+joelle gillespie I know right how could you punish her for something and she basically didn't know the truth yet you did and the whole reason she was in the mess was because of you.
+Shannon Lashley Now that she does know the truth, this loving mother has made a bargain with/freed the men who murdered her son. This is the woman(character) you support
+Sudo Ku Yes...Yes I do. Actually I'm not the hugest Mellie supporter but I was on her side tonight. Plus I don't think there is anyone on Scandal that is a Pillar of morality so the pickings are slim.
+Shannon Lashley Every character on this show is a hypocrite and has done wrong and is not perfect, that is the point of the show. So why does everyone fawn and feel so much sympathy for Mellie and treat her as Matyr? Cyrus apologized for introducing Olivia, but everyone fails to acknowledge, that once Mellie found out about the affair, she not only condoned it and continuously brought Olivia into their marriage time and time again. She threw away her opportunity for real love with Andrew for HER DESIRE TO BE PRESIDENT! That is what she has done all of the "sacrificing for Fitz" for, even though about 90% he never asked her to do, or had no knowledge of her doing. Everyone wants to bash FITZ all the time, who is definitely not perfect, but as I previously said neither is anyone else. If Fitz has been so horrible to Mellie than why does she stay, as the saying goes fool me once, shame on you fool me twice shame on me, at what point when someone is treating you "poorly" do you have to take responsibility for yourself continuing to put up with it. WHY did she do this for her own future presidency, just like Cyrus she couldn't get their on her own so she hitched her star to his wagon. Fitz didn't even want to run for governor this was something he was pushed into and if he had lost the election he would have been happy to divorce Mellie and marry Olivia then. Mellie told Fitz numerous times, that all she has ever wanted was to be president, not to have a love back or even their partnership, but to be president. So please stop with the Mellie pity train, the same woman who used getting raped as a power move to manipulate her rapist into forcing his son to run for a political office? and brought said rapist back into their lives 2.11 An Idiot, A whore and A liar, to help support Fitz's run for presidency and then spent the entire episode buddied up to him and running after him when Fitz hurt his feelings. Let's not forget saw her son's death as worth something because it meant Fitz was president again, tying to opening the door for her own presidency? IF you are going to bash FITZ or anything other character, please be fair and ACKNOWLEDGE that Mellie's shit stinks too!
+daks84 Well said. All characters are FLAWD, but good grief Mellie is too educated and a blue breed that doesn't have to sit around and take this kind of mess, but made the choice too. She showed herself tonight again trying to keep Teddy while knowing she only did that for photo ops on her campaign for president. The fool let loose Rowan and Tom after being aware that he killed her son so that Olivia can help her be President. What part of that will Fitz be blamed for? They are no longer married so let's see what else is going to be said. Fresh off divorce and she already slit her throat by thinking she one-upped Olivia.
That damn Kennelia keeps this After Show lit. She is ALWAYS on point! Now as for Olivia, she likes the fantasy of getting married, but she doesn't truly want that type of commitment. Lets remember, even before she met Fitz, she was engaged to Edison (the first time), but wasn't happy with him either. She was just going with the flow (relationship-wise with him), until Papa Pope caused his accident and gave her the "out" she was looking for.
+SIL POWELL I think she is very very very very afraid of losing her identity. I can understand that. She has plenty of reason to be insecure in a lot of ways. She doesn't truly understand what it means to be loved. But another point is a shotgun wedding. I'm sorry that is a fixer move and I think when you break it down; any woman in love wants the wedding of her dreams and to say I do when she is ready. She told Fitz weeks ago; we are not ready. An ensuing Scandal shouldn't force her hand because they are still at the same point. She claims him but she's not going to just put herself in a place where she becomes basically Mellie. I really am going to give Fitz some slack only because his desire mainly comes from a place to validate her and he is very very very scared of losing her. ( she left after his son died and he tried to kill himself; a part of scandal history glossed over). He tried to make it romantic for her but he also just wants to move Olivis to the place he's always wanted her which is as his wife. Now I am not an Olitz shipper believe it or not. I don't ship them. When their good, their good but otherwise I'm losing interest if nothing eventually moves forward. I just find it valid to say they both still got baggage before they can be truly, deeply, profoundly happy, and that is from a place of strength in not only who they are but what they do. Don't know if it's going to happen but if it does I think it can be spectacular.
When Fitz tried it with Mellie & her voice went low, "What did you say?" I just knew she was going to wreck him. It was GLORIOUS. If he can legit stand there & blame her, she can turn around & verbally destroy him. His face when she was done with him 😂I am so happy they're over, I was cheering. Kennelia was amazing as always, I agreed with everything she said. Also loved what Sophia said about the Mellie-Fitz verbal beat down. One of my favourite Afterbuzz episodes.
I was surprised that Fitz did this; it's usually Mellie who blames everyone else for everything wrong in her life. If you actually listen to the SUBSTANCE of what she said, it was more of an indictment on her than anything else. She stayed for 20 years as if someone forced her to, when Fitz has been wanting out for quite sometime. She suffered his touch which she compared to being raped by his father: again, what kind of woman stays with someone whose touch she finds so abhorrent. She had children because of him: this was just flat out puzzling; was having kids a bad thing? He was mediocre yet she hitched herself to him, hung on for dear life, refused to leave and was totally convinced her political aspirations were dependent on him . She basically said he was to blame for her perceived failure of the last 20 yrs of her life. What sane stable person blames another for the choices they, not the other person, made, for 20 years of bad choices. Mellie is totally unhinged but it is a testament to the immense talent of Bellamy Young that if you don't carefully dissect WHAT she says, you can find yourself impressed with, or siding with Mellie. Bellamy is absolutely brilliant. Someone on another blog pointed out something I realize is true: with the exception of Mellie, none of the characters were written true to their characters-from Fitzs statement to Mellie (there's nothing more to take); to Fitzs statement to Olivia on the balcony ( I've got better things to do); to Cyrus's lack of action; to Huck and Quinn's lack of action when they normally would've dug up dirt on the Senate, and Olivia was totally out of character: nervous, indecisive, guilty of horrendously poor judgment (forged signature, a Mellie-Iike decision, and releasing Papa , when she spent all S4 trying to lock him up or kill him). The entire episode was curiously disconnected from the previous 5 and from the personalities of the characters, as if the writer didn't know the characters.
Escales I really don't know why I always get essays by people who don't like Mellie under every comment I make here but here I go with an essay of my own. She stayed because for the longest time she (foolishly) loved him. She wanted to make it work, she wanted her sacrifices to mean something. Fitz wanted out, who was stopping him? Because when Mellie said she was done in S2, HE came crawling back. Mellie instantly melted & forgave him. Every time he does shit, she forgives. Then when Mellie found someone else, HE put a stop to it because his jealous ass couldn't handle it even as he was screwing Olivia under the same roof. She kept her end of the bargain, supported his career at every turn but when his turn came, he wanted out. How is she wrong to be mad? How is it unfair of her to want what he owed her? She didn't quit her law firm for fun, she did it for him, he knew that, it was what he needed to run for governor. She did all that & then he has the nerve to turn to her & say she took everything from him? She didn't want kids (after that rape, how could she) but she had them for him. Doesn't mean she didn't love them (in fact, she seemed to be the closer parent in S3) but this was a moment of grief, of anger, knowing her son died because Fitz couldn't keep it in his pants. It was her lashing out. And I think the characters were written exactly how they are. Everything was in character.
Wow your so-called facts didn't come from actual episodes of Scandal but from your imagination. In her speech, Mellie basically admitted to not loving Fitz when she alluded to suffering his touch all those years and compared intimacy with him to a RAPE. She's also done at least 3 things in the last few weeks that have to do with her becoming president. I could literally give you quotes if I wanted to write a book about it. Mellie hitched her horse to Fitz and wouldn't let go- although she abandoned the marriage long ago. As recent as last week, Cy said Mellie had never loved Fitz, that it was all about politics but the clincher is the number of times MELLIE HAS SAID THIS. As for the characters acting untrue to their nature in Episode 6, discerning viewers will understand exactly what I'm saying but not everyone has the gift of discernment.
I love when Kennelia goes in on Fitz. I couldn't agree more with her thoughts on both Fitz and Olivia. Mellie was a rock star this week and I hope it continues. Bellamy Young is a freaking powerhouse and it's a pleasure to watch her. The truth bombs Mellie dropped on Fitz and Olivia were spectacular. While I would have loved to see her whoop that ass I'm happy with the way she's going. Continue the onward and upward movement Mellie be the warrior you are. I know it wasn't discussed but I loved David's scene with Susan. Even he threw some Fitz shade and I loved it. Great aftershow as always.
Oh also y'all forgot to mention when Mellie said in the bunker "why did you think he threw me out?" omgah Olivia's face afterwards LMAO! I'm so glad Mellie said that shit to her.
Olivia wants their relationship to happen when it is not forced. She knows how Fitz will be if they are forced to marry so she wants the circumstances to be better. The season began with Olivia telling Fitz that they had to wait until after his presidency because they would become a spectacle. She is terrified that if they get married too soon, their relationship will not weather the storm of their spectacle. The stage was set for the way their relationship was going to pan out in the first episode of this season
You 3 are hands down the best commentators on AfterBuzz. I love that y'all love the show just as much as I do. Some of the other shows are ok, but not as good as this one. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
So...i came back cuz i couldn't find any aftershows...so here's my thing with mellie....i love her...and i hate that people don't respect her sacrifice...she sacrificed everything for HIS dream...she diminished her light so he could shine...she gave up her ambitions to help him get his...yes she knew about the affair...but at first she was hurt and trapped...because she had dreams too...and in that moment she postponed them and dealt with the pain of losing her husbands heart so that he can have his dream and hopefully she would get hers one day. She also loved him...loved him enough to stand by and let him have Olivia so that he would be his best self. Because he couldn't function and she wanted him to have his legacy. That last scene was her letting go of the last bit of love she had for him because she realized he doesn't care. He broke her heart for the last time. She could then go for her dream and not think about him and his feelings and his dreams and his pain...she didn't have to lessen her shine anymore...i'm so happy she's actually free.
+mmita she could have been free all along, at what point in your life do you have to take responsibility for your own chances and actions. same reason she was blaming Fitz for never taking responsibility, when is Mellie going to take responsibility for her own life and actions and choices. I am over grown people blaming other people for their choices, and Mellie is no different from Fitz in that regard.
+mmita Mellie sacrifice what? She was a good breed and Fitz was good for her to attach herself to, good head of hair and charming. Fitz never asked Mellie to sacrifice anything, she knew what she wanted and attached herself to the man who was going to get her there. What woman will encourage another woman to sleep with her husband, she literally brough Liv to the Whit House. When that bastard Big Jerry raped her, in that respect, I think when Fitz found out he should have really been there for her really helped Mellie deal with that pain but Fitz is selfish, I can't imagin the shame she felt and how hard it would have been to tell him but you know something I think Mellie believed in Fitz and him becoming POTUS.
+mmita I agree, I feel like people tend to downplay how much of a sacrifice she made for Fitz, and how much she really did care about him. Also, people tend to downplay how ungrateful Fitz really is , he does the same thing to everyone with how he treated Cyrus as well
+Diamondaydreamer Every character on this show is a hypocrite and has done wrong and is not perfect, that is the point of the show. So why does everyone fawn and feel so much sympathy for Mellie and treat her as Matyr? Cyrus apologized for introducing Olivia, but everyone fails to acknowledge, that once Mellie found out about the affair, she not only condoned it and continuously brought Olivia into their marriage time and time again. She threw away her opportunity for real love with Andrew for HER DESIRE TO BE PRESIDENT! That is what she has done all of the "sacrificing for Fitz" for, even though about 90% he never asked her to do, or had no knowledge of her doing. Everyone wants to bash FITZ all the time, who is definitely not perfect, but as I previously said neither is anyone else. If Fitz has been so horrible to Mellie than why does she stay, as the saying goes fool me once, shame on you fool me twice shame on me, at what point when someone is treating you "poorly" do you have to take responsibility for yourself continuing to put up with it. WHY did she do this for her own future presidency, just like Cyrus she couldn't get their on her own so she hitched her star to his wagon. Fitz didn't even want to run for governor this was something he was pushed into and if he had lost the election he would have been happy to divorce Mellie and marry Olivia then. Mellie told Fitz numerous times, that all she has ever wanted was to be president, not to have a love back or even their partnership, but to be president. So please stop with the Mellie pity train, the same woman who used getting raped as a power move to manipulate her rapist into forcing his son to run for a political office? and brought said rapist back into their lives 2.11 An Idiot, A whore and A liar, to help support Fitz's run for presidency and then spent the entire episode buddied up to him and running after him when Fitz hurt his feelings. Let's not forget saw her son's death as worth something because it meant Fitz was president again, tying to opening the door for her own presidency? IF you are going to bash FITZ or anything other character, please be fair and ACKNOWLEDGE that Mellie's shit stinks too!
I don't think that Olivia told Mellie that Papa pope killed her son to get back at her. She was tearing up the whole time. I think she did it just to finally be honest and knowing how Mellie is, it propelled her towards this new Mellie.
+DawnofA Bingo!!!! Olivia telling Mellie that after she told Mellie what was happening wasn't going to destroy her was a way for her to definitely propel Mellie FORWARD!! It was what she needed to hear, like Morpheus told Neo in The Matrix (the first one when after Neo got his hand read from The Oracle). And boy boy boy boy boy...she shut Fitz ass DOWN!! And then thought again about Olivia's offer and said gotdammit...she is in my pocket now! And she pulled out the biggest favor anyone can ever owe: The White House! If they can do it for Fitz, they can do it for Mellie! Game changer! I loved Mellie in this episode because she got her balls firmly attached and now with Rowan by her side? Her future is definitely secured! But she better be careful...Rowan is loyal to NO ONE!!!
DawnofA It's going to be very interesting because he's a viper. Not just any old snake, he is the most dangerous. If he was able to kill Elise before Jake could reach her...that should tell you something! He set his ass to work as SOON as he was given that pardon from Mellie! She may think she's dancing with the devil with Olivia but she doesn't know the devil she just released...It's gonna be so good because Fitz is going to lose his mind once he finds out that Mellie is working with the man who killed their son. Mellie is literally in bed with the devil!!!!
Sofia, do you recall what Fitz said to Olivia during the balcony scene. He told Olivia "You are WHAT I want" Did you see Olivia's full body reaction. I wondered why Fitz didn't say You are WHO I want" Olivia is not a what she is a person which means she's a who.
This was a beautiful episode of television. I was on the edge of my seat all of the time and I was all up in my feels. Olivia, Fitz and Olivia will always be a trinity. YAASS to Mellie this episode. Either this will ruin Olitz or give me the end game that I need. #olitzforever When Mellie was going after Fitz I was so glad, but when she was blaming everything on him I did not agree with that. He isn't to blame for everything only some things. Jake shutting Liv down was amazing. Abby back at OPA made me so happy.
First and foremost how the hell do you propose to a woman while you're still wearing a wedding ring???? I know y'all saw that, I was just waiting for Kennelia to dog Fitz out for that. He didn't even take it off before their little ceremony!!! Do you think he was just planning on using the same ring??Moving on: I'm all for Mellie 2.0, but at the same time I'm gonna have to see what she's doing in a few more episodes. I've always felt that Mellie lacks conviction and she doesn't have the wherewithal to stand by anything. Even right now she is talking like she has the presidency in the bag....boo boo you don't have a campaign manager, let alone the whole team that you need to win so much as a primary . I'm just a little bit tired of getting my hopes up with Mellie just to be disappointed, because looking back, at least once a season Mellie get bold and steps up and I'm like YESSSS Mellie and then it falls flat. So I'm hoping but I'm not waiting.
+Efonteno88 We don't agree about loving Mellie right now, though I've always kinda hoped she got her own; not having anything to do with Liv and Fitz but I like your points about how random she gets. The truth bomb someone needs to drop on her is that she can tout she wants the Oval all she wants, but how doth she plan to get it/ Seriously, there is a VP and a whole line of folks who can get the office before her. Serious;y, has she really THOUGHT about the bigger picture? Liv didn't even get Fitz in; she and her band of cohorts cheated. The thing is, Mellie wont get anything without it being underhanded which is some ways is the show but I can't then root for you for cheating specially when you just cursed out a man for those exact reasons. It's can't be your affronted mantra if you too jump in the same pond if that makes sense. Then say she gets the office; you've got eight years for America to like you and you can barely contain your emotions and make rational decisions for more than half a second. No, she's not in cahoots with Rowan; Rowan is controlling her because in the end every one has their own agendas and that she doesn't get it by no and seek out people who are actually there for her is the reason by season's end she will fail. I don't even think I want to watch the roller coaster anymore. Any everyone is forgetting Cyrus Bean. Keeps forgetting Huck, Quinn, Jake. Mellie is stupid to keep prowling around like she doesn't have a target on her back or that she is a problem that can't go away. Cyrus statement still stands; for as weak as our gladiators can be at times; ultimately their are monsters and Mellie is a political animal. Yes she can go dark but she's still much much much to lily handed for me to take seriously as a formidiable appointment.
Honestly it is not so much loving Mellie, it is just that I'm ready to see the new Mellie that it seems like we are promised every season. Because the one that we have is just tired and irritating at this point. And it still frustrates the hell out of me that she flip flops on EVERYTHING. If Mellie says she's not gonna do something I give at the most until the next episode to switch up, its annoying and tiresome. Again it's not that I love Mellie it's that I'm beyond ready to see something different from her. I just realized while I was writing this that her character has had no real growth, in a lot of ways Mellie is the same old Mellie from 4 seasons ago. She hasn't changed we just know more about what makes her the way she is.
+Efonteno88 I get it too. It's like, if she is going to be this " New Mellie" then she has to remove herself from the Olitz bubble. If she's going to go dark, go dark; at least I can respect you as the nemesis. But she's back and forth whiny thing like she truly has no idea what she really wants but has no problem ripping up at other people doesn't read strong as much as hypocritical. If you want to go for Olivia and Fitz's throats, then go for it instead of jumping on Rowan's vendetta. Because for all Rowan hates Olivia right now, she's blood. He wants her needing him not completely destroyed because in doing so she destroys what he thinks he's created. He killed Mellie's son so in can hurt her relationship with Fitz while giving her what he wants; what the hell does Mellie think she's going to do with a man like that. A man she can't control, who will be controlling her. It was just the wrong move, one done emotionally and not intelligently. Cyrus JUST SAID you can't have the oval and revenge because both takes a genius mastermind Mellie just doesn't have. I just want her to be smarter and stop with the victim woe is me card. At this point, everybody has suffered and no one is completely in the right including Olivia. I think they may be foreshadowing her death tbh. She is a little out of control and seems to be on a lust for power without having a pot to piss on. And you're right, she does flip flop on everything. Honestly, she has more deep wrongs than Fitz. He's got one body on him and can we honestly count killing the person who admittedly tried to kill you and almost succeeded. She has rigged an election, also had an affair, killed jurors, bribed people, openly lied to the press on numerous occasions that in any election process would be brought to life....ugh she's just got nerve to be so ballsy when she hasn't even created any type of safety net or team. Does she really think using Olivia will get her everything she desires and threats only last so long; the reason Olivia is as successful is because she cultivates loyalty. I have plenty of issues with Olivia personally but objectively most of the time she makes the smart play and when she doesn't it's due to the influence she has crafted that keeps her steadily a winner even when she's losing. Mellie wake up!
I just don't understand how she thinks she is getting the oval. The people saw you go on national tv tell the world that your husband had an affair....stay with that husband for like another 2 years fully acknowledging that he wasn't faithful... then get caught lying through your teeth under oath. What redeeming qualities does she have to make people forget about all that?? 2 cute kids ain't cutting it.
+Efonteno88 That she just admitted she would never have had if it wasn't for her husband. I'm a mother so I find that statement repellent completely mars the image of the grieving mother who actually despite never really showing it cares about her kids. She basically just stated they were pawns in the game of the WH for Fitz and by saying that negates the love and care she has for them. I think she probably wants to be a good mother but I can now cross that off the list of redeeming qualities she still has. How DOES she think she would get the Oval? Honestly, Olivia is great and all but she can't get you the White House. She thinks she can fix her current problems for her and Olivia is just going to play along. Like, I just can't get behind her rationale. Alot of people are stating they can't get Liv's rationale. Well I can! You keep your friends close and your enemies closer and now with her dad out of jail; being far from Fitz is the best way to protect him and she needs to be in to figure OUT how to take these people she knows are dangerous down. I almost feel bad for Mellie; wait no I don't. She did this the first time and she had innocent lives blood on her hands. I just don't see how she honestly believes this is a good plan. This isn't a calculated move. It's a desperate rash one
Sophia saying fitz never respected mellie. That's because he never loved her. It was a set up political marriage. It was an arrangement. Although I don't care for fitz much, it's different when a man falls in love with you versus being set up to be with you.
Ahhhh haha, First I Love you all! Second, I am cracking up at how you were all so somber at the beginning of this review vs how lively you were on the last review. AWWww I feel you E. We were soon close! But in twisty Scandal style Shondaland dropped us off a cliff.
Kennelia, I am angry too! there was no point in Liv telling Mellie who killed her son. I hope Mellie woops Olivia asss! There was no tit for tat. Mellie was going in on Liv hard and Liv didn't do anything. Olivia is my girl but for the first time in my life I want Mellie to kick Liv's butt. She needs it! This is going to be a good season! Like who does that ask your boyfriend 's wife for a favor while he is divorcing her. Liv about to get that ass handed to her!
+Pineapplescent I genuinely believe that Olivia told Mellie because she deserved to know who killed her son (and why Fitz kicked her out of the White House for helping Papa Pope). I don't think it was vindictive in any way.
+Devonte Williams Olivia didn't have any right to make that decision Mellie just told her she depise Liv and she thought in that moment was the right time to start giving Mellie the 411 about her son's death. This is a war and you bring your enemy into it so you can ask for a favor? Olivia is about to get that beat down for real now. She gonna learn when to shut up and when to have a voice. She is and was a dumbass the whole episode! Mellie get Olivia I all in! Liv should just stfu and have several seats
Bring on Mellie 2.0!!!! I was so shocked when Olivia blurted out her Dad killed her son, then sashayed away and to Fitz's bed in the White House?! That was so dirty and mean! And for what? Because Mellie was correct in her assestment of her father and her entitlement.
I was here for the Mellie read at first. Until she went into everything is because of you trope. I'm sorry but she could have left him but she chose to stay. I just can't with her. I was over the blame game. But I was glad to see her boss up, just not with Rowan and Tom. I don't get how we spent half last season watching Mellie cry over her son and turn around then let the men who killed him free! That right there makes me have no sympathy for her. She will use literally anything for a come up. If I was Olivia I would have told her I don't owe you shit. Goodnight and goodbye. . Olivia Is selfish and she will eventually lose her man because of it. She couldn't stop working for 18 damn months? Huck and Quinn could have done exactly what her murdering ass father did. I CANNOT DO B613 or LAZARUS 1 which is essentially the same damn thing.I am prayinag the narrative is different this time. Or I just cannot watch Papa Pope and them long ass monolouges. UGH!!! I knew they weren't gonna get married but I didn't think Shonda was gonna let us down like this!! I can't!!!!!
you frankly took the words right out of my mouth when it comes to mellie. I cannot feel sorry for her because everything she's done was for her OWN benefit essentially not fitz. Fitz never asked her to do shit! She coulda been left fitz but she was like, I need to be attached to him and make him governor then president so I can ease my way into the oval. That's all. I appreciated the read and shade she gave fitz and he deserved it, but honestly Mellie brought everything on herself so no, I don't feel sorry for her and like u said Olivia owes her nothing. mellie damn near encouraged that affair and pushed Olivia back into his arms. have several seats mellie because you tried it
+DawnofA I can't with Mellie either and you said it perfectly. We spent the whole last season watching her grieve and mourn her sons death. Only for her to allow his murderer to be set free by granting him a pardon. Did she forge Fit's handwriting or did she pardon him as a Senator because I recall Liv thinking about Mellie saying she can forge Fitz's handwriting when he was shot. So Olivia not only went along with this act of deceit but helped conspire it as well. Wow Liv I thought you and Fitz agreed no more secrets. Then in the next episode she is shown telling Fitzgerald her father escaped. Like Mellie won't eventually tell him the truth because she is so vindictive right now. We know she wants to become the next president but she better hope her skeletons dont come out anytime soon.
+DawnofAge: Olivia gave Mellie the goods by asking her to forge Fitz's signature on pardons for Eli and Tom. Olivia was bipolar in this episode. She had a blank unfocused stare and was extremely selfish toward Fitz- not for refusing the shotgun wedding, I get that, but for releasing his son's murderer and lying to him about it. Also for not personally returning his ring and being generally shitty to him. She is so afraid of her feelings that she is sabotaging the relationship. They are making Liv unlikeable. You're right about Eli's long rants and I hope we don't see too much of him this season. SR and her writers must have limited imagination.
olivia can do whatever she wants, i'm okay with that. if she were a dude no one would be wanting to kick her ass for how she is behaving toward fitz or jake. she would just be doing what she's gotta do. double standard in full effect here people. i do have to give her major side eye about telling mellie about papa pope killing little jerry. HOWEVER it could be that after mellie went off about olivia and her daddy olivia felt it was right for mellie to know the truth about how jerry died. so basically olivia was saying "you think you know how big a devil my dad is? well how about this, he killed your son." (drops mike)
Emil, Kennelia, Sofia, you guys rock. You are without a doubt the best commentators on afterbuzz. I do feel for you Emil. You really wanted an Olitz wedding, didn't ya? I did too but I was pretty sure it wasn't going down in this episode, but I did have hopes that it would either come in the winter finale or by the end of the season. Cause' let's face it, no Olitzer wants to settle for some shotgun wedding, do we? We don't want Olivia to get married with a Betsy Ross ring that Charlotte picked out; we don't want Olitz to get married in the Oval; and we don't want Olivia to get married in a faux wedding dress no matter how beautiful she looked. We want the REAL DEAL. We want Olivia to WANT to marry Fitz, to embrace it and to plan it and for this wedding to be the classiest and most fantastic wedding of all weddings. And we want a complete and whole Olitz who have finally worked through all their problems, drama and turmoil, who have finally pulled up their big girl/big boy panties/boxers and who have finally matured into grown adults ready to embark on a real relationship. So if we all have to suffer a while longer for Olivia to get her head out of her butt and for Fitz to finally realize that he's divorced now and can take off his wedding ring, I can wait. As for Sofia and Kennelia, you two are crazy and I loved that you had to agree to disagree. Can't wait until next week and I hope Bamm will be back as he was missed.
The marriage scene with Fitz and Olivia showed the dichotomy of power - why does Mellie want the Presidency so much when Mellie calls the White House a prison. The layers upon layers that are being peeled away this season are amazing
+Catherine Duffy What Mellie seems to crave most is external validation. When her father left her mother for another woman (of an apparently lower caste) Mellie appears to have internalized his abandonment as a rejection not just of his 'family life' as it existed at the time, but of his wife's archetype (Mellie's mirror, I'm guessing). When Big Gerry proposed the *merger* marriage with Fitz he was validating all Mellie, the pedigreed southern belle, would likely have been told all her life about her life. . .that she was destined to be the prized mate of an important and powerful man, that her father's leaving was a reflection of his no doubt inferior lineage (his daddy ran liquor remember) and not because his wife was a frigid, stuck-up shrew (how far from the tree could Mellie's apple really fall?). Honestly, I'm just pulling guesses out of my a#$, but what else would explain why a Harvard educated lawyer who had made partner at her firm, agreed to give it all up for a man she didn't know *he was very rich* or love *and so very yummy* all because he might maybe one day be *king* president? And now 20 years later, her powerful president husband has not only left her for another woman (in Mellie's view, also of a lower caste) and with the whole world watching, but the children she had to please her husband *optics* don't fulfill her, and she's done nothing during her tenure as political spouse to put her education or professional training to any practical use. . .how else will everyone judge whether her life has fulfilled the potential for greatness she's always known *been told* she possessed but was unwilling to work *on her own* to achieve?
+Ladyzelda333 Tom in the shadows was the best part of the episode. Seriously, why am I more interested in him and his motivations then I am in anyone else at the moment. I think Scandal needs fresh blood. Don't forget his strange monologue to Olivia. Seriously I'm so tired of so tired of some of these characters. I'd take a case of the week instead of Mellie, Rowan, Jake, and whoever his wife is.
+Ladyzelda333 I was screaming at the top of my lungs when I saw him. I guess Rowan needed a new/old minion/sidekick and got Mellie to bust him out too. She is really good at forging Fitz' signature, ain't she? Also, I wonder if it was Tom who did Elise in at the train station fresh out of prison. Papa Pope had to realize that Elise had turned on him and exacted his vengeance. And now Jake is permanently wifeless. Maybe he'll start taking Olivia's calls again.
+Nathalie FROM FRANCE Agreed!!!!!! I think people are forgetting Tom and his dedication to Fitz above all else not to mention his guilt is ready and his fascination with Olivia is also real. I want more from Tom and I can't think they brought him back just to keep him as Rowan's bitch. He already took the fall for him....we just need new blood in the mix
olivia is damaged.. the reason why she loved the idea of her and the president,was because it's messy and like she told eddison she loves the pain and drama.. everything was becoming simply and too easy and olivia don't want that,she loves drama.. olivia has daddy issues, her relationship with Fitz is a sick substitute.. I find Olitz to be sickening.. olivia needs therapy, intensive therapy to get her daddy issues under control
+Daisy Bloom no one in this case have room to talk, millie isn't my girl, but I did love her reading liv and Fitz for the flit they are... olivia is disgusting, no better than a trashy piece of ass, at least with millie it's about furthering her career, olivia sleeping in Fitz and millie bed is disgusting,she has no class.. I don't know how you people put down millie but celebrate Olivia's trashy behavior
+Daisy Bloom Am not going to do the back and forth thing with you... Let's agree to disagree because I already stated not one have the room to judge,but celebrating Olitz nasty behavior while bashing millie isn't flying with me, so like I said Let's keep it moving
+Tigerkhan Short olivia is a fictional character, I just gave me opinion on the character... kerry Washington on the other hand is a different story, I adore her
Totally agree with Kannelia!! What about papa pope fight scene?! The vice president?? TOOOMMM! Lazarus 1? we didn't spend too much time on that... Olitz has my eyes rolling. enoughhhh please
Kennilia you're the bomb!! I'm tired of Scanda and now Rowan's back...blah, blah. Olivia doesn't know what she wants and I was so mad when she called Jake ....wtf? the show is becoming trivial to me. I only watch so I can come to Afterbuzz and watch your commentary. You are better than Scandal. See you next week.
+Dime Damai Yes on ALL counts.I need Sophia to LITERALLY step away from literally. I did the drinking game every time Sophia said "Literally" and let's just say that I was drunk 10 minutes into the show.
Look back at the past shows. Jerry did not die due to Olivia. Eli did not do this to keep Olivia from Fitz. Eli had Tom kill Jerry to get back at Fitz for how he treated him during interrogations and for firing him and replacing him with Jake. You all are too emotional and are reading into things too much. Also, you are forgetting the nuances of past shows. Also, Olivia would never use Jerry's death to get back at Mellie. She was letting Mellie know that the reason Fitz was so upset about the jurors was because Mellie unknowingly made a deal with the devil that killed their son. If Mellie had been told the truth about Jerry's death, then the jurors would still be alive. She would not have allowed conversation with Eli. Olivia just felt it was finally time for Mellie to know the truth. Also, this was a sacrifice on her part because she knew that Mellie (like you all) would blame her for the death of her child. Olivia's misplaced self-inflicted guilt over the death of Jerry was and still is apparent.
+anime seh Eli said, you took my child, so I took yours. In the end, it served many purposes. But it is what Eli said it meant for him is what resonates as truth.
totally agree . also I do believe that when rowan told harrison that fitz took his child so he ( rowan ) took his . he was not talking about olivia . I do believe that rowan was talking about fitz taking away his precious job as command at b613 .
Wow Sophia, Kennelia and Emile - deep episode, deep review / discussion. Love Scandal. Love your review. I don't even think that Liv knows what she's looking for. Maybe it's to always chase love and never catch it. And Mellie is 'done' with both Fitz and Liv. I LOVE Liv. I RESPECT Mellie. Mellie is getting ready to go into super human/super hero mode. Whoa!!!!
Some fans will blindly defend Olivia no matter what. Because of their love for the character, and the actress. But it's refreshing when viewers can look at a character's actions objectively and admit when the character they love is in the wrong. Olivia calling Jake to ask permission to marry Fitz WAS wrong on so many levels and did not paint Olivia in a positive light. Her "entitlement", as Sophia calls it, is not endearing. It's annoying and makes her unlikable. I also hated Olivia's little jab at Mellie in the tunnel.. "Oh by the way, my dad killed Jerry". She said it so casually and matter-of-factly and then just walked away as Mellie started sobbing. That was heartless and cold blooded and so unnecessary. I understand that they are trying to make Olivia a real and flawed character, but please don't turn her into a character that is not even worth rooting for. And it seems that's what they're starting to do. I agree with Kannelia's assessment. She was spot on about Olivia, as usual.
+dancingjoy0788 exactly. Liv/Kerry are up for discussion, true dissecting like everyone else. Flawed, but not worth the effort of defending. Whenever I find myself cheering more for Mellie/Bellamy and Rowan who I despise, it is clear that Elvis has left the building.
+dancingjoy0788 And that is my problem with Scandal and the show, once Mellie got raped, they turned Olivia, just plain dumb, I though Kerry and Olivia were the stars of the show not Mellie/Bellamy. Don't give me the Kerry can't act, because you can only do so mucH with what your given. They continue to provide Mellie with better material, time and time again. Will there ever be a day when Mellie gets read for the bullshit she's done? Because her draws have skidmarks like everyone else, just plain dirty and stank.
+daks84 Kerry can more than hold her own with Bellamy or anyone on that show. The problem as I see it is the writers *named Shonda* have apparently decided she will never be allowed to respond to any of Mellie's insults, digs or tirades with the same passion and precision she showed Edison in 'Criminal, Whore, Idiot and Liar'. Every time Mellie calls Olivia a whore, she is too 'ashamed' to point out that of the two of them Mellie*originalwhore* is the one who actually sold herself into marriage for a job; which she followed up by getting on her knees for Andrew *calling Karen as a witness*. . .I don't think Olivia knows Mellie played let's make a deal with our rapist the day after Fitz' father violated her. Fitz as well has been made to take insult after insult from his shrew of a wife because stepping out on your arranged*dead* marriage is apparently worse than being a self-involved, self-important, entitled #@!$ who'd rather not have given birth to her own children. Mellie was raped, and she sometimes spouts *but doesn't live* tired feminist dogma (while Olivia actually lives the life of a modern, empowered female) so everyone who is important on this show has been made to bow down to this cow. Moo! indeed.
Hello fellow gladiators! I love Shonda for her literary genius and the power to create episodes that are emotionally charged and thought provoking. Initially I was completely devastated after watching this episode. I love the way the writers cause us to show compassion for characters who are flawed. In this episode I watched my fav, Olivia, grow as a person. There is NOTING wrong with self preservation. She has every right to push the pause button on the proposal if the situation is messy. Olitz deserves more than a shot gun wedding and a rushed engagement. Olivia stated in previous episodes that she wanted her OPA business and her relationship behind the "scene" to be fixed to ensure marital success. Not loving Mellie this episode playing the victim. How dare Mellie try to play the women scored card when she pimped Olivia out to your husband as long as it suited her needs. Now Mellie is working with the man that killed your son...now that is disgusting! My prediction are that Mellie was apart of the attempted assassination of the president in season three and that she played a part in the death of her son Jerry. Mellie is in love with the power and fame of the white house. Missed Cyrus this episode. Abby needs to capitalize on her opportunity to show that she can handle crisis. I love Jake for throwing shade to Olivia. Olivia uses other men for a good time when she is feeling low. I can't wait until Mama Pope returns to help her daughter FIX her life. Daddy Pope can not be trusted!
This is the thing, regardless of how much Olivia loves Fitz, she still carrying this "Chinese Wall". Her affair with a president in its self is a Chinese wall,
The only redeeming quality of Rowan's return is that TOM IS BACK ******** and Jake left Liv to her thoughts about being the confidant (through and through)
Mellie is so evil! She never wants to take responsibility for her actions...I loved watching the part where the committee chewed her out...all Mellie wants to do is live a lie...and as far as the scene when Mellie and Liv met...I think Liv got tired of hearing Mellie talk down to her so yeah sometimes you gotta hit ppl where it hurts...and finally how in the hell do you release the man who killed your son...shows how much she wants the power...if she could she would sacrifice baby teddy to become president...I've tried to deal with Mellie but tonight she put the capital B in Bitch!
That's what people failed to understand Millie has said it time again how bad she wants to be President. For her to stoop so low towards to end releasing Papa Pope just shows you how far she'll go. I don't buy her victim act hell Fitz has offer her to sign the divorce papers for a while now so it's not like she didn't have a choice. Why stay in a loveless marriage & she herself had a helping hand with the affair. I laugh when they busted on her in the beginning. She has her own political agenda however I feel like it's going to be "be carful what you wish for scenarios" so a lot drama is about to go down
+Deanna Fairris I say lets cut all the BS about Mellie's valor and her sacrifice. As a Blue Blood I am sure Mellie was taught to be a certain way about politics and marriage. Perhaps she was taught to sacrifice herself, family and marriage for the Republic who knows and I can respect the fact that Mellie honors her heritage and her upbringing. BUT as a wife we all make sacrifices for our family and I would probably see things a lot different if Mellie had acted in unison with her husband when she decided to keep the rape a secret and black mail BG into helping Fitz win office. Or when she decided to give Rowan the names of the 17 jurist who were murdered. That is the way to do it, you both are on the same page and can support one another. That's what married people do, win or loose they make big LIFE changing decisions together and if they win then good, and if they dont then at least they went about it the RIGHT WAY. However in a marriage Mellie cannot make these decisions on her own, go about things in a deceptive and clandestine way then get angry or vindictive when her husband does not support her actions. I'm sorry but that looks suspect not like sacrifice.
+kirstenrox234 exactly. Getting mad at her for getting those jurors killed when he never told her who Eli was. She wouldn't have taken his money or given those names if Fitzgerald had told her who Eli was.
+shortyjo the bad thing is she now knows who Eli Pope is and is choosing to work with him...smh I'm sorry but if that doesn't make you question her true values then idk what does...
Yes thank goodness for this episode finally from here on out ima be excited to see where it's all going. I've been waiting on this for Mellie and if they cheap change her ima be pissed
I'm with kennalia, I cant stand olitz...... can't stand SUPER SELFISH, ME FIRST FITZ. Mellie: To quote the color purple(in that voice): THE DEAD HAS ARISEN!What a great episode and recap. I don't recall but did Sophia give me a #actually!? Correction: 44:01, got em!!!!
By the way in season two Olivia said: I want painful devastating hard love. This is what she was thinking throughout the seasons. Getting Married would their love still be painful devastating or hard. I don't think so. This is why she couldn't marry Edison and Fitz.
+Winner Peace it's the struggle she's after, not securing the real thing. For her the getting was always easy. She's a kid at Christmas. I wanted it, I put it on the list. I unwrapped it. Now I'm over it.
+SParkApCider Okay I see your point, and Mellie said it in this episode everything has been given to her. That is true besides the two wonderful parents that she longs for and a man in her life to love her the way she wants to be loved. Daddy may have given her everything she needed physically but emotionally he wasn't there. I do think that in some ways it is the struggle that she is after, but I also think, using your analogy, that one Christmas she will be happy with someone. Maybe it isn't Fitz or Jake and maybe it is. We forget that she has endured a lot, so I am ready for her to settle down (preferably not with Jake).
Again, the reason I say Jake and Fitz are better off without committing to her. Her baggage prevents her from having a sound relationship. Jake will never make the cut. He's too young. She needs a 'father' figure or one who has at least raised some children.
There is confusion here as Fitz told Melly that he was a man in love in the bunker after Olivia used Providence password when her name was leaked and her told Melly that he would go on high profile dates and after a while he would get close to his advisor and friend and play the race card if Melly contested it when cyrus had his heart attack in his hospital room
I'm #teammellie all the way. That "proposal" scene was the absolute worst. Fitz obviously doesn't know Liv at all if he would light a bunch of stupid candles and scatter some dumb rose petals and then have the nerve to complain about how embarrassing it was to have to ask his staff to do that for him. That should have been a clue that HELLO THEY ARE NOT GOOD TOGETHER
Liv messed up. She should have just married Fitz. She agreed to do so, then went behind his back to "fix" the situation by going to his ex-wife and basically assisted her in releasing the man who killed Fitz' son, all because she doesn't want to lose her identity and can't commit to the idea of marriage with Fitz. Fitz showed Cyrus the door for doing the same thing--helping Mellie to hide what she had done and helping Rowan to escape punishment. The expression on Fitz' face when Abby gave him back the ring was priceless. It's like, finally Liv takes two steps forward and then three steps back and she was doing so well too. Now, she is solely responsible for creating what will probably be the unholy trinity of Mellie, Rowan and Tom, and Mellie says Olivia is going to make her president? Somebody help me out here, does she mean that Mellie intends to manipulate Olivia into helping her achieve her goals? If that's the case, then Olivia will truly become "The Help" in this situation and I can't wait to see how she explains all of this to Fitz. Had Liv just married Fitz and both of them had kept their mouth shut and not had to have the last word, Mellie wouldn't have been empowered to take the next step. And as for Mellie, she showed who she truly is, aligning herself with the two people responsible for killing her son just to become President? And that eerie smile on her face? She looked crazy to me. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.
THE WTF scene of the episode: Quinn 'under Rowan's spell', leaves then tells him on arrival "I am not going to help you, Sir."This is the reason the writing, though entertaining cannot in the evening compete with other genres. Soap 101.Liv is why ff buttons were created. Her scenes would cause me to buy a new television weekly. Annoying. I was more interested in Rowan than Liv...which is the comparison to menses vs. a tooth extraction without sedation. I do agree with Sofia. Olivia is spoiled. The getting is not hard, it's the wanting it after getting it that is the trick. Declining Fitz proposal is perfection to solidifying that point. Liv doesn't respect anything she 'owns'. I loved Mellie's finale with Liv. That was boss! Someone has finally pulled Liv's Rowan card and is using it against her. She's in fear now, because Rowan has a warrior in his pocket...Mellie! Aside from that, Mellie needs to stop it with 'what I did for you'. She wanted the WH more than anyone else on the team. She made sacrifices because she couldn't be President, she pushed Fitz towards it. Just own it. I'd respect her, if she'd just own it.Mellie is going to edge herself to the WH. Susan Ross rambling with David has a purpose. Mellie is about to use her power to get what she wants, no more being used by others for their purpose. I think CartoonMellie has left the room. It is because of the phenomenal Bellamy Young that this show has energy. Bring on Mellie 2.0.
I seriously suggest that you guys go back and watch this episode again.... To think, that you think, that Fitz deserved that Mellie tirade, just saddens and baffles me, PLEASE watch it again.... Mellie loved her son and his memory so much, she is now in cahoots with his murderer and his puppet master. PLEASE watch it again.... Divorce is never ever easy, yet you believe that Fitz should always be mute and feel no acrimony, you've obviously never been married or are incredibly naive. Marriage, Sofia, is not a sacrifice, and no, most women do not surrender their identity and "sense of self" to be in a relationship.
+Fatima Kanneh I agree there is no reason why in this day and age that women have to give up anything. Mellie asks like she was a stay at home mom. She has prestige and status that a lot of women don't have and still can't get it together. The Grants had houses, nannies, and lots of money give me a break she could have been more active in keeping her dreams going. Did we skip a episode when Fitz told Mellie to stay home shackled to his ankle?
+Fatima Kanneh I am always amaze at how anyone can defend the devil simply because he sheds tears. I will respect his game, but I will never take my eyes off of him. They fall for Melle's righteous indignation all of the time. Bellamy sells it, but they get fooled by the talent of the actress I think.
Sofia, Mellie is not a warrior because she thinks with emotion.Olivia will always be Rowan's weakness and Mellie has gravely underestimated that. No matter how many times Olivia has gone against Rowan's wishes, he has always come to her side so I think Olivia still holds the cards and Mellie has no idea what she has unleashed. All the characters are flawed and Rowan is even the most flawed
+1forawl Literally! I am proud of anyone who has accomplished anything that difficult. My issue with Sophia, thought she brings another level to the conversation, it is often at the expense of the people on the panel. She agrees with them, she then says "however"...What she "Literally" is saying I really don't agree with you but I don't want you to think that I think I'm more insightful than you. There is another attorney on ABTV who recaps a show, and she is entirely enjoyable and brings her experiences into the show, but never is condescending to her co-hosts. BTW: I was sadly relieved when she loss her train of thought. I'm working on being a better person...It's a process.
I think you misunderstand me. I don't begrudge her her credentials in any way. (I have a law degree myself.) I think you and I are making the same observation. Sophia sometimes sounds as if she thinks her insights have more weight than those of her fellow commentators. I am not saying it is a turn off for her to be an attorney, I am saying it is a turn off for her to remind us of it so often. These are two very different things.
+1forawl I didn't misunderstand you, I didn't want anyone to think that my views were based on being envious of her occupation. (Kudos for you too....all about Girl Power!...I assume you were female. I apologize if you're not.lol)
+BSMART18 Joint with Karen. Mellie has primary of Teddy, both for obvious reasons. Karen is at boarding. She doesn't really reside with either one. Teddy is Mellie's 'do over' and her prize prop.
I love these three but was a little surprised they didn't seem to notice how disconnected this episode was. Liv's actions were totally out of character and the dialogue and actions of other characters also didn't fit. Someone said it was as if the writer didn't know any of the characters except Mellie. It was very disconnected from the previous episodes, with a strange new Olivia. I'm also surprised that Sophia, as analytical as she is, didn't realize that the substance of Mellies rant to Fitz made no sense. Bellamy Young should win an Emmy for her delivery but what she said was crazy. Bellamy is very talented and will always deliver but you have to listen to WHAT she says. I appreciate the insight that for Liv, living in the WH was jail- thus the title " Get Out of Jail Free". I'm just shocked they didn't mention Liv's blank look and out- of- character decisions. I get that she is commitment-phobic and afraid of being First Lady but Liv spent all of S 4 trying to bring Pope down and I can't see her turning around and springing him just to avoid marriage. Sophia was correct that many women nowadays are wary of marriage but maybe Kannellia doesn't know any of these women ( there are a lot of them). I agree with Emile that the first encounter between Liv and Mellie was moving and very satisfying but I don't think Liv was trying to be smart when she told Mellie about Papa killing Jerry; she just realized it was the right thing to do at that point. It was an intense, honest exchange between them. I like the " rise from the Phoenix" analogy from Sophie (describing Mellie.) Now I realize that's mostly what this epi was about and Bellamy delivered.
+Escales I agree with your assessment of the writing of this episode, especially regarding Mellie's rant at Fitz. For Mellie to compare the intimacy she shared with her husband to the violation she suffered by his father was simply outrageous, and the fact that even the people who support Mellie, who claim that she held on so tightly to Fitz out of love, are not even a little offended by that has me completely baffled (and not a little depressed). The violence being done to Olivia's character (and Fitz' as well) is just mindboggling.
Silas: I've found that Mellie supporters are like those fan fiction writers. They don't base their positions on things the characters have actually said and done but project their own experiences, assumptions, presumptions to bolster their arguments. It is a constantly moving goal post which puts everyone on a different page. In a debate, you are given a situation and have to go from there. You don't get to change the situation to fit your argument. If someone compiled a booklet of Mellie's dialogue and actions throughout 4 yrs of Scandal, it would reveal an unhinged woman which is why Mellie's fans don't stick to her character, as developed and portrayed on the show. Its impossible to reasonably engage when the goal post is constantly being moved. I have this theory that some of Mellie's fans are confusing Mellie with Bellamy, who is an immensely talented actress. Her delivery could convince you unless you stop to listen to the substance of what she says-- and it is usually something cray cray. Bellamy herself doesn't even take up for Mellie.
*looks for glue to reattach hair pulled out in frustration* Thank you. I also think a good many are so fixated on the 'Mellie was raped' development that she could smother baby Teddy with one of her wigs and still they would make excuses for her behavior.
This what everyone must realize I don't know why everyone thought the marriage was going to go all the way. Was people not paying attention to when Millie was testifying & before it could happen Olivia was trying to get Cyrus & Fitz to see Millie was about to be ambushed. So this is my perspective of this episode. Even if they had went through with the marriage they still would have went after Olivia just like they did Millie. When they was calling her name to testify a woman came in & disturbed those golden yellow folders with pictures of all the secrets of those people & we saw how quickly they backed off that. That was Papa Pope's doing remember he told Olivia he could make all of it go away where technically everyone would be off the hooked along with Millie setting up her agenda so she can run for President
I mean hello she using Olivia to get there. However that's going to be carful for what you wish for situation. I think with Olivia she probably don't want to be the First Lady or she's protecting Fitz from something. I do believe this season is where Papa Pope must go so between Fitz, Jake, Tom & Millie one of them will smoke him out. We all know how Shonda works it has to be drama otherwise what's the purpose of the show with exception of Olitz which I know is still going to happen just not right now cause the season just started good. All of the pieces of the puzzle will come together. So drink some 🍷, sit back, relax & watch how all this unfolds.
Wow, can't believe how easy it is for you all to forget all the things Mellie has done to Fitz. Their relationship died after the rape because Mellie chose power over love. New Found confidence Emile - Mellie can never be accused of not having confidence- she has always had that. But for some reason everyone seems to paint her as the victim now because she has lost everything. The divorce has been a long time coming. They were just dividing up property and children time at the time because they have been divorcing each other since the rape
+shortyjo they drifted apart after the rape. He did not know why until 10 years later. They have been divorcing each other since then. I think they both have so much bitterness from so many years of falling out of love
+shortyjo Do you only hear what you want to hear? Mellie not only compared sex with her husband to the act of rape, she said she wouldn't have had children *who she claims to love* if he hadn't wanted them.
Olivia was a brat this episode. I agree with Kennelia and a lot of folks that the call to Jake was some bullshit. I too was heated, but my shipper instincts let me spin it into thinking she needed Jake to be upset because she needs Jake. The tunnel w/ Mellie I am giving her the benefit of the doubt for her reasons of telling Mellie like that. I hope it came out wrong. I think she needs to be taken to task for leaving her like that and doing her beebop down the hall. I don't know maybe she did throw a dig at Mellie. I don't want to believe Liv is that conniving considering this is this woman's son. I will say I appreciate her characterization tho. She's a flawed creature under all the flawlessness. A wreck under warrior persona. Mellie too. That Fitz read tho! Mellie left the door open and everything. At that point, my girl did not give a damn. He had the nerve to call out after her. Boy please. I was screaming yes and bouncing at the end of this episode. Mellie found a way to get what she wants and destroy Fitz in the process, and Olivia helped her do it. My prayers have been answered. I think I ship Ollie more than anything. Imagine what these two can do together.
Could Olivia have revealed to Mellie who killed her son because she wanted out of the marriage with Fitz? Could she have predicted how Mellie was going to act? It's weird that Olivia is still getting what she requested of Mellie and i don't like that.
The Elease storyline is sooooo odd and random to me. Obviously based on her initial meeting with Jake, Elease is not her real name so I am shocked as to why she would give the spy name she was using in the world right now to visit Papa Pope. She did NOT make a convincing conniving spy. Poor! Thank God she is dead!! I really dont like Mellie but Fitz deserved every word she said to him!!!! He needed to hear it, so he could have a piece of humble pie!!!!!
Emile, did you really think Shonda was going to let those two get married, ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after? It's not going to happen ... this is much more fun.
Everyone calls Fitz dumb all day, and at times he definitely can be. Once again I don’t run around defending it, But MELLIE isn’t dumb for thinking she could be part of an impeachment campaign when she is still married to the man? She truly believed that the senators weren’t going to catch her in the lie of not knowing and condoning the affair? Shit Fitz passed the dream act and the Brandon bill, two things we need today in real life society. What does Mellie want to be president for, the POWER, that is it. I have never even heard her talk about any policy ideas that she has.
When Fitz or Olivia do stuff, I don't run around defending their behavior because they are grown adults. I don't blame Fitz for Olivia walking her grown ass to his hotel room in the trail and I don't blame Mellie for that. When Mellie blamed Fitz for always acting blameless I am not going to defend him because she was right, but she does the same thing, she's trying to blame her life choices as a GROWN ASS ADULT on Fitz and then people are always Woe is Mellie and pity Mellie, and championing her including these commentators, but they want rake everyone over the coals for their choices, like Mellie didn’t have a choice in all the things she stays blaming Fitz for. When Olivia acts stupid I'm not going run around defending her and putting the blame on her PTSD or Eli, why because her ass is grown. I don't know many rape victims who go around kiking with their rapist and is always making the decision to bring their rapist around and back into their lives. Now Mellie proceeds to go into cahoots with the man that killed her son, after she was doing all that hyperventilating and dry heaving against the wall, WHAT? And people around here, including these commentators are defending that shit. Olivia offering to bring back the man that Killed Fitz’s son is just plain STUPID and heartless so I’m not going to go around defending that bullshit, but when it comes to Mellie people stay defending her actions.. Mellie has always seen Fitz as her golden ticket to the white, house and her future presidency and she has lied and manipulated to get there and THOSE WERE HER GROWN ASS DECISIONS! Everyone on this show gets read all day every day on practically every episode but Mellie never does why? Last I checked dirtiest draws around skid marks and shit. Please there is an empty football stadium awaiting for all of you defenders to SIT ALL OF YOUR ASSES DOWN.
OMG YES! YOU GO MELLIE! thats the mellie i want to see cant stand Olivia and her BS and fitz right now. GO Susan! You could be a way better president than fitz. A Susan x mellie would be fantastic
+Bubby707 you described every character on the show. The reason Fitz shows his is because he shows his tantrums. Everyone else simply finesses their anger by exacting immediate revenge. He's stews and toils.
+Ladyzelda333 Liv is wishy washy. She'll be back wearing Fitz ring in the next episode and probably spreading her legs for Jake to deal with her feelings for Fitz.
I've said before I love Kerry, but Olivia has not been on my top 3 characters for two seasons and going on another. If Vermont did not include her when she was ready to retire off the good name she built (the affair never coming to light), pb&j, some lil brown babies with the last name Grant(or Pope-Grant), and playing step mom when the kids come from Mellie's so they can build a bond then she was always in lala land otherwise about the relationship & giving that man baby false hope. Like Kennelia, I'm not here for Olitz...haven't been since he lied to her about Bonnie and sweetbaby. Mellie teaming up with Popa and telling Olivia what it's gonna be gave me all kinds of Be Prepared -Scar vibes and I'm ready for her to be a SMART villain.
+Maxine Shaw,Jr. no jam? She was the one that included that in the narrative of Vermont. Fitz could care less, like any man. Like he said, men don't want marriage. They do it to get the cookie and make the cookie happy. Duh!
Watching this Scandal episode I wanted to cry for everyone except Fitz. They are all such sad individuals, well except Sally lol. They're just all so damaged but I love Mellie, and David and even Jake this episode. They did him so dirty at the end with Elise tho cause that woman would've been his exit. Now I know someone has something for Jake to do.
I feel like ppl stand on Fitz, stomp him into the ground and evolve their character. Can you imagine playing his character all the time? It's kind of a disgusting role. Will he ever evolve?
I think it's best they didn't get marry only because the season has just started & it'll cause more drama in their relationship. All of this is going to come together towards the end. However I think Jake & Fitz are going to team together to take Papa Pope out or Millie & Tom will team & take Papa Pope out. Call me crazy but I think she did it to protect him so he can finish out his presidency & something else will go down. In next week promo she is still seen with him so we shall see
+FreshArt23 I think it's best that they don't because it is not necessary. The affair is out. That bullet cannot return to the chamber. In my grief, the avenging angel is Mellie. I really want to see her rag doll Liv.
+Dwan Richardson I think Olivia has really, really enjoyed the chase and now that Fitz is ready to put her front and center I think some of the thrill maybe gone. Sort of like wanting what you don't have until you get it ... especially if it belongs to someone else.
I have no sympathy for Mellie. I didn't like her before tonight's episode and I like her even less now because she let her son's killer out of jail to further her own political aspirations, really! Nothing is sacred to her. Is she going to ask Papa Pope to accompany her on her Saturday visits to her son's grave?! I'm actually glad that Tom is back because I liked him. I can't with Olivia. I'm so tired of her vacillation between being with Fitz or not being with Fitz. I'm hopelessly team Olitz. I can't go through another season 4.
Mellie reading Fitz gave me life!!!!!!!!
I was living for when Mellie read Fitz for filth. And I'm glad someone finally told Mellie that Papa pope killed her son
+joelle gillespie I know right how could you punish her for something and she basically didn't know the truth yet you did and the whole reason she was in the mess was because of you.
+Shannon Lashley Now that she does know the truth, this loving mother has made a bargain with/freed the men who murdered her son. This is the woman(character) you support
+Sudo Ku Yes...Yes I do. Actually I'm not the hugest Mellie supporter but I was on her side tonight. Plus I don't think there is anyone on Scandal that is a Pillar of morality so the pickings are slim.
+Shannon Lashley
Every character on this show
is a hypocrite and has done wrong and is not perfect, that is the point of the
show. So why does everyone fawn and feel so much sympathy for Mellie and
treat her as Matyr? Cyrus apologized for introducing Olivia, but everyone
fails to acknowledge, that once Mellie found out about the affair, she not only
condoned it and continuously brought Olivia into their marriage time and time
again. She threw away her opportunity for real love with Andrew for HER
DESIRE TO BE PRESIDENT! That is what she has done all of the
"sacrificing for Fitz" for, even though about 90% he never asked her
to do, or had no knowledge of her doing. Everyone wants to bash FITZ all
the time, who is definitely not perfect, but as I previously said neither is
anyone else. If Fitz has been so horrible to Mellie than why does she
stay, as the saying goes fool me once, shame on you fool me twice shame on me,
at what point when someone is treating you "poorly" do you have to
take responsibility for yourself continuing to put up with it. WHY did
she do this for her own future presidency, just like Cyrus she couldn't get
their on her own so she hitched her star to his wagon. Fitz didn't even
want to run for governor this was something he was pushed into and if he had
lost the election he would have been happy to divorce Mellie and marry Olivia
then. Mellie told Fitz numerous times, that all she has ever wanted was
to be president, not to have a love back or even their partnership, but to be
president. So please stop with the Mellie pity train, the same woman who used
getting raped as a power move to manipulate her rapist into forcing his son to
run for a political office? and brought said rapist back into their lives 2.11
An Idiot, A whore and A liar, to help support Fitz's run for presidency and
then spent the entire episode buddied up to him and running after him when Fitz
hurt his feelings. Let's not forget saw her son's death as worth
something because it meant Fitz was president again, tying to opening the door
for her own presidency? IF you are going to bash FITZ or anything other
character, please be fair and ACKNOWLEDGE that Mellie's shit stinks too!
+daks84 Well said. All characters are FLAWD, but good grief Mellie is too educated and a blue breed that doesn't have to sit around and take this kind of mess, but made the choice too. She showed herself tonight again trying to keep Teddy while knowing she only did that for photo ops on her campaign for president. The fool let loose Rowan and Tom after being aware that he killed her son so that Olivia can help her be President. What part of that will Fitz be blamed for? They are no longer married so let's see what else is going to be said. Fresh off divorce and she already slit her throat by thinking she one-upped Olivia.
That damn Kennelia keeps this After Show lit. She is ALWAYS on point!
Now as for Olivia, she likes the fantasy of getting married, but she doesn't truly want that type of commitment. Lets remember, even before she met Fitz, she was engaged to Edison (the first time), but wasn't happy with him either. She was just going with the flow (relationship-wise with him), until Papa Pope caused his accident and gave her the "out" she was looking for.
+SIL POWELL I think she is very very very very afraid of losing her identity. I can understand that. She has plenty of reason to be insecure in a lot of ways. She doesn't truly understand what it means to be loved. But another point is a shotgun wedding. I'm sorry that is a fixer move and I think when you break it down; any woman in love wants the wedding of her dreams and to say I do when she is ready. She told Fitz weeks ago; we are not ready. An ensuing Scandal shouldn't force her hand because they are still at the same point. She claims him but she's not going to just put herself in a place where she becomes basically Mellie.
I really am going to give Fitz some slack only because his desire mainly comes from a place to validate her and he is very very very scared of losing her. ( she left after his son died and he tried to kill himself; a part of scandal history glossed over). He tried to make it romantic for her but he also just wants to move Olivis to the place he's always wanted her which is as his wife.
Now I am not an Olitz shipper believe it or not. I don't ship them. When their good, their good but otherwise I'm losing interest if nothing eventually moves forward.
I just find it valid to say they both still got baggage before they can be truly, deeply, profoundly happy, and that is from a place of strength in not only who they are but what they do. Don't know if it's going to happen but if it does I think it can be spectacular.
+SIL POWELL Yup, and with that being said, Fitz had better watch his back. He just might end up dead fooling with Olivia.
ahh you could be right. As we never see the full convos in Scandal lol
Right? That's how it seems now lol
When Fitz tried it with Mellie & her voice went low, "What did you say?" I just knew she was going to wreck him. It was GLORIOUS. If he can legit stand there & blame her, she can turn around & verbally destroy him. His face when she was done with him 😂I am so happy they're over, I was cheering.
Kennelia was amazing as always, I agreed with everything she said. Also loved what Sophia said about the Mellie-Fitz verbal beat down. One of my favourite Afterbuzz episodes.
I literally got on my feet and started clapping when Mellie read him. I loved it. He deserved it.
I was surprised that Fitz did this; it's usually Mellie who blames everyone else for everything wrong in her life. If you actually listen to the SUBSTANCE of what she said, it was more of an indictment on her than anything else. She stayed for 20 years as if someone forced her to, when Fitz has been wanting out for quite sometime. She suffered his touch which she compared to being raped by his father: again, what kind of woman stays with someone whose touch she finds so abhorrent. She had children because of him: this was just flat out puzzling; was having kids a bad thing? He was mediocre yet she hitched herself to him, hung on for dear life, refused to leave and was totally convinced her political aspirations were dependent on him . She basically said he was to blame for her perceived failure of the last 20 yrs of her life. What sane stable person blames another for the choices they, not the other person, made, for 20 years of bad choices. Mellie is totally unhinged but it is a testament to the immense talent of Bellamy Young that if you don't carefully dissect WHAT she says, you can find yourself impressed with, or siding with Mellie. Bellamy is absolutely brilliant.
Someone on another blog pointed out something I realize is true: with the exception of Mellie, none of the characters were written true to their characters-from Fitzs statement to Mellie (there's nothing more to take); to Fitzs statement to Olivia on the balcony ( I've got better things to do); to Cyrus's lack of action; to Huck and Quinn's lack of action when they normally would've dug up dirt on the Senate, and Olivia was totally out of character: nervous, indecisive, guilty of horrendously poor judgment (forged signature, a Mellie-Iike decision, and releasing Papa , when she spent all S4 trying to lock him up or kill him). The entire episode was curiously disconnected from the previous 5 and from the personalities of the characters, as if the writer didn't know the characters.
+Escales I agree what was the point of the last half of season 4 then I just said that in a different post!
Escales I really don't know why I always get essays by people who don't like Mellie under every comment I make here but here I go with an essay of my own.
She stayed because for the longest time she (foolishly) loved him. She wanted to make it work, she wanted her sacrifices to mean something. Fitz wanted out, who was stopping him? Because when Mellie said she was done in S2, HE came crawling back. Mellie instantly melted & forgave him. Every time he does shit, she forgives. Then when Mellie found someone else, HE put a stop to it because his jealous ass couldn't handle it even as he was screwing Olivia under the same roof. She kept her end of the bargain, supported his career at every turn but when his turn came, he wanted out. How is she wrong to be mad? How is it unfair of her to want what he owed her? She didn't quit her law firm for fun, she did it for him, he knew that, it was what he needed to run for governor. She did all that & then he has the nerve to turn to her & say she took everything from him?
She didn't want kids (after that rape, how could she) but she had them for him. Doesn't mean she didn't love them (in fact, she seemed to be the closer parent in S3) but this was a moment of grief, of anger, knowing her son died because Fitz couldn't keep it in his pants. It was her lashing out.
And I think the characters were written exactly how they are. Everything was in character.
Wow your so-called facts didn't come from actual episodes of Scandal but from your imagination. In her speech, Mellie basically admitted to not loving Fitz when she alluded to suffering his touch all those years and compared intimacy with him to a RAPE. She's also done at least 3 things in the last few weeks that have to do with her becoming president. I could literally give you quotes if I wanted to write a book about it. Mellie hitched her horse to Fitz and wouldn't let go- although she abandoned the marriage long ago. As recent as last week, Cy said Mellie had never loved Fitz, that it was all about politics but the clincher is the number of times MELLIE HAS SAID THIS. As for the characters acting untrue to their nature in Episode 6, discerning viewers will understand exactly what I'm saying but not everyone has the gift of discernment.
Yaaaaass Kenelia!! That really angered me too! I hate how Olivia uses Jake. So proud of Jake for standing up for himself.
Yes!
+honeyluv32690 she's a head case...glad Jake gave her the business. She doesn't want to grow up.
Gave her the dial tone twice. Lol
I love when Kennelia goes in on Fitz. I couldn't agree more with her thoughts on both Fitz and Olivia. Mellie was a rock star this week and I hope it continues. Bellamy Young is a freaking powerhouse and it's a pleasure to watch her. The truth bombs Mellie dropped on Fitz and Olivia were spectacular. While I would have loved to see her whoop that ass I'm happy with the way she's going. Continue the onward and upward movement Mellie be the warrior you are. I know it wasn't discussed but I loved David's scene with Susan. Even he threw some Fitz shade and I loved it. Great aftershow as always.
Oh also y'all forgot to mention when Mellie said in the bunker "why did you think he threw me out?" omgah Olivia's face afterwards LMAO! I'm so glad Mellie said that shit to her.
I can't ....I just can't!!!! Olivia is addicted to chaos!
Maya told her that season 4 finale, she loves creating problems
+Chanyl Colvin yuuuuup. She's a head case.
I've been saying for years that Olivia has issues. Lol
The rise of Mellie and Rowan hahahaha Olivia and Fitz about to bit dust
I love Rowan and Sally as over the top villain they give me life! Now Mellie might be the biggest, baddest supper villain of the all and I love it.
right!! I love Rowan and Sallie was great, as always. this was my favorite episode so far.
OMG yes!
Olivia wants their relationship to happen when it is not forced. She knows how Fitz will be if they are forced to marry so she wants the circumstances to be better. The season began with Olivia telling Fitz that they had to wait until after his presidency because they would become a spectacle. She is terrified that if they get married too soon, their relationship will not weather the storm of their spectacle. The stage was set for the way their relationship was going to pan out in the first episode of this season
That's basically what l've been saying all along. I'm glad they didn't get married right now it'll put too much on what they already have together.
+FreshArt23 so agree
I was so excited when Tom showed up at the end with Papa Pope lol
+Diamondaydreamer yassss!
totally!
You 3 are hands down the best commentators on AfterBuzz. I love that y'all love the show just as much as I do. Some of the other shows are ok, but not as good as this one. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
So...i came back cuz i couldn't find any aftershows...so here's my thing with mellie....i love her...and i hate that people don't respect her sacrifice...she sacrificed everything for HIS dream...she diminished her light so he could shine...she gave up her ambitions to help him get his...yes she knew about the affair...but at first she was hurt and trapped...because she had dreams too...and in that moment she postponed them and dealt with the pain of losing her husbands heart so that he can have his dream and hopefully she would get hers one day. She also loved him...loved him enough to stand by and let him have Olivia so that he would be his best self. Because he couldn't function and she wanted him to have his legacy. That last scene was her letting go of the last bit of love she had for him because she realized he doesn't care. He broke her heart for the last time. She could then go for her dream and not think about him and his feelings and his dreams and his pain...she didn't have to lessen her shine anymore...i'm so happy she's actually free.
+mmita she could have been free all along, at what point in your life do you have to take responsibility for your own chances and actions. same reason she was blaming Fitz for never taking responsibility, when is Mellie going to take responsibility for her own life and actions and choices. I am over grown people blaming other people for their choices, and Mellie is no different from Fitz in that regard.
Everything Mellie "sacrificed" was for self...Name one thing Mellie "sacrificed" that she didn't benefit from???
+mmita Mellie sacrifice what? She was a good breed and Fitz was good for her to attach herself to, good head of hair and charming. Fitz never asked Mellie to sacrifice anything, she knew what she wanted and attached herself to the man who was going to get her there. What woman will encourage another woman to sleep with her husband, she literally brough Liv to the Whit House. When that bastard Big Jerry raped her, in that respect, I think when Fitz found out he should have really been there for her really helped Mellie deal with that pain but Fitz is selfish, I can't imagin the shame she felt and how hard it would have been to tell him but you know something I think Mellie believed in Fitz and him becoming POTUS.
+mmita I agree, I feel like people tend to downplay how much of a sacrifice she made for Fitz, and how much she really did care about him. Also, people tend to downplay how ungrateful Fitz really is , he does the same thing to everyone with how he treated Cyrus as well
+Diamondaydreamer
Every character on this show
is a hypocrite and has done wrong and is not perfect, that is the point of the
show. So why does everyone fawn and feel so much sympathy for Mellie and
treat her as Matyr? Cyrus apologized for introducing Olivia, but everyone
fails to acknowledge, that once Mellie found out about the affair, she not only
condoned it and continuously brought Olivia into their marriage time and time
again. She threw away her opportunity for real love with Andrew for HER
DESIRE TO BE PRESIDENT! That is what she has done all of the
"sacrificing for Fitz" for, even though about 90% he never asked her
to do, or had no knowledge of her doing. Everyone wants to bash FITZ all
the time, who is definitely not perfect, but as I previously said neither is
anyone else. If Fitz has been so horrible to Mellie than why does she
stay, as the saying goes fool me once, shame on you fool me twice shame on me,
at what point when someone is treating you "poorly" do you have to
take responsibility for yourself continuing to put up with it. WHY did
she do this for her own future presidency, just like Cyrus she couldn't get
their on her own so she hitched her star to his wagon. Fitz didn't even
want to run for governor this was something he was pushed into and if he had
lost the election he would have been happy to divorce Mellie and marry Olivia
then. Mellie told Fitz numerous times, that all she has ever wanted was
to be president, not to have a love back or even their partnership, but to be
president. So please stop with the Mellie pity train, the same woman who used
getting raped as a power move to manipulate her rapist into forcing his son to
run for a political office? and brought said rapist back into their lives 2.11
An Idiot, A whore and A liar, to help support Fitz's run for presidency and
then spent the entire episode buddied up to him and running after him when Fitz
hurt his feelings. Let's not forget saw her son's death as worth
something because it meant Fitz was president again, tying to opening the door
for her own presidency? IF you are going to bash FITZ or anything other
character, please be fair and ACKNOWLEDGE that Mellie's shit stinks too!
Kennelia is the Truth!!!
"Whoop her!..... (tapping Emile on the shoulder) Emile, whoop her." lol
UUMMMMMM half way, ya'll just skipped over the fact that Rowan, fake a heart attack. DAMN!
+Vonzel Reynolds lmao. He is too much. I cannot with him.
You all rock. I loved this episode. Mellie was fabulous. I loved her and that she told everybody the truth.
I don't think that Olivia told Mellie that Papa pope killed her son to get back at her. She was tearing up the whole time. I think she did it just to finally be honest and knowing how Mellie is, it propelled her towards this new Mellie.
+DawnofA Bingo!!!! Olivia telling Mellie that after she told Mellie what was happening wasn't going to destroy her was a way for her to definitely propel Mellie FORWARD!! It was what she needed to hear, like Morpheus told Neo in The Matrix (the first one when after Neo got his hand read from The Oracle). And boy boy boy boy boy...she shut Fitz ass DOWN!! And then thought again about Olivia's offer and said gotdammit...she is in my pocket now! And she pulled out the biggest favor anyone can ever owe: The White House! If they can do it for Fitz, they can do it for Mellie! Game changer! I loved Mellie in this episode because she got her balls firmly attached and now with Rowan by her side? Her future is definitely secured! But she better be careful...Rowan is loyal to NO ONE!!!
Whoo chile you are so right about Rowan! This should be intresting!
DawnofA It's going to be very interesting because he's a viper. Not just any old snake, he is the most dangerous. If he was able to kill Elise before Jake could reach her...that should tell you something! He set his ass to work as SOON as he was given that pardon from Mellie! She may think she's dancing with the devil with Olivia but she doesn't know the devil she just released...It's gonna be so good because Fitz is going to lose his mind once he finds out that Mellie is working with the man who killed their son. Mellie is literally in bed with the devil!!!!
Sofia, do you recall what Fitz said to Olivia during the balcony scene. He told Olivia "You are WHAT I want" Did you see Olivia's full body reaction. I wondered why Fitz didn't say You are WHO I want" Olivia is not a what she is a person which means she's a who.
that mellie rant was a long time coming and i have to say Olivia is one of my spoiled characters ever written on TV
Mellie Latisha Quintasha Grant. haha, YES!!
You guys crack me up. The best after show.
This was a beautiful episode of television. I was on the edge of my seat all of the time and I was all up in my feels. Olivia, Fitz and Olivia will always be a trinity. YAASS to Mellie this episode. Either this will ruin Olitz or give me the end game that I need. #olitzforever When Mellie was going after Fitz I was so glad, but when she was blaming everything on him I did not agree with that. He isn't to blame for everything only some things. Jake shutting Liv down was amazing. Abby back at OPA made me so happy.
First and foremost how the hell do you propose to a woman while you're still wearing a wedding ring???? I know y'all saw that, I was just waiting for Kennelia to dog Fitz out for that. He didn't even take it off before their little ceremony!!! Do you think he was just planning on using the same ring??Moving on: I'm all for Mellie 2.0, but at the same time I'm gonna have to see what she's doing in a few more episodes. I've always felt that Mellie lacks conviction and she doesn't have the wherewithal to stand by anything. Even right now she is talking like she has the presidency in the bag....boo boo you don't have a campaign manager, let alone the whole team that you need to win so much as a primary . I'm just a little bit tired of getting my hopes up with Mellie just to be disappointed, because looking back, at least once a season Mellie get bold and steps up and I'm like YESSSS Mellie and then it falls flat. So I'm hoping but I'm not waiting.
+Efonteno88 We don't agree about loving Mellie right now, though I've always kinda hoped she got her own; not having anything to do with Liv and Fitz but I like your points about how random she gets. The truth bomb someone needs to drop on her is that she can tout she wants the Oval all she wants, but how doth she plan to get it/ Seriously, there is a VP and a whole line of folks who can get the office before her. Serious;y, has she really THOUGHT about the bigger picture? Liv didn't even get Fitz in; she and her band of cohorts cheated. The thing is, Mellie wont get anything without it being underhanded which is some ways is the show but I can't then root for you for cheating specially when you just cursed out a man for those exact reasons. It's can't be your affronted mantra if you too jump in the same pond if that makes sense.
Then say she gets the office; you've got eight years for America to like you and you can barely contain your emotions and make rational decisions for more than half a second. No, she's not in cahoots with Rowan; Rowan is controlling her because in the end every one has their own agendas and that she doesn't get it by no and seek out people who are actually there for her is the reason by season's end she will fail. I don't even think I want to watch the roller coaster anymore.
Any everyone is forgetting Cyrus Bean. Keeps forgetting Huck, Quinn, Jake. Mellie is stupid to keep prowling around like she doesn't have a target on her back or that she is a problem that can't go away. Cyrus statement still stands; for as weak as our gladiators can be at times; ultimately their are monsters and Mellie is a political animal. Yes she can go dark but she's still much much much to lily handed for me to take seriously as a formidiable appointment.
Honestly it is not so much loving Mellie, it is just that I'm ready to see the new Mellie that it seems like we are promised every season. Because the one that we have is just tired and irritating at this point. And it still frustrates the hell out of me that she flip flops on EVERYTHING. If Mellie says she's not gonna do something I give at the most until the next episode to switch up, its annoying and tiresome. Again it's not that I love Mellie it's that I'm beyond ready to see something different from her. I just realized while I was writing this that her character has had no real growth, in a lot of ways Mellie is the same old Mellie from 4 seasons ago. She hasn't changed we just know more about what makes her the way she is.
+Efonteno88 I get it too. It's like, if she is going to be this " New Mellie" then she has to remove herself from the Olitz bubble. If she's going to go dark, go dark; at least I can respect you as the nemesis. But she's back and forth whiny thing like she truly has no idea what she really wants but has no problem ripping up at other people doesn't read strong as much as hypocritical.
If you want to go for Olivia and Fitz's throats, then go for it instead of jumping on Rowan's vendetta. Because for all Rowan hates Olivia right now, she's blood. He wants her needing him not completely destroyed because in doing so she destroys what he thinks he's created.
He killed Mellie's son so in can hurt her relationship with Fitz while giving her what he wants; what the hell does Mellie think she's going to do with a man like that. A man she can't control, who will be controlling her. It was just the wrong move, one done emotionally and not intelligently.
Cyrus JUST SAID you can't have the oval and revenge because both takes a genius mastermind Mellie just doesn't have. I just want her to be smarter and stop with the victim woe is me card. At this point, everybody has suffered and no one is completely in the right including Olivia.
I think they may be foreshadowing her death tbh. She is a little out of control and seems to be on a lust for power without having a pot to piss on. And you're right, she does flip flop on everything. Honestly, she has more deep wrongs than Fitz. He's got one body on him and can we honestly count killing the person who admittedly tried to kill you and almost succeeded.
She has rigged an election, also had an affair, killed jurors, bribed people, openly lied to the press on numerous occasions that in any election process would be brought to life....ugh she's just got nerve to be so ballsy when she hasn't even created any type of safety net or team.
Does she really think using Olivia will get her everything she desires and threats only last so long; the reason Olivia is as successful is because she cultivates loyalty. I have plenty of issues with Olivia personally but objectively most of the time she makes the smart play and when she doesn't it's due to the influence she has crafted that keeps her steadily a winner even when she's losing.
Mellie wake up!
I just don't understand how she thinks she is getting the oval. The people saw you go on national tv tell the world that your husband had an affair....stay with that husband for like another 2 years fully acknowledging that he wasn't faithful... then get caught lying through your teeth under oath. What redeeming qualities does she have to make people forget about all that?? 2 cute kids ain't cutting it.
+Efonteno88 That she just admitted she would never have had if it wasn't for her husband. I'm a mother so I find that statement repellent completely mars the image of the grieving mother who actually despite never really showing it cares about her kids. She basically just stated they were pawns in the game of the WH for Fitz and by saying that negates the love and care she has for them. I think she probably wants to be a good mother but I can now cross that off the list of redeeming qualities she still has. How DOES she think she would get the Oval?
Honestly, Olivia is great and all but she can't get you the White House. She thinks she can fix her current problems for her and Olivia is just going to play along. Like, I just can't get behind her rationale. Alot of people are stating they can't get Liv's rationale.
Well I can! You keep your friends close and your enemies closer and now with her dad out of jail; being far from Fitz is the best way to protect him and she needs to be in to figure OUT how to take these people she knows are dangerous down. I almost feel bad for Mellie; wait no I don't. She did this the first time and she had innocent lives blood on her hands. I just don't see how she honestly believes this is a good plan. This isn't a calculated move. It's a desperate rash one
Sophia saying fitz never respected mellie. That's because he never loved her. It was a set up political marriage. It was an arrangement. Although I don't care for fitz much, it's different when a man falls in love with you versus being set up to be with you.
Thank you! I don't know why people are upset about a arranged marriage lasting when we know that's not real love
respect and love are two different things he can respect her still without loving her
+FreshArt23 exactly!!!
+kirstenrox234 that's true. He's got some nerve. I'm glad she gave him the bizness.
Olitz is a joke. Both are delusional, if they truly wanted to be together it would happen. She just wants to be a mistress.
Preach
Ahhhh haha, First I Love you all! Second, I am cracking up at how you were all so somber at the beginning of this review vs how lively you were on the last review. AWWww I feel you E. We were soon close! But in twisty Scandal style Shondaland dropped us off a cliff.
Kennelia, I am angry too! there was no point in Liv telling Mellie who killed her son. I hope Mellie woops Olivia asss! There was no tit for tat. Mellie was going in on Liv hard and Liv didn't do anything. Olivia is my girl but for the first time in my life I want Mellie to kick Liv's butt. She needs it! This is going to be a good season! Like who does that ask your boyfriend 's wife for a favor while he is divorcing her. Liv about to get that ass handed to her!
It's been plenty of times mellie should've snapped and beat the crap out of Olivia but she never does. She just starts crying.
+Pineapplescent I genuinely believe that Olivia told Mellie because she deserved to know who killed her son (and why Fitz kicked her out of the White House for helping Papa Pope). I don't think it was vindictive in any way.
+Devonte Williams Olivia didn't have any right to make that decision Mellie just told her she depise Liv and she thought in that moment was the right time to start giving Mellie the 411 about her son's death. This is a war and you bring your enemy into it so you can ask for a favor? Olivia is about to get that beat down for real now. She gonna learn when to shut up and when to have a voice. She is and was a dumbass the whole episode! Mellie get Olivia I all in! Liv should just stfu and have several seats
+Devonte Williams this comment just gave me clarity
Bring on Mellie 2.0!!!! I was so shocked when Olivia blurted out her Dad killed her son, then sashayed away and to Fitz's bed in the White House?! That was so dirty and mean! And for what? Because Mellie was correct in her assestment of her father and her entitlement.
I felt some type of way about that too
+kdskipper Liv lacks the spine necessary to be a bad ass. Mellie FTW!
Olivia's behavior in that scene is disappointing
+Laycie Ridout yes
Got to agree 👍
I was here for the Mellie read at first. Until she went into everything is because of you trope. I'm sorry but she could have left him but she chose to stay. I just can't with her. I was over the blame game. But I was glad to see her boss up, just not with Rowan and Tom. I don't get how we spent half last season watching Mellie cry over her son and turn around then let the men who killed him free! That right there makes me have no sympathy for her. She will use literally anything for a come up. If I was Olivia I would have told her I don't owe you shit. Goodnight and goodbye. . Olivia Is selfish and she will eventually lose her man because of it. She couldn't stop working for 18 damn months? Huck and Quinn could have done exactly what her murdering ass father did. I CANNOT DO B613 or LAZARUS 1 which is essentially the same damn thing.I am prayinag the narrative is different this time. Or I just cannot watch Papa Pope and them long ass monolouges. UGH!!! I knew they weren't gonna get married but I didn't think Shonda was gonna let us down like this!! I can't!!!!!
you frankly took the words right out of my mouth when it comes to mellie. I cannot feel sorry for her because everything she's done was for her OWN benefit essentially not fitz. Fitz never asked her to do shit! She coulda been left fitz but she was like, I need to be attached to him and make him governor then president so I can ease my way into the oval. That's all. I appreciated the read and shade she gave fitz and he deserved it, but honestly Mellie brought everything on herself so no, I don't feel sorry for her and like u said Olivia owes her nothing. mellie damn near encouraged that affair and pushed Olivia back into his arms. have several seats mellie because you tried it
+DawnofA Yes. I ff through her 'read' because she is there for self, even stealing that election.
+SParkApCider exactly. i tune out when Mellie starts ranting. change the record.
+DawnofA I can't with Mellie either and you said it perfectly. We spent the whole last season watching her grieve and mourn her sons death. Only for her to allow his murderer to be set free by granting him a pardon. Did she forge Fit's handwriting or did she pardon him as a Senator because I recall Liv thinking about Mellie saying she can forge Fitz's handwriting when he was shot. So Olivia not only went along with this act of deceit but helped conspire it as well. Wow Liv I thought you and Fitz agreed no more secrets. Then in the next episode she is shown telling Fitzgerald her father escaped. Like Mellie won't eventually tell him the truth because she is so vindictive right now. We know she wants to become the next president but she better hope her skeletons dont come out anytime soon.
+DawnofAge: Olivia gave Mellie the goods by asking her to forge Fitz's signature on pardons for Eli and Tom. Olivia was bipolar in this episode. She had a blank unfocused stare and was extremely selfish toward Fitz- not for refusing the shotgun wedding, I get that, but for releasing his son's murderer and lying to him about it. Also for not personally returning his ring and being generally shitty to him. She is so afraid of her feelings that she is sabotaging the relationship. They are making Liv unlikeable. You're right about Eli's long rants and I hope we don't see too much of him this season. SR and her writers must have limited imagination.
bellamy is so underrated, that woman deserves some emmy or golden globe, something, she has given realness, this episode was proof.
olivia can do whatever she wants, i'm okay with that. if she were a dude no one would be wanting to kick her ass for how she is behaving toward fitz or jake. she would just be doing what she's gotta do. double standard in full effect here people.
i do have to give her major side eye about telling mellie about papa pope killing little jerry. HOWEVER it could be that after mellie went off about olivia and her daddy olivia felt it was right for mellie to know the truth about how jerry died. so basically olivia was saying "you think you know how big a devil my dad is? well how about this, he killed your son." (drops mike)
Emil, Kennelia, Sofia, you guys rock. You are without a doubt the best commentators on afterbuzz. I do feel for you Emil. You really wanted an Olitz wedding, didn't ya? I did too but I was pretty sure it wasn't going down in this episode, but I did have hopes that it would either come in the winter finale or by the end of the season. Cause' let's face it, no Olitzer wants to settle for some shotgun wedding, do we? We don't want Olivia to get married with a Betsy Ross ring that Charlotte picked out; we don't want Olitz to get married in the Oval; and we don't want Olivia to get married in a faux wedding dress no matter how beautiful she looked. We want the REAL DEAL. We want Olivia to WANT to marry Fitz, to embrace it and to plan it and for this wedding to be the classiest and most fantastic wedding of all weddings. And we want a complete and whole Olitz who have finally worked through all their problems, drama and turmoil, who have finally pulled up their big girl/big boy panties/boxers and who have finally matured into grown adults ready to embark on a real relationship. So if we all have to suffer a while longer for Olivia to get her head out of her butt and for Fitz to finally realize that he's divorced now and can take off his wedding ring, I can wait.
As for Sofia and Kennelia, you two are crazy and I loved that you had to agree to disagree. Can't wait until next week and I hope Bamm will be back as he was missed.
my sentiments exactly!
The marriage scene with Fitz and Olivia showed the dichotomy of power - why does Mellie want the Presidency so much when Mellie calls the White House a prison. The layers upon layers that are being peeled away this season are amazing
+Catherine Duffy Because then she can say everyone really does love her *pretending is what's real*
+Silas Ray not sure I understand what you are saying
+Catherine Duffy What Mellie seems to crave most is external validation. When her father left her mother for another woman (of an apparently lower caste) Mellie appears to have internalized his abandonment as a rejection not just of his 'family life' as it existed at the time, but of his wife's archetype (Mellie's mirror, I'm guessing). When Big Gerry proposed the *merger* marriage with Fitz he was validating all Mellie, the pedigreed southern belle, would likely have been told all her life about her life. . .that she was destined to be the prized mate of an important and powerful man, that her father's leaving was a reflection of his no doubt inferior lineage (his daddy ran liquor remember) and not because his wife was a frigid, stuck-up shrew (how far from the tree could Mellie's apple really fall?). Honestly, I'm just pulling guesses out of my a#$, but what else would explain why a Harvard educated lawyer who had made partner at her firm, agreed to give it all up for a man she didn't know *he was very rich* or love *and so very yummy* all because he might maybe one day be *king* president? And now 20 years later, her powerful president husband has not only left her for another woman (in Mellie's view, also of a lower caste) and with the whole world watching, but the children she had to please her husband *optics* don't fulfill her, and she's done nothing during her tenure as political spouse to put her education or professional training to any practical use. . .how else will everyone judge whether her life has fulfilled the potential for greatness she's always known *been told* she possessed but was unwilling to work *on her own* to achieve?
Silas Ray Interesting perspective
Was I the only one who wanted Emile to sing the whole Adele-song - "Hello" :)
Was I hallucinating or was Tom standing there with Rowan at the end?????
Yes....the Top Goon was back with Papa Pope
+Ladyzelda333 Tom in the shadows was the best part of the episode. Seriously, why am I more interested in him and his motivations then I am in anyone else at the moment. I think Scandal needs fresh blood. Don't forget his strange monologue to Olivia. Seriously I'm so tired of so tired of some of these characters. I'd take a case of the week instead of Mellie, Rowan, Jake, and whoever his wife is.
+Ladyzelda333 I was screaming at the top of my lungs when I saw him. I guess Rowan needed a new/old minion/sidekick and got Mellie to bust him out too. She is really good at forging Fitz' signature, ain't she?
Also, I wonder if it was Tom who did Elise in at the train station fresh out of prison. Papa Pope had to realize that Elise had turned on him and exacted his vengeance. And now Jake is permanently wifeless. Maybe he'll start taking Olivia's calls again.
+Christina Jones
I always love Tom. Papa pope will be surprise by him.
I think he genuinely loves Fitz
+Nathalie FROM FRANCE Agreed!!!!!! I think people are forgetting Tom and his dedication to Fitz above all else not to mention his guilt is ready and his fascination with Olivia is also real. I want more from Tom and I can't think they brought him back just to keep him as Rowan's bitch. He already took the fall for him....we just need new blood in the mix
olivia is damaged.. the reason why she loved the idea of her and the president,was because it's messy and like she told eddison she loves the pain and drama.. everything was becoming simply and too easy and olivia don't want that,she loves drama.. olivia has daddy issues, her relationship with Fitz is a sick substitute.. I find Olitz to be sickening.. olivia needs therapy, intensive therapy to get her daddy issues under control
+Daisy Bloom no one in this case have room to talk, millie isn't my girl, but I did love her reading liv and Fitz for the flit they are... olivia is disgusting, no better than a trashy piece of ass, at least with millie it's about furthering her career, olivia sleeping in Fitz and millie bed is disgusting,she has no class.. I don't know how you people put down millie but celebrate Olivia's trashy behavior
+Daisy Bloom Am not going to do the back and forth thing with you... Let's agree to disagree because I already stated not one have the room to judge,but celebrating Olitz nasty behavior while bashing millie isn't flying with me, so like I said Let's keep it moving
+Daisy Bloom you're the one who felt the need to comment on my post, so I think you need to dismiss yourself... SMH
+camille hylton Wow! You are down on Olivia, remember, she is just acting a part ... that the writers wrote for her.
+Tigerkhan Short olivia is a fictional character, I just gave me opinion on the character... kerry Washington on the other hand is a different story, I adore her
Totally agree with Kannelia!!
What about papa pope fight scene?!
The vice president??
TOOOMMM!
Lazarus 1?
we didn't spend too much time on that... Olitz has my eyes rolling. enoughhhh please
I love me some Kennelia!!!! And i agreed with her when she said she thinks Olivia was just scared because she had to make a choice.
I don't understand how everyone don't thinks Fitz a spoiled brat!
+Rolonda Swinton Who on the show is not a spoiled brat? Everyone wants what they want.
+Rolonda Swinton He is, and he's in the line with the entire lot.
Kennilia you're the bomb!! I'm tired of Scanda and now Rowan's back...blah, blah. Olivia doesn't know what she wants and I was so mad when she called Jake ....wtf? the show is becoming trivial to me. I only watch so I can come to Afterbuzz and watch your commentary. You are better than Scandal. See you next week.
Damn Sophia talks a lot......... shit
Anyway, give Bellamy Young an Emmy!!
She's a lawyer, she can't help it. lol
+Dennis K. i see lol
+Dime Damai Yes on ALL counts.I need Sophia to LITERALLY step away from literally. I did the drinking game every time Sophia said "Literally" and let's just say that I was drunk 10 minutes into the show.
LaRae Carter lol great way to get drunk
Valerie Williams i think they are both good. Idk which is better
Look back at the past shows. Jerry did not die due to Olivia. Eli did not do this to keep Olivia from Fitz. Eli had Tom kill Jerry to get back at Fitz for how he treated him during interrogations and for firing him and replacing him with Jake. You all are too emotional and are reading into things too much. Also, you are forgetting the nuances of past shows. Also, Olivia would never use Jerry's death to get back at Mellie. She was letting Mellie know that the reason Fitz was so upset about the jurors was because Mellie unknowingly made a deal with the devil that killed their son. If Mellie had been told the truth about Jerry's death, then the jurors would still be alive. She would not have allowed conversation with Eli. Olivia just felt it was finally time for Mellie to know the truth. Also, this was a sacrifice on her part because she knew that Mellie (like you all) would blame her for the death of her child. Olivia's misplaced self-inflicted guilt over the death of Jerry was and still is apparent.
+anime seh Eli said, you took my child, so I took yours. In the end, it served many purposes. But it is what Eli said it meant for him is what resonates as truth.
totally agree . also I do believe that when rowan told harrison that fitz took his child so he ( rowan ) took his . he was not talking about olivia . I do believe that rowan was talking about fitz taking away his precious job as command at b613 .
Wow Sophia, Kennelia and Emile - deep episode, deep review / discussion. Love Scandal. Love your review. I don't even think that Liv knows what she's looking for. Maybe it's to always chase love and never catch it. And Mellie is 'done' with both Fitz and Liv. I LOVE Liv. I RESPECT Mellie. Mellie is getting ready to go into super human/super hero mode. Whoa!!!!
Sophia's necklace is on point
Team Fitz... as always. Team Olivia. I also love this Mellie 2.0. But, pay attention to Susan Ross. She will wanted more and more being president.
I would love to see Olivia read Mellie; call her out on her complicity and the reason for her initial acceptance of the affair.
Some fans will blindly defend Olivia no matter what. Because of their love for the character, and the actress. But it's refreshing when viewers can look at a character's actions objectively and admit when the character they love is in the wrong. Olivia calling Jake to ask permission to marry Fitz WAS wrong on so many levels and did not paint Olivia in a positive light. Her "entitlement", as Sophia calls it, is not endearing. It's annoying and makes her unlikable. I also hated Olivia's little jab at Mellie in the tunnel.. "Oh by the way, my dad killed Jerry". She said it so casually and matter-of-factly and then just walked away as Mellie started sobbing. That was heartless and cold blooded and so unnecessary. I understand that they are trying to make Olivia a real and flawed character, but please don't turn her into a character that is not even worth rooting for. And it seems that's what they're starting to do. I agree with Kannelia's assessment. She was spot on about Olivia, as usual.
+dancingjoy0788 exactly. Liv/Kerry are up for discussion, true dissecting like everyone else. Flawed, but not worth the effort of defending. Whenever I find myself cheering more for Mellie/Bellamy and Rowan who I despise, it is clear that Elvis has left the building.
+dancingjoy0788 And that is my problem with Scandal and the show, once Mellie got raped, they turned Olivia, just plain dumb, I though Kerry and Olivia were the stars of the show not Mellie/Bellamy. Don't give me the Kerry can't act, because you can only do so mucH with what your given. They continue to provide Mellie with better material, time and time again. Will there ever be a day when Mellie gets read for the bullshit she's done? Because her draws have skidmarks like everyone else, just plain dirty and stank.
+daks84 Kerry can more than hold her own with Bellamy or anyone on that show. The problem as I see it is the writers *named Shonda* have apparently decided she will never be allowed to respond to any of Mellie's insults, digs or tirades with the same passion and precision she showed Edison in 'Criminal, Whore, Idiot and Liar'. Every time Mellie calls Olivia a whore, she is too 'ashamed' to point out that of the two of them Mellie*originalwhore* is the one who actually sold herself into marriage for a job; which she followed up by getting on her knees for Andrew *calling Karen as a witness*. . .I don't think Olivia knows Mellie played let's make a deal with our rapist the day after Fitz' father violated her. Fitz as well has been made to take insult after insult from his shrew of a wife because stepping out on your arranged*dead* marriage is apparently worse than being a self-involved, self-important, entitled #@!$ who'd rather not have given birth to her own children. Mellie was raped, and she sometimes spouts *but doesn't live* tired feminist dogma (while Olivia actually lives the life of a modern, empowered female) so everyone who is important on this show has been made to bow down to this cow. Moo! indeed.
Hello fellow gladiators! I love Shonda for her literary genius and the power to create episodes that are emotionally charged and thought provoking. Initially I was completely devastated after watching this episode. I love the way the writers cause us to show compassion for characters who are flawed. In this episode I watched my fav, Olivia, grow as a person. There is NOTING wrong with self preservation. She has every right to push the pause button on the proposal if the situation is messy. Olitz deserves more than a shot gun wedding and a rushed engagement. Olivia stated in previous episodes that she wanted her OPA business and her relationship behind the "scene" to be fixed to ensure marital success. Not loving Mellie this episode playing the victim. How dare Mellie try to play the women scored card when she pimped Olivia out to your husband as long as it suited her needs. Now Mellie is working with the man that killed your son...now that is disgusting! My prediction are that Mellie was apart of the attempted assassination of the president in season three and that she played a part in the death of her son Jerry. Mellie is in love with the power and fame of the white house. Missed Cyrus this episode. Abby needs to capitalize on her opportunity to show that she can handle crisis. I love Jake for throwing shade to Olivia. Olivia uses other men for a good time when she is feeling low. I can't wait until Mama Pope returns to help her daughter FIX her life. Daddy Pope can not be trusted!
Am I the only episode to see how the families react to Olitz i.e. Karen, Maya, Mellie's family (parents, sister, etc.)?
This is the thing, regardless of how much Olivia loves Fitz, she still carrying this "Chinese Wall". Her affair with a president in its self is a Chinese wall,
Yeah never understood the reason Quinn went to the hospital lol
I think she killed Alise(?)
The only redeeming quality of Rowan's return is that TOM IS BACK ********
and Jake left Liv to her thoughts about being the confidant (through and through)
+보ㅙ모 yes
Yup
I love Sophia :) opinions on point
yassss kennilia preach call em out lol
I was screaming at the screen for Olivia to tell Fitz about Rowan R.I.P Olitz 😢😢😢
Eli said that he raised Olivia to feel just as entitled as a white man and she acts entitled. Olivia has no clue she's wrong until someone checks her.
+Christine Pembleton precisely. I love it when she gets read, and that deer in the headlights look ensues. It's so yummy!
So true!
MISSED BAMM!
Did anyone notice that Olivia was drinking whiskey instead of wine when she was mulling over getting married?
+1forawl she coming full circle...expecting her to keep a flask in that purse soon.
+SParkApCider lol
+SParkApCider That's funny! She certainly needs one!
I noticed it. Lol.
Mellie is so evil! She never wants to take responsibility for her actions...I loved watching the part where the committee chewed her out...all Mellie wants to do is live a lie...and as far as the scene when Mellie and Liv met...I think Liv got tired of hearing Mellie talk down to her so yeah sometimes you gotta hit ppl where it hurts...and finally how in the hell do you release the man who killed your son...shows how much she wants the power...if she could she would sacrifice baby teddy to become president...I've tried to deal with Mellie but tonight she put the capital B in Bitch!
That's what people failed to understand Millie has said it time again how bad she wants to be President. For her to stoop so low towards to end releasing Papa Pope just shows you how far she'll go. I don't buy her victim act hell Fitz has offer her to sign the divorce papers for a while now so it's not like she didn't have a choice. Why stay in a loveless marriage & she herself had a helping hand with the affair. I laugh when they busted on her in the beginning. She has her own political agenda however I feel like it's going to be "be carful what you wish for scenarios" so a lot drama is about to go down
neither does Fitz!!! he was the one that wanted to blame everything on her
+Deanna Fairris I say lets cut all the BS about Mellie's valor and her sacrifice. As a Blue Blood I am sure Mellie was taught to be a certain way about politics and marriage. Perhaps she was taught to sacrifice herself, family and marriage for the Republic who knows and I can respect the fact that Mellie honors her heritage and her upbringing. BUT as a wife we all make sacrifices for our family and I would probably see things a lot different if Mellie had acted in unison with her husband when she decided to keep the rape a secret and black mail BG into helping Fitz win office. Or when she decided to give Rowan the names of the 17 jurist who were murdered. That is the way to do it, you both are on the same page and can support one another. That's what married people do, win or loose they make big LIFE changing decisions together and if they win then good, and if they dont then at least they went about it the RIGHT WAY. However in a marriage Mellie cannot make these decisions on her own, go about things in a deceptive and clandestine way then get angry or vindictive when her husband does not support her actions. I'm sorry but that looks suspect not like sacrifice.
+kirstenrox234 exactly. Getting mad at her for getting those jurors killed when he never told her who Eli was. She wouldn't have taken his money or given those names if Fitzgerald had told her who Eli was.
+shortyjo the bad thing is she now knows who Eli Pope is and is choosing to work with him...smh I'm sorry but if that doesn't make you question her true values then idk what does...
Yes thank goodness for this episode finally from here on out ima be excited to see where it's all going. I've been waiting on this for Mellie and if they cheap change her ima be pissed
I'm with kennalia, I cant stand olitz...... can't stand SUPER SELFISH, ME FIRST FITZ. Mellie: To quote the color purple(in that voice): THE DEAD HAS ARISEN!What a great episode and recap. I don't recall but did Sophia give me a #actually!? Correction: 44:01, got em!!!!
By the way in season two Olivia said: I want painful devastating hard love. This is what she was thinking throughout the seasons. Getting Married would their love still be painful devastating or hard. I don't think so. This is why she couldn't marry Edison and Fitz.
+Winner Peace it's the struggle she's after, not securing the real thing. For her the getting was always easy. She's a kid at Christmas. I wanted it, I put it on the list. I unwrapped it. Now I'm over it.
+SParkApCider Okay I see your point, and Mellie said it in this episode everything has been given to her. That is true besides the two wonderful parents that she longs for and a man in her life to love her the way she wants to be loved. Daddy may have given her everything she needed physically but emotionally he wasn't there. I do think that in some ways it is the struggle that she is after, but I also think, using your analogy, that one Christmas she will be happy with someone. Maybe it isn't Fitz or Jake and maybe it is. We forget that she has endured a lot, so I am ready for her to settle down (preferably not with Jake).
Again, the reason I say Jake and Fitz are better off without committing to her. Her baggage prevents her from having a sound relationship. Jake will never make the cut. He's too young. She needs a 'father' figure or one who has at least raised some children.
There is confusion here as Fitz told Melly that he was a man in love in the bunker after Olivia used Providence password when her name was leaked and her told Melly that he would go on high profile dates and after a while he would get close to his advisor and friend and play the race card if Melly contested it when cyrus had his heart attack in his hospital room
I'm #teammellie all the way. That "proposal" scene was the absolute worst. Fitz obviously doesn't know Liv at all if he would light a bunch of stupid candles and scatter some dumb rose petals and then have the nerve to complain about how embarrassing it was to have to ask his staff to do that for him. That should have been a clue that HELLO THEY ARE NOT GOOD TOGETHER
That scene was so bold and the beautiful. Corny as hell
Liv messed up. She should have just married Fitz. She agreed to do so, then went behind his back to "fix" the situation by going to his ex-wife and basically assisted her in releasing the man who killed Fitz' son, all because she doesn't want to lose her identity and can't commit to the idea of marriage with Fitz. Fitz showed Cyrus the door for doing the same thing--helping Mellie to hide what she had done and helping Rowan to escape punishment. The expression on Fitz' face when Abby gave him back the ring was priceless. It's like, finally Liv takes two steps forward and then three steps back and she was doing so well too. Now, she is solely responsible for creating what will probably be the unholy trinity of Mellie, Rowan and Tom, and Mellie says Olivia is going to make her president? Somebody help me out here, does she mean that Mellie intends to manipulate Olivia into helping her achieve her goals? If that's the case, then Olivia will truly become "The Help" in this situation and I can't wait to see how she explains all of this to Fitz. Had Liv just married Fitz and both of them had kept their mouth shut and not had to have the last word, Mellie wouldn't have been empowered to take the next step. And as for Mellie, she showed who she truly is, aligning herself with the two people responsible for killing her son just to become President? And that eerie smile on her face? She looked crazy to me. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.
She obviously didn't want to marry him. That was clear.
THE WTF scene of the episode: Quinn 'under Rowan's spell', leaves then tells him on arrival "I am not going to help you, Sir."This is the reason the writing, though entertaining cannot in the evening compete with other genres. Soap 101.Liv is why ff buttons were created. Her scenes would cause me to buy a new television weekly. Annoying. I was more interested in Rowan than Liv...which is the comparison to menses vs. a tooth extraction without sedation. I do agree with Sofia. Olivia is spoiled. The getting is not hard, it's the wanting it after getting it that is the trick. Declining Fitz proposal is perfection to solidifying that point. Liv doesn't respect anything she 'owns'. I loved Mellie's finale with Liv. That was boss! Someone has finally pulled Liv's Rowan card and is using it against her. She's in fear now, because Rowan has a warrior in his pocket...Mellie! Aside from that, Mellie needs to stop it with 'what I did for you'. She wanted the WH more than anyone else on the team. She made sacrifices because she couldn't be President, she pushed Fitz towards it. Just own it. I'd respect her, if she'd just own it.Mellie is going to edge herself to the WH. Susan Ross rambling with David has a purpose. Mellie is about to use her power to get what she wants, no more being used by others for their purpose. I think CartoonMellie has left the room. It is because of the phenomenal Bellamy Young that this show has energy. Bring on Mellie 2.0.
I seriously suggest that you guys go back and watch this episode again....
To think, that you think, that Fitz deserved that Mellie tirade, just saddens and baffles me, PLEASE watch it again....
Mellie loved her son and his memory so much, she is now in cahoots with his murderer and his puppet master. PLEASE watch it again....
Divorce is never ever easy, yet you believe that Fitz should always be mute and feel no acrimony, you've obviously never been married or are incredibly naive. Marriage, Sofia, is not a sacrifice, and no, most women do not surrender their identity and "sense of self" to be in a relationship.
+Fatima Kanneh I agree.
+Fatima Kanneh I agree there is no reason why in this day and age that women have to give up anything. Mellie asks like she was a stay at home mom. She has prestige and status that a lot of women don't have and still can't get it together. The Grants had houses, nannies, and lots of money give me a break she could have been more active in keeping her dreams going. Did we skip a episode when Fitz told Mellie to stay home shackled to his ankle?
+Fatima Kanneh I am always amaze at how anyone can defend the devil simply because he sheds tears. I will respect his game, but I will never take my eyes off of him. They fall for Melle's righteous indignation all of the time. Bellamy sells it, but they get fooled by the talent of the actress I think.
Why does it sadden you?
Sofia, Mellie is not a warrior because she thinks with emotion.Olivia will always be Rowan's weakness and Mellie has gravely underestimated that. No matter how many times Olivia has gone against Rowan's wishes, he has always come to her side so I think Olivia still holds the cards and Mellie has no idea what she has unleashed. All the characters are flawed and Rowan is even the most flawed
Kennelia, you kept talking about Mellie whipping Olivia. You think Olivia would just stand there and do nothing? It's not going to happen.
It's a bit of a turn off when S refers (too often) to the fact that she has been to law school.
+1forawl Literally! I am proud of anyone who has accomplished anything that difficult. My issue with Sophia, thought she brings another level to the conversation, it is often at the expense of the people on the panel. She agrees with them, she then says "however"...What she "Literally" is saying I really don't agree with you but I don't want you to think that I think I'm more insightful than you. There is another attorney on ABTV who recaps a show, and she is entirely enjoyable and brings her experiences into the show, but never is condescending to her co-hosts.
BTW: I was sadly relieved when she loss her train of thought. I'm working on being a better person...It's a process.
I think you misunderstand me. I don't begrudge her her credentials in any way.
(I have a law degree myself.)
I think you and I are making the same observation. Sophia sometimes sounds as if she thinks her insights have more weight than those of her fellow commentators. I am not saying it is a turn off for her to be an attorney, I am saying it is a turn off for her to remind us of it so often. These are two very different things.
+1forawl I didn't misunderstand you, I didn't want anyone to think that my views were based on being envious of her occupation. (Kudos for you too....all about Girl Power!...I assume you were female. I apologize if you're not.lol)
Serious question. Who has primary custody of Karen and Teddy?
+BSMART18 Needs to be Child Protective Services if you ask me.
+BSMART18 Joint with Karen. Mellie has primary of Teddy, both for obvious reasons. Karen is at boarding. She doesn't really reside with either one. Teddy is Mellie's 'do over' and her prize prop.
SParkApCider I totally agree it's for optics only.
Mellie has been through so much can she win just a little
There is nothing weak about Fitz!!!
Chile I need a Mellie Spin off!!!!!
I love these three but was a little surprised they didn't seem to notice how disconnected this episode was. Liv's actions were totally out of character and the dialogue and actions of other characters also didn't fit. Someone said it was as if the writer didn't know any of the characters except Mellie. It was very disconnected from the previous episodes, with a strange new Olivia. I'm also surprised that Sophia, as analytical as she is, didn't realize that the substance of Mellies rant to Fitz made no sense. Bellamy Young should win an Emmy for her delivery but what she said was crazy. Bellamy is very talented and will always deliver but you have to listen to WHAT she says. I appreciate the insight that for Liv, living in the WH was jail- thus the title " Get Out of Jail Free". I'm just shocked they didn't mention Liv's blank look and out- of- character decisions. I get that she is commitment-phobic and afraid of being First Lady but Liv spent all of S 4 trying to bring Pope down and I can't see her turning around and springing him just to avoid marriage. Sophia was correct that many women nowadays are wary of marriage but maybe Kannellia doesn't know any of these women ( there are a lot of them). I agree with Emile that the first encounter between Liv and Mellie was moving and very satisfying but I don't think Liv was trying to be smart when she told Mellie about Papa killing Jerry; she just realized it was the right thing to do at that point. It was an intense, honest exchange between them. I like the " rise from the Phoenix" analogy from Sophie (describing Mellie.) Now I realize that's mostly what this epi was about and Bellamy delivered.
+Escales I agree with your assessment of the writing of this episode, especially regarding Mellie's rant at Fitz. For Mellie to compare the intimacy she shared with her husband to the violation she suffered by his father was simply outrageous, and the fact that even the people who support Mellie, who claim that she held on so tightly to Fitz out of love, are not even a little offended by that has me completely baffled (and not a little depressed). The violence being done to Olivia's character (and Fitz' as well) is just mindboggling.
Silas: I've found that Mellie supporters are like those fan fiction writers. They don't base their positions on things the characters have actually said and done but project their own experiences, assumptions, presumptions to bolster their arguments. It is a constantly moving goal post which puts everyone on a different page. In a debate, you are given a situation and have to go from there. You don't get to change the situation to fit your argument. If someone compiled a booklet of Mellie's dialogue and actions throughout 4 yrs of Scandal, it would reveal an unhinged woman which is why Mellie's fans don't stick to her character, as developed and portrayed on the show. Its impossible to reasonably engage when the goal post is constantly being moved. I have this theory that some of Mellie's fans are confusing Mellie with Bellamy, who is an immensely talented actress. Her delivery could convince you unless you stop to listen to the substance of what she says-- and it is usually something cray cray. Bellamy herself doesn't even take up for Mellie.
*looks for glue to reattach hair pulled out in frustration* Thank you. I also think a good many are so fixated on the 'Mellie was raped' development that she could smother baby Teddy with one of her wigs and still they would make excuses for her behavior.
+Silas Ray Poor baby Teddy. Although he's toddler Teddy now, so maybe he could fight back.
Silas: lol.
what about the music at the end tho.
This what everyone must realize I don't know why everyone thought the marriage was going to go all the way. Was people not paying attention to when Millie was testifying & before it could happen Olivia was trying to get Cyrus & Fitz to see Millie was about to be ambushed. So this is my perspective of this episode. Even if they had went through with the marriage they still would have went after Olivia just like they did Millie. When they was calling her name to testify a woman came in & disturbed those golden yellow folders with pictures of all the secrets of those people & we saw how quickly they backed off that. That was Papa Pope's doing remember he told Olivia he could make all of it go away where technically everyone would be off the hooked along with Millie setting up her agenda so she can run for President
I mean hello she using Olivia to get there. However that's going to be carful for what you wish for situation. I think with Olivia she probably don't want to be the First Lady or she's protecting Fitz from something. I do believe this season is where Papa Pope must go so between Fitz, Jake, Tom & Millie one of them will smoke him out. We all know how Shonda works it has to be drama otherwise what's the purpose of the show with exception of Olitz which I know is still going to happen just not right now cause the season just started good. All of the pieces of the puzzle will come together. So drink some 🍷, sit back, relax & watch how all this unfolds.
+FreshArt23 Love your optimism.
Wow, can't believe how easy it is for you all to forget all the things Mellie has done to Fitz. Their relationship died after the rape because Mellie chose power over love. New Found confidence Emile - Mellie can never be accused of not having confidence- she has always had that. But for some reason everyone seems to paint her as the victim now because she has lost everything. The divorce has been a long time coming. They were just dividing up property and children time at the time because they have been divorcing each other since the rape
So if Mellie chose power over love by marrying Fitzgerald, didn't he do the same thing when he married her?
+shortyjo yes but he does not blame her for it as she does every moment she can. Fitz fell in love with her after they had been together for a while
+Catherine Duffy if that were true he wouldn't have talked to her the way he did when she was signing the divorce papers.
+shortyjo they drifted apart after the rape. He did not know why until 10 years later. They have been divorcing each other since then. I think they both have so much bitterness from so many years of falling out of love
+shortyjo Do you only hear what you want to hear? Mellie not only compared sex with her husband to the act of rape, she said she wouldn't have had children *who she claims to love* if he hadn't wanted them.
Olivia was a brat this episode. I agree with Kennelia and a lot of folks that the call to Jake was some bullshit. I too was heated, but my shipper instincts let me spin it into thinking she needed Jake to be upset because she needs Jake.
The tunnel w/ Mellie I am giving her the benefit of the doubt for her reasons of telling Mellie like that. I hope it came out wrong. I think she needs to be taken to task for leaving her like that and doing her beebop down the hall. I don't know maybe she did throw a dig at Mellie. I don't want to believe Liv is that conniving considering this is this woman's son.
I will say I appreciate her characterization tho. She's a flawed creature under all the flawlessness. A wreck under warrior persona. Mellie too.
That Fitz read tho! Mellie left the door open and everything. At that point, my girl did not give a damn. He had the nerve to call out after her. Boy please.
I was screaming yes and bouncing at the end of this episode. Mellie found a way to get what she wants and destroy Fitz in the process, and Olivia helped her do it. My prayers have been answered. I think I ship Ollie more than anything. Imagine what these two can do together.
Could Olivia have revealed to Mellie who killed her son because she wanted out of the marriage with Fitz? Could she have predicted how Mellie was going to act? It's weird that Olivia is still getting what she requested of Mellie and i don't like that.
The Elease storyline is sooooo odd and random to me. Obviously based on her initial meeting with Jake, Elease is not her real name so I am shocked as to why she would give the spy name she was using in the world right now to visit Papa Pope. She did NOT make a convincing conniving spy. Poor! Thank God she is dead!!
I really dont like Mellie but Fitz deserved every word she said to him!!!! He needed to hear it, so he could have a piece of humble pie!!!!!
Because it was Rowan that orchestrated "Elease and Jake"
It would be strange to go otherwise
Eli Pope... CODENAME: Rowan
Emile, did you really think Shonda was going to let those two get married, ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after? It's not going to happen ... this is much more fun.
Everyone calls Fitz dumb all day, and at times he definitely can be. Once again I don’t run around defending it, But MELLIE isn’t dumb for thinking she could be part of an impeachment campaign when she is still married to the man? She truly believed that the senators weren’t going to catch her in the lie of not knowing and condoning the affair? Shit Fitz passed the dream act and the Brandon bill, two things we need today in real life society. What does Mellie want to be president for, the POWER, that is it. I have never even heard her talk about any policy ideas that she has.
What did the JURORS see in those envelopes???
scandal is a bit slow for me this season
When Fitz or Olivia do stuff, I don't run around defending their behavior because they are grown adults. I don't blame Fitz for Olivia walking her grown ass to his hotel room in the trail and I don't blame Mellie for that. When Mellie blamed Fitz for always acting blameless I am not going to defend him because she was right, but she does the same thing, she's trying to blame her life choices as a GROWN ASS ADULT on Fitz and then people are always Woe is Mellie and pity Mellie, and championing her including these commentators, but they want rake everyone over the coals for their choices, like Mellie didn’t have a choice in all the things she stays blaming Fitz for. When Olivia acts stupid I'm not going run around defending her and putting the blame on her PTSD or Eli, why because her ass is grown. I don't know many rape victims who go around kiking with their rapist and is always making the decision to bring their rapist around and back into their lives. Now Mellie proceeds to go into cahoots with the man that killed her son, after she was doing all that hyperventilating and dry heaving against the wall, WHAT? And people around here, including these commentators are defending that shit. Olivia offering to bring back the man that Killed Fitz’s son is just plain STUPID and heartless so I’m not going to go around defending that bullshit, but when it comes to Mellie people stay defending her actions.. Mellie has always seen Fitz as her golden ticket to the white, house and her future presidency and she has lied and manipulated to get there and THOSE WERE HER GROWN ASS DECISIONS! Everyone on this show gets read all day every day on practically every episode but Mellie never does why? Last I checked dirtiest draws around skid marks and shit. Please there is an empty football stadium awaiting for all of you defenders to SIT ALL OF YOUR ASSES DOWN.
OMG YES! YOU GO MELLIE!
thats the mellie i want to see
cant stand Olivia and her BS and fitz right now.
GO Susan! You could be a way better president than fitz. A Susan x mellie would be fantastic
RED WHITE AND BLACK ? allyuh have Trinidad and Tobago in mind?
I kind of hate Fitz he is annoying, he gets mad at the wrong people about things that are mostly his fault.
+Bubby707 you described every character on the show. The reason Fitz shows his is because he shows his tantrums. Everyone else simply finesses their anger by exacting immediate revenge. He's stews and toils.
Lol. I openly hate him.
Then there is also the fact the Olivia is no longer wearing any of Fitz's rings. Zero.
+Ladyzelda333 Liv is wishy washy. She'll be back wearing Fitz ring in the next episode and probably spreading her legs for Jake to deal with her feelings for Fitz.
+jevonk I cannot breathe from laughing. But you're right.
Pamela Tammi Of course not. Men are referred to as "sticking it in".
I've said before I love Kerry, but Olivia has not been on my top 3 characters for two seasons and going on another. If Vermont did not include her when she was ready to retire off the good name she built (the affair never coming to light), pb&j, some lil brown babies with the last name Grant(or Pope-Grant), and playing step mom when the kids come from Mellie's so they can build a bond then she was always in lala land otherwise about the relationship & giving that man baby false hope. Like Kennelia, I'm not here for Olitz...haven't been since he lied to her about Bonnie and sweetbaby. Mellie teaming up with Popa and telling Olivia what it's gonna be gave me all kinds of Be Prepared -Scar vibes and I'm ready for her to be a SMART villain.
+Maxine Shaw,Jr. no jam? She was the one that included that in the narrative of Vermont. Fitz could care less, like any man. Like he said, men don't want marriage. They do it to get the cookie and make the cookie happy. Duh!
AMAZING ACTING#BellamyYoung
Watching this Scandal episode I wanted to cry for everyone except Fitz. They are all such sad individuals, well except Sally lol. They're just all so damaged but I love Mellie, and David and even Jake this episode. They did him so dirty at the end with Elise tho cause that woman would've been his exit. Now I know someone has something for Jake to do.
I feel like ppl stand on Fitz, stomp him into the ground and evolve their character. Can you imagine playing his character all the time? It's kind of a disgusting role. Will he ever evolve?
Olivia ran out on Fitz and had Abby give the engagement ring back to him.
I think it's best they didn't get marry only because the season has just started & it'll cause more drama in their relationship. All of this is going to come together towards the end. However I think Jake & Fitz are going to team together to take Papa Pope out or Millie & Tom will team & take Papa Pope out. Call me crazy but I think she did it to protect him so he can finish out his presidency & something else will go down. In next week promo she is still seen with him so we shall see
+FreshArt23 I think it's best that they don't because it is not necessary. The affair is out. That bullet cannot return to the chamber. In my grief, the avenging angel is Mellie. I really want to see her rag doll Liv.
Olivia got issues......sigh
+Nola lady She's not fun anymore. The best thing she has going for her is that Fitz loves her.
SParkApCider nope no fun, she is why I watch the show. I want to root for her but she is making it hard
I wish i could just watch Sofia and Ennis..
if Liv and Fitz ever do get married, the show should end...so i predict that it will never happen
+Dwan Richardson, Does that mean you do not want to see them as husband and wife?
I would outside of the white house
+Dwan Richardson I think Olivia has really, really enjoyed the chase and now that Fitz is ready to put her front and center I think some of the thrill maybe gone. Sort of like wanting what you don't have until you get it ... especially if it belongs to someone else.
I have no sympathy for Mellie. I didn't like her before tonight's episode and I like her even less now because she let her son's killer out of jail to further her own political aspirations, really! Nothing is sacred to her. Is she going to ask Papa Pope to accompany her on her Saturday visits to her son's grave?!
I'm actually glad that Tom is back because I liked him.
I can't with Olivia. I'm so tired of her vacillation between being with Fitz or not being with Fitz. I'm hopelessly team Olitz. I can't go through another season 4.
totally agreed !!!