So I watched Scandal for the first time and....
Wow. Shonda Rhimes, you did it again. You have proven why you are the queen of television. I had heard of Scandal being insanely addicting for a couple of years but had never gotten the chance to really sit down and watch it. Thanks to Netflix, however, I was able to finally get caught up in the addiction that is Scandal.
Here's what you really need to know about this show: Kerry Washington is the baddest bitch or, in other words, the "head bitch in charge" (HBIC). The first episode starts off in a busy bar with shaky camera angles and fast paced dialogue, but once Harrison (Columbus Short) says the name 'Olivia Pope' to doe-eyed rookie Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes), everything slows down. Harrison gives Quinn a nice little speech about being gladiators for Olivia Pope or whatever and she agrees to go back to the office with him. Then we cut to the beautiful and talented Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in an elevator with one of her other 'gladiators'. This is where shit gets real, and it’s only two minutes into the pilot episode.
Olivia Pope shuts the blackmailers she’s delivering three million dollars to down when they demand the rest of the money they were promised and, honestly, I have never been more impressed with a character’s first scene. With strength in her words, Olivia Pope becomes the head bitch in charge within the first five minutes of the pilot episode- if that doesn’t make you want to watch Scandal, I don’t know what will.
Here's what you really need to know about this show: Kerry Washington is the baddest bitch or, in other words, the "head bitch in charge" (HBIC). The first episode starts off in a busy bar with shaky camera angles and fast paced dialogue, but once Harrison (Columbus Short) says the name 'Olivia Pope' to doe-eyed rookie Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes), everything slows down. Harrison gives Quinn a nice little speech about being gladiators for Olivia Pope or whatever and she agrees to go back to the office with him. Then we cut to the beautiful and talented Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in an elevator with one of her other 'gladiators'. This is where shit gets real, and it’s only two minutes into the pilot episode.
Olivia Pope shuts the blackmailers she’s delivering three million dollars to down when they demand the rest of the money they were promised and, honestly, I have never been more impressed with a character’s first scene. With strength in her words, Olivia Pope becomes the head bitch in charge within the first five minutes of the pilot episode- if that doesn’t make you want to watch Scandal, I don’t know what will.
Olivia Pope tells the angry Ukrainian criminals to accept the three million and leave now as their names are about to “pop up” on the “No Fly” list for international flights. So, yeah. She’s intimidating.
After claiming her position as HBIC, Olivia Pope is asked to help a young man who walks into their office covered in blood. He’s a decorated soldier and big in the public eye as a respectable conservative man. He claims he found his girlfriend murdered, called the police, and immediately left to avoid any rumors of him being involved in the crime. So, naturally, the first place he goes is Olivia Pope’s office.
Before doing anything, Pope and the rest of her ‘gladiators’ interrogate the boy covered in blood. This allows for a nice montage in which we learn Pope’s steps of understanding a client and their case. After the little montage, Pope arrives at the U.S. attorney’s house, demanding he hold off on arresting her client, which provides us with one of my favorite quotes after she persuades him to wait 24 hours.
Before doing anything, Pope and the rest of her ‘gladiators’ interrogate the boy covered in blood. This allows for a nice montage in which we learn Pope’s steps of understanding a client and their case. After the little montage, Pope arrives at the U.S. attorney’s house, demanding he hold off on arresting her client, which provides us with one of my favorite quotes after she persuades him to wait 24 hours.
After claiming her position as HBIC, Olivia Pope is asked to help a young man who walks into their office covered in blood. He’s a decorated soldier and big in the public eye as a respectable conservative man. He claims he found his girlfriend murdered, called the police, and immediately left to avoid any rumors of him being involved in the crime. So, naturally, the first place he goes is Olivia Pope’s office.
Before doing anything, Pope and the rest of her ‘gladiators’ interrogate the boy covered in blood. This allows for a nice montage in which we learn Pope’s steps of understanding a client and their case. After the little montage, Pope arrives at the U.S. attorney’s house, demanding he hold off on arresting her client, which provides us with one of my favorite quotes after she persuades him to wait 24 hours.
Before doing anything, Pope and the rest of her ‘gladiators’ interrogate the boy covered in blood. This allows for a nice montage in which we learn Pope’s steps of understanding a client and their case. After the little montage, Pope arrives at the U.S. attorney’s house, demanding he hold off on arresting her client, which provides us with one of my favorite quotes after she persuades him to wait 24 hours.
I mean really, she’s one of the most impressive female leads in any show I've ever watched EVER.
After all of this, Olivia and the President get together to discuss the case. Of course, Pope calls the President by his nickname “Fitz” because, why wouldn't she?
After a couple of scenes to introduce the history between Pope and Fitz and to, of course, stay on track with the mini case of the episode, we finally get to watch Olivia Pope take care of the President’s impending scandal. Pope discreetly runs into Amanda Tanner, the woman claiming to have slept with the President, and nonchalantly warns her that, if she does go through with her allegations, her life will be ruined. Naturally, of course, she does this in the most legal way possible- she even makes sure there’s a witness to their conversation. After this scene, there was officially no changing my mind that Olivia Pope is Shonda Rhimes’ best character ever. (Plus- she has some great one liners)
After all of this, Olivia and the President get together to discuss the case. Of course, Pope calls the President by his nickname “Fitz” because, why wouldn't she?
After a couple of scenes to introduce the history between Pope and Fitz and to, of course, stay on track with the mini case of the episode, we finally get to watch Olivia Pope take care of the President’s impending scandal. Pope discreetly runs into Amanda Tanner, the woman claiming to have slept with the President, and nonchalantly warns her that, if she does go through with her allegations, her life will be ruined. Naturally, of course, she does this in the most legal way possible- she even makes sure there’s a witness to their conversation. After this scene, there was officially no changing my mind that Olivia Pope is Shonda Rhimes’ best character ever. (Plus- she has some great one liners)
Like any show, there’s a rookie in Scandal. Viewers were introduced to her in the very first scene and, throughout the episode, kind of start to hate her because, for some reason, she’s CONSTANTLY asking questions. I mean, really, it seems as if all of her lines end in a question mark- which creates a very nervous and confused character for the viewers. Kind of annoying, but understandable for a pilot episode.
Hopefully in the following episodes Quinn Perkins will learn to trust the goddess that is Olivia Pope and stop asking so many damn questions.
The episode, while exciting from the beginning, only gets better when we learn about Olivia’s past affair with Fitz. That’s right, she’s on that level with the President of the United States. This scene, while stirring things up for the major plotline of the show, allowed us to see Pope’s vulnerable side as she gets emotional questioning the President. The woman claiming to have slept with him, Amanda Tanner, attempts to take her own life but, before doing so, gives Olivia Pope a call. She starts talking about how she wants Fitz to talk to her and how she knows he’ll come and call her “sweet baby” and it’s here that we see something break in Olivia Pope. Immediately, we cut to her storming in to the White House to talk to the President one hundred percent pissed off. Pope starts questioning Fitz about Amanda Tanner’s dog as he tries to distract her by grabbing her waist and pulling her in closer. Clearly, he’s kind of an asshole.
The episode, while exciting from the beginning, only gets better when we learn about Olivia’s past affair with Fitz. That’s right, she’s on that level with the President of the United States. This scene, while stirring things up for the major plotline of the show, allowed us to see Pope’s vulnerable side as she gets emotional questioning the President. The woman claiming to have slept with him, Amanda Tanner, attempts to take her own life but, before doing so, gives Olivia Pope a call. She starts talking about how she wants Fitz to talk to her and how she knows he’ll come and call her “sweet baby” and it’s here that we see something break in Olivia Pope. Immediately, we cut to her storming in to the White House to talk to the President one hundred percent pissed off. Pope starts questioning Fitz about Amanda Tanner’s dog as he tries to distract her by grabbing her waist and pulling her in closer. Clearly, he’s kind of an asshole.
Finally, Olivia learns that Fitz did sleep with Amanda Tanner and we learn that their affair was more than just physical- they were, and probably still are, in a deep love with each other. But Olivia’s too strong of a woman to let herself get caught up in that shit.
The pilot ends with Olivia and her team clearing the boy covered in blood’s name and her informing Cyrus that she is now taking Amanda Tanner’s case or, in other words, she’s coming after the President of the United States with some sharp claws, leaving me like:
Honestly, this was a great pilot episode to a series. While there were some imperfections (Quinn’s nonstop questions are really, really annoying), Scandal has the potential to become my new obsession (I’m already pretty hooked). Not only is the major plotline exciting and keeps us on our toes, the acting in this series is absolutely outstanding, particularly Kerry Washington. I have honestly never been so impressed by an actress in a pilot episode and I can say without doubt that Washington deserves endless praise for this role. Her ability to make viewers fear and love her character really adds to the show’s value.
To keep things short and sweet, watch Scandal and fall to your knees at Kerry Washington’s performance as the head bitch in charge, Olivia Pope. Trust me, you will not regret binge watching the first three seasons on Netflix nor will you be judged.
To keep things short and sweet, watch Scandal and fall to your knees at Kerry Washington’s performance as the head bitch in charge, Olivia Pope. Trust me, you will not regret binge watching the first three seasons on Netflix nor will you be judged.