(Check out Scandal on my website, www.seriesmonitor.com/scandal)
You know that television is in a 'golden age' when more network dramas than ever before are churning out phenomenal episodes each week.
ABC's Scandal is without a doubt one such show. I've written numerous times over the years it's been on air in regard to how well crafted this series is in numerous ways. It's without a doubt one of the world's leading dramas, and last night's episode once again proved that for me.
Following on from the last 30 seconds of last week's episode, it turns out that someone - either James or David - does get shot. All week I was thinking about this, running scenarios through my head, analyzing possible outcomes, and trying to picture how the series would progress forward without one, or even both characters. I couldn't make up my mind. Nothing felt right. But what became clear to me early on was that someone would definitely meet their end. The way Jake was walking, with such convincing determination and perceived comfort in what he was about to do, along with his switching guns before firing, did convince me that someone would meet their end.
In other television series I've followed over the years, the death of a character normally isn't as abrupt. One minute of the series (across 2 episodes) was all that was needed, out of a more than 1800 minutes over 43 episodes. It came completely out of the blue. But James Novak's death was also handled with immense dignity and humility. His story was told through insightful flashbacks which built a backstory solid enough to enable the character to depart with the dignity he deserved, and with acknowledgement to the contributions to other characters and the storyline as a whole.
Jake did not kill because he had the power or the ability to kill; he killed because he knew he could justify his actions, and that he answered to no one but himself. He has been in the position that Charlie and Quinn are currently in - where he followed orders without question, but he decided that this job was on him, and he needed to be the one to carry it out.
This is a big step, considering how his predecessor Rowan operated. Though, as Rowan said in his chat with his daughter, he didn't make the decision to take a person's life lightly, but what Jake later proved is that Rowan didn't have the guts to do the deed himself.
The final piece of evidence which supports my belief in Jake's intentions and morals was played out in the final scene of the episode. Jake did not offer James Novak the quick and painless death that he gave the two reporters. So, because this was against his morals, and he knew James deserved a lot better, he did what he had most likely never done before. He stayed by James's side, told him what he needed to know, and reassured him as the lights dimmed and eventually flickered out. This also supports my belief that James's death was handled with immense dignity and humility.
No one likes it when a character's time comes to an end, but when it is handled as well as this, it makes me feel many times better. I'm pleased that the creative team have given James Novak a sendoff that, despite the circumstances, was one which told the story of how the character came to be, while also lifting the profile of same sex relationships.
That's my take on the events in this week's episode, but I'd love to hear yours. What did you think of James Novak's death, and Jake's actions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks for reading.
Jimmy.
