Previous Paste writers have mentioned this time and time again—the writers of Scandal never shy away from feminist narratives. In a time where a Twitter hashtag (#HowToSpotAFeminist—which has the fortune of sounding similar to another ShondaLand production) popped up to mock feminists this week, it was incredible to see the tag reclaimed to re-introduce ourselves in solidarity. This episode aired in a timely manner, and although “A Few Good Women” isn’t without its faults, a feminist-inspired installment before the big final is always a good way to go.
When you watch the women in the cast align together to attack the navy admiral leader and the military judicial system that protects him (after the rape of a female navy servicewoman, Ensign Amy Martin) you can’t help but let out a sigh of wishful thinking; it’s beyond surreal. Our real world doesn’t function this way; it doesn’t stop and bend 200-year-old “historical precedents” that easily. However, this is a week when I’m craving heroines like no other, so I’m falling hard for this storyline and holding it close to my chest. Women protecting women? Amen! Women squadding up, refusing to accept defeat at the hands of these powerful men (and the law)? AMEN!
Which reminds me—while we don’t know the context of an e-mail that a Marvel exec wrote about failed female superhero movies, perhaps we can advise that he takes a spin in ShondaLand? Maybe it’ll inspire them (or force them to realize) that we crave this on a big screen, too? Just a thought.
“All Good Women” begins with Vice President Susan Ross, the “largely powerless figurehead,” visiting a naval base. While saying hello to Ensign Amy Martin, she catches a glimpse of the woman’s bruised wrist during her salute. Susan is nothing but astute, and has no problem cornering the officer in her private quarters to find out the real story behind that bruise—the “training mission” excuse doesn’t cut it. When Susan brings Ensign Martin to the White House, Cyrus and Fitz are pissed. They want Susan to bring the officer back to base, but Susan can’t allow the abuse to continue. She hires Olivia Pope to “handle” this. Unfortunately, this is the end to Susan’s actions in the episode, because we don’t see her again. What gives?
Liv tries to dirty her white cap once more, but the moment Russell tries to kill himself with a pill, she finds herself lost in the dirty bathroom memories. Liv isn’t a torturer; she cannot ever become as evil as Rowan Pope, and it shows. However, the navy rape case is the distraction she desperately needs; it grounds Olivia back in reality. The blood on her white hat (or her coat—as Jake notices) can be washed or forgotten, because she is a defender of good. Olivia admits to Jake that the only time she felt safe from her father was during the five minutes she was allowed in that dirty bathroom, but I don’t believe it. I think she finds safety in these particular cases, where she helps her clients from other evils.