Scandal: Lessons in Chemistry and Arterial Spray

When I initially reviewed the pilot for Scandal, I was less than impressed but saw some definite potential if the show played its cards right.  Much to my delight, every episode since the pilot has been better than the pilot.  By a long shot.  I'm willing to wager Scandal will eventually fly off the rails, going the way of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and every other Shondaland production, but as of the finale of the first season, it's an addictive soap with some captivating and even shocking drama at its core.

It took a few episodes for Kerry Washington to really settle into the role (a role which was tweaked here and there to better suit her strengths, methinks), but by the end of the season, I really found myself believing her as this character.  Early on, the show was a little to concerned with repeatedly telling me that she and her crew were badasses for me to believe any of it.  Subsequent episodes have decided to show me that they're badasses.  That's when I can believe it.  I don't need the show to tell me how to feel.  Present me with a compelling situation and I'll judge for myself.  To the show's credit, these last few episodes have been much less obnoxious in this regard and have let me determine the team's ability level. 

The show also delivered some much-needed backstory for these characters, particularly Olivia and the president.  In the pilot, it was hard to get a clear idea of their past or present relationship, but the show has definitely filled in a lot of holes and given a better foundation for their interactions.  This also helps me buy Washington as Olivia and makes her interactions with the president far less groan-worthy.  There's still quite a bit we don't know (why exactly did Olivia end it?  when?), but there's enough that I don't want to smack the characters in the face.  Even better, the chemistry between Olivia and Fitz is absolutely electric.  Seriously, the first couple of episodes didn't do them justice.  Shonda productions tend to focus a little too much on romantic entanglements for my tastes, but with Scandal, it really, really works.  The difference between a sexual relationship on Scandal and one on any other Shonda production is that with Scandal, it matters.  Random hookups on Grey's or Private Practice are only superficially consequential at best, but with Scandal, sexual dalliances form the fabric of the show's conflict and it affects everyone, the politics of the day, and potentially the country.
Indeed, the fact that Olivia and Fitz (a simply superb Tony Goldwyn) have such great chemistry only adds to the powder keg.  This isn't just some cheesy romance between an attending and a resident.  The consequences of a Grey's romance affects only those directly involved.  On Scandal, it could completly derail the entire US government.  It's not often that those kinds of stakes are tackled and I find I'm totally engrossed.  It has its soapy elements, to be sure, but at the same time, Scandal seems more grounded, more adult, and more sophisticated in its drama (even during it's most insane plot developments).  The flashback episode in particular helped establish not only the show's backstory, but the tone the series is trying to strike.  It had some cheesy elements here and there, but overall, the episode took its time, built a compelling foundation, and allowed the viewer to see these two characters interact before everything fell apart.  It wasn't some huge, crazy, over-the-top affair, but rolled out in a fairly logical way.  Indeed, Washington and Goldwyn have such palpable chemistry that it didn't need grand gestures.  It allowed itself to be slower and subtler, and that's definitely up my alley.  It also elucidated Fitz's loveless marriage to sociopath Mellie in a way that really helped explain the whole foundation of the show.  This is what the best flashback episodes should aspire to do:  inform the present narrative by fleshing out the past.  Not all the characters have received such a showcase yet, but Fitz and Olivia are the center of this story and are the most essential to everything that happens.  The flashback episode solidified their interactions and set up the crazy of the finale perfectly.

Seriously, I spent better part of the finale thinking, "Man alive, how are they going to make their way out of  this one!?" only to have the dominoes keep tumbling.  Billy's actions, in particular, have been pretty damn shocking, I must admit.  I totally didn't see it coming.  Any of it, really.  I liked him so much early on (they chose a particularly affable actor on purpose), so to see him plunge scissors into Gideon's neck was over the top, totally soapy, and completely awesome.  Except for the whole Gideon being dead aspect...  Note to Quinn (make that "Quinn"), DON'T PULL THE SCISSORS OUT!  Seriously, it's almost like she never appeared on all of Shonda's medical shows or something.  If you ever get impaled with something, for hell's sakes, leave it in!  Only medical professionals should be removing such things.  Anyway...  If nothing else, it proves that this show doesn't pull any punches and is absolutely willing to go several steps further than you'd ever expect.  At times, if felt like the writers had written themselves into such a quagmire that there was no way out, but Olivia would manage to find a way.  That's badassery I can appreciate.  And I didn't even need to be told.  Some of her plans seemed like truly terrible ideas, but by the end of  this season, I'm at the point where I trust that she has an endgame in mind and that she knows what she's doing.  Early on in the season, I would simply scoffed.  That's an impressive progression in only a handful of episodes.

As mentioned, only really Fitz and Olivia (and Huck to a certain extent) received a full showcase this season, but the over-arching narrative made up for it.  I'm confident they'll flesh out all the little clues we've received about these people over time, but for now, I'm too wrapped up in the scandal and intrigue to care.  Having seen the total destruction that Bill Clinton's affair spiraled into, not only for him and his presidency, but for the stability of the system overall, it makes Fitz's affair hit hard.  Knowing Mellie the way we do, no one can blame him for the affair, but as far as the public is concerned, he has the perfect marriage and any infidelity would be horrific.  Getting to see the behind-the-scenes events that led to the affair is extremely captivating.  I can't imagine Clinton's motivations were as complex or engaging, but it would be interesting to know just what needs to happen to risk your presidency for it.  With Fitz, the affair actually makes him more appealing as a character and more likable as a man and a president.  The final two episodes really hit this home.  He'd be totally willing to give up the presidency if it meant he could live a normal life, divorce Mellie, and finally be with Olivia.  Anyway you slice it, that's endearing, even if impractical. 

The show very wisely uses the politics of the day to shape the drama.  It also rather interestingly chose a conservative presidency to be at the center of the story.  There's something about the fact that he's a Republican that adds more layers to it (particularly his Bible-thumping vice president).  It manages to raise the stakes even more, knowing that an affair would hit Fitz's own constituency even harder than a more liberal president would.  The show uses Cyrus in a really compelling way to drive this home.  Some of his blustering edges on preachy, but overall, he raises issues in a realistic, salient way.  The fact that he's a gay man serving a Republican president tweaks the paradigm in a really pointed way that I appreciate.  Cyrus wants to make gains for the gay community, women, and minorities, and he's essentially working with the enemy to achieve this.  Fitz is technically conservative, which curries favor with a prominent sector of voters, but he's also open to civil rights issues in a way that most conservatives wouldn't be.  Cyrus is using this to his advantage and is willing to do anything to keep Fitz in office.  Arguably, I think he believes that a conservative president would have a better chance for making major civil rights advances than a liberal.  In modern American politics, senators and representatives are little children who will only side with their own.  Under Fitz's presidency, there's room for crossover that hasn't existed for years.  Cyrus knows this and is willing to kill people to protect it (the reveal at the end, that Cyrus had commissioned the hit on Amanda was fantastic).  As such, when Fitz just wants to tell the truth, resign from office, and live a normal life with Olivia, Cyrus is apoplectic.  His rationale is sound, and Olivia, a black woman, can see where he's coming from.  Fitz may very well be the key to social change and they both know it.

As a result, Olivia makes a deal with the devil (Mellie) to lie, fabricate, and manipulate their way out of this.  It was actually really heartbreaking when Mellie was outlining the plan to say it was her on the tape, to get pregnant asap, and retake her husband--all Fitz can do is stare at an embarrassed, beaten, crestfallen Olivia.  When he asks Olivia "Who are you?" it hits homes.  For as much relationship drama and soapy twists as this has in it, the consequences make it work.  It's not just romantic trouble, it's a matter of national policy, and that makes me care about it far more than I would an elevator ride with Derek and Meredith.  It also manages to pull the show out of the genre barrel and give it some teeth.  The show is willing to kill people off, destroy careers, and pull the rug out from under you, and I totally dig that.

The show isn't perfect, but it's a solid production with a clear vision and enough room to explore that it could very well provide many seasons of intrigue.  The "who is Quinn?" mystery brought up in the finale will likely be a centerpiece of next season, and I kinda can't wait.  Seriously, in terms of mystery, insane plot twists, and huge reveals, Scandal is giving Revenge a run for its money.  Its only 7 episodes in, but I think this could be a long-term contender.  If you haven't watch, or were turned off by the pilot, as I was, I'd suggest giving it another shot.  All 7 episodes are on Hulu, so if you're hankering for fairly delectable guilty pleasure, I'd highly recommend getting caught up.