Scandal returns tonight with Liv’s mother making an appearance and haunting her throughout the episode. Will Olivia gain any answers about Operation Remington? Check out our full recap below!
So many campaigns, so little time. With a time stamp resting on the allegiance of Olivia Pope’s cliental, she must choose the right place for her to best focus her energy and deal with the backlash of Operation Remington.
That Information is Classified: A stand off outside of Olivia’s office, the Guardians tiptoe around a very frazzled boss, contemplating whether to intrude and figure out their next client. When Olivia storms out of her office and towards the elevator, she announces that she is on her way to Fitz. There are only two people who can release information regarding Operation Remington; her father, who will possibly murder a few people to teach her a lesson, or her ex-lover. To the Oval Office it is!
Fitz and Cyrus are interrupted by Mellie, who is strikingly giddy with news that Olivia is on her way up. Could this be the moment she decides to talk election strategy and win a second term? Cyrus cautions that Liv is displaying signs of the ancient Greek myth of Icarus. If she flies too close to the sun, her wings will melt eventually. They throw all caution to the wind and invite her in.
Liv requests that Fitz and her speak alone, where she immediately demands to know where he was during Operation Remington. When his response, “I don’t know what you are talking about,” is all he can say, Liv turns and walks out. The couple can talk about anything, Fitz reminds her, but when it comes to National Security, he just cannot give up that information.
Mellie is less than pleased with this outcome. She bashes Fitz, claiming that she was nice to this mistress of his. She claims, “I did everything I could. I rolled your whore up in a rug and placed her at your feet.” If they want to win, there is no one else for the job.
One Question: Liv downs a bottle of wine and calls dear old dad. He recognizes that she is a bit tipsy, but also registers the sound of an aching daughter from his memories. Liv plays back the conversation she had with Fitz and taunts her father by explaining to him that she is afraid to ask him questions because he will only use them to kill her friends. The straw that breaks his back is when she refers to him as the “thing that goes bump in the night.” He grants her one question and one question only. “Did you give the order?” His answer is no, followed by the advice to leave the past in the past.
Sally for Prez: VP Sally and her own Pope, Leo, are setting up a plot to steal the ticket from Fitz, one angry preacher at a time. In the midst of losing Liv, team sitting duck, must also deal with this fly in the room that cannot seem to find its way out of the window. Cyrus, always two steps ahead of everyone, takes the preachers under his wing and is fed information that Leo thinks will set the pair in line for the election. Sally is still a force to be reckoned with, but Mellie has a weakness locked down. The wandering eye of her husband sends Sally into a tizzy.
NOT a Cinderella Story: Liv’s choice for her next job: Get Josie Marcus elected POTUS. Though disappointed by her choice, the team jumps on the mission and try to toughen up the “Auntie B” image that secures Marcus her grassroots supporters. In order to get the big checks, Josie needs to take the corporate meetings and sacrifice a little of her crumpled dollars values.
James preps for the interview with Cyrus trying to get in his head. Cyrus is concerned about James falling into the liberal media and offers some questions to assist his cause. What about her bastard child? Is she a lesbian? In perhaps the most frustratingly odd marriage to watch, James leaves shouting that Cyrus is a madman, to which he replies, “One who loves you dearly!” Aw, weird love.
After days of running through question after question to prep for her interview with James Novak, Josie is greeted with a disturbing “leaked” video from the Reston campaign. The video debases her to an inexperienced candidate. Steamed already, the interview beings by introducing Josie in her propped up home and states that she is turing out to be quite the Cinderella Story. Josie takes James’ first question and turns it into an attack not only on James and the media, but an argument for every woman against the world.
People may not say it explicitly, but the prejudice against woman masked by terms of “inexperience” and fake pitchers of iced tea. When Josie rebukes, “Why don’t you refer to my ranking in the military. How about lieutenant?!” With one scene, Josie not only gains her endorsements, but also proves to Olivia and Co. that she is ready to win.
Remington, Remington, Remington: Liv, tormented by the unanswered questions, once again turns to Jake for answers. Jake promises to return with the taped conversation from the cockpit, but again the entire White House is a few steps ahead of him. Jake has a security detail on his tail that ultimately saves his life when he shows up to retrieve information. Escorted to the White House, Fitz and Jake attempt to reach a bit of common ground. When Jake requests to know why Fitz was absent from Operation Remington, Fitz informs him that if he keeps asking questions like that their relationship can no longer proceed. Jake’s protection from B16 is over.
Just like old times: In a final desperate attempt to gain Liv back on his side, Fitz shows up at her apartment. Olivia puts on her bravest face and explains to Fitz that if he cannot give her any information on Operation Remington even after she explains that her mother died on the fight that lost 300 lives in the ocean, he must go. Fitz takes his sad eyes to the elevator.
Meanwhile in the back rooms: Harrison has a few issues wt=ith Cyrus to deal with under the radar of the office. Cyrus wants Liv back on the campaign bad enough to push through a Visa allowing Adnon Salif back in the country. Harrison is guaranteed dead if that passes through. He approaches Huck for a favor; delete the application for Salif and make a jab back at Cyrus. Again, Cyrus is not one to be messing with as he already places a new Visa in the express lane for Salif’s return.
And just what is Rowan setting Quinn up for? Charlie arrives at the shooting range and helps instruct her how to relax into her shot. Hmm…
Tune into next week’s Scandal season 3, episode 7 ‘Everything’s Coming Up Mellie’ at 10 p.m. ET