It wasn’t the series finale, but it damn sure felt like it! Last night’s Scandal also felt like one of those Thanksgiving episode. All sorts of family and friend drama begins to unfold as estranged mothers and Gladiators, old enemies, and former Commands all show up to play—often in the same room, just for additional fun. “Flesh and Blood” was a great set-up for next week’s season finale, which looks like it’s going to be a blast. Literally.
Since Olivia made a big whoopsie last week when she shut down B613, everyone arrives at Olivia Pope & Associates to give her a hard time, and to start a frantic search for the bad guys (AKA her mom). “Everyone” included the President, Cyrus, former Command Papa Pope, current Command Jake, former Gladiator Quinn, and Charlie. It was awkward for a lot of reasons—Jake not-so-casually mentions in front of Fitz that Olivia slept with him to get access to his phone. We know all Fitz hears is “sex sex sex she had sex with him sex sex sex.” Additional awkwardness ensues when Olivia kicks Jake out of her office (and, therefore, the plan) because her Daddy tells her to do it. And then we see Quinn caught between Charlie and Huck (George Newbern told us it was going to be a bad time for her). The scenes between these three were especially hilarious, as Huck and Charlie keep trying to out-CIA each other with conflicting plans of action. Quinn is stuck in the middle à la Peggy Olson betwixt Don Draper and Ted Chaough on Mad Men. It was great.
As everyone tries to track down Mama Pope and her co-conspirator/longtime lover Dominic, Fitz is put on lockdown at The White House, six days before the election. Not a good look for someone trying to win the Presidency. They decide to make these totally wack, PSA-type videos instead of campaigning, but Ohio, Florida, and the other key states aren’t feeling it. Mellie and Cyrus try to do their part on the campaign phone lines, but Mellie’s drunk in love/angry over being forced to break up with Andrew, and Cyrus is Cyrus. In the end, Fitz decides he must return to Defiance, Ohio. It’s where they stole the election for him in the last campaign, and it matters to him that he wins this time around for real, for real.
Let’s discuss the look on Quinn’s face when Huck won the proverbial B613 arm wrestling contest with Charlie and found Dominic on his own. That body duct-taped to all hell, bound and gagged got her so hot … it was only a matter of time before she gave in. Dominic eventually gets them on the phone with Maya, who could care less that there is a gun to his head. She politely say “Bye,” to the so-called love of her life, gives no information to Rowan, and goes about her bomb-planning business.
Mellie was a wreck for the entire episode. Drinking, ordering paternity tests, drinking some more. It was amazing. Unfortunately, Sally’s people get a hold of the news about the test, and they go after little Jerry’s DNA via his girlfriend. Nothing like a bag full of prophylactic to help you win an election. But the Gladiators are on the case and manage to fudge the final results. Fitz, you are not the father. You are the brother. And that is horrifyingly horrible. Luckily, nobody knows other than Mellie. If she can hold it together (and, no, she probably can’t), maybe Fitz can still win the election.
Speaking of paternity tests, Huckleberry Quinn might need one, too! Because they got it on the parking lot in a way that no two people have probably ever got it on in the parking lot. It was intense. And a little bit violent. And if you enjoyed that scene at all, you’re probably not willing to admit it in a public forum, but let’s just say I may have a friend who maybe enjoyed it, too, and she’s feeling really awkward about it.