Scandal Review: Reunion

at .  Updated at .

You guys. WHAT WAS THAT? Seriously. Scandal season 3 is bringing.it.

There was A-game all over the place tonight! 

All of the twists and turns taken on Scandal Season 3 Episode 8 are the reason this show is the show to watch on Thursday nights. 

Olivia Looks Distraght

First of all, let's just start this off by taking a minute to talk about Mama Pope, who has maybe gone a little insane after being locked in a prison cell for 20 years.

Olivia's mother clearly did something to get herself locked up because Rowan/Eli said that being there was her fault... but what? What could she have done that would in any way excuse killing 329 innocent people in order to save her life and put her in prison? 

Shonda Rhimes tweeted that we wouldn't want to eat during tonight's episode, and yeah, that's pretty accurate. She failed to mention that we'd look on in shock, horror, awe and disgust as Mama Pope pulled a Walking Dead on HERSELF in order to get out of her cell.

Mama Pope chewed through her own wrists. All so she could get out of her cell and into some sort of medical facility where she could perhaps make a break for it, which she did, and she somehow knew exactly how to find Olivia's house. I can't imagine the leader of OPA is listed in the white pages, and Mama Pope hasn't yet been introduced to Google, so how did she find Olivia's apartment? 

That's really not the point on which I should be focusing, I know. I half expected Olivia to faint on the sidewalk when she turned around to see her ghost-mom standing there live and in the flesh. 

And speaking of flesh, Cyrus Beene is a monster who doesn't deserve James. Those two, much like Fitz and Olivia, are great together when Cyrus is on his best behavior, but the minute he sees he can use James to his advantage, he exploits his devoted husband. 

Watching James figure out that Cyrus had played him was so good I almost hope he did have an affair with Horn-rimmed Glasses. Ultimately, however, I think the two faked the photos. James is smart enough to know how Cyrus operates and figure out that there had to be a camera hiding somewhere in the bushes.

Why they'd take the risk to also tank Sally's career is anybody's guess, but I don't think James has it in him to cheat. Pretend to cheat to see Cyrus wallow? Yes. James has that in him.

And then Cyrus can turn to Mellie who can throw out a good, old-fashioned "told you so" and she'd be totally justified as well. She did warn him, and he didn't listen. In fact, not only did he not listen, but he threw Fitz' infidelity up in Mellie's face just as she was riding the high from the interview where Fitz swooped in and saved the day. 

So yep, I kind of hope James did cheat.

Fitz certainly did. Again. And again. And probably again. That was one long hour he spent in Vermont with Olivia. 

It's no secret that I'm not Fitz' biggest fan, but most of that is due to the fact that the only interactions we really get with Fitz and Olivia are angry and/or the two of them having sex. We don't get to see normal couple moments from the two of them, and yes, I know it's because they're not a normal couple. (They're an adulterous one.)

There was something about hearing him talk about the house in Vermont that he planned to fill with little Olitz babies and how he was planning to sell the house that just stabbed me in the heart a little. (Yes, I do have one of those. Even for Fitz. Sometimes.)

This is a man who has never been able to stand up to the people in his life and tell anyone what he wants for himself and the one thing he wants and is vocal about wanting is the one thing he can't have right now. Listening to him tell Olivia about the house he built for her and watching his face was like watching the dissolution of a dream. It just evaporated right before our eyes. 

And then it sort of came back together a little bit with her "Don't sell the house. Not yet." on the way out to the helicopter as the sun came up. But only a little bit. 

All of this, particularly after last week's Scandal Season 3 Episode 7, which was Mellie-centic, just really has me feeling worse for the First Lady. 

The events in those flashbacks, specifically the fact that Big Gerry raped her and she kept quiet about it to get Fitz what he needed from his dad, are memories Mellie relives every day. Every time she sees Fitz and he dismisses her, she's reminded of the great personal sacrifice she's kept hidden from the world. 

She was so hopeful while they were watching the interview, and there was a look of sadness on Fitz' face as he watched her watching the two of them. He can't be the man she needs him to be, but that doesn't stop her from hoping that he will be.

Considering she was basically handing Fitz over to Olivia three weeks ago, her hurt at realizing Fitz has rekindled his affair seems a little misplaced, but in light of everything we now know about Mellie, it's sort of anything goes with her.

Meanwhile, around OPA:

  • Josie Marcus' sister-daughter staged a break-in and planted a computer at Reston's campaign headquarters which eventually prompted Josie to take the blame and drop out of the race. Now Olivia's free to return to the Grant campaign. 
  • Harrison finally got some action. Hooray!
  • Huck knows that Quinn killed the security guard but he's hiding the information from the rest of OPA until he has a chance to interrogate Quinn Spin-style. 

I can't believe there are people out there who aren't watching this crazy good insanity week after week. And I'm glad there's a break next week for Thanksgiving because the previews for the next episode? I might need some of Olivia Pope's red wine to make it through that one.

What did you think of Scandal Season 3 Episode 8? What did you think about that scene with Mama Pope? Were you excited for the Fitz-Olivia reunion? 

Vermont Is For Lovers Too Review

Editor Rating: 4.75 / 5.0
  • 4.8 / 5.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
User Rating:

Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 (183 Votes)

Miranda Wicker was a Staff Writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in 2017. Follow her on Twitter.

Show Comments
Tags: ,

Scandal Season 3 Episode 8 Quotes

[to Olivia] You really think that's going to do it? That won't stop him from calling. The President wants to talk to you, he'll find a way to do it.

Jake

Mellie: I'd say this is a new low.
Cyrus: Not for me.