- Title: Scandal – Any Questions?
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Mellie’s (Bellamy Young) bombshell about the President’s (Tony Goldwyn) affair rocks the nation and sends the White House into full panic mode. Fitz orders Olivia (Kerry Washington) to “stand down” and not try to fix the situation which includes his plans to announce he won’t be seeking a second term, a decision Cyrus (Jeff Perry) begs the President to reconsider. Mellie hires a fixer (John Barrowman) of her own but is unwilling to take the one-step (naming Olivia as the mistress) which her husband would never forgive. Meanwhile, despite Harrison’s (Columbus Short) pleas, Olivia refuses to engage and refocuses the group on uncovering the identity of the mole.
Much of the episode revolves around Cyrus’ (Jeff Perry) press conference dancing around the questions concerning the President’s affair and his growing loss of control which includes an angry dust-up with James (Dan Bucatinsky) concerning his husband’s role in the fiasco. Unable to convince either Olivia or Fitz to give up their dreams of being together, Cyrus is approached by Jake’s boss (Joe Morton) who emplores him to use the tape of Jake (Scott Foley) and Olivia together as the wedge necessary to push them apart (something Cyrus knows Fitz would never forgive him for).
After eliminating Cyrus as the mole, Olivia Pope and Associates take a hard look at Vice President Sally Langston (Kate Burton) by breaking into her daughter’s email and into her home network. When Charlie (George Newbern) is burned by his own people he comes to Olivia for help in return for the name of the mole, but things take a sudden turn when Charlie steals the memory card with David’s (Joshua Malina) help. The episode ends with Olivia betrayed and the evidence of Defiance in the hands of Billy Chambers (Matt Letscher) who it turns out Charlie didn’t kill after all.
“Any Questions?” manages to work the show back into the nebulous gray area of Olivia and Fitz’s relationship only one episode after the pair come together (and I have the disappointing feeling next week’s season finale will be more of the same). The return of Billy Chambers is unexpected, but it certainly gives Olivia a talented and motivated enemy. I have to say I’m disappointed with the turn by David, who despite his anger and Olivia and Associates, chooses to help a man he knows is responsible for murder. I’d have preferred the show to cement him as a permanent gladiator in a suit, but it seems the show has other plans for the character.