Scandal – Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

By starrymag | March 7, 2018

By: Nicole Dintelman

 

This week on “Scandal” Olivia (Kerry Washington) trades in her white hat for a professor’s cap! She’s teaching a class at the local college on how to avoid a scandal. This class has a very special student. None other than Annalise Keating (Viola Davis)! Liv asks the class who can tell her the biggest mistake in a crisis and it’s Annalise who has the right answer. After the class, Annalise approaches Liv and introduces herself. She’s happy to hear that Olivia has no idea who she is.

 

Annalise is there to get Olivia’s help with her class action suit. Olivia wishes her luck and Annalise tells her that she’s not there for luck. She needs Olivia’s help. Olivia tells her that she’s not sure how she can help. She’s been out of the White House for a few months. Annalise says that the news said that Olivia left on good terms. Olivia tells her that she did but she’s enjoying her break from politics. Annalise says that she’s not talking about politics. She’s talking about justice and ending the new Jim Crow.

 

Olivia is left with the case file and Annalise telling her that their country is in crisis. Together they can fix it. At QPA, Quinn (Katie Lowes) is busy stalking Olivia online. Huck (Guillermo Diaz) and Abby (Darby Stanchfield) are trying to fill her in on the new clients but she’s too consumed with the online news. Abby asks her if she’s Googling Liv again. Quinn says that she’s teaching college. Abby responds with: “You know what they say, those who can’t do, teach.”

 

Marcus (Cornelius Smith Jr.) and Olivia are having a drink. She’s filling him in on her visit from Annalise. Marcus knows all about her. Marcus says that he applied to law school at Middleton University because of Annalise. Marcus has read about her case. He asks Olivia if she’s taking it on. She tells him that she’s not in the game anymore. Olivia says that she doesn’t think she can do it. She asks Marcus why he’s there. Marcus tells her that they’re black. He will always show up for her and he will always root for her.

 

Liv looks over the case file and seems to be taken with Nate’s (Billy Brown) father’s case. She flips through and reads about all of the participants in the case and also does more research on Annalise. Olivia goes to see Annalise at her hotel. She tells her that it’s a good case but Annalise Keating can’t be the face of the case. From the attempted murder charge to her alcoholism she can’t be the face of the case. Annalise asks Olivia if she’s saying she’s a hot mess. Liv tells her yes, that’s what she’s saying.

 

Annalise tells Olivia that she thought she could move mountains. Olivia tells Annalise to have a safe trip back to Philadelphia and turns to leave. She changes her mind and goes back and tells Annalise that if they’re going to work together there is one thing she has to understand. This is her town and her rules. To get the ball rolling, Olivia goes to see Fitz (Tony Goldwyn). She needs his help with the suit. She tells him that she can’t do it alone.

 

Olivia tells Fitz that she didn’t come here for forgiveness. She knows that he doesn’t like her but she knows he wants to help people who have suffered injustice. That’s why she’s there. Olivia Pope is asking Fitz for help. Michaela (Aja Naomi King) is in town with Annalise to help with the case. Michaela fawns all over Olivia and then over Fitz. Fitz tells them that Mellie (Bellamy Young) has agreed to meet with them also.

 

Mellie welcomes them to the Oval and tells Annalise that she’s anxious to hear about the case. Mellie looks through the binder at all of the participants in the suit. Mellie tells Annalise that it’s the wrong time to pursue the case. They should wait until some of the more conservative judges retire. Even Fitz thinks it’s wrong to wait. Olivia asks to speak to Mellie alone. Olivia asks her why she agreed to take the meeting if she was just going to say no. Mellie says that she didn’t say no, she’s just saying not now.

 

It seems like Mellie is saying no to the case because of Olivia. Mellie assures Olivia that’s not at all a factor in her decision. She just thinks it will do better in a year with different judges in place. Mellie thinks Olivia is only taking the case to help her reputation. Olivia tells her that they’re going to the Supreme Court with or without Mellie’s help. Mellie warns her that if she does that she will be an adversary of the White House.

 

Jake (Scott Foley) heads to QPA to see Quinn. He needs to hire them to stop Olivia’s drive to the Supreme Court. Jake tells Quinn that she may have a special interest in the case since Olivia is spearheading it. Mellie’s playing dirty. Jake says that if Olivia is able to win the case it will drive her right back into the halls of power. Annalise wants to know what she and Mellie talked about when she left the room. Olivia blames it on Annalise’s reputation.

 

Fitz offers to try to go back and change Mellie’s mind. Liv tells him that they may not need Mellie’s help. They can put pressure on the Supreme Court themselves. Olivia takes it to the media, while QPA looks for dirt on the judges. Marcus and Michaela are working together and the QPA associates have divided to conquer. There’s a big television interview coming up and both Olivia and Annalise think they should be the one to do it. Michaela suggests they do it together. They both have their strengths so they will compliment each other. They both agree to do it together.

 

Annalise asks Olivia if she knows a good hairdresser. QPA is unable to find anything on the last remaining holdout judge. Quinn thinks he has his dirty laundry stored on a secret server. It makes Mellie nervous that they haven’t been able to find anything. Jake tells Mellie that they’re still looking. They will find something. Mellie asks Jake what they’re going to do about Olivia. She always finds a way to win. Mellie says that she can only blame herself. She didn’t crush Olivia like she should have.

 

Jake tries to reason with Mellie. He tells her that if she would have taken Liv down then she would have gone down as well. Mellie thinks it would have been a flesh wound. Jake asks Mellie if she’s suggesting that they leak Liv’s firing. He thinks it’s beneath them. Mellie says beneath them yes, but not beneath QPA. When we said Mellie was playing dirty, we weren’t exaggerating! Jake tells Mellie he will get them on it with a “yes, Madam President.” Jake is a good name for a lap dog.

 

Olivia and Annalise are bonding at the hair salon when the news is leaked about Olivia’s firing. Here they are talking about their uncle’s that used to be pimps but found Jesus and it’s all ruined by the news. Olivia asks the hairdressers to give her and Annalise a minute. Annalise tells Olivia that she lied to her. She’s the problem with the case, not Annalise. Annalise says that Olivia judged her from the moment she laid eyes on her. Olivia tells her that she didn’t judge her. Annalise can’t be fooled though. She tells Olivia that she’s dealt with plenty of bougie ass black woman to know when she has one right in front of her.

 

Annalise tells Olivia she’s not the only one who knows how to use Google. She says they are the same so Liv needs to keep it real. Annalise asks Olivia why she left the White House. Olivia tells her the reason people don’t like her is not her waist size or skin color. She says that she doesn’t have to explain herself to anyone. Well this bonding session is going fantastic! Abby is watching the news when David (Joshua Malina) says that the White House is playing dirty.

 

Abby tells David that it wasn’t the White House. David asks if she did it. Abby says not directly. It was Quinn that leaked it but Olivia has to be stopped. David asks Abby why Olivia should be stopped from trying to reform the justice system. David is behind what Olivia is trying to do. He tells Abby that it’s okay if she misses Olivia. Abby says that she doesn’t miss her. She doesn’t trust her. It’s really nice to see these two back together.

 

Quinn is ambushed by Olivia when she’s walking to her car. Olivia wants to know what she expects to get out of what she’s doing. Liv tells Quinn that she’s on the wrong side of the fight. Quinn says that she’s on the only side that matters. Her clients. Olivia asks her if she’s talking about the White House. That is who Quinn is working with to deny the rights of ninety wrongfully imprisoned people. Quinn reminds Olivia that she’s not the media and Liv can’t spin her. She tells Olivia that she doesn’t care about the people in the case. She only cares about herself. Olivia tells Quinn that she’s not there for her client. She’s there for revenge.

 

Olivia reminds Quinn that she said her QPA would be about justice. Olivia tells her not to compromise herself just because she hates her. Quinn says that Liv better walk away before she does something she’ll regret. Liv says that she already has. One way or another she’ll regret taking the case. Fitz is on his way out of the office and stops to ask Olivia if she needs anything. Liv tells him that he’s not going to win. She says that she can only spin so much and Annalise has problems. Big problems.

 

Fitz tells Olivia the only one with big problems is her. He says it’s not about Annalise Keating. It’s about Olivia Pope. He wants to know where the hell she is. Olivia says that he saw the news. Olivia Pope is finished. Fitz says that he doesn’t accept that. He tells her a couple of reporters going on TV saying mean things about her is nothing new. Her being forced to work with someone she doesn’t like, also not new. Annalise calls her on her crap and she’s never folded with people like her before.

 

Olivia says that she’s not that person anymore. Things are different now. Fitz asks her why she took the case. Olivia says she took it because it matters. Fits says it’s because she wants to change the world. Olivia tells him he’s right. She does want to change the world. Fitz says that there Olivia is. She just doesn’t see it. They don’t see it. There is still so much heat between these two they need to get a hose!

 

Charlie (George Newbern) finds dirt on the last remaining judge. Charlie says that there’s a reason why the guy kept his secrets buried deep. Quinn says that Olivia is never going to know what hit her. Abby tells Quinn that they’re supposed to be gladiators. When they play dirty it’s for a good reason. Quinn says it is for a good reason. Quinn gives the information to Jake and asks him why Mellie doesn’t want the case getting to the Supreme Court. Jake tells Quinn that it’s not about the case. They have the chance to check Olivia Pope. It’s what they all wanted.

 

It’s time for the joint TV interview. Michaela asks Marcus if he’s sure it’s a good idea. He says not really. The reporter wants to know if Olivia was fired from the White House. Olivia tells her that she was the result of a decision going wrong. She only regrets that her relationship with Mellie suffered. She says that she’s a fighter and that will never change. She understands the interest in her but they’re there to help the people that have been wronged by the justice system. She suggests that they hear from Annalise about the case.

 

Annalise says that all they are asking for is an hour of the courts time to hear their case. From the other news shows it seems like the interview went well. Olivia offers Annalise a glass of wine and Annalise reminds her that she doesn’t drink. Marcus calls and lets them know that the judge saw the interview but it didn’t change his mind. Olivia apologizes to Annalise. After everything, they went through they were so close but still came up short.

 

Michaela and Marcus are having a drink together. Michaela confesses that she wanted to be President once. We’re picking up some definite attraction between these two. Marcus says that he’s been going to the bar since he was 16. Michaela asked him if he was from there. Marcus says that just because he lives and works in the other DC doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care about where he came from. It’s why he does what he does. He wants to help the hard-working people of his neighborhood.

 

The two almost share a kiss when Michaela’s phone goes off. It’s Asher (Matt McGorry). Michaela tells Marcus she should go anyway. They’re probably leaving in the morning so she needs to pack. Quinn shows up at Olivia’s door. Olivia looks scared like Quinn is going to kill her. Quinn gives the information she gave to Jake to Olivia. The judge’s decision wasn’t based on the case. It was based on what was in the file. Olivia goes to see the judge.

 

Judge Spivey (Tom Irwin) tells Olivia that her visit is futile. He won’t change his vote. The information in the file is his son killed a woman in a hit and run. He paid off the only witness. The judge tells Olivia that his son was 16 and it was an accident. They’re now trying to use the information to blackmail him. Olivia tells him she’s not trying to blackmail him at all. She tells him the witness he paid off died two years ago. Olivia says that now that the witness is dead it will be easy for her to bury it for him.

 

Olivia tells the judge to listen to his conscience. The plaintiffs in the case deserve to have their case heard. Mellie is watching the news when they say the case will be heard and fast-tracked. To say Mellie looks disappointed is an understatement. Abby, on the other hand, is happy with the news. Annalise tells Olivia that the case being heard makes Olivia exactly what she thought she was. A miracle worker. She asks Olivia to join her on the case. Olivia agrees and the two women continue down the steps of the Capitol building.