Scandal 508 Rasputin

This episode.

I'm a bundle of emotions. Tears. I'm overwhelmed. I sobbed last night. My ship lives to sail on another day. Let's get into it.

Case of the Week
It was interesting. I like how Naviyd snuck in his real business w/ Olivia amid translation. Real smooth, partna.

Idk what a defect or an asylum is but using my context clues, I'm guessing he don't want to be a part of the nation of Bandar anymore and in exchange for US protection, he'll give some piping hot tea about Bandar's cyber attack plans. Okay, I'm with it.

At first I was suspicious of him (as I am with all cases of the week)

but turns out, he was telling the truth & it was Quinn's fast-tailed, overly ambitious, reaching self that fudged up.

*A message for Quinn: STAY IN YOUR LANE, SIS.
Turns out, he wanted out of his country because he is gay and his country is not too particular for homosexuals. I really felt for Naviyd. That man was willing to kill himself rather than risk going back to Bandar where he'd be killed (either for snitching or being gay...whichever they found out first).
Fitz & Liv together *sobs* w/ their trusty sidekick Abby saved this man's life and reached an agreement for peace between the United States & Bandar. Talk about a win/win!

& none for Cyrus Beene.

(Cyrus = Gretchen Weiners)

Let's talk real quick about Fitz and his presidency. I've said it before & I'll say it again...Fitz is Republican by name only, I'm convinced. He's legit. People stay sleep on all he's accomplished...he basically achieved a lot of things we wish were achieved in real life (with the help of a lot of people, might I add. Cue Susan Ross: "The president gets all the credit while we do all the work" DASSAFACT. If it weren't for her, The Brandon Bill would be grade A basura.) Nevertheless, just because we don't see Fitz in the sit room or in meetings or trying to one up politicians every episode, doesn't mean he ain't getting ish done. Besides, who wants to watch that on Scandal...a show about a fixer not a president in DC handling politicians messy lives? If you like the aforementioned, House of Cards is more your speed.

Cyrus
I'm so sick of him. He's the hater of all haters. The shade he threw about the Rigad Regime not accepting Liv because she is a "whore" and a "mistress".

Your hateration so strong, bruh. You really hoping that the Bandari people reject her on moral grounds (b/c you're so moral yourself, right?) so that you can "I told you so" Fitz?

As it turns out, your nightmares are coming to pass and everything Fitz prophesied to Mellie in 222 is happening right before your very eyes. America (and everyone else) LOVES black a$$ Olivia. And you will deal.

You think you're smart and stealthy by giving the dog (David Rosen) a bone (Rowan is out) in hopes of outwitting whoever it is (we all know it's Jake but Cy doesn't) Fitz hired to find Rowan. Welp, you fudged up b/c you found out information that put Liv back in jail. & remember what Fitz did the last time you did that? Yeeesss, this had to happen so that Liv can finally confront this issue with Fitz, but in the end it ain't about you, didn't become about you, you didn't save the day, you still lost & you still not in the bubble. All that work for nothing.

Also, don't think I didn't realize this the 2nd time you had Olivia locked up. You didn't think this through. How did you really think that was going to fare over with Fitz? You really thought he was gonna leave her in there?

Jake
I'm so tired of him. SO TIRED.

I'm just gonna type. & if this turns into a read, oh well.
I DON'T GIVE ONE SINGLE SOLITARY HOOTANINNY IF JAKE IS SPEAKING FACTS OR NOT. HE KNEW SINCE EPISODE 219 "752" HECK PROBABLY BEFORE THAT SINCE HE WAS WATCHING HER THAT OLIVIA WAS INVOLVED WITH THE PREISDENT. IN THAT MOMENT, HE MADE A CHOICE--I WANNA STILL PURSUE OLIVIA EVEN THOUGH SHE IS CLEARLY EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HE DEVELOPED STRONG FEELINGS. SHE JUST DEVELOPED...FEELINGS...ENOUGH TO ENTERTAIN THE NIGGA A COUPLE SEASONS. NOW SHE DECIDED TO STAND IN HER TRUTH & BE WITH THE SINGLE MAN SHE LOVES & HE WANNA BE MAD ABOUT IT?! YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE MAD EVER SINCE YOU DECIDED TO TURN THIS INTO A SEASON OF FLAVOR OF LOVE VYING FOR LIV'S HEART WHEN SHE WASN'T EVEN TRYNA BE ABOUT THAT LIFE IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT SHE #MINUSWELL'D YOU, PLAYED ALONG AND HERE WE ARE.

Whereas I don't like how much Liv has been reaching out to Jake this season, I understand it. In the very least, she thought they could be friends (even though I doubt that was verbally communicated *rolls eyes at Liv's poor communication skills*...but then again, if the nigga keep picking up the phone & making himself available, I would think he wants to be my friend too if I were Liv). My poor baby Liv be slow sometimes...she don't realize that regardless of whether she wanted a friendship or not, she was sending  mixed signals. So here come whining baby Jake who at every wake and turn reminds Olivia that she didn't choose him & that he's unavailable WHEN HE TOLD HER TO CHOSE FITZ

Y'all have to understand my frustration, right?
Like my nigga, she wanted to discuss her father & you talmbout she's not tall enough to ride your "ride" anymore?

I'm literally so confused. and pissed off.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH OLIVIA ANYMORE AND/OR YOU WANT HER TO CUT ALL LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH YOU, YOU SHOULDA WALKED OUT THAT OVAL OFFICE AS SOON AS SHE SAID FITZ WASN'T THERE & SHE'S THE ONE WHO SUMMONED YOU.
Why don't you be honest & just say you still want Liv & you're mad b/c you can't have her? Let's start there. To that I say,

b/c she ain't leaving Fitz no time soon. If you were smart, beloved, you would leave Liv alone and move on. But clearly you're not b/c it took Huck 1/10th of the time to find Rowan it took you.

*I am glad Liv FINALLY got the revelation that Jake was being passive aggressive in 422.  He only had two options--either she was going to do like he suggested, choose Fitz & he would subsequently hold that decision over her head every chance he got OR she would choose him & everything will be swell. I do hate that Fitz interrupted their argument. I know she had some fire for his behind. Rats. Maybe next time.

Abby & Olivia
I love them. I love Abby being Liv's best girlfriend & always telling her the truth straight no chaser. When Liv called her full government I was like

but that's how we do our friends & family when they say something we don't wanna hear. I loved it. Shoulda listened to Abby tho.

When Liv said "Once I tell him it's over it's done and I'm not ready to be done" this was me

b/c I don't want y'all to be over either. 

David & Liz

I'm happy for you David & Liz and I'm gon let you finish BUT OLIVIA & FITZ HAD THE BEST CLOSET SEX SCENE OF ALL TIME!

Susan Ross

I can't not talk about how brilliant, hilarious and amazing I think Susan Ross is. She's my 2nd favorite character after Olivia b/c she offers some much needed comedic relief. I love that she has no ulterior motive and I love how well she works with Fitz. She can take direction when need be and she can challenge direction respectfully. I know she don't want to be president, but for the sake of the American people in Scandalverse, I hope she runs and beats Mellie in the primaries. #Susan4Prez

OLIVIA POPE
She's my favorite person so I save her for last. She's waaaayyyy up in the White House. #BLESSED

At Christmas dinners greeting guests next to her man. Like y'all. In season 1, she was the guest greeting Fitz & Mellie but now she's on the other side.

Fitz looked like such a proud boyfriend at the dinner table when the Prime Minister mentioned how much Olivia has helped him.

I'm so glad Liv never agreed to Mellie's deal. & I'm so glad she hung up on her. Life received.

Olitz in the Oval together. They just look like Power. Bet they smell like it too.

 *deep sigh* I love them so.

I still don't trust Rowan as far as I can throw him but Olivia's gut might be back so I'll trust her...all the evidence points against him but I'm gonna let her rock on this one. We'll see what happens.

OLIVIA'S BLACK COAT?!?!? I NEEEDDDDDDD!!!!!

When Olivia was lying in bed w/ Fitz, what I love so much about that scene is how in tune he is with her. Her thoughts were screaming so loud & incoherently, Fitz heard them. Jake wouldn't be able to detect that ish w/ hearing aids. So he asked if she wanted to Netflix & Chill b/c "watching tv" takes your mind off of things.

Anywho. It was so tender & sweet. & heartbreaking b/c we all know what was getting ready to happen.

Y'all. When Fitz came in that room & saw Liv shackled up...& he took her hands and unlocked the handcuffs.

& he grabbed her face. & she was crying. but then he started rambling off at the mouth about her not being Mellie & she was like

She started telling the truth & his face broke & I was broken. I couldn't.

I don't read lips so I couldn't read what she said in the beginning. I know it was the truth. I wonder if she mentioned Mellie? But at the end she said the following: "I don't wanna be done. You have to love me. Say something, Fitz. Don't you leave!"

Stab me in the heart, why dontcha!

So in conclusion, b/c there's nothing Olivia can do that Fitz won't forgive, he forgave her but he promptly had something for that behind. "You don't want to be in real jail? You wanna make decisions w/o notifying me? Okay we're gonna live out the rest of my presidency together in the crown jewel of America's prison system." That's what he said.

idk how Liv's gonna feel about this b/c I haven't seen next week's episode yet. Judging by the promo, she'll probably get along pretty fine. She might have an attitude (who wouldn't) but she'll live b/c being in the WH w/ Fitz was the plan in the first place (222), right? & the nigga on the poster.

I love this show. I love Shonda. I love Olitz. I love Olivia. Fitz iight. I hate Jake. Susan is my best friend in my head. So is Abby. That's all I got.

-Candyce