Strangely, I have been hitting the nail on the head with my assumptions for Scandal for the past few episodes. Fitz was involved, as I thought; Quinn's interaction with Charlie ended up leading her to B6-13; but everything else this episode has I could never fathom. You see, the writers digged deep in their pockets and though one bit I felt wasn't necessarily needed, still the episode provides major shocks.
The Remington Investigation
After Jake and Huck for the last few episodes being on their own when it comes to investigating the incident, Olivia comes on board. With this, all the associates she helped finally find a way to match the gift she gave them. For, in a very rare moment for Olivia, she allows herself to be openly vulnerable to multiple people, and while she isn't crying as she exposes her mother died in Flight 522, or that Fitz shot down the plane on her father's order, which I still can't believe, the Kerry Washington lip tremble signals that Olivia is opening up slowly.
In fact, Abbie takes this chance to even give Olivia a hug and with this, you can see that Abbie finally feels that part of her debt is repaid. She may feel for the rest of her life that Olivia is her savior and all she can do in return is be a gladiator, but in this episode, she and everyone else get to be the savior Olivia needs. After all, she needs the peace closure that could only come with the truth. Of which, it seems everyone is trying to block her from learning. Fitz tries to use whatever sway he has to keep her from being nosey and then Charlie, on behalf of B6-13 naturally, also does his part, using Quinn in the process.
Leading to the next issue: Quinn. As I've said before, Quinn has almost been demoted over this season into an office intern. Most of the associates don't take her seriously, and her former mentor has shunned her basically. Thus leading to her trying to find herself a purpose, which lead to her finding Charlie and now getting mixed into his mess. To divulge further, Charlie has something on Quinn which pretty much makes her a member of B6-13, the thing is, how will Charlie use the video he has in his possession? Will he have her do his dirty work and use the information to keep her under thumb? Maybe he will use her, as Cyrus tried to use Harrison, to slow Olivia's investigation, or will he do to her what Fitz's dad did to Mellie?
A Woman's Sacrifice/ Mellie's Long Term Investment
Aside from Olivia pushing the Remington investigation forward, we also get a very in-depth backstory for Mellie. This lead to me having a very conflicting view of Mellie's character. You see, the Mellie we have been introduced to has been conniving and sometimes like a villain, but in this episode that image is turned on its head and you begin to realize all she has ever done was for the man she loved and, seemingly, she never got the reciprocity she deserved. But in the last few episodes there have been glimmers of hope, like when Fitz defended Mellie against Cyrus because of Mellie's comment on Congresswoman Marcus. But, in this episode it seems that perhaps Fitz may not just defend Mellie in public and put her down in private, but maybe be a real husband. After all, Olivia pretty much is against him on multiple fronts, so the only one he has left is the woman who has always been there, since the beginning. And even though she seems like thinking they can be man and wife again is unlikely, she'd at least settle for them being friends again.
Which leads us back 15 years before the start of Fitz's political career. Mellie is this brilliant lawyer attached to this man whose man flaw is his father. Fitz's father was a well-liked senator, who thought himself as a good parent. He didn't beat his kid, like his dad did him, and he gave Fitz all he could desire and all he was given was a butt to kiss. Fitz went into the military, took Black-Ops jobs and then Fitz's Dad saved his son's reputation from the 300+ deaths he caused in flight 522.
In return, Fitz's dad wanted a continuation of his legacy. So, here comes Cyrus and after seeing the family drama, he is ready to leave, but Mellie wants to save the situation. She says she will make Fitz her full-time job and will sacrifice what she has worked for. Unfortunately though, that very night, she ends up sacrificing something to Fitz's dad. But with the burden which comes of rape, came political leverage which she uses to make Fitz's dad apologize and encourage his son. This begins Mellie's long term investment in her husband, and a string of sacrifices to make everything she has done, and went through, worth it.
Overall, I can see why Olivia drinks. Just watching this show makes me feel like I need to invest in some wine. So much drama packed into less than an hour which includes surprises and twists. Then you have a woman being raped, and using said rape for political moves, which is what made me feel conflicted. I get that they are trying to soften up Mellie and maybe make her less of a survivor and give her the sympathy which comes from being a victim, but there is just something in me which can't forget who she was before this episode, how she handled the rape, and then all she has gone through. You want to talk about a complex character, Mellie has become a really complex character and praise be to Bellamy Young for giving such a complex woman life.
The Remington Investigation
After Jake and Huck for the last few episodes being on their own when it comes to investigating the incident, Olivia comes on board. With this, all the associates she helped finally find a way to match the gift she gave them. For, in a very rare moment for Olivia, she allows herself to be openly vulnerable to multiple people, and while she isn't crying as she exposes her mother died in Flight 522, or that Fitz shot down the plane on her father's order, which I still can't believe, the Kerry Washington lip tremble signals that Olivia is opening up slowly.
In fact, Abbie takes this chance to even give Olivia a hug and with this, you can see that Abbie finally feels that part of her debt is repaid. She may feel for the rest of her life that Olivia is her savior and all she can do in return is be a gladiator, but in this episode, she and everyone else get to be the savior Olivia needs. After all, she needs the peace closure that could only come with the truth. Of which, it seems everyone is trying to block her from learning. Fitz tries to use whatever sway he has to keep her from being nosey and then Charlie, on behalf of B6-13 naturally, also does his part, using Quinn in the process.
Leading to the next issue: Quinn. As I've said before, Quinn has almost been demoted over this season into an office intern. Most of the associates don't take her seriously, and her former mentor has shunned her basically. Thus leading to her trying to find herself a purpose, which lead to her finding Charlie and now getting mixed into his mess. To divulge further, Charlie has something on Quinn which pretty much makes her a member of B6-13, the thing is, how will Charlie use the video he has in his possession? Will he have her do his dirty work and use the information to keep her under thumb? Maybe he will use her, as Cyrus tried to use Harrison, to slow Olivia's investigation, or will he do to her what Fitz's dad did to Mellie?
A Woman's Sacrifice/ Mellie's Long Term Investment
Aside from Olivia pushing the Remington investigation forward, we also get a very in-depth backstory for Mellie. This lead to me having a very conflicting view of Mellie's character. You see, the Mellie we have been introduced to has been conniving and sometimes like a villain, but in this episode that image is turned on its head and you begin to realize all she has ever done was for the man she loved and, seemingly, she never got the reciprocity she deserved. But in the last few episodes there have been glimmers of hope, like when Fitz defended Mellie against Cyrus because of Mellie's comment on Congresswoman Marcus. But, in this episode it seems that perhaps Fitz may not just defend Mellie in public and put her down in private, but maybe be a real husband. After all, Olivia pretty much is against him on multiple fronts, so the only one he has left is the woman who has always been there, since the beginning. And even though she seems like thinking they can be man and wife again is unlikely, she'd at least settle for them being friends again.
Which leads us back 15 years before the start of Fitz's political career. Mellie is this brilliant lawyer attached to this man whose man flaw is his father. Fitz's father was a well-liked senator, who thought himself as a good parent. He didn't beat his kid, like his dad did him, and he gave Fitz all he could desire and all he was given was a butt to kiss. Fitz went into the military, took Black-Ops jobs and then Fitz's Dad saved his son's reputation from the 300+ deaths he caused in flight 522.
In return, Fitz's dad wanted a continuation of his legacy. So, here comes Cyrus and after seeing the family drama, he is ready to leave, but Mellie wants to save the situation. She says she will make Fitz her full-time job and will sacrifice what she has worked for. Unfortunately though, that very night, she ends up sacrificing something to Fitz's dad. But with the burden which comes of rape, came political leverage which she uses to make Fitz's dad apologize and encourage his son. This begins Mellie's long term investment in her husband, and a string of sacrifices to make everything she has done, and went through, worth it.
Overall, I can see why Olivia drinks. Just watching this show makes me feel like I need to invest in some wine. So much drama packed into less than an hour which includes surprises and twists. Then you have a woman being raped, and using said rape for political moves, which is what made me feel conflicted. I get that they are trying to soften up Mellie and maybe make her less of a survivor and give her the sympathy which comes from being a victim, but there is just something in me which can't forget who she was before this episode, how she handled the rape, and then all she has gone through. You want to talk about a complex character, Mellie has become a really complex character and praise be to Bellamy Young for giving such a complex woman life.
