ABC's Scandal was long overdue for a half decent episode. The word "penultimate" must have been in the creative team's dictionary after all, with a big step up in all departments in the second last episode of the fourth season.
"A Few Good Women" was written by Severiano Canales and Jess Brownell and directed by Oliver Bokelberg. It started with a bang as an intense flashback from Jake's perspective occupied the opening 25 seconds before he snapped out of it as Olivia brought him coffee. This was definitely one of the best openings to any Scandal episode in its four seasons.
With Jake recovering in Olivia's apartment, Huck and Quinn were occupied with Russel next door as they tried in vain throughout the hour to get him to talk, in particular about the meaning of "foxtail" which is a word that's been thrown around in various forms in the last few weeks.
The case of the week still featured prominently, which I was quite surprised by, especially given that this episode is the penultimate one. Like several episodes this season, the case had a crack at a headline issue, namely the rape of female soldiers in the military. In general, the creative team were respectful of the topic, but didn't miss the opportunity to allow it to be taken advantage of politically by the characters.
Though it feels bizarre to condone it in a way, this was a great move, and provided an excellent lead-in to next week's finale. Citing precedent, Fitz decided not to get involved publicly, and left the case up to the military systems to resolve. With that inaction not satisfying Vice President Susan Ross - who was responsible for the initiation of the saga - Ross hired Olivia to investigate. Huck remained busy with Russel throughout the hour, with Quinn pairing up with Olivia, and Abby also pitching in in a long overdue reunion of sorts, mostly thanks to Fitz's covert transfer of incriminating evidence to OPA.
However, things didn't stop there. The topic was very close to home with Mellie, and with the campaign for Senator skating on thin ice, campaign manager Elizabeth made herself useful by insisting Mellie visit Springfield, and deliver a speech on the same stage where her son was murdered months earlier. Mellie drew support from the crowd by openly disagreeing with her husband's views on the topic. It was a great full circle moment for the character, who had spent a good portion 2014 in her infamous "smelly Mellie" state as a result of Jerry's death. Expect the polls will pick up for the First Lady in light of all this.
In the apartment next door, the best scene of the hour went down. It was a long one too, between Jake and Russell. The two half-brothers of sorts recited quotes from Command, aka Rowan Pope, and shared some stories and small talk over a beer. Ironically, this was a scene that didn't need to happen, and would have had no impact on the story if it was left out. The only minor point of interest for me was seeing both characters get to more formally meet another one of their own, of sorts. It did further detail Rowan's power over them and Olivia, but those tactics have long been known. Nevertheless, the scene was well written and well acted, with some nice camera work too.
To help tie things in a neat little bow for next Thursday, the last few minutes were pretty startling. The lawyer, Virgil Plunkett, was assigned to fight the rape case on behalf of Olivia and Quinn and who was a bumbling mess initially, turned out to be yet another B613 operative who later rescued Russell at the expense of Huck's consciousness. I found that frustrating initially because I wanted Russell dead, but with "foxtail" turning out to be someone by the name of Mellie Grant, the character could be beneficial to both sides in next week's final showdown.
Speaking of that final showdown, the hour came to a close with Mellie meeting with Rowan. But moments before, it was Mellie's campaign manager Elizabeth who ushered Mellie backstage. Alarm bells anyone? Elizabeth's alliances have been questionable all season, so is the paradigm shifting yet again?
In all, a long overdue, decent hour of television. The episode made sense, some questions were answered, it was easier than most to follow, and provided a solid platform leading into next week.
Judging by the promo and press release for next week's season finale, it looks like we are due for some pretty significant events. Thanks for reading, and please do share your thoughts on last night's episode in the comments below! Remember you can check out Scandal's ratings and an episode guide on my TV ratings website, www.seriesmonitor.com/scandal.
Jake is so boring to me
ReplyDeleteYeah at least the writers tried to make him a bit more interesting though
ReplyDeleteThat scene with Jake and Russell should have been cut. It was stupid and like Jimmy said, it didn't add to the story. Who cares about those two man whores hired by Papa on a sex mission with his own daughter.
ReplyDeleteFitz hands was tied and he did the right thing. It is amazing how Olivia always wants Fitz to use his power as POTUS to help her cases. Yet she was angry when he used the same power to save her from death. This show is full of contradictions.
Here's hoping Russell and Papa are both killed and Jake catch a stray bullet.
Not really happy with Scandal these days. It was a solid episode but I expected more, something edgier.
ReplyDeleteThe navy rape case was interesting but it wasn't placed at the right time. The actress certainly didn't deliver.
Mellie being Foxsilver is interesting, but how does she fit Rowan's agenda?
P.S. U made a little mistake when. When U wanted to describe the Jake-Russel scene U wrote Jake and Rowan.
Yeah solid but still well below par. And you're right about the timing of the case too. There really shouldn't have been one at this stage in the season.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for pointing the mistake out - I've fixed it
Usually at this point the show delivers so many stunning moments that this really feels off.
ReplyDeleteI hope the show delivers a stronger finale and finally ends B316.
Ur Welcome, I didn't want to nit pick but just noticed it.
Glad someone agrees about the Jake/Russell scene. And to me Fitz played the long game knowing that he did the right thing under the radar while ensuring his wife was there to benefit the most from it. Because he can't serve for a third term, he incurs no real loss as a result.
ReplyDeleteyeah i also thought that liv use fitz most of the time on her case. but most of the time its so annoying that she is always angry with him at the begining of the phone call and then it kind of cute/sweet she help him or smile at the end of conversation
ReplyDeleteWell, there's only so much the writing can do with an actor as untalented as Scott Foley.
ReplyDeleteWow!! you did not pick up on the most important theme of this episode and based on the comments neither did the posters who read your reviews. LOL!! no wonder Shonda Rhimes can shock us. The absence of critical thinking skills plays a key role. This episode revealed the REAL purpose of B613, which is not about a person or individual (Jake to Cyrus). It is about maintaining an illusion (Cyrus to Olivia) of something we call the REPUBLIC. B613 is the mechanism to do that.Its one and only purpose is to maintain the illusion of the REPUBLIC. It is the REPUBLIC that's not real. Now if Olivia has her way and takes down B613 or Command and with it the REPUBLIC, what will be left?
ReplyDeleteWhat will be left without B613? How about what was there before there ever was a B613? A brilliant fixer solving cases who just happened to be in love with the President of the United States. The one where the fixer had a group of gladiators who helped her kick butt. The one where she wasn't always bested by her father, Voldemort in a suit. The one that originally promised to be groundbreaking with a presidential divorce and an interracial first couple. That's the show we were originally sold, not a bunch a crap about "the REPUBLIC". Maybe the show could go back to that instead of watching Olivia Pope being passed around to various Keystone Kop spies by her father/pimp while her gut fails her over and over.
ReplyDeleteYou probably never bothered to watch those episodes so you have no idea what the show was like before B613, The Monster That Ate Scandal. The show was going very well before Shonda Rhimes decided that her lust object Scott Foley needed to be crammed down everyone's throat until they choked and the way to make people stop "rooting for adultery" was to continue the adultery while making everyone feel sorry for the jilted wife instead of the couple with the dead marriage getting divorced and the wife getting her own life instead of hanging on to a husband who wants to get rid of her.
"It is amazing how Olivia always wants Fitz to use his power as POTUS to help her cases. Yet she was angry when he used the same power to save her from death."
ReplyDeleteYeah, and she's sooooo upset about the people who died in the war to save her, but she has no problem with all the people who have died in her effort to shut down B613 and her psycho daddy. On top of that, she decided to just give up and let her father keep killing whoever he wants.
Wow, the writers pulled out all the stops to make everyone feel sorry for Mellie so they won't notice how unqualified she is to be senator and how entitled she feels to the position. They dragged her rape back up AND had her mourning her son again. I thought she was glad he was murdered instead of randomly dropping dead because it got her 4 more years in the White House. Now for the first time ever, she doesn't want to exploit one of her kids for political gain. Now she's teaming up with her son's murderer. Since the writers seem to think Horse Teeth is the star of the show, I'm sure she'll find out Rowan had her son killed (anyone else notice that she never bothered to ask WHO murdered her son) and she'll kill him in a huge dramatic scene meant to get Bellamy Young an Emmy nomination.
ReplyDeleteActually I've watched the show from the very beginning.And the Cyrus/ Olivia conversation took place in S2 and the Jake/Cyrus conversation took place in S3. So yes, I'm drawing on previous seasons to make my analysis. Scandal is actually a masterpiece that should be taught and analyzed in every political science course. You can understand how amazing it truly is if you can get beyond the distraction of Olitz screwing. If you can understand the Olitz screwing in the context of power then it is meaningful. But if you think Olivia is actually in love with Fitz then you're living in a fantasy world. Rowan and Tom explained to us exactly who Olivia is. She's a soldier, a warrior who never puts people above the Republic. As Rowan said she will always choose the Republic but apparently not this time.
ReplyDeleteBravo Phyliis! You described perfectly what this show started off being about! The show that we fell in love with!
ReplyDeleteto derek, have to disagree with you on the Olivia not being in love with the President. That's where you are very wrong. Rowan has spent the last 2 1/2 seasons hell bent on trying to destroy the love between Fitz and Olivia. It drives him nuts that his daughter can't be the soldier or warrior he wants her to be because she has a flaw. That flaw is loving Fitz.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I wonder how some people can just watch a show, come here to complain EVERY week. It's like some like to be tortured or something. You hate B6-13, Jake, Rowan, Fitz or anything, just quit. And some are very disrespectful to the actors, especially Joe Morton and Scott Foley. I hate Jake and Fitz but I'd never actually go that far. Anyway, nice review.
ReplyDeleteYeah the Scandal fandom are the worst I've seen in terms of hating on actors in addition to their characters. It gets bloody tiring.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteScandal has gone down. The President, Jake and David have no storyline ....I know B613 storyline needs to end but I am going to miss Papa Pope ...his character was never a hypocrite unlike lthe others most of Olivia Pope ..I so hate her..
ReplyDeleteLol you're right. If things don't change I don't see Scandal getting a season 6. When papa pope first came on the scene he was evil yet a likable villain but they've made this guy into a indispeciable, psychotic child killer who preys on his daughters sex life. He has to go! It sucks because he's a great actor. But I'm over his long ass monologues. And as far as Olivia is concerned, the writers screwed her over. I've never seen such a hypocritical character in my life. But it is what it is.
ReplyDeleteYou review made it seem like it was clueless useless Mellie's idea to throw Fitz under the bus rather than advise from Olivia which Fitz passed along to Mellie. Plus stop giving Mellie credit for doing nothing. She has been a terrible campaigner with no idea how to navigate in turbulent political waters.
ReplyDeleteThe ridiculous B613 and Mellie for Senate story lines have killed Scandal this season. The second half of the season has been boring except for a few standout episodes.
ReplyDeleteI hate B613 with the heat of a thousand suns - kill it and Rowan, Jake and Russell. I don't want to
hear another boring monologue from those guys about their suffering and saving the republic. If B613 is still around at the beginning of season 5 then I'm done with this show. I'll enjoy the memories of season 1 and 2.
It is puzzling why Shonda would turn her hit show about a DC fixer into a third rate spy show. It seems it was to make the Jake and Rowan characters relevant. She turned Mellie (the pseudo-feminist) into
an even weaker character who everyone (Olivia, Cyrus, Fitz, Lizzie, etc.) has to save because she has no idea how to navigate through life with whining about what is owed to her.
Hopefully ABC is paying attention and will instruct Shonda to go back to the original premise of the show. Olivia and her team handling crisis cases to great 70s music with the White House drama in the background and NO mention of B613 ever again.
One can hope lol
ReplyDeleteIt is Fitz idea, doing like Olivia.
ReplyDelete