Scandal is back! After the way fans were left, maybe it’s unsurprising the spring opener had all the crucial components of a break-up: alcohol, comfort food, and new pairings.
Discussions over a bottle
Fitz’s liquor cabinet is probably looking pretty empty these days. A leak at the NSA causes panic around Washington and the President pours Jake a glass and asks him to handle the problem. They carefully tip-toe around the O word, and Jake gives Fitz a meaningful look as he mentions how he and Olivia don’t “talk.” And they don’t — Jake’s much more of a physical being. Even when they’re not being physical, though, they don’t share. Jake’s mission directly contradicts Olivia’s, and she ends up finding that out the hard way when the team finds he’s been refrigerating an important witness’ body.
Back at Olivia’s apartment, she and Abby share a different bottle of Fitz’s scotch as Abby rants about her new role as his overworked work wife. Olivia points out that Fitz has literally no one left to talk to, which kills the mood. Hearing her own words, she attempts to reach out to Fitz, but after a meaningful look he decides to screen her call. Cold, Fitz.
Forget popcorn and wine, go for chocolate and freedom fries
Oh, Cyrus. Even though Abby is a beautiful, special, little flower, I miss him in the Oval. The way he eats his way through a box of truffles while Abby talks is a thing of beauty. And then later, when he’s congratulating her for standing up to Fitz’s merciless late night phone calls? “Red. I’m not interested anymore. Say less words?” Pure gold.
Fitz, of course, takes second place for healthy choices made with his freedom fries, which he decides is important enough to share with Abby in the wee hours of the morning. Cyrus isn’t wrong… the man can’t function alone.
Rebounds and fouls
Olivia and Jake’s steamy scene stole the show early on, of course, and Abby and Fitz’s work marriage played a big role. But my favorite new pairing has to be Melivia.
After Mellie’s incredible filibuster at Christmas, I’ve been excited to see what’s next for her. And 5×10 didn’t disappoint — she wrote a book! A boring book, but still, the woman’s a hurricane. She asks Liv to run her campaign, and while initially she’s uncertain, in the end the two women are ready to face the nation together. Scandal, and Shonda Rimes, has done an amazing job highlighting strong females taking the reins, and a presidential bid for Mellie can only mean more of this. Especially side-by-side with The Olivia Pope.
Bonus: Pep talk from Dad
Olivia’s decision to help Mellie likely has something to do with an ugly rant Papa Pope gives her when she goes to confront Jake about the leftovers she found in the fridge. Immediately leaping to Jake’s defense, Papa Pope lets Olivia know she’s settling for anything less than the White House, and creepily calls Olivia and Jake his children, which after their sexy time just feels weird. As much as I approve of the new development, I wish it had come from somewhere less… paternal.