? I would like to see Mellie on her own and that so called political animal we keep hearing so much about but have yet to see. I haven’t anyway. IMO the reason why they won’t go the divorce route anytime soon is because the question would then become “what do we do w/ Mellie character now? And you can’t have a show w/o white girl pain.
Like you I feel the same way about SF and his acting. Words like bland, stale, one note pop in my head when it comes to him. Anyway loved your whole comment and it’s nice to know it’s folks out there who are over all the “hype” and just want to see some good well written material about a black female fixer or at least that’s what it use to be about.
Fantastic comment. These are all of the reasons I stopped watching Scandal and only read Luvvie’s recaps. Your analysis was excellent.
“Shonda, please either write the damned presidential divorce, or break up Fitz and Olivia for good. The stench and dysfunction of Olitz is taking over the damned show, and I for one am sick of it.”
*Stands and slow claps* THIS! ALL. OF. THIS! Perfectly encapsulates why I am about done with Scandal. I was never into the affair from the beginning, but I could believe the scorching chemistry between Kerry and Tony as actors that translated unto the screen. Now, even that fire seems gone and they just seem gross. The entirety of the show has suffered because they’re determined to keep us (well, the Olitz nuts) invested in the relationship. I can understand deconstructing a character to show how the parts make up the whole, and I have put forward that argument here a few times, but right now, Liv is being undermined. I absolutely despise Fitz (did from the get-go) and the way he treats Mellie is abominable. If they want viewers to sympathise with the cheaters, it can’t be achieved if the man keeps blatantly dissing the wife.
The Olitz ship has wrecked everything. Liv has everyone running around not fixing things for other people as they used to, but covering up her shit. She has been selfishly using Huck and look where that got him and Quinn. Her actions are what ruined Quinn’s life in the first place, then she ‘took her under her wing’ only to ruin the girl again. If the aim is to have Liv be the saviour, Shonda honey, y’all are not doing a good job at all. How are we supposed to like and root for someone so reprehensible and weak-willed? No.
If they keep going at this rate, they might lose a good chunk of their audience – those of us who have sense, that is, and who can read beyond what Shonda slops on to our plates. I am over it and probably won’t be watching again anytime soon. I will read Luvvie’s recaps because she’s hilarious.
I agree with many of your points. I am glad to know that I am not the only one who has fallen out of love with Scandal.
No, you are not alone. There is great discontent growing among the fandom.
I hope Shondaland reads your comment, because I agree with almost every word! The show is not as good as it used to be and it makes me sad, seeing as how it’s the first show in my lifetime with a BW lead. I started having mixed feelings after seeing “Whisky Tango Foxtrot” in season two.
Also, I found the Mellie rape by Big Gerry intensely offensive for three reasons: First, they did not warn about the violent scene at the start of the show. Second, when they showed a flashback of Big Gerry in season two they made him and Mellie good buddies. She was even fliriting with the man! Third, the same reason you gave – it was designed to make her more “likable”, because, apparently, strong women can’t be likable unless they are victimized (taken down a notch) by a man. I find the very notion behind the writers’ creative choice extremely misogynistic and disturbing. And what’s even more disheartening is that it’s working. There are people on the Scandal FB page who have said that NOW that they know that Mellie was raped, they like and empathize with her character, whereas before they couldn’t stand her. And it’s women who are saying this!
I truly hate that Scandal is becoming the Bellamy Young show. Don’t get me wrong. She’s a great actress and seems like a delightful human being in interviews, but still…. I didn’t start watching this show for her. If things don’t turn around by the end of the season, I will not be tuning in for season 4.
I agreed with you on every point you made but one: Scott Foley. I like him. I’ve seen him in comedies and dramas and he can act. Directors determined the tone of an actor’s performance, so it’s not him if you dislike the way he’s delivering his lines. I think he’s very attractive and I can see why Olivia would want him. He’s like a younger, hotter, more emotionally mature Fitz. 🙂
That was the read of the century and I’m so here for each and every last word.
Kendy,
I have never replied before to any comments or participate in any discussion about Scandal, even though I read all the recaps for each episode but I could not pass the opportunity after reading your comment to say that I agree with you 100 or 200 percent. They have Mellie walk all over Olivia, like she is really Fitz’s whore, disrespecting her every occasion she gets. What really disgusts me is having Olivia take it like she deserves it. If you are trying to portray an undying love between Fitz and Olivia and probably since “The trail” telling us that Fitz and Mellie marriage is dead and is purely for political convenience, why shift the power and the magnificence of your lead character to the wife who won’t let her husband divorce her because it would not be good for her own agenda? Olivia in season one and even two used to be on her 2 feet, no matter what, handling things fiercely and being the best at her job. Now, the gladiators are making rookie mistakes and I don’t even know who Olivia is supposed to be. I barely watch TV shows, I am a very busy person and except for the 2 seasons of House of Cards I binge watch on Netflix, Scandal is the only show I watch on TV and it is because of Olivia character and also Olitz. I am a sucker for love but now on Scandal, Fitz is a jerk and Olivia… I have no words. So Shonda, I know it is your show but please stop that madness. Give us back our fierce and as Papa Pope said the “formidable” Olivia.
With the level of disrespect Olivia has for Mellie and the sanctity of her marriage, I can’t blame Mellie for disrespecting Liv the same way Liv disrespects her. Any sane wife is not going to be in her husband’s mistress’s’ face that often and not take some digs and express her distaste, because at the end of the day that affair Is Not okay.
Have you conveniently forgotten who it was that asked Olivia to come back because Fitz missed her? Have you forgotten who basically pimped out her husband? Let me remind you what Mellie said to Olivia to persuade her to come back back in episode 3×05
“He needs you, Olivia. He is tired and broken and it isn’t the job. It’s doing the job without you. He’s not alive when you’re not here. He can’t breathe when you’re not here. He doesn’t have the will to run much less win when you’re not here because you, you’re everything to him, Liv. He needs you, so I need you to come back. Come back to us.”
So, whenever you forget that Olivia probably wouldn’t have to be in Mellie’s face every day if it wasn’t for Mellie herself, think about this quote. People love to forget how much Mellie has co-signed off on this relationship all in the name of staying in the White House as FLOTUS. She is reaping what she sowed. I can’t feel sorry for her, because that could not be me.
well said
Everything. AND I MEAN EVERYTHING you just stated is EXACTLY how I feel! I’m going to tweet Shonda and make her read this! Pllleeeeaaassseeeee I’m so sick of the back and forth with Olivia and Fitz. It’s so boring now.
Yes, please do point Shonda ova here. I don’t know what Kendy (who started this commentary) does for a living, but if Shonda don’t ask–no BEG–her to write for the show, then she’s a damb fool. I too am sick at what Olivia has become. Before Kendy told me it’s because of Mellie, I actully thought I was just tired of Olitz. We don’t need it anymore. I bet the real-life fixer, Judy Whatshername, is watching the show asking WTH part of the game is this???
I feared what is happening to Scandal would happen. I quit Grey’s and Private Practice (before it ended) because of it.
Yesssss! Everything you said! I stopped watching. I’m just here for the recap shenanigans.
THAT WAS AWESOME! ! VERY WELL SAID
Word! Olivia is all Tragic Mulatto these days & I have also wondered what happened to Olivia as a BOSS. As for Mellie, I agree that the writers have diverted too much attention toward her. She is sympathetic because her husband treats her like chit. Even if you remove the scenes where she was raped & attempted suicide, the way Fitz treats her makes her a sympathetic figure. Being a female & knowing many females,and I’ve seen many women go as far as possible to keep their marriages & families together in the face of catastrophic, sometimes scandalous circumstances (& not living in the white house). Therefore I don’t find what Mellie does to be far fetched or unreal. It may not fit the standards of ideal feminism, but it fits reality in my opinion and experience. Still, I agree that the story is all over the place & Olivia needs 2 be our Shero. I would like to see her be happy or moving in the direction of happiness. Go for counselling or something. Embrace Jake as a lover and have a fun, passionate sexual release. Have some fun with him for goodness sake! He really likes her. I like his acting and I think hes HOT. He is eye candy not unlike Harrison. Hes not your cup of tea, but he has his fan base. Fitz is not my cup of tes, but he has his fan base. I think we all want Fitz & Liv to part ways and the fact that they haven’t yet causes us tension. We’ll continue to tune in until….
I vote yes with you for new writers. Thanx a mill for your thoughtful commentary. It was pretty brilliant.
Yes yes and yes.
i need Olivia to regrow her backbone.
You said EVERYthing with this post!! I’m truly over Olitz because it seems so contrived and not genuine anymore.
I read your comment with an open mind. However I must respectfully disagree with your entire argument.
Sure, the show is not perfect. However this show comes pretty close it in terms of consistency. You’re upset about Mellie having more camera time than Olivia. For what reason other than not being open-minded, I could only think. If you were following the show all the way up til now, it’s character development (as you’ve said) but as well as piecing the overall story together. Haven’t you noticed throughout these past few seasons that Mellie will be seen a lot, then for a while her parts get smaller. It’s all about the direction and flow that, that particular episode is delivering.
Another thing is Olivia’s character. Are we both not watching the same show? Because if you were following along, you would see that Olivia’s character is emotionally in turmoil. Her character thrives on being strong, and resilient. However there has been a lot happening to her in these past two seasons that most certainly has her character in emotional distress. Her character doesn’t express these emotions too often, and she’s constantly keeping things bottled in. Shonda and her team know this, and there are writing this show from the perspective of the characters.
Even in interviews that Shonda has done about the show, she always speaks on how things have to flow naturally. And from everything that I’ve seen thus far, they have. Sure we may not get the full complete story of things right away. However her team ensures to answer all questions as each episode is premiered.
It also seems like their are some underlying issues with race with what you had stated. In regards to Mellie and White woman privilege. I think that’s the issue is that your viewing this show from a particular perspective that is not allowing you to get the full experience of what this show is telling as a story.
I’ll admit at times, when I see a new episode, I’ll be thinking What is going on?”, and “This doesn’t make any sense.” But I always realize that it’s all apart of the complete story.
Also the issue of Olivia and Fitz back and forth relationship. As stated from Shonda herself that we may not like the characters and the things that they do, even the lead characters. It’s the natural progression of these characters that tells the story, whether we agree to it or not, it’s who these characters are. Olivia’s character in her own world, can’t stay away from Fitz, she’s so fixated on this reality of being with him somewhere in Vermont, that she’s beacoming more blinded in other areas of her life. It’s who she has become over the course of the show. Which if we relate this type of behavior to real life scenarios, one can say that she may have had “daddy issues,” which in her situation could be a theory. But hey these are just my two cents.
Yes. This. I’ve always liked Mellie’s character because I just knew they would develop her story and we would learn the method to her madness. I wanted to throw up when her episode came and she was raped. Made her a complete trope. As to Olivia. yea… the show was appealing initially because she was doing her job. Now I find myself going to the other characters for depth and and interesting story line.
I second, third, fourth and fifth this comment times 1000. You essentially detailed many of the core issues with Scandal. Its becoming ridiculous and just eyerolly to watch now. This also seems to be a trend with the good Shondaland shows. The cracks start to show late in the 2nd season and then everything goes haywire.
And the speeches! Nobody on this show has conversations. They speechify at each other. Have these writers never actually spoken to another living person before outside of Hollywood? No one talks like that! I don’t care how soapy a show gets!
Even worse, Olivia doesn’t fix anything anymore. She’s a joke now. Literally, they’ve made her a dickmatized ninny with a quivering cryface to every bad thing that happens on this show. How are we supposed to care about any of these characters when they are so rootless, contemptible and even worse, so poorly written. Keep preaching. I’ll attend every sermon.
Actually, the commercial said that the last 30 seconds of next week’s episode was going to blow us away, not the first. I don’t want everyone tuning into the first 30 seconds and be disappointed.
Now that they go together seckchually… You play too much. And I LOVE IT! Jake failed to read the fine print on his job description!
If he walked into my house, took off his shirt & said the words “pretend sex” there would be problems. Real sex zone here.
Thank you Luvvie for the recap.
I also meant to add, it seems to me that Scandal is basically telling us that Mellie Grant, the white lady is a saint and that she’s better than Olivia Pope, the African American woman, in every way. Is that any different from the other millions of messages that we get on a daily basis from other TV shows and the world in general?
I wouldn’t mind, but in order to get this message across, the writers have given us a revisionist version of Mellie Grant. I can’t.
Bug Jerry is the gift that keeps on giving but not in a good way, more like a case of herpes.
I don’t think making Mellie a multidimensional person instead of a comic book villian makes Liv look bad, I think it makes Fitz a bigger fool. He is nothing without strong women in his life to prop him up. Showing why Mellie made the decisions she did makes her more badass and I hope she does get her grove on with Andrew.
Did anyone catch that one of the portraits in that hallway was Jackie O? I could swear she was looking at Mellie like, “I know girl, been there, done that with the cheating husbands.”
Jake gonna end up back in the hole for the summer again. I kinda want him to side with Papa Pope and be his homie instead of Fitz’s cause Fitz ain’t worth ish and he gonna get Jake killed. Rowan may be a goon, but he doesn’t pretend he isn’t unlike old selfish Fitz.
I see Fitz/Mellie/Liv as the new Meredith/McSteamy/Addison so I figure around season 4 or 5 Fitz & Liv will finally get to be together. I ain’t worried. I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy Shonda’s cray ride.
*Big* Jerry.
I don’t have a problem with delving into Mellie’s character, but this show is about Olivia Pope and her Associates, I’ve seen Mellie’s story a thousand times on TV, there is nothing unique about her character, she is all over my TV screen, all the time, I’d rather learn about the lead character’s motivations. What about Harrison and Abby? They’ve been relegated to bit part players. It’s taken until now for us to get Harrison’s back story and he’s Olivia’s second in command. That’s terrible.
This writers have sidelined Olivia Pope, and not only that, they’ve made her mute on her own show. Mellie gets to rant and rave and express her pain constantly, whilst until this episode, Olivia has been voiceless. That would never happen in any other show. Breaking Bad was a well written, tightly plotted show, and they had the best characterisation that I’ve ever seen anywhere, and they did all of that without diminishing any of the characters or having any of the characters supersede Walter White. All roads led to Walter, and the show didn’t suffer one iota for it.
People who love Mellie will of course be happy, but as a black woman who was really excited about the first black woman leading a network show in 40 years, I can’t help but be enraged at how shoddy the writing has been for Olivia Pope. Kerry Washington is now just another black actress playing a side piece on a show led by a saintly white woman.
I don’t have a problem with side lining Liv for a bit in order to see the other characters as a complete multi dimensional characters. I still view Liv as the glue that holds everyone together.
I also can;t help but wonder if the reduced focus on Liv is to accommodate Kerry’s pregnancy. Then again I watch the show not only for Kerry Washington’s performance, but because it’s one of the few shows featuring a diverse cast on tv. If this was all Liv all the time, it would be boring to me because non of the supporting players would be more then disposable red shirts to me.
I like Mellie, I also like Jake. More importantly I like that they are layered fully formed beings and not cookie cutter pure evil or pure good caricatures.
I agree with you on this. I would also like to see the development of the other characters & I would also like to see more dimensions of Olivia is there are any. I somewhat feel about Kerry’s acting like Kendy feels about Scott Foley’s, but the writing could have something to do with it. I hope so.
I agree with both sides. The show isn’t what it used to be. I have noticed that Olivia Pope was a lion the first 2 seasons. Now she is portrayed as a lamb. Mellie Grant has taken center stage and I am honestly indifferent about it.
You can’t have a successful show where only one character is fully developed. ALL the characters need a moment in the spotlight to truly understand how they became the people they are in present day. The second half of the first season was learning about Quinn and how she got there. Then it was Huck. Then a little more on Liv. Now we’re on Mellie. I feel as though the show is getting better because we are able to look inside of Liv’s life. A strong woman can’t be strong ALL THE TIME. There has to be flaws and insecurities somewhere or else she would be a cyborg.
As Milaxx said, there aren’t cookie-cutter characters on the show. The characters you love did some ill ish at some point in their lives as well. Even down to Mellie pimping out her husband just to gain power.
YOU.ARE.A.BOY. Every time I see Fitz now this is what I hear because he hasn’t proved otherwise.
Fitz may have put Jake in as the new Command but Fitz is not in charge of it. The heated exchange between Fitz and Liv let Jake know for good the he has the upper hand over Fitz because Fitz is threatened by Jake with Liv. As Rowan said Liv can be Fitz’s downfall.
Another thing about Jake at Liv’s place: We don’t have to pretend on some things, or is that just me?
I need Mellie to get more than a kiss from Andrew (has he been assigned a nickname yet?).
So Poppa Pope talking to Leo is of interest to Jake because why, Quinn? Can someone tell her B613 wouldn’t threaten to shoot than cry after. Charlie isn’t bitter for what Huck did to him. So why is Quinn about Huck licking her face? Quinn, take the seat on the right.
My ultimate wish is that Fitz ends up without Liv and Mellie. He has two women that love him and he treats them both like dirt. This triangle is making me tired.
Tom is the best Secret Service agent showing how to keep a secret. Poor Hal has so much to learn. Tom is how Poppa Pope got all that intel? Proving again that Fitz has no power
That last GIF though? lol Where on Earth did you even find it?
I am so glad that they finally brought Hollis back into the storyline, and it figures that it would be to toy with Mustang Sally. Ole girl is about to self destruct and take Cyrus with her.
I am sick of Quinn, and I want the writers to have Huck snatch her up for another impromptu dental session. When she pulled that gun and said “Get out or I will shoot you!” I was hoping that Daddy Pope or Huck would show up and snatch it from here. She has nowhere to go and everything to prove — a dangerous combination.
Finally poor James. He thought he knew the depths of Cyrus’ evilness, but he has no idea and now it may be too late. If you’re not ready to run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.
Maya Pope is about to snatch everyone’s wigs, and my money is on the person crazy enough to gnaw through her own flesh to gain freedom.
i think that the biggest mistake Shondra made with LIV IS NOT GIVING her anyone to talk to friends or family . One of the best things about SATC was that from all the conversations that Carrie and the other 3 had with each other we really got to know them and thats why the show and the 2 movies did so well. They were like our girlfriends and thats why if another movie comes out well all be in line! We dont know OLivia at all. We all project what we think she is or might be but we really dont know, and we definitly dont know what shes thinking!Even in Greys they are always showing the student doctors hanging out and talking all the time.Making her parents these super villains was such a waste of what could have being a great opportunity to develope Livs character through her relation ship with her parents particularly her Mom I can just imagine them shopping having LUNCH talking about Livs life and Fitz!Why couldnt her dad have being a diplomat to some foreign country and they had just returned from their posting or some thing along those lines which would have still had them being an upper middle class and powerful black family without all this b613 and super spy nonsense.Oh well i still love the show and will keep watching
As for this episode can we talk about Olitz having sex and then arguing in that hotel room while a army of SS MEN STOOD OUTSIDE LISTENING ! I guess the writers were trying to paint us a realistic picture of how a relationship with the president really plays out having BOOTY CALLS in hidden rooms and offices under the watchful eye of the SS. Ill be honest im kinda over Olitz and i found that opening scene so embarrasing for Olivia. Unfortunately Jake is not exactly heating things up either cant Shondra find some hot black actor to play a rich surgeon or something and sweep Liv off her feet! What about that guy that plays the educated drug king pin on TGW! Funniest scene had to be Jake demanding a fridge stocked with beer and food he’s growing on me!
YES! Last season we realize that Rowan was trying to protect her from finding out her momma was no good. So why is she still mad with her daddy? And why is Olivia warning Jake about her daddy? Where’s the damn family loyalty? If my lover talked all that sh*t to my daddy while having him tied up and my daddy read him for filth and in retaliation has him replaced as head of b316? I’d feel a certain kind of way towards Fitz and I would’ve said “Get ’em daddy! Get em’ all!”
I still like the show but I too am tired of the Olitz situationship, I want Mellie to get it in with Andy cuz she deserves it. I’m here for Momma and Daddy Pope to just cause pure HAVOC and CHAOS in D.C just to see what they’re really about.
I guess I’m in the minority because I do not agree with everything Kendy said. Yes, she made some good and valid points but I just don’t think it’s that serious. I feel the last two episodes were slow but I know I will still watch. Sometimes things aren’t worth “over-thinking.” Great recap Dr. Luvvie…..
Nope, you’re not the only person… Sometimes I wish people would just turn the freakin’ channel if they find so much wrong with a show. GEEZ! All shows morph into something different once they’re on for multiple seasons…ALL SHOWS! If this show is no longer your cup of tea, then by all means PAH-LEASE turn the channel.
I agree with you. These “Debbie-downers” need to find another show to enjoy if they take issue with what Shonda is doing. I’m fine with the current Scandal story lines and enjoy Luvvi’s recaps immensely.
@Kendy….I have been having all these thoughts also.I enjoyed the scandal of the week. It was engaging and kept me on the edge of my seat. And that opening scene had me cringing…it was embarrassing to watch. They just supposedly had sex…why were they fighting? It was very disjointed. @ Irene..you are so right….the guy who plays Lemond Bishop would be perfect! Thank you Luvvie for your recaps!! They are more entertaining than the show. I won’t stop watching Scandal because I am hoping it turns itself around..that and because Jeff Perry(Cyrus) and Joshua Malina (Lemony Snicket) aka David Rosen both follow me on Twitter..lol..and I love them both!!
Soooooo….is Liv sleeping with both Jake and Fitz???
Ok….I have a confession. I am probably the only person in America that doesn’t watch SCANDAL!……Nope….I don’t and it way too late to start…..but….I must admit I really love the recaps! Lovvie you are sooo funny! The whole time I am reading I am double over in tears laughing my head off! Shonda need to hire you as a writer I am willing to bet you’d have all the GLADIATORS doubled over in laughter! Lovvie you rock!
[…] AwsomelyLuvvie: We Do Not Touch the First Ladies: Scandal Episode 312 Recap […]
Ok I cried REAL thug tears during the episode. I just love this show!
When Mellie stood on those steps and told her future boo thang about what happened to her…whew…yeah I was GONE! When she asked Fitz how it felt to be THAT hot for someone…yep I cried. That shit right DERE…right DERE! Whew she played THAT! When she kissed VP Boo Thang (still trying to think of a good nickname for him) I was like…HELL YES MELLIE RIDE THAT D!CK! (vulgar yes, but she need her back blown out in the worst way…whew!)
Fitz and Liv arguing…why did that make me laugh…going in like they a married couple…umm ya’ll ain’t GOT to be together. But Liv gave it to him…this ain’t about you BOY!
Still have no cares about Harrison, I don’t know why but I just can’t connect with him. He phine but at this point he’s just eye candy. He ain’t even need to talk no mo.
Aww and my boo thang/monster Huck. I’ve missed him so so much. We go together, yes I know he’s gay IRL but in THIS show we go together and he has my loyalty! LOL When he told Liv “you gave me someone to love…” whew yep thug tears were shed. LOL
Still not here for Jake from State Farm, but I like that he ain’t being such a punk bitch with Liv, even though he STAYS doing her bidding and such. He’s just NOT sexy to me. He ain’t got IT.
Cy and his husband…I’M CALLING IT REHT NOW…Cy will figure out he’s the leak because of the NAME he’s using…CALLED IT!
Mama Goon is back and doing her thang…I’m here for that. AND her and Harrison ARE linked as we said before.
I like Abby and David together. I just wish Shonda would write in a episode with her and her ex. She ( I mean I) needs closure for that asshole.
Quinn…nope.
Sally I think she’s going to flip the F out and kill herself for real. Then in rides “VP Boo Thang” BAM! he’s on the show for good.
Good episode. Good writing
I’m guessing this is misdirected concern on my part, because Mellie was PREGNANT WITH LITTLE JERRY when she attempted suicide, as we haven’t met the other two kids yet, but I think that the quantity and type of pills she took might have damaged the child in utero somehow. We’ll probably blow past that, though.
Also, I think that no matter what, Mama Pope is working her agenda. I don’t think she gives the Grant campaign a dime unless there’s something in it for her personally. I’m still trying to make sense of the storyline, but the impression I get is that Adnan and Harrison were playing their little patriot games after Fitz blew up the plane, so I’m not sure if Adnan could have been working as one of Maya’s assets during the years that Rowan had Mama Pope on ice. There’s gotta be something else there, I think.
Co-sign to all the people who are tired of Olivia and Fitz. I’ve never been an Olitz fan but lately, and especially the last episode, they have been cringe worthy. I dont see how they can be together. How many times do we have to see Olivia talk or try to stand up to Fitz but yet and still go back to him? Her character has become downright pathetic. I miss the Season 1 Liv and the outline of that entire season. Out of all the characters, I feel like hers has taken the most left turn.
Fitz has always been a butthole from day 1. He always talked and treated Mellie like ish, which never allowed me to root for him and Olivia. He was like evil for no reason, like a male character in a Tyler Perry movie. The murder of Verna may have been a stretch but besides that I think his character has been on par with a whiny, selfish, weak man. Daddy Pope pegged him perfectly.
Mellie has been Mellie and continues to be Mellie, cold, calculating, do anything to stay on top. This season another layer of her character was shown. I think alot of people, specifically Olitz fans, hate to see these back stories that may give Mellie some sympathy points. It’s much easier to root for Olivia and Fitz when Mellie is only showed as an evil bish.
As far as this episode, was it me or was this episode going 1000mph. They were jumping from story to story, I couldnt really grasp what was going on.
We’ve waited so long for Harrison backstory but I’m already kind of bored with it. They need a proper episode dedicated to him like they did for Huck, to do it any justice.
That whole scene with Huck talking to Olivia about he is a monster was very weird to me. They had him sounding like Frankenstein.
These last two episodes have been meh and it seems like the writing is getting more sloppy.
“The murder of Verna may have been a stretch but besides that I think his character has been on par with a whiny, selfish, weak man. Daddy Pope pegged him perfectly.” — tylisa06
Thank you! ALL…OF…THIS! I’ve never liked Fitz…EVER!
I don’t even go as far as Rowan did in calling him a boy. I think of him as a colicky BABY more than anything else.
TBH I am not liking how Scandal is playing out at present. The OAP’s aren’t managing a crisis or fixing anything. Why is Mellie taking over as lead don’t get me wrong I love Mellie’s character. There should be more of Olivia and OAP’s doing what they do. Less about the goings on of the White House. I wake up at 2.55 am to catch Scandal I am now starting to think if this boring storyline continues I wont bother. Want to see more of the Independent badass Olivia on screen.
Quinn will complete the unholy trinity with Adnan and Mama Pope.
Kerry’s very, very pregnant…she’s entitled to a little slower pace! If things weren’t going on with others, nothing could be going on with Olivia. Shonda’s laying groundwork for some wild arcs down the road. Kerry and Bellamy have said as much over the last couple of weeks on late night talk shows.
LOVE these recaps!!
I don’t think the Mellie rape was written so the audience could sympathize with her. Folks rooted for Mellie before the rape.
I think it was written for drama and to give more backstory to Mellie and the Mellie/Fitz marital issues. I agree with someone above who basically said that Olitz and Olivia fans want Mellie to be a straight up BEE so it’s easier to root for Olivia’s shenanigans with Fitz’s sorry @ss.
I grew tired of the Oltiz relationship awhile ago. Mellie didn’t eat the show, THAT relationship did.
Aaaaand then there’s this! Lol!
OMG!!! This statement right here: “This is why I call him Lemony Snicket. His entire life is a series of unfortunate events.”
iDIED!!!!! Lolol! That nickname does suit David perfectly, doesn’t it?
As for “Ghost Fitz”… *le muh phuggin’ SIGH* I have no words for the level of disdain I feel for his character! And had he told ME to shut up…? BAAAAY-BY… The Secret Service would’a had to carry me out that room, and I’da still been reaching for -ish to throw at his a$$!!! #Hmph
That would be a cheddar “Bae” biscuit. LoL