SCANDAL REVIEW: "WHITE HAT'S BACK ON"



courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com



I called it!...I called it!...So bench-sitting man IS Olivia's father!!!  Jake's boss and the head of section B613 is Olivia's father! WOW.  What happened to picking up the phone and calling your daughter instead of the all the mysterious meetings in the park and shenanigans.  This goes deep.  I'm sure that's how Olivia and Cyrus got to become friends...through her father.  Maybe Olivia has been involved in some thangs deeper than we realize....hmmmmm....so many thoughts!

So while I am incredibly sad that last night was the season finale and I have nothing else to occupy my Thursday nights, I will say that I will not miss writing these doggone reviews because they are labour intensive!!! LOL.  A bittersweet moment.

Ok, so...let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start! (in my best Julie Andrew's voice from the Sound of Music)...

So the Gladiators know that Billy Chambers is the mole, thanks to Huck.  As I was watching I was still bitter over the fact that David Rosen seemed to turn on his new found friends, the Gladiators.  But as the episode developed, David had ulterior motives of his own and didn't go along with Billy Chambers devilish plans.  He turned things around.  He created a fake cytron card and used it as leverage.  He managed to get Billy to confess all of his horrible wrong doings by giving him the fake card.  He took the real one but kept it safe until his plan was revealed at the end.  David used the very thing that ended his career and essentially his life and bargained his life back.  Oh yea, oh yea, oh yea...so relieved by that because I like David Rosen.  Certainly he will not be the same District Attorney he once was after working with Olivia Pope and Associates!



courtesy of tv fanatic

 Without any knowledge of David's double crossing, the Gladiators tracked Billy boy down and Huck and Quinn get to work on torturing him to find out where the "fake" cytron card was located.  Huck had a really hard time getting into torture mode and seemed to be completely turned off by it now.  On the other hand, we see Quinn slipping down that slippery slope and Huck is very worried that she has turned down a path that will be hard for her to return from.  Quinn gets the location of the fake card and Abby goes to retrieve it learning later nothing is on the card.

 On to Olivia...she was almost killed (by an assassin sent by her own father?...Weird way of handling your daughter, eh) in her apartment, but Jakey saved her and in the process dug his own grave because he went against his orders and that's never a good thing in section B-613 (whatever that is!). Now, I almost wanted to slap Olivia because for a couple of minutes she and Fitz were completely emerged in La-La land.  Olivia says to the POTUS, "are you coming to sleep tonight?" **blank stare**.  And let's talk about the plan of Fitz running again while divorcing his wife and eventually moving Liv into the White House to be his

courtesy of tvonline.com

 new FLOTUS.  As much as I love their love for each other and know deep down they are meant to be together, I'm sorry this was too much for even me.  They finally came to their senses after Cyrus suffered his heart attack and told Liv that Fitz killed Verna and then told Fitz that Liv slept with Jake.  Yah.  You can say they sobered up quickly!  Olivia, says as much as she would love to be on Fitz's side she can't abandon her team, "I am their Gladiator" she says.  Fitz, heads back to Mellie once again and the cycle continues.

Towards the end all looked happy and settled in Washington, and Olivia is seen about to go for a jog with her earphones in her ears when suddenly she opens the door to head outside and is mobbed by cameras and news reporters. Her name was leaked as being the woman who is sleeping with the President!  Oh my.



courtesy of tv fanatic



My prediction is Mellie leaked the name.  Do you remember the scene between Fitz and Mellie in the hospital when Cyrus had the heart attack?  The look on Mellie's face was priceless, I actually felt bad for her this time.  She walked out of the hospital room not saying one word and the next time you saw her was when Fitz laid his head on her lap.  I think she felt she had no other choice at this point. Let's see if I call this one too.



courtesy of tv fanatic



Just and FYI for those with questions about the symbolism behind the white hat, here is a quick definition of "White Hat"...

Provided by Merriam-Webster.com

Definition of WHITE HAT

1: one who is admirable and honorable

2: a mark or symbol of goodness <could use a few more guys in white hats — Robert Christgau>

Origin of WHITE HAT

from the white hats stereotypically worn by law-abiding characters in movie westerns

First Known Use: 1970

The first episode of Season two (2) was called "White Hat's Off". Where we see the early interactions of Olivia and David when they both encounter the case of Quinn.  Between then and now, their relationship...well what relationship...David was out to expose Defiance and Olivia and the others weren't having that.  Olivia ruined David's life.  Last night's episode was kind of like David giving the white hat back to Olivia, his new found friend.

What did you think of the season finale?  What are your thoughts of bench-sitting daddy?  What do you think is in store for next season?

Signed,

the last scandal writin' review (at least for the next 4 months), Candilaria

SCANDAL REVIEW: "ANY QUESTIONS"



David Rosen, courtesy of Tv Fanatic

So let's start with.....Billy Chambers is the mole!  If you don't remember Billy Chambers, he was the guy that worked with the VP Sally Langston and conjured up the whole Amanda Tanner scandal. Kinda anti-climatic don't you think? Or Maybe not?  We shall see...

More shocking than finding out who the mole is, is that sneaky, double-crossing David Rosen.  He wanted revenge all this time after the Defiance debacle.  And for plenty of reasons I guess.  Olivia in protecting Fitz took everything from David, his reputation, his job, his life.  So he stole the Cytron card (the evidence that the election was rigged) back and placed it into the hands of the deranged Mr. Chambers....And I was just starting to like David as a Gladiator and being a part of the team. Didn't see that one coming.  Well done Shonda, well done. You shocked me with that one.

How does the President spend the night outside of the White house at Olivia's apartment.  Damn. That man's got some b*lls. Cyrus barges into Olivia's apartment to retrieve his President after a journalist asks him "where is the president?" Cyrus will have a melt down in this episode. It's coming.

Mellie spends all her time with her therapist...he tries to persuade her to give up the name of the woman her husband is sleeping with.  But she refuses.  She is waiting to see what Fitz's next move will be and what he will say when he makes his statement.  I told y'all, Mellie ain no fool. 

The Prez informs Cyrus that when he addresses the American people he will tell them he won't be seeking a second term.  Mellie and Olivia knows Fitz better than Fitz knows himself.  They both knew there was no way Fitz wouldn't run for a second term.  Cyrus finds out the the President didn't signed the papers for the re-election.  Was this intentional? Cyrus, of course tells Olivia and she shows up to talk to the president and asks if he knew he wasn't running for re-election before he conveniently "chose" her.  They hash things out and he knows deep within.  Olivia knew that it probably would have been the thing that came between them if he were to give it all up.  And since Fitz doesn't feel worthy of being the President being elected for a second term, on his own, would validate him.  So he tells The American people that his business is just that, his business!  And he is running for a second term!

The bench sitting man, Jim Morton's character, what's his deal?  Why does he have such an interest in the tape of Olivia and Jake?  Do you think showing Fitz this footage will drive another wedge between he and Olivia?  I don't think so.  Fitz may try to half kill Jake but this all happened during the time he and Olivia weren't "together".  I have a feeling that this bench guy is close to Olivia, maybe her father?  Hmmm....another something to think about.

Harrison gets all up in Olivia's face trying to be her protector and "fix" the situation of her name possibly being revealed as the other woman.  However, Olivia wouldn't admit that anything was wrong and shot poor Harrison right down.  Bruised that gladiator's ego.   

Cyrus vs. James, courtesy of tv Fanatic

Mellie purposely chose James (Cyrus's husband) to conduct the live interview to hit both Cyrus and the President in the gut. Cyrus tells James he was just too stupid to see it.  And here comes the meltdown. The fight that then ensued between Cyrus and James was brutal!  Cyrus cut that poor man into a million pieces which left my mouth hanging open.  While James may have been naive, Cyrus was unbelievably mean and I felt incredibly bad for James. His facial expressions looked like that of a child whose dreams have been crushed, chewed, swallowed and shat on.  Cyrus was definitely out of line and losing control - everything he'd worked so hard for was falling apart and the constant pressure to keep it all together. But he took it out on James - not cool. Back on the couch for you Mr. Cyrus Beene.
 
Olivia brings Cyrus coffee and they discuss trying to stop her name from being revealed. Their relationship is quite unique, but I kinda get it.  I understand it.  Hey, who says you can't sit down with a cup of coffee with the man who just last week wanted to get rid of you?  When Olivia leaves, the bench sitting man walks up and greets Cyrus. "Hello" he says.  HUH?  Who else is Cyrus connected to??  Why doesn't this surprise me? They talk about Cyrus showing the tape of Olivia and Jake to stop the President from announcing he won't run for a second term.  I'm telling you, could he be her father?  Think about it, we don't know anything about Olivia's past!

  A hit was put on Charlie, he called Cyrus for help but Cyrus denies knowing him and hangs up the phone, he then shows up to Olivia Pope & Associates for help.  Huck gets the name of the mole by tying Charlie up.  Huck attempts to seek revenge for everything Charlie has done to him but Quinn stops him.  I love their relationship.  Huckleberry Quinn.  Not shooting Charlie took a lot of courage and showed how far Huck has come since his homeless days.

So we're all set for the season finale next week!  In the previews it looks like Cyrus actually has a heart attack. 

What are your thoughts about this episode?  What do you think about Billy Chambers being the mole?  What do you think bench sitting man is all about? Do you think Billy Chambers, Charlie, Cyrus, David, and bench sitting man are all connected?

Signed,
Can't wait for the season finale, Candilaria

SCANDAL REVIEW: "A WOMAN SCORNED"

For the past week I've been trying my damnedest to watch last week's episode of Scandal - "Seven Fifty-Two".  All the way up to 9:52 p.m last night and guess what...yup...no luck! Sorry for not being able to give you a review on that one. How on earth could I have fallen asleep during the best show on television?!  Being a married working mother, that's why! LOL


However, I did manage to watch last night's episode....


A lot of thoughts blowing my mind and now I have the task of formulating them into words.  


***SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER...If you haven't watched last night's episode of Scandal yet I suggest that you DO NOT read this post.***



Listen, I'm just gonna cut right to the chase.  The last ten minutes of Scandal was the countdown to Mellie's interview to expose the POTUS and Olivia.  Look Mellie sweetie, no amount of interviews and certainly not the ultimatum you gave that man is going get him to stay with you, girl!  Fitz chose Olivia.  Point blank. Not sure if this came as a surprise to you, Mellie, (because it should not have) but this is the same man who asked YOU for a divorce!  Mellie, seriously, what leverage did you think you had while negotiating with with your husband?  It's hard to feel sorry for Mellie and many would agree with me that she acted like a spoiled little child that didn't get her own way.  Yes, I understand she's trying to save her loveless marriage, she is trying to save the marriage so that she can continue to bask in the lifestyle it provides.  Maybe.  I just find it hard to believe that she loves Fitz.  It's hard to feel sorry for Mellie and it's hard not to root for Olitz.  BUT, Mellie ain no fool, y'all.  To us she had no motive for what she did last night, but did she?  What's up her sleeve?  Let's keep an eye on her.


Fitz doesn't care about the interview. So the president showed up at Olivia's apartment (so funny how the POTUS can do that so easily - gotta love tv, eh) because he chose her.  Not only did he choose her, he earned her. We'll come back to this. :)

The search for the mole in the White House continues and during this episode the OPA aka the Gladiator's fingers were pointing to Cyrus.  They found out that Charlie (Cyrus's henchman, the same guy he used to kill Amanda Tanner) was the one that attacked Huck in the storage locker and the one that broke into Olivia's apartment.  They reluctantly disclose their findings to Olivia and she can hardly believe it because she and Cyrus are friends, good friends and long time friends at that. This is Cyrus we're talking about, but as much as all the fingers are pointing to him he seems too obvious.  He's not the mole.  Frankly, I'm getting a bit tired of this damn mole story.  Who cares anymore.  Who is it already!  Geesh!  While all of that is going on, Cyrus is in the middle of the negotiating war between the Grants and he isn't necessarily trying to fix them but just trying to get them in the same room to talk things out.  At home his husband, James, seems to have gotten what he wanted (a job) and in return gives Cyrus what he wanted (to sleep in the bed and a little hanky panky).  Can I tell y'all I was NOT ready for that. Yikes!

Cyrus in keeping with his devious behaviour orders Charlie (his henchman) to find evidence that Jake and Olivia have been together. We see Charlie sitting in Jake's apartment watching the surveillance of Olivia and Jake.  Oh boy. Now Cyrus has a little juice on Olivia, something he will keep for a rainy day I'm sure.  Such an evil thing to do to a so called "friend".

Getting back to the OLITZ storyline, earlier in the episode Fitz called Olivia and expressed that he wanted to see her and that she must come to the White house.  After saying he will show up at the OPA office if she didn't, Olivia is at the White House in a split second. It's good to be the president!  She enters the oval office slamming the door in Jake's face (who is still protecting her 24/7 per the POTUS's orders).  The tension and raw passion between them is always incredible, nobody can stand it!  "You do not summon me!" Olivia yells out, and "You do not walk away from me!" Fitz yells in return.  They continue in a lover's quarrel which ends something like this, Fitz responds to Olivia's statement that they are over, saying "we are never over!" And she shoots back at him, "if you want me! Earn me!"  Well, there you go.  She. Said. The. President. Needs. To. EARN. HER.  Way to go Olivia! And chile please, he did that and mooooore!

In a final negotiation (of course without the presdient) Cyrus asked Mellie what if he could get rid of Olivia, would she call off the interview.  Of course she agrees and Cyrus orders the president's secretary to call Jake and tell him the president has requested a meeting and that he leave Olivia.  But Jake knows better, he's a military man, Cyrus! So Cyrus shows up to Olivia's apartment thinking that Jake won't be there (silly Cyrus).  This is the moment I actually liked Jake for a few minutes (ok, I kinda like his character in some weird twisted way, don't judge me!).  He only takes orders directly from the president (not his secretary) and did not leave Olivia's side.  Take that Cyrus!  But were any of you confused as to why Cyrus showed up and not one of his hench men?  Was Cyrus going to "handle" Olivia himself? 

Jake went inside Olivia's apartment after handling Cyrus and he and Olivia had a little back and forth of you tell me something, I'll tell you something.  Jake has a feeling that she and the president's relationship goes deep and asks her about it but Olivia remains silent.

So who is the mole? Is David Rosen now a part of the Gladiator team?  Will Fitz find out about Olivia and Jake?  How do you think that will go down?  Did you know this was the episode that Tony Goldwyn (Fitz) directed?  Must have been him to slip in that shower scene, bout "hi"...made you melt didn't it!  After last night I can't wait for next week's episode.  Where do you think the story is headed?


Signed,
Until next week's episode, Candilaria

SCANDAL REVIEW: MOLLY, YOU IN DANGER GIRL!

***SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER...If you haven't watched last night's episode of Scandal yet I suggest that you DO NOT read this post.***




Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

I know I am not the only one who was completely floored or flat lined after last nights episode of Scandal...
As always, I never know where to begin. Shonda never ceases to amaze me!  
What we know is that the former CIA Director Osbourne IS NOT the Mole. Soooo, #WhoIsTheMole!? Shonda, we need answers and we need them now! Why do we have to wait ANOTHER 3 weeks? 

Susan Osbourne, the wife of the late CIA Director calls on Olivia's assistance arguing that she knows her husband did not commit suicide and was in fact murdered.  After agreeing to take the case, Olivia has a conversation with Cyrus advising him of this new information but Cy could give two hoots because POTUS has already publicly outed and slandered the man that there is NO WAY they are going to re-neg and make a fool of themselves once again (you remember the hostage situation?).

I think it's fair to say that Olivia Pope and the Gladiators have landed themselves in a serious situation.  It begins when HuckleberryQuinn, (Huck and Quinn for those that didn't catch that...hehe) pair up again, but this time they are looking to exonerate a man (Osbourne) they helped build a case against in the previous episode.  Things don't go so well when they are pointed in the direction of a storage locker and poor Huck (poor poor Huck) gets knocked out, tied up, and tossed into a crate in the storage locker which happens to be connected to a money wire they found out about to Molly the night of Osbourne's fake suicide. Quinn manages to find him after hours of looking and takes him back to OPA's firm.  Molly is killed in a hit and run before she can get out of the country.  Poor Molly, she knew too much.

Cyrus has his own share of drama with his husband.  It was revealed that James kicked him out of the apartment and he's been sleeping in a hotel room for the past 22 days.  All he wants to do is go home.  All my poor friend Cy wants is to be close with Fitz again and to be home with his husband.  Poor Cy.  Listen, I love this guy. Even with all of his deviant behaviours, for some reason he is just a likable guy.  Is Cy really any different from the rest of the crew though?  Different from the POTUS, who finally confesses to Cy that he killed Verna? Different from James lying to a grand jury about Defiance?  Different from Olivia who agreed to rigging the national election? They are all seeking forgiveness.  "Would [Olivia] forgive me if she knew?" says Fitz.  Cy reassures his president "There are things we never tell [our loved ones], things we hide....It doesn't mean you don't deserve happiness"  WOW.

This leads me to the powerful and heart wrenching conversation between Fitz and Mellie. Cy convinces them to do their first interview after having America's baby as a necessary preamble to announcing his bid for re-election.  During the interview they romanticized about the way they first met.  However, later Fitz recounts with Mellie the far less romantic details of how she was "sold" to his father because "[she was] a thoroughbred racehorse" and that "it wasn't a blind date; it was a merger."  Mellie then opposes and says that "every married couple pretends," it's the ones that don't pretend who are living a fantasy.  DOUBLE WOW, that's a deep one.  That statement filled me with sadness.  We shall have a discussion about this one later!  Fitz is horrified that she says something like that and wonders if he is to blame for the way she is now. He genuinely apologizes to her.  I feel he did that maybe because he feels that "fantasy" life with Olivia.  Something Mellie has never had the chance to experience. Maybe? Hmmmmm.  So many layers to this triangle. Sighhhhh

Moving on....to Jake, that damn Jake.  He has the word shady stamped all over him!  I mean really.  But first things first.  Huck should know better than to schedule sweeps of Olivia's apartments always on the same day!!!!!!  A little unrealistic in my view.  Shonda, ya need to stop making Huck look like an amateur.  Anyhoo...Jake finds out that Olivia and the Gladiators are onto the frame job of the suicide and the mysterious bench man (whose being played by Joe Morton) tells jake "I trust you to take care of this."  Oh lawd.  So in a little back and forth phone convo between Jake and Olivia, Olivia ends up at Jake's house with dinner.  Well one thing leads to another and they end up in bed.  Are y'all feeling this union?  Me not so much.  Jake and his damn friendly face gives me the creeps.  So after their second tussle in the bed, Olivia goes into Jake's kitchen where she finds out some thangs, some serious thangs.  He's been watching you, girl!  She tries to make a run for it but Jake insists that it's not what she thinks and that he's not going to hurt her.  With such perfect timing, Jake points to the tv where we see another mysterious man enter her apartment.  In their little rumble Olivia hits her head and blacks out.  She is taken to the hospital and in a rush Jake coaches her on what to say happened and that the first time they ever met was when he saved her from being attacked in her own apartment (yes.. yes Jake, you must cover your tracks with the president).  Fitz walks in and this is where I flat lined.  He greets Olivia with his trademark "hi" and goes over to hug Liv.  It ends with Jake looking inside at them confused.  This is the next triangle to watch.  It's developing! Insert nervous look here....

What are your thoughts about last night's episode?  Let's discuss!

Signed,
an almost resuscitated Candilaria

SCANDAL IS BACK! ARE YOU READY?!?

Are you ready for Scandal??? Well ya better get ready! I am beyond excited and I don't think I can make it another week without my favorite TV drama series.

Who watches Scandal here? If you don't you MUST be living under a rock or just plain crazy! Even the busiest woman makes time for President Grant and Olivia Pope & Associates! (I AM A GLADIATOR!) LOL  

I will be watching tonight on ABC at 10:00 p.m. sharp with my full glass of pinot noir and a bucket of popcorns (as my son would say).  There will be a full report on Friday so you had better watch it so I don't spoil it for you!

Signed, 

A very eager, excited, can't wait for a scandalous evening, Candilaria