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| Olivia Pope |
I know
I’ve enjoyed watching the popular political thriller Scandal. Yes, I’m a Gladiator. Each week I tune in with my two
daughters and daughter-in-law waiting to see what the next episode brings.
However, I’ve recently noticed that the bloom is off the rose for me and that
I’m having serious questions about the characters I thought I “loved” and have
cheered for since the show launched.
Olivia
is still my girl, but I find myself silently begging her to wake up and smell
the coffee. I need her to clear her head and open her eyes and reclaim the
strong image she initially presented. I want her to return to the kick-ass
Black beauty that was widely respected and known to excel in the crisis
management field as she fixed problems for the rich and famous. My heart cries
out, shouting “Olivia, you’re the side woman, now and forever”. She needs to understand and accept that
indisputable fact, then, take charge of her life, her business, Olivia Pope and
Associates, and her relationship with President Fitzgerald Grant.
 |
| Huck and Quinn |
Once the
press got wind of Olivia’s affair with Fitz, things seem to go downhill from
there. Her crew is in shambles. Huck is out of control, Quinn Perkins is a
loose cannon, and Harrison Wright’s romantic liaison bodes several
possibilities, none of which are projected to work in Olivia’s favor. Abby Whelan’s
boyfriend, David Rosen struggles with knowledge that could tumble Fitz’s
administration and topple Olivia’s entire world, both personal and
professional. All hope of a real relationship with Jake Ballard is lost in
murder and spy intrigue. In fact, Jake’s actions hit me like a dam bursting and
caused me to re-evaluate all my hopes and dreams for my friends on the show.
 |
| Fitz and Olivia |
Fitz
fell off my radar initially when he killed the dying Supreme Court Justice and
finally when he sacked Olivia’s father, the head of a secret intelligence
operation and seated Jake in his place. The change was all well and good, but
the accompanying conversation between Fitz and Papa Pope closed the door to my
heart, leaving Fitzgerald Grant out in the cold forever. What’s love got to do
with it anyway? How could Fitz really love Olivia and diminish her in front of
her father in such a cold, callous, calculating way?
“I’m screwing her you know, your
daughter. Every chance I get. The things I could tell you about the way she
tastes. She’s quite a girl. Talented.”
 |
| Cyrus Beene and husband James |
Who says
something like that about a woman that they profess to love? I’m convinced that
love on Scandal is not what it should
be. Love should be uplifting and empowering, but it's not that way on this
show. First Lady Mellie is another cold, calculating, controlling spouse, who
accepts her husband’s infidelity with Olivia as the price of her continued stay
in the White House. Cyrus Beene, White House Chief of Staff, purports to love
his husband James, yet he tries to have James killed on several occasions. In
the end, he appears to suffer greatly after James is actually killed. Then
there’s Vice President Sally Langston who “loves” her husband, but kills him
nevertheless. Let’s not forget lick-face Huck and gun-toting wanna be Quinn. Is
any of this love?
How can
I care about all these people on murderer’s row? I’m reviewing the situation
and coming to very different outcomes. As the season draws to a close, we’ll
soon learn how Olivia proceeds with her life, how the presidential election
campaign moves forward, and how all of these relationship issues are resolved.
As I pull my chair up to watch tonight’s episode, I’m pulling for Olivia’s
resurrection and hell and be damn to all the others.
Related article:
Scandal and the Mystery Man, The Emerald Quill, Entertainment, August 7, 2013
Related article:
Scandal and the Mystery Man, The Emerald Quill, Entertainment, August 7, 2013
