That was a weird episode.
I want to say I’m excited about Rowan’s capture at the hands of Huck, but I just know Shonda won’t be killing Papa Pope anytime soon. He’s undoubtedly going to be part of the show forever, and that’s horribly depressing. As far as I’m concerned, Scandal could easily thrive without Rowan and Huck – both of whom have outlived their usefulness. Maybe throwing them together in the same subplot is for the best?
Also unsatisfying? Liv telling Mellie that she won’t be helping her win the Presidency. I do hope this is just a red herring because I was immensely excited about that storyline possibility a few weeks back. In fact, Mellie’s sudden disappearance from the show doesn’t have me optimistic. Why would you give three seconds of screen-time to the strongest player in your cast?
One thing Scandal is handling beautifully lately is Jake. He continued to display cheer-worthy backbone this week as he obliterated Olivia for what seemed like the 100th time in the past few weeks. It’s just so satisfying to see the lovesick puppy fight back and not let Liv all walk over him. Obviously since the character has grown on me so much, he’ll probably be the next one to get offed.
Thankfully, the ending holds promise with Fitz moving all of Liv’s things into The White House (white hat included), and basically turning her into a prisoner in the process. It will certainly be interesting to see Liv manage her career with the Secret Service on her trail 24/7. I’ve often criticised Scandal for not deviating from the status quo, so it’s definitely a breath of fresh air to see the show explore new avenues in this respect.
Scandalous Bits
– Why do shows till insist on using in media res openings? It’s not like we won’t be sticking around till the end of the episode. Alias is the only show that ever pulled them off successfully; they’re so overused at this point.
– The Christmas tree in the Oval Office was a very amusing touch.
– Liz and David’s quickie in the White House – too funny. Can Susan find out about them already?
– I don’t know how I didn’t see the gay twist with Navid coming.
– I had a major issue with the music this week. It felt very overbearing and distracting, particularly with Rowan & Liv’s meeting, and the Fitz/Liv scene in which he hells her “she’s not Mellie”. The music just felt painfully misplaced.
– Hilariously meta moment with Quinn telling Marcus to go “faster” and adjust his Gladiator “pace” as they discussed their case.
– Loved Fitz whispering into the President’s ear that he would be blowing up the “soda factory” after signing the agreement.
– So is Tom dead? Do I care?
Quipyness
Cyrus: She’s unclean. She’s a whore. You don’t receive a whore.
Abby: You married one.
Cyrus: We’re living in a new world, Red. A world where Olivia Pope is judge, jury, and executioner. She has his world, our world hoisted on her shoulders.
Olivia: Lazarus one? My father said some of his people, his sons have turned against him and initiated a plan. They’re trying to kill him.
Huck: Never heard of it. But I wish them luck.
Olivia: My gut says he’s telling the truth.
Jake: Of course it does. Otherwise you’d be a fool with daddy issues who just got played by a mass murderer.
Olivia: What if he is innocent and someone really is trying to kill him?
Jake: Honestly, Liv, I just hope I get to him before they do. What did you think? That I’d come here and spoon you?
Olivia: I was supposed to choose you.
Jake: No, you were supposed to be too good for me. It never crossed my mind that I would be too good for you.
Conclusion
With its bizarre musical choices and odd developments, Rasputin wasn’t a very impressive hour of Scandal.
Nad Rating
B-
Jake's newfound backbone with Olivia continues to impress me.
That ending with Fitz moving Olivia's stuff into the White House and saying she will be safe gave me the creeps. When commenting on this episode on another site, someone compared the feel of that ending to that of the movie Misery.
I think Tom is dead and good riddance. I wish Huck ends up killing Rowan next episode but, based on the show's past record where Rowan is concerned, it's highly unlikely. Rowan will probably come up with some way of convincing Huck to keep him alive.
Well, good to know I wasn't the only one, that whole scene with Fitz at the end was the creepiest they've done so far, imho. OrTony overplayed it a bit, because he sounded like a psycho who finally got to his victim.