Last week’s episode picked up with the President standing in Olivia’s living room. The attraction between them is magnetic. Rewind to two years ago to see how it all began. The president was a governor on the campaign trail. Sally Langston, was kicking his butt in the polls. Olivia stands, wearing a buttoned up jacket, denim, boots and a hair barrette, to tell him that the reason he’s losing is because the public thinks things are “icy” with his wife.
He tells Cyrus to fire Olivia Pope. Olivia over hears him and delivers a soliloquy on her dedication to the campaign and how he was lucky to have her. He agrees, “You’re right. I would be lucky to have you.” The pheromones and sparks are undeniable. He wanted to get rid of her because he knew he wanted to have her. They immediately began trying to resist the chemistry between them.
Meanwhile, Mellie, the governor’s wife, is willing to do whatever it takes to help her husband win the election, even if it means talking to him. Which results in a gain at the polls, but doesn’t secure the women’s vote. But that’s not the scandal. Not then, not now. The scandal then was that the future first lady, was accused of having an affair. Pictures surfaced that linked her to Paul Mosely, who once had a career that involved toe sucking techniques amongst other things.
Being the supportive wife that she is, Mellie breaks down at a press conference. She tearfully admits that she had a miscarriage but couldn’t allow their personal loss stand in the way of her husband’s campaign. Just as the governor was falling for it, she hugs him and whispers, “That ought to take care of it.” And it did. He secured the women’s vote!
Back on the trail, you could feel the heat between governor Grant and Olivia. Instead of going into her own room late one night, she and Grant go to his room together. They fumble through their first kiss before he whispers, “take off your clothes.” We see the full interlude, including the flashing light at the bottom of the bed. Someone was listening. The sex tape from two years ago wasn’t Amanda, it was Olivia!
Back to the present. Gideon, Quinn’s boyfriend/crappy reporter gets a visit from Billy, former campaign manager for Sally Langston and friend of Olivia Pope (remember, he tried to warn Olivia about Cyrus a few episodes ago). Gideon accuses Billy of having had an affair with Amanda. Billy berates Gideon for his stupidity. Then he admits he was the source that delivered the sex tape, the log of Amanda’s visits with the President, and that he set the whole thing up.
Gideon isn’t phased by the attacks on his intellect. He informs Billy that he knows Amanda was pregnant by him and can prove it. Desperate, Billy grabs a pair of scissors and stabs Gideon, leaving him gasping in a pool of blood. I didn’t see that coming. Now that’s conflict resolution for you.
Tomorrow night is the season finale. Will you be watching? Scandal airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.
