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Every once in a while, there comes a show that transcends any expectations, exceeds any hopes, and goes so far beyond mere mortal comprehension that it becomes an instant favorite and a downright unaplogetic obsession.
Scandal is one such a show. It hails from the very creative mind of Shonda Rhimes whom ABC absolutely adores since she has like a hundred shows on there. Only kidding! It's more like 3, I think. There's Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Private Practice, and I know I'm missing something else but oh well. Say what you will about Shonda Rhimes and all the controversey surrounding her and her choices at attacking other female show runners, but there's no denying that Shonda has a little crevice floating around in her brain that she accesses whenever she needs something. And boy does she create some juicy, tantalizing characters and shows!
I personally haven't seen Private Practice but I have seen Grey's Anatomy. Say what you will about all the sex and really fatal medical conditions (seriously, no normal stomach aches here!) but there's no denying that there are real characters with real problems with highly quotable and relatable lines. "You're my person" anyone? And it's also the reason why the show is still on the air, because these characters are relatable. She may not have written all the episodes, but she has a smart team working on the show. And I've seen people's reports about how fans are upset about the lack of asian male doctors or even more black characters. Basically more diversity and all I can say is shutup! This is the most diverse a TV show in this day and age is going to get and people should sit down and take it.
But this isn't about that. Honestly, there's so many seasons to get through, I highly doubt I would review Grey's Anatomy unless I only did the past two seasons or you guys want me to do another one. Anywho, Scandal is a fairly recent show by Shonda Rhimes and what a show it is.
It's basically about a famous fixer, like this is the go to fixer for really high end clients like billionaires and senators and she gets the job done no matter the cost. She spins stories that the fictional public eats up and she helps gets these ruined people some semblence of their life back while they obviously made some bad choices. But, this dear fixer is hiding a really terrible secret. She's in love with the Prez. This isn't a spoiler because it's no secret that she is and to call it a spoiler would be a gross injustice to all of you.
Season 1 began as we're just entering Olivia Pope's life, played by Kerry Washington, but it's obvious she's been living way before us. So often have I seen shows with characters that actually feel like their lives began when we see them. I think some writers often forget that these characters are people with flaws, childhoods, parents, ex boyfriends, and weird friends. But Shonda Rhimes didn't make Olivia like that which I thought was really clever. What I didn't like was that season 1 only had 7 episodes . Seven episodes????? Never have I seen that, especially on a broadcast network. That's what makes them different from cable shows and that insufferable maximum 12 episode bit.
However, the show was so good that I just had to return to season 2 and it did not disappoint in anyway. What's also good is that this stars an African American woman in the lead. As history will show, typical black shows or even other minority shows don't have a long shelf life. The Parkers, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Boondocks, George Lopez, Ugly Betty, Girlfriends, The Game, all these minority shows just can't make it in TV. I think Shonda was really smart with having an African American lead but with other race people so that it could cross in all racial households. Some of you won't agree but that's the way it is. Race may not still be a conscious thing, but look around, there's less diversity on shows and it's sad because black people can't understand white humor, like white people can't understand black humor. It's sad but it's a reality.
So on all accounts, there's really a hidden diamond in Scandal. The show mostly revolves around a case a week like any procedural but there are definitely arcs that will play over a couple of episodes which I believe was a smart choice. So many times will you see a show with a good concept that falls short because they're playing by procedural rules that are meant to be broken. Beauty and the Beast on CW, I'm talking to you!
One of such over arcing themes would be Olivia's ties with the white house. This show could easily be political fodder, a chance for writers to broadcast their political views and shove it down people's throats, especially when the past year has been surrounded by politics and the recent election. BUT like all shows or movies created after 2008, people are just so allergic to portraying a black president. I'm not saying that every show or movie has to have it, but on a show with only two black people, I mean come on. But whatever, this isn't a race issue and I'm sorry I'm turning it into one, but hey, that's life.
Basically, in the first season, we saw the push and pull of Olivia's relationship with Prez Fitz. At one glance they're two people who have this magnetic attraction to each other but on the other hand are obviously only hurting each other. I thought Shonda really struck gold here as she portrayed this kind of connection. So often do you see the first meeting between characters, even if they have a shared history and it's an obvious love attraction. Again, this may be my inner feminist, but I like to see my characters fleshed out and really work for what they want. Prez Fitz is married with two kids but he was very much in love with Olivia and it's so obvious on his face every time he sees her. It's like his whole world is instantly better because he's breathing the same air as her.
This was the kind of attraction that I absolutely adored in Grey's Anatomy. Kristina and Owen had such a powerful dynamic and undeniable attraction that there was so much passion and heat, I felt it and that's saying somethig. It wasn't all out speeches or inner turmoil that shows the passion between these two characters on Scandal and Grey's, it's the little moments. Like the moments when Owen and Kristina are standing next to each other, their hands on the railing, and little by little, their fingers are moving closer and closer to each other. Or Olivia and Fitz standing by each other and she's on the verge of tears because she craves him yet can't have him, and his face has absolute torture because he's so close to the object of his love and he can't touch her because he's the Prez. So he settles with pretty words and his fingers itching to hold hers but only able to lightly graze it. Honestly, they're kind of like horny teenagers who have to keep themselves in check because they're sitting in front of their parents.
These kind of relationships run high on passion but when they're mad, watch out because it's like watching fireworks. At once beautiful and so great to look at but also one huge disaster waiting to happen. Olivia feels so bad about having this little tryst with Fitz and he feels bad as well. It's like his whole presidency is built on a lie and also his marriage but he took an oath, two as a matter of fact, and he can't just suddenly betray that. It's duty over feelings, honor before selfishness, it's a really explosive cocktail.
But, here's where the fireworks turn bad. Turns out, Fitz really hates his wife. He had to if he slept with another woman because Olivia left him. Olivia finds out and her image of this man that she loves with her entire being has all been a lie. It was one thing to do it with her because they were in love but for this unknown woman? A little unacceptable. And so Olivia reps her at her company and so begins this cold war with the Prez. Really interesting and dare I say scandalous stuff. I won't give season 1 away but it definitely had me gasping and wanting to see season 2 already.
This show isn't about just their relationship however, thank the TV gods. There's so much more to it than that. Olivia runs Olivia Pope and Associates, or gladiators in suits as one such associate puts it, and they handle really high profile clients. They handle military veterans, notorious madames, sons of millionaires, a dictator, and crazed scorned lovers of the Prez. Okay, to be fair, he's only had two lovers but still. When something goes wrong, Olivia is the one you want on your side. And she has an army in her corner. A newbie, an ex con, a spy, a really mean girl, and a man slut for season 1. These guys basically do whatever she says. And they fix situations that are in desperate need of it.
First up is Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope. Say what you will about her weight and big head but there's no denying that she is absolutely phenomenal in this role. She really brings a fierce fire to this character who is so good at fixing other people's problems yet a complete failure at her own and isn't that always the case? Honestly, Kerry's Olivia has jumped to the top of my favorite role models list. The writers were smart in creating her character. She's independent, smart, crafty, creative, and very fashion forward, yet at the same time so very much a woman with needs, feelings, pains, and all kinds of stuff. So often are women today portrayed as men in skirts but it also gives us a chance to appreciate the rare roles like this one.
On many levels, I can identify with her character. She has this master plan for everything, everything follows a basic script and no one can change that. She doesn't take no for an answer and her gut is never wrong. But she has a nasty habit of not trusting people least of all herself. She falls in love with the wrong person and when someone good comes along, they don't want them because they don't make their blood sing, they don't make them excited to see them, their whole world isn't instantly better because they're there.
Yet, Olivia keeps this all to herself. She paces, she frets, she takes care of things. She does all this for other people because she's trying to protect them but at the same time, she keeps them at arm's length and doesn't let them in for fear of them just getting hurt. So this is a deeply flawed character but she's also real. We've all had moments when we love our friends but when something goes wrong, we feel like we're alone and can't trust them because we're ashamed or embarrassed, whatever the case. I'm just glad that there is such a character on the show like Olivia. She's the type of character I aspire to write about one day. One that's deeply flawed and you can almost believe it's an actual person.
Next is Cyrus Beene played by Jeff Perry. If he looks familiar, it's because he is. He played Meredith's alcoholic father on Grey's Anatomy who died from a bad liver I think. One thing you can definitely say about Shonda Rhimes, it's that she's good to her people.
Anywho, Cyrus is Prez Fitz chief advisor and he wrangles Prez Fitz and handles any and all problems. He's constantly fretting and wringing his hands, constantly sweating, and trying to get Fitz to be a good president. He's gay with a husband who's constantly on him about having a baby. He's basically getting attacked from all sides. At first, I thought that was all there was to this guy. He's always advising Fitz on what to do, he always seems like he's about to go off the deep end. Plus, I remember him from Grey's Anatomy and he didn't seem like that much of an actor to me.
Mann, was I wrong! I don't know if it's the writing or Jeff's amazing acting chops but Cyrus is one tough cookie. He has a lot on his plate yes, and though he looks like you can push him around and get away with it, don't think you can. He will chew someone out if need be and he has some of the greatest insults, it's like man, you do not want to be on his list. He's trying so hard to keep everything together that he really doesn't have time for nonsense. I may not agree with everything he does, but Cyrus is one of my favorite characters.
Next is President Fitzgerald Grant played by Tony Goldwyn. Honestly, I didn't like his character in the beginning. I thought he was whiny, a pushover, and I really wondered what fictional America saw in him as a president. It was like he didn't have a mind of his own. And when it turned out that he was having an affair with Olivia, he did some pretty shady things and said some pretty shady things and I really did not like his character. He was constantly in her business, acted like a super jealous, super protective ex boyfriend and it made me wonder over the future of this character. Jealousy is okay in any relationship because it's sign that you truly care about someone but at the level he was at, it was overboard.
But as the show went on, you could see his evolution slowly. Bit by bit, he developed a voice and a brain and began to speak for himself. Season 2 brought out his more masculine side. Instead of asking, he demanded. He became the president in every sense of the word. And again, this is another flawed character. Though he is the president, he has a wife and kids, one on the way, but the only person he wants to be with is Olivia. If these aren't star crossed lovers, I don't know what is. Deep down, he just wants be a regular man with the woman of his dreams and live a fat, happy life, waking up to her every morning. He truly is a romantic. But then you have to look at his actions and his words, (he has some of the best damn speeches you would ever want to hear!) and your loyalties will shift.
This is a character that will really have you on the fence. You want to like him, you want to be sympathetic of his plight, but at the same time, he does things that makes you cringe, says things that makes you want to wash his mouth out or slap him, and you can't see any hope in sight. He started out bad in my eyes but quickly evolved. And again, the passion and chemistry between him and Kerry/Olivia is astounding. If there was ever a love to have, it would be like this. This is the type of love that will last beyond anything.
Then there's Mellie Grant played by Bellamy Young. Love her as an actress, but I hate her character with a fierce passion. She's the First Lady to Prez Fitz but she's so mean spirited it almost makes you glad that Fitz is pining after Olivia. It's like now you get why he drove himself to her. Not saying it's her fault, I believe it's never the woman's fault if her husband cheats on her, but Mellie is just a mean lady.
She always has to put someone in their place and acts like she's sitting on this huge pedastal that mere humans can't touch. She looks for any oppurtunity to stretch her vocal power but she gets shut down by Cyrus and Fitz. In a recent episode, she said that she wanted to sit at the big boys table, but to be honest, she couldn't hold her own at the table. She puts on airs, but she really doesn't know anything.
As my inner feminist would attest, Mellie is a gross under representative of women. Would you really sit by idly while your husband has an affair with another woman, one you considered your friend and actually liked, right under your nose while the secret service and Cryus knows what's going on, all so your husband could make it to the white house? Like what kind of a woman are you? This is the father of your children, the love of your life, and you're willing to let him cheat if it means you get to redecorate the nursery in the white house? Come on, get real. You're only there for four years, it is so not that important. I wish my husband would do some stuff like that. Leader of the free world or not, his
And then, she wants to act like nothing bothers her but it does. And it's like no wonder Fitz doesn't like you or won't talk to you, you're such a meanie. She wants to berate him, chide him, give him ultimatums, and then wants to hold his hand in the limo and say that she doesn't want to pretend to be happy anymore. Like what kind of planet are you living on? That's just not realistic. At all. I really don't like her character but I am interested to see where she goes from here.
For the other characters, their storylines aren't really essential to the main show. And they're not too developed to the point to warrant a review. They're great actors and great characters, but they're not central to the overall plot.
There's an underlying mythology surrounding how Fitz became the president and everything that was involved. I'm not going to give it away here because that is a spoiler but just know that this show is about so much more than the Prez's love life and the clients Olivia works with.
However, if you like well written shows with deliciously scandalous plot lines, with flawed but interesting characters, this is definitely a show you want to check out. It has everything. Action, drama, romance, and all around things that will make you tune in every night. Honestly, you won't be disappointed when you see it.
