‘Scandal’ Recap: A Woman Scorned

I wrote this on a euphoric Olivia & Fitz high. I also may have re-watched this week’s Scandal episode, “A Woman Scorned,” and sighed in the same spots all over again. Directed by star Tony Goldwyn, who also acted in the episode, the episode featured a lot of plot development and was ultimately an important game changer in the scheme of the Scandal universe.

We pick up this week with the Albatross mystery again. Liv’s gladiators aren’t giving up on figuring out who the mole is, and since he or she is still pulling strings behind the scenes, I’m all for this. I don’t need Liv ending up in the hospital again, this time on a ventilator.  I said Liv’s gladiators, didn’t I? This now means David Rosen.  He’s now an unofficial gladiator, solving crimes with the rest of Olivia’s team. Shonda Rhimes needs to make him an official member just so he can torture Abby, because let’s face it, somebody needs to.

Huck figuring out that Charlie was the elusive attacker in the storage facility was lovely because it means he’s functioning and showering again. Charlie, of course, leads back to Cyrus, which leads back to the Amanda Tanner mystery of Season 1.  The weaving of storylines is seamless, smart and effective when done correctly, as you never know which thread will be connected to a new case. It’s a major reason why, whenever I recruit new viewers, I insist they start from the beginning.

Huck worrying about Olivia’s safety due to Cyrus’ lack of conscience and Machiavellian tendencies was beautifully done. Olivia is “his” person and he’ll protect her to the end. Turns out, Cyrus wasn’t the mole because Charlie was seeking info about Defiance from the court stenographer’s computer he was “romancing.”  Cyrus already knew about Defiance, so here we are back to square one.

Also, Jake catches Charlie on camera searching his house, so he’s also onto him.  Double trouble for you, Charlie.  Back to Jake for minute; he needs to stop watching the sex tape with Olivia, it’s beyond creepy. However, I’m willing to semi-forgive as long as he continues to protect Olivia. He didn’t fall for Cyrus’ plan to lure him away from his post, so major points for him (this week).

As far as the main storyline, Kerry Washington, Bellamy Young, and Tony Goldwyn ALL brought it, perfectly playing the beats of this triangle at full steam ahead. Remember last week when Mellie told Fitz to drop Olivia like a bad habit or she would drop a bomb?  Consider the nuclear bomb dropped, except Liv and Fitz are completely oblivious as a result of their steamy, passionate lovemaking. I thought it was brilliant to have them disconnected from the main world, only to have to deal with the fallout once their afterglow has faded.

Then there was the phenomenal push-pull of Olivia and Fitz’s ever-changing relationship dynamic. Olivia’s the fixer – she handles everyone, tells them what to think, say, act and do, and everyone does so without ever questioning her. This week, Fitz through her off balance from the word “go.” Starting with his refusal to discuss taking Jake, “the puppy,” off protective detail; and the acknowledgement of Mellie moving out, Fitz came out swinging.He manipulated Olivia into coming to the White House after threatening to roll into OPA with his full security team, he pushed Liv past that line in the sand and ended up on the receiving end of her wrath.

She stormed into the Oval Office in dramatic fashion, her irritancy on full display as the tide of rage seethed just underneath. It lead to a screaming match between the two and it was everything for me. Olivia angrily telling Fitz, “If you want me? EARN ME!” was quite possibly the best line every written on the show. I may or may not have had my first of three major squealing moments with that line. This talk was about 47 years late, but they put it all on the line. Fitz and Olivia’s love for each other is so intense and tumultuous that they sometimes (often) hate each other, which is hot, sexy, visceral and swoon-worthy. There’s a thin line between love and hate, and these two manage to literally screw the hate out of each other.

As Olivia and Fitz continue their sparring, Mellie continues to watch the clock tick down on her 36 hour deadline for husband to drop Olivia. I love to hate Mellie because she’s vicious, hardcore and get what she wants when she wants it, so I knew she wasn’t playing around with this ultimatum. The thing is, Fitz doesn’t care. Like it all. The next thing you see is Fitz showing up at Olivia’s doorstep with 22 minutes remaining and declaring his love. When Fitz passionately told Olivia, “Sit with me, and watch me choose you. Watch me earn you,” it melted my heart and led to the second burst of emotion of the night in my house. I was unable to stop grinning at the TV, feeling like an idiot, watching the beautifully directed montage of the two watching each other and the clock run out of time to the song “You’re All I Need to Get By,” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

After a tense moment, where I verbally instructed Olivia to get up out of her chair and go kiss that man on the couch, she did so and “Olitz” fans around the world issued a collective sigh. Elsewhere, Mellie shockingly went through with her plan to expose Fitz’s infidelity like a boss. She admitted to James ON CAMERA about Fitz’s adulterous ways. WHAT? Shit just got real in DC. Even Harrison was like, “Uh, I’m out,” when David gleefully asked aloud who the president was banging.

Bellamy’s performance was stellar during this moment. I sort of felt bad for Mellie. She lost, and this time it wasn’t political, it was personal. She loves Fitz in her own demented way, and wants to be first in his life.  Problem is, she isn’t, hasn’t been, and won’t ever be ever again, ever since Fitz laid eyes on Olivia during the campaign.  Remember I said Fitz and Olivia don’t know what’s up because they’re still making love? Cue my final squeal with him looking in her eyes saying, “Hi.” And Liv responding, “Hi.” as they continue to get really acquainted with Olivia’s apartment.

My Olitz heart is shiny and full and singing.  Of course, this means next week Shonda’s going to shatter it and then run over a couple of times with a Mack truck, BUT for the next seven days I’m basking the romantic glow of this episode.

Of course, there’s always more questions at the end of the episode, it’s Scandal.  That’s how they roll.  So, in order: Who is Jake’s other boss and when does he get a name?  What is Jake’s deal? (a recurring question I know, but relevant nonetheless) What is Charlie’s game? If Cyrus isn’t the mole, but Charlie is trying to get info about Defiance for someone, who is it? How in the holy hell is Fitz gonna survive this ordeal? How awful am I for hoping there’s now an Olitz baby?

Rewatch this episode of Scandal. You’ll notice something different each time. Hands down, one of the best of the season.