Scandal & How to Get Away with Murder Crossover Review: Uniting for a Common Goal
Paul Dailly
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Olivia Pope and Annalise Keating are a match made in heaven.
On Scandal Season 7 Episode 12 and How to Get Away with Murder Season 4 Episode 13, Annalise turned to Olivia for some assistance in her class action lawsuit against the State of Pennsylvania.
When I first heard about the crossover, I was skeptical. It was either going to be very good, or very bad. Thankfully, the powers that be crafted a storyline that brought the two leading women together in a natural way, and it was most definitely worthwhile.
Granted, it was a little bizarre to have Scandal have a time jump to catch up to How to Get Away with Murder's narrative, but it made sense in the grand scheme of things.
If you watch Scandal online, you will already know that Olivia was ousted from the White House and was at odds with everyone closest to her.
Related: Scandal & How to Get Away with Murder Crossover: First Look!
Olivia struggling to commit to the case with Annalise was likely down to the fact her own contacts were diminishing, and another significant loss would probably spell the end of her career altogether.
It must have been difficult for her to be in the presence of Mellie and Fitz because everyone knows how close she got to becoming irredeemable.
Mellie had the most right to be mad. Olivia has undermined her for far too long, and Mellie was not about to let that happen again. It was a big case for Mellie to even think about taking.
It was the type of case that would dominate the headlines at every corner of the world. The big positive on the Scandal portion of the crossover is that it gave Olivia a platform to apologize to everyone.
This is a woman who is not going to gloss over the issue. She knows fine well she's been treacherous, and it's time for her to start rebuilding her life and part of that is taking accountability.
While I don't see Olivia and Quinn making up anytime soon, it was great that Olivia managed to make Quinn think twice about using the case as leverage against her.
Quinn has every right to get some revenge on her former boss, but it would have been unethical of her to get some by sabotaging such an important case.
All of the scenes with Annalise and Olivia together were electric. Viola Davis and Kerry Washington are proven scene stealers, and having them together was something else entirely.
They are both powerful women in their own rights, and they brought their A game when it came to the final battle in the courthouse. It surprised me that Olivia did not get to dole out her words to the judges.
Related: Scandal Star Plots Next Big Role!
I can't be the only one who thought Olivia would be unleashing holy hell towards everyone and anyone who stood in Annalise's path to victory. Instead, she coached Annalise in her time of need.
Learning about Isaac's overdose was the straw the broke the camel's back, and it all came crashing down for Annalise. What little faith she had in herself to help the people who had been wronged by the law was diminished.
Her confidence was knocked, and her default setting was to turn to the vodka. It was a heartbreaking nod to Annalise's past as an alcoholic. I wanted to scream when Olivia told Michaela to have Marcus find some vodka.
Olivia was great at talking Annalise threw everything, but I had to laugh a little at the way everyone was getting scared Annalise was not going to show up to fight the case.
Ms. Pope, our country is in crisis. Together, we can fix it.
Annalise
It would have been a cruel twist of fate, but Annalise is always going to be thankful for Olivia now. They had their differences, but together they might have managed to change history.
Annalise using Justice Strickland's words against him was a great power play. The man was against Annalise from the get-go, and I dare say it was down to the fact that she is never too far from a murder.
My jaw hit the floor when Annalise confirmed where she got the words from. It was a big risk that could have destroyed what little remnants she had left of a career.
We really need to talk about Michaela, you guys. There was an instant connection between her and Marcus, and it was obvious they would be getting hot and heavy by the end of the crossover event.
Related: Scandal Review: Army of One
I can't say I'm mad because Michaela's relationship with Asher has been on life support ever since Asher was arrested. They don't seem to be going anywhere as a couple.
Now that Simon has woken up from his medically induced slumber, there's a good chance Asher could be sent away for good. We don't even know if Simon remembers what happened, but what if he fabricates a story in the name of taking Asher down for good?
That would give Cornelius Smith Jr. an opportunity to move from Scandal to How to Get Away with Murder full-time. Nothing about the way the Michaela and Marcus storyline made it seem like it was finished.
Your skin tone and your measurements aren’t the reason people don’t like you. It’s you. You’re a bully, Annalise.
Olivia
It didn't seem like a one-off fumble, and now that Connor knows the truth, it will only be so long before he opens his mouth about it. Add in the fact that Connor is mad at Michaela for going to Washington, D.C. with Annalise, then it all speaks for itself.
The reveal that Sandrine had been lying to Laurel was not needed. That could have been saved for a future installment. But, it was only a matter of time before we got confirmation that things were not as they seemed with Laurel's mother.
Laurel is now going to be more against her mother than ever because she now has a motive for wanting Wes dead, and it's doubtful Jorge is going to be the one in the frame by the end of it.
The crossover was a worthy event. It held my attention throughout and injected another dose of insanity into these two Shondaland dramas.
Other tidbits from the crossover:
- How cute was Annalise's mother? Cicely Tyson is an acting legend, and she owns every single scene she's part of.
- Will Simon being alive derail Connor and Oliver's marriage?
- Abby and David are officially a thing! Who would have thought it was possible after everything they have been through? Keep them together!
- Quinn using Olivia being fired to spin a story was hilarious. It was ripped straight from the Olivia Pope book of fixing.
- The look on Olivia's face when she realized Annalise had been getting jiggy with her client's son was priceless.
Okay, TV Fanatics!
What did you think of the big crossover?
Did it live up to your expectations?
Hit the comments below!
Scandal & How to Get Away with Murder continue Thursday on ABC!
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
