Last week’s Scandal, “I See You” confirmed the identity of another Player, as others decided to let go of the game altogether.
Still suspecting Vanessa, Olivia caters to Jake and Vanessa at dinner with a Stepford housewife elegance; whilst Charlie and Quinn bugged Jake’s apartment. With an eerie familiarity, Vanessa recounts how she met Jake.
Meanwhile, on the Liberty Report, Sally discusses Frankie Vargas’ recently announced run for President, whilst Abby is a little less hostile in her agreement against the likelihood he’d even win. It isn’t until she hears of Cyrus’ rumoured involvement, that she seeks OPA’s help in investigating him. Preoccupied with their own issues in Liv’s mental absence, she turns to David instead.
Meanwhile, back at OPA, Marcus and Huck learn that Kim and Javi have a new man in their life; whilst watching his game. As paranoia sets in, Huck and Charlie are convinced that this new man is an old mark of theirs, who is out to get his family.
Elsewhere, Mellie meets with Hollis Doyle – our Donald Trump stand-in – for his money and support in her campaign. Desperate to cut her campaign short, Elizabeth wants Susan to barter for his support; despite his character, in a move against Mellie. As Hollis later meets with Fitz and Susan, Fitz ignites a pissing contest between the two, forcing Hollis to go back to Mellie after his threat of revealing, just how Fitz’ got elected the first time. Meeting once more with Mellie, wherein Hollis learns the premise of her campaign; his intent to hand it to Fitz, begins with theft. In her faux par, Mellie is both pissed, and at a loss as to what to do, as we see Hollis announce her campaign as his own on TV; “Embrace America’s tomorrow” . With his own Donald Trump twist, the Presidential campaign finally has something to really worry about as he declares, “this is America’s tomorrow, not yours” .
Later, Jake is quick to discover Liv’s cameras – y’know because he’s the head of the NSA – and confronts her over her apparent jealousy.
Demanding to know why he chose Vanessa, he deflects, bringing up how Fitz ruined her.
Back at the Whitehouse, Abby confronts Cyrus. As he denies his involvement with Vargas, she floors him with photos proving his association with him. He promises to end it, so long as she doesn’t tell Fitz. Gunning for his job, this is exactly what she does, as Fitz tasks her with the role of firing Cyrus herself.
As Liv fails to convince Abby to take the high road, we’re left to wonder how long she herself, is willing to play the power game, as she debates the benefits of being either a good person or a big dog.
Having left OPA to confront Sean; the potential former mark, Marcus and Quinn race to stop Huck from becoming undone.
Whilst Sean is saved; proven to be anything but Huck’s former mark, Marcus learns of his role as a government assassin. Expressing his anger, having being left out of OPA’s darkest side, Liv agrees that OPA needs to become a family again. Later learning about Eli and Maya, whether Marcus can bring light to OPA, or join its darkness, still balances on a knife-edge. Whilst Quinn disagrees; feeling abandoned by Olivia’s obsession with Jake, Liv defends herself, citing her kidnapping as the force behind her taking her life back.
On the ride back to OPA, Huck discusses his paranoia with Liv, implying that she needs to let go of her hang-ups, just as much as he does.
Elsewhere, Susan blames Fitz for Hollis’ campaign. Bringing the thunder full-circle in Shondaland’s TGIT line-up, she declares that “this is the Susan Ross show” to our exiting President. Perfectly primed as a great candidate – especially to audiences; as she encompasses both democratic and republican values – it is with our annoyance, that Fitz looks on; seemingly taking the credit for her progress.
As Olivia remembers the tale of how Vanessa and Jake met at the beginning of the episode, she finally sees how it aligns with her own tale of meeting Jake. Unable to let go, as Huck has, she realises Vanessa is indeed a mark for Jake.
Scandal continues tonight as the future of Mellie’s and Frankie Vargas’ campaigns remain in jeopardy.
Scandal returns tonight with “Pencils Down” at 9|8c, on ABC!
[Courtesy of ABC, Source Content for Gif: ‘Scandal’ ABC 2016 ]