When Fitz and OPA/QPA stage an intervention, Liv must decide whether to hold onto the White House and B613 or face prosecution for her many crimes… Full recap of Scandal, “The People v. Olivia Pope” (first aired Thursday, February 1 at 9pm ET|PT on ABC).
With “The People v. Olivia Pope”, Kerry Washington makes her directorial debut, and the episode is chock-full of the emotional upheaval we’ve come to expect from Scandal.
The episode begins with a scene right out of my Olitz loving dreams. Liv and Fitz have spent the night together and after she emerges from the bedroom…
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
*EEEEEEEEP*
Fitz invites Liv to join him in Vermont for the weekend. Janet Jackson’s “When I Think of You” plays in the background as we watch then travel to his Vermont house and it’s so sweet, my heart melts. We’re talking Olitz embraces and kisses, and smiles…
It all comes to a smashing end when Liv enters the house and we see that Huck, Abby, Marcus, and David Rosen are there too. Yep, this is an intervention, y’all!
If Liv killed Quinn, and they clearly believe she did, the group is here to offer Liv a second chance. If she leaves the White House and B613, David won’t prosecute her for murder. They have proof in the form of the USB drive Quinn hid in Robin’s crib, a recording of Liv’s and Quinn’s conversation the night before the wedding. Liv refuses the accusation that Quinn’s death is on her. Besides, there isn’t a person in the room who hasn’t also gotten their hands dirty at one point or another… if Liv is a monster, then what is Huck? Or Fitz?
"I was only doing what was absolutely necessary." #Scandal is back tomorrow night! pic.twitter.com/vUbnsQj1N4
— Scandal (@ScandalABC) January 31, 2018
Liv becomes even more angry when Fitz tells her that his Secret Service officers have been ordered to keep her in the house. All of Liv’s electronics have been disconnected and David has begun the paperwork to file charges. Liv storms away and locks herself in a bedroom. She quickly realizes that she’s well and truly stuck. That doesn’t mean she has to be forced into conversation. Through the door, Abby shares her thoughts about Liv can’t possibly feel right about what happened to Quinn… Liv isn’t a person who destroys things, she’s a fixer. It’s Liv’s turn to let them save her. Next, David shares the charges that Liv could be charged with: conspiracy against the U.S., murder of internationally protected persons, private correspondence with foreign agents, and obstruction of justice.
Abby apologizes to Huck for not believing him. She couldn’t believe Liv would ever harm Quinn. Huck gets it, but: “I miss the old Liv… I want her back.”
When Huck brings Liv something to eat, she is too eager to speak to him. Liv opens the door and asks for Huck to forgive her and be her gladiator: “I only started saying that because of you.”
Liv even suggests that Huck can come run B613 with her.
Huck completely shuts Liv down. Killing Quinn is unforgivable and he isn’t going anywhere with Liv: “I’m done serving you. I’m not your gladiator anymore.”
"I'm not your Gladiator anymore." 💔💔💔 #Scandal pic.twitter.com/4vNlhOukEW
— Scandal (@ScandalABC) February 4, 2018
*SIDENOTE* To me this scene was unexpectedly scary. Liv seems so naive to Huck’s anger on behalf of Quinn. He might accidentally, not on accident kill Liv if she doesn’t tread more carefully.
Fitz and Marcus share beers and commiserate over Liv’s silence. Fitz recalls how he and Liv used to have their moments of silence, sitting together for one minute, just them. That’s why Fitz built this house for them in this particular location. When Fitz goes to Liv, he tells her about the first day they met and hating her for her honesty about his marriage to Mellie at that time. She was right, but this time, Liv is wrong. What she’s done as Command isn’t justifiable. But Fitz promises to stay by the door until Liv is ready.
"You know how wrong you are. You're too smart and too right all the time to not know that." #Scandal pic.twitter.com/VhO50uOZwt
— Scandal (@ScandalABC) February 5, 2018
The next morning, Liv meets everyone in the living room–she has written her resignation speech, which she will announce tonight. She also plans to give B613 to Jake and he will dismantle the organization. Liv can’t admit that she was wrong, but she knows she can’t continue like this anymore. Liv apologizes and wishes that she could say it to Quinn too. She leaves the room and Fitz follows her:
“I am doing the right thing.”
“You always do.”
They embrace one another and Fitz agrees to make arrangements so they can return to DC.
Elsewhere, while Charlie is getting ready to choke the life out of Papa Pope, Quinn intercedes. Charlie is totally shocked to see that she’s still alive… and his baby too! Quinn and Rowan explain everything to Charlie, including that she must remain dead. Charlie is still pretty upset with being kept in the dark, but when Quinn invites him to meet his daughter, his mood quickly shifts.
Charlie has a difficult time settling into his role as daddy, especially when he’s unable to get Robin to stop crying. When Papa Pope intervenes, he and Quinn are able to soothe Robin with a pretty sweet rendition of Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time”. Charlie watches the song and dance with growing shock and concern.
Name a better duet. We’ll wait. 🎤🎵 #Scandal pic.twitter.com/221GmJvSF1
— Scandal (@ScandalABC) February 2, 2018
That night, Charlie has a moment with Papa Pope and apologizes for strangling him. At the same time, Charlie says he’s ready to take over as the man of the house and that he, Quinn, and Robin will be leaving. Papa Pope shuts that all down. For their safety, Quinn and Robin can’t leave. Charlie calls Rowan out, suggesting that he just wants to take his family. But Papa Pope says he doesn’t see Charlie as a threat. If he wants to leave, he can go, but Quinn and Robin stay put. Charlie is even more distraught when Quinn agrees with Papa Pope. He suggests killing Liv, but Quinn disagrees. She wants justice and Liv in jail. To make that happen, they will need to be patient. Maybe Charlie should go…
Before Charlie leaves, he goes to say goodbye to Robin. When she starts crying, he picks her up, but she still fusses. Papa Pope hears what’s going on and tries to convince Charlie not to leave until morning. However, Charlie thinks it’s best not to stick around. He gives Robin to Papa Pope and she stops crying almost immediately. Charlie asks how he does it, and Rowan teaches him how to hold and comfort Robin, so she recognizes his voice, from before. Charlie and Robin have a very sweet moment.
Back in DC, Cyrus is ready to burn it all to the ground. Step 1 is telling Mellie that Liv orchestrated Rashad’s death. Quinn had proof, which is why Liv had her killed too. WOWSA. Mellie is reticent, but demands to see Liv immediately. Mellie waits in the B613 secret command center and is soon joined by Jake, who is also trying to get in touch with Liv. When Mellie confronts Jake and Liv being responsible for Rashad’s death, he denies the whole thing. But Mellie isn’t trying to have a conversation with Jake. She wants to see Liv, and Jake better get her here ASAP.
At first, Jake attempts to threaten Cyrus into getting Mellie to back off, but Cy is so done. He isn’t even phased when Jake holds a pair of scissors to his neck: “…I’ve dealt with people far worse than you. I’ve beaten people far worse than you. You’re not scary, you’re a baby…” Jake storms out of the room, and while Cyrus is bleeding a little, he’s clearly won this game of chicken. When Cy goes back to see Mellie, he’s even more incensed. He suggests just sending Liv and Jake to Guantanamo. But Mellie actually wants to talk to Liv first before making any concrete decisions. Cyrus warns Mellie about letting Liv use words of sisterhood and girl power to talk Mellie out this. Maybe Mellie is too scared to be President without Liv as her Chief of Staff. Mellie kicks Cyrus out of her office
When Jake asks the Secret Service agents assigned to Liv about her location, they give nothing away. This heightens his suspicions even more. He goes to Liv’s apartment, but she obviously isn’t there. However, Mellie IS. Madame President has come for answers. Jake tells her that Liv did kill Rashad… and when she pushes, he even admits that Liv made the decision because Mellie wouldn’t keep her legs closed… so much so that she would go to war for Rashad. This is very shocking to hear, despite Jake’s attempts to convince Mellie that Liv has her best interests at heart.
The next morning, Jake comes to see Mellie in the Oval. She’s just found out that Liv has been in Vermont with Fitz and shares the news with Jake. Mellie also points out the hypocrisy of Liv as Fitz’s mistress for eight years while he was POTUS, yet no one doubted his ability to lead. Mellie has one almost-fling with Rashad, and they kill the man! No matter–Mellie has a plan to move forward, without Olivia.
That night, Jake goes to Liv at her apartment. That’s right–Liv will NOT be resigning. While QPA/OPA/Fitz watch for a resignation speech that won’t be coming, Liv is having sexy times with Jake. Rhythm Nation, baby…
… but do they turn Liv in now? Fitz says no. To attempt to prosecute Liv would undermine the very notion of American democracy. It’s not worth it.
Liv is ready to get back to work in the morning and orders Jake to put together a kill folder on Mellie to remind her of what she has to lose. When Jake suggests using a carrot (instead of a stick), Liv doesn’t want to hear it. She’s made her orders known. Jake does as he’s told, but advises Mellie that he can be the person to watch her back. So, when Liv arrives at the White House and sees her office being cleared out and Jake moving in, she knows something has gone wrong (Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat” is an epic anthem for this moment). Liv’s next stop is the Oval to demand answers from Mellie.
Scandal airs Thursdays at 9p/8c on ABC.
