SCANDAL Recap: Shut it Down

So much happened in this episode of Scandal. So much. I’m not even sure where to start.

How about the bombing first? Cyrus keeps quiet about the bomb but fortunately Jake gets to the White House in time for them to give the order to evacuate the church. Olivia watches the evacuation on the TV from the hospital where she is waiting to see if her father will survive the attack at the hands of her mother. Before everyone can be evacuated the bomb goes off. In the situation room Cyrus looks a little queasy.

All the main players got out before the bomb detonated and Sally is on her way to a car to be driven away when Leo stops her. He rips the sleeve of her dress, rubs dirt on her face and says, “You go in there and be Jesus.” He’s a special man that Leo. She’s a special woman because she runs right into the fray. You know, like Jesus would have. Leo’s ploy works, all over the news they are dropping Fitz’s press briefing for video of Sally helping the injured. When she is done she holds her own press conference. You know, like Jesus would have.

Unfortunately this God like act gives Sally a huge boost in the polls. Cyrus and Olivia tell Andrew, Mellie and Fitz that they are going to lose the election. Voting isn’t until Tuesday and Fitz thinks there must be something they can do. Olivia and Cyrus are adamant. It’s over.

Olivia leaves the White House to check on her dad. He is in stable-ish condition. He wants to know what is wrong and she tells him. Fitz isn’t going to get another term. Rowan hugs her and I’m terribly skeptical. Olivia however seems to think it is grand.

After the hospital visit Olivia heads back over to the White House. Fitz gives her his concession speech to read. He mentions they can move to Vermont once he loses the election. She smiles. “I am going to marry you. We are going to have babies.” I’d like to mention their song is playing. It’s the first time in a while they are both smiling and no one is yelling.

Fitz starts going on about what a power hungry meanie (yeah meanie) Mellie is but Olivia stops him. She chooses that moment to tell him Mellie was raped by his Dad. Fitz immediately goes to see Mellie, who is still drinking by the way. His silent stare and heartbreaking expression makes her ask, “You know?” He takes her drink, kisses the top of her head and sits next to her. She says the paternity test shows Jerry is his son, not his Dad’s. Fitz tried to cut her off – he doesn’t care either way. He puts his arm around her and hugs her.

Over at OPA Harrison, who has talked Adnan into letting him go, and Abby show up at the same time. They hear a sound coming from the conference room. Huck and Poor Quinn are going at it on the table, right next to the blood all over the floor from Rowan’s attack. Abby is appalled. I’m appalled. Everyone is appalled. Their love disturbs me.

Know who else doesn’t like it – Charlie. He is angrily packing when Poor Quinn gets home. Seeing as he moved himself into her apartment I’m not sure why he is being such a baby about moving out. He gives Poor Quinn an envelope as a “party gift”.

That night Poor Quinn drives Huck to a neighborhood. She gives him the envelope Charlie left her. While she is telling him about the family in the house across the street the woman comes into view in the window. It’s Huck’s family. His family that B613 wouldn’t let him have. Huck is upset with Poor Quinn. He can’t handle this. So much so that after she says I love you he says, “Don’t you ever speak another word to me again.” Charlie was right. That envelope would ruin their relationship.

Back to the election. While their song is playing Olivia and Fitz are on the phone with each other. He is about to give a speech, his last one before everyone votes the next day. She says she understands Vermont can’t happen. He can’t leave Mellie now that he knows what happened to her and Olivia understands. He says he loves her and she says it back. They do “one minute” in silence on the phone. I actually get teary eyed. They haven’t done “one minute” in a long time and it’s sad.

Fitz and his family get up on the stage and Fitz starts his speech. Jerry sneezes and he is expelling blood. He collapses while blood comes out of his mouth and nose. He is rushed to the hospital but they can’t save him. He is pronounced dead. He died from bacterial meningitis.

After giving the press briefing Olivia tells Cyrus they are going to win the election now. The death of a child will cause America to rally around Fitz and his family. Olivia can’t believe that is the first thing she thought of. “When did we stop being people?” she asks Cyrus.

Our favorite Secret Service Special B613 Agent Tom hands Fitz a file containing a report about a vial of the virus that was stolen earlier that week from a military base. Jerry was murdered.

Coincidentally they are in the same hospital as Rowan. When he comes down to talk to Fitz Fitz tells him it was Maya Pope that did this. She killed Jerry and now he is going to kill her. Rowan suggests that Fitz can’t do that himself. Fitz gives Rowan his blessing to take care of it for him.

With the information that her mother was behind the death of Jerry Olivia calls her dad and asks if the plane and the new life he offered her in the first episode is still an option. Next thing you know Olivia is at OPA and a stunned Abby is yelling at her that she doesn’t accept this. Olivia pretty much says this is too bad. She is leaving today but don’t worry, her Dad is going to take care of them, financially, etc… Abby says Olivia’s Dad is a terrible person and not to be trusted. Even though I wholeheartedly agree with Abby Olivia has made up her mind. She leaves her keys on the table and walks out.

At her apartment, where she has gotten a remarkable amount of things packed in such a short time, Jake shows up. He can’t believe she quit OPA and is leaving. Huck called him. She says everything that has happened to this point is all because of her. She is the common denominator. “I am the scandal.” The best way to handle this is to shut it down. She is leaving.

Jake reiterates what he has been saying for a few weeks now, “Run away with me. Save me.” She reiterates she is in love with someone else. Jakes says she is leaving everything else behind she can leave that too. She doesn’t have to be alone. “I want us to stand in the sun together.”

Here is where things start to go sideways, alarmingly so. Rowan finds Harrison in the parking garage. He wants to know everything Harrison knows about Maya Pope and her current operation. Harrison isn’t going to talk to him but then Rowan shows him photos of Adnan. She has been shot and killed. Rowan says Maya got to her. Harrison tells Rowan he knows where Maya is going to pick up her money. Maya almost gets away but Rowan’s guys show up and take her into custody. Rowan calls Fitz and says it’s done, Maya Pope is no more.

Harrison heads upstairs to tell OPA the good news only to hear Olivia has left. Harrison goes to Rowan and tells him they need Olivia back. Rowan doesn’t think so. Besides now he is head of B613 again, he’s in control. That seems to be the form of payment he and Fitz worked out for ending Maya’s life.

Unfortunately Harrison starts to put things together. Olivia is on a plane out of town, the President thinks Rowan is swell and B613 is back together. Seems Rowan is the one that stood to gain from Jerry’s death not Maya. Rowan calmly says “He took my child so I took his.” It is terrifying. He admits he even had Adnan killed so Harrison would cooperate. Enter Tom. In flashbacks we see that he was the one that infected Jerry and the one that killed Adnan. I suddenly don’t love him so much. It gets worse as Tom screws a silencer onto his gun and points it at Harrison.

While that is happening Olivia is pulling up to the airstrip. She and Jake board the plane. He is hot and she is smiling.

Despite winning the election Fitz is a mess – obviously. He is sitting on the floor of the Oval Office when Mellie finds him. He wants to know where Olivia is. When Mellie tries Olivia’s phone she sends the call straight to voicemail. She is really done with that life – for now.

Everything comes full circle. We see flashes of things that have happened throughout the year. The one that is sticking out to me is Rowan telling Olivia that come hell or high water she was getting on that plane. Well it took a while but he did get what he wanted, didn’t he? This whole season and it all comes back to the first episode.

As the episode ends we see Huck knock on his family’s door. His wife opens the door and stares in disbelief and Huck say, “Hi.”

We also see Rowan back at B613, he has the cover taken off of the hole to show Maya Pope down there. He lied to Fitz about her demise and is keeping her in the hole apparently.

And because not everything can be sad and devastating we see Rosen getting a delivery of a dozen or so boxes from Acme Paper. There is a note with the boxes from Jake that says, “Go get the bad guys.” The boxes are filled with classified B613 files. Rowan will lose his mind when he finds out about this but in the meantime we are left with a white hat wearing, I’m fighting for justice, smiling Rosen.

What did you think? Considering they cut the season short for Kerry’s pregnancy I think they did a good job of getting all the stories wrapped up. So much happened in this one hour though I’ll be thinking about it for weeks.

On a side note if you haven’t been watching Jimmy Kimmel’s Escandalo episodes you are missing out. His Scandal as a telenovela is awesome and ridiculously funny. Good thing to watch while we are waiting for Season 4. You can find the episodes on his YouTube channel here.

Scandal airs Thursday 10/9c on ABC