ACE #292: Scandal Time – How Did They Get Away With That?

The Scandal fans and reviewers have been complaining for the entire fourth season about the story lines being boring or the pace moving along too slowly.  Well, folks, last night you got exactly what you have been waiting for in the “Like Father, Like Daughter” episode.

And, yes, the First Daughter is being played by a different actress, but the new girl nailed her performance. Sadly.  This girl attended something called a "Swaggerpalooza" all the while ditching her Secret Service detail.  She had a wall full of possible young men to choose from, but could barely remember who she had the sexual encounter with.  She balked at the idea of rape.  She did it…voluntarily…with not one, but two random guys. This should be a lesson for parents that you just never know what your kids will do, and who with, when not in your presence.  It should have sent a message – for all parents to their children - about the dangers of not guarding your reputation, the dangers of internet pornography, the dangers of having unprotected sex, the dangers of alcohol consumption…the DANGERS!

The monologues were priceless last night.  After learning about their daughter’s sex tape, Fitz and Mellie had a real good talk.  He said, “I have put up with Drunk Mellie, Bad Hygiene Mellie…no wait, I got it…Smelly Mellie…” and added that she has been no one’s mother since the death of her son.  Yeah…I disagree.  She’s been the mother of a dead son and still grieving – yet her daughter has suffered because of it.  Mellie’s response to Fitz's rant - “Like father, like daughter.”  And where is the little baby with the slicked back hair?  No sight of him this season.

But it was Olivia who gave the surprise performance when she went into that classic Olivia Pope fixer, super gladiator mode.  She was going to blackmail the blackmailers and spin their story because THAT’S WHAT SHE DOES for a living. But be very clear, she wasn't alone on that island...ever.

While Cyrus may be off of his game, he was not at a loss for words when he told Abby, aka Red, “You are not Olivia Pope.  You will never be Olivia Pope.”  And he reminded her that when it comes to Olivia Pope there will be things that she will never…ever…know about this President and this White House.  And he also added that he wasn’t undermining Red’s role in the White House, but it was her own jealousy that undermined her role.  Classic.  Priceless. Cyrus. Bean.

But it was Jake Ballard, again, who – although meant to distract Liv from Fitz originally – stole the show.  Once more and again.  He had the opening scene, which started out with a bang, and the closing scene, which ended with his arrest.  He was framed.  And we did not see that coming.  But that one liner to Secret Service/B613 Tom, “If you do try to kill me, maybe not today…it’s gorgeous out.” Nice!  But did he have to choke David like that?  Poor David.

Papa Pope is a loony beast.  Too darn clever and sinister for my taste, but executed so well by Joe Morton that you just can’t help but to scoot closer to the television every time he is in the frame.  Command has gotten away with a whole lot of foolishness. And it works.

The whole scheme involving Jake, Tom and Command Pope reminded me of the situation between Mordecai and Haman. Even Haman’s wife, Zeresh, tried to warn him.  She stated, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him – you will surely come to ruin!” Haman tried to plot against Mordecai, it failed...every time.  The same pole Haman had ordered to be put in place for Mordecai is the same one that was used to put him to death…and it was even set up by his own house. 

The lesson – don’t plot someone else’s downfall…you will surely come to ruin. Oh, Jake!

Esther 2

¹⁹ When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. ²⁰ But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

²¹ During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana^[b] and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angryand conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. ²² But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. ²³ And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

Tomb of Esther and Mordecai