We’re coming to the end of our journey through Shondaland. With only one more episode left until some of the biggest moments in Shondaland shows are revealed, I keep finding myself cursing at the TV, sucking my teeth an questioning why Ms. Rhimes insists on keeping me glued to one spot for three hours every Thursday. Let’s get into the recap of What Shonda Taught Me.
Lesson: Break-up to make-up relationships can be very interesting
Scandal starts with our leading lady, Olivia Pope in handcuffs (and not in a steamy, sexy way either). This scene preludes a more intense scene between her and Fitz later on in the episode. We’ll get that later. In the meantime, Olivia is showing off her multi-lingual world class skills by speaking in another language to foreign royalty at a presidential dinner. Through her conversation with the translator for the country, she is told of a nuclear weapon that is being built. The translator is seeking asylum in the US if he divulges the info. Thus, the translator wants a combo: to get “Poped” by Olivia and the saving grace of President Grant. Greedy much?
Cyrus sees how Olivia is beginning to run the show and is offended to say the least. He threatens to tell David Rosen about Olivia’s involvement in getting her father released from prison. Poor Cyrus can’t let anybody live! Mellie decides that the best way for her to get ahead with her political and personal agenda is to make Olivia her puppet. So she decides to start pulling puppet strings by letting Olivia know that she’ll reveal all of the dirty little details about her involvement with Poppa Pope’s release from jail. Olivia gives it a split second of concern, then continues about business as usual.
Speaking of Poppa Pope, he slithers his way into a meeting with Olivia (courtesy of Tom—the ex-Secret Service goon turned ex-felon turned Poppa Pope goon), and spends his time trying to convince her that he should be awarded “Father of the Year” for how much he loved and protected her. He also tells her that he fears his pending death because he’s being hunted. Again, Olivia with a few sarcastic remarks and a shady attitude, seems unbothered. However, we soon discover that she’s actually concerned for him and wants him to be okay—even though he’s an assassin who hates her boyfriend and tried to kill her mother. Can’t win ‘em all, right?
The OPA Gladiators are doing double duty: trying to figure out the validity of the nuclear weapon info that the translator provided and looking for Poppa Pope. They’re able to do both, but not so well. Initially, they think that the translator is lying to gain asylum and that Poppa Pope is pulling Olivia’s strings. They quickly find out that they’re wrong with both stories, but not before serious harm is done. The translator tries to commit suicide after Olivia accuses him of lying. Turns out there is a weapon being built in his country. And the discovery is right on the brink of Fitz signing a weapons agreement (long in the making) between the country’s leader. Yikes! Of course, Olivia is able to alert Fitz about it and he declines signing the agreement. And as it turns out, Poppa Pope is being hunted—by none other than Fitz and Jake—both who have something to prove to Poppa Pope and Olivia.
David and Liz are still having “afternoon delights” although Liz seems to be turned off by her lust for him or, perhaps, has an ulterior motive. David is obviously feeling himself. I mean, when you’re getting laid on-demand and at your job, why wouldn’t you feel like the man?
Now for the big part. I told you earlier that Olivia was being arrested for something. David alerts Cyrus that Olivia is the culprit behind Poppa Pope’s release and Cyrus happily rings the alarm which leads to her arrest. During detainment in a top-secret bunker, Fitz questioned her involvement and over a background of Donny Hathaway’s A Song for You, she confesses everything. Fitz, in true “shock and awe” fashion is appalled and leaves Olivia in tears, seemingly begging for forgiveness. Cold-hearted Fitz.
Later on, Fitz is forgiving and even begins moving Olivia’s clothes into the residence (making Cyrus-the-tattletale do it against his will and liking). A part of me wants to say that Fitz wants to show her that all is forgiven, but the other part of me says that Fitz wants to keep an eye on her. In other news, Poppa Pope is held hostage and his life hangs in the balance. Is it “lights out” for Poppa Pope?
Over on How to Get Away with Murder, we get a recap of Bonnie’s death wish for Annalise, which is affecting Annalise personally, not too personally though, because Annalise takes a natural hair selfie (smile and all) to send to her Mama.
Nate appears at Annalise’s door (bootycall alert) and Annalise invites him in. He talks about his anger and resentment towards her and Annalise kindly listens, obliges and even apologizes again. Apparently Nate starts feeling himself too much or he mixed his brown and white liquors together to get some liquid courage and insinuates that Annalise should oblige to make-up sex. Annalise, the no non-sense woman that she is, lets him know that her forgiveness is not sealed with an acceptance for his sexual invitation and walks away. Boss move!
Oliver meets his intruder face to face and begs not to be killed. Respectfully, his intruder, Philip- the new primary suspect in the Hapsted murder case, obliges, but not without “kidnapping him” There are always strings attached! Connor notices his boyfriend is missing and alerts the AK team. Before they can start a serious investigation, Oliver appears—with Philip and suggests that the team hear him out. They do, with skepticism however. Philip explains to them that they’ve got it all wrong (of course) and the team gives him the “yeah-sure” look. They then find a straw with his DNA on it and get it tested.
Meanwhile, Bonnie is a no-show to AK’s offices and Annalise is even more frustrated with Frank. She constantly vents how little Frank is doing (we later see that this makes him work harder—though not without consequences I’m sure). Laurel gets upgraded to the “new Bonnie” according to Annalise and assigns her to lead the team and work with Frank.
Sinclaire, the prosecuting attorney on the Hapsted case is offering Caleb and Catherine a plea deal of 15 years. Considering that they’re maintain their innocence, this seems like a terrible deal, but the siblings wrestle with it—without Annalise’s consult. Wes and Michaela are assigned to go and talk to the siblings and convince them to slow down with their decisions and rely on Annalise. Of course, Wes botches the whole conversation and allows his conscience to take over his judgment. Annalise kicks him off of the case.
Asher discovers that Sinclaire has bugged the house to hear how Annalise is pursuing the case. After the discovery, the team decides to send her on a wild goose chase partially to pay her back for her decision and also to wind down time for the expiration of the plea deal she offered the siblings.
Philip is seen making a statement at the police station, possibly explaining how Annalise and her team were spying on him through his webcam. So Nate finds records for a schizophrenic person in the police database and adds Philips name to it to discredit his statement. Thus, Nate is a part of the goon squad yet again.
Catherine seems to be gung-ho about accepting a plea deal and this time, agrees to a 10-year deal that expires in one hour. The AK team frantically tries to figure out a way to get Catherine out of her deal, but comes up with nothing. Just as Catherine is about to accept the deal in front of the judge, Frank walks in with DNA that puts Philip at the crime scene and gets Catherine off of the hook. As a gift, Catherine, who’s a talented artist, delivers a painting to Wes.
Everyone who had a break -up (of sorts) is making up and a lengthy scene of multiple steamy make-up sessions goes down. Oliver and Connor get it on in Annalise’s lecture hall. Michaela, who’s been crushing on Caleb forever, gets it on with him and finally has an orgasm (high five!), Frank and Laurel knock boots as usual and Nate reunites with Annalise.
Of course, nothing ends in pure splendor in Shondaland. Caleb has a confession for Michaela (right after their sex session—bummer!), which makes things even more complicated. He found the possible weapon for his parent’s murder in their house—suggesting that Catherine could’ve indeed killed their parents.
And so the plot thickens!
Join me for the Winter finale recap next week.
