Scandal Season 4 Episode 18 Review & After Show | AfterBuzz TV

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AFTERBUZZ TV -- Scandal is a weekly "after show" for fans of ABC's Scandal. In this show hosts Emile Ennis Jr., Sofia Stanley, Kennelia Stradwick, and Bamm Ericsen, break down episode 18. Scandal is an American political thriller television series starring Kerry Washington. Created by Shonda Rhimes, it debuted on ABC on April 5, 2012. Kerry Washington's character, Olivia Pope, is partially based on former George H.W. Bush administration press aide Judy Smith, who serves as a co-executive producer. The show takes place in Washington, D.C. and focuses on Olivia Pope's crisis management firm, Olivia Pope & Associates, and its staff, as well as staff at the White House.

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[opensecret]

I love this panel, I am old enough to be your Mother and all of you hold a special place in my heart. I am around a lot of people who don't watch Scandal at the prescribed time and they hate spoilers so you all are all I have. Smooches

[DoYouTodayInc]

The issue with Millie is that since her marriage to Fitz, she has used her intelligence negatively (to undermine, scheme, feel sorry for herself) as such she has not developed much after her law firm days.  As First Lady, Millie should have identified a portfolio and 'own' it - this would have given her opportunities to exercise her talent, etc.

Indeed it is because Millie has not developed her inner facilities (confidence, authenticity of character, core values and philosophy that guide her actions); she now wants others (Lizzie, Fitz, VP Susan etc.) to knock all barriers down for her to run and win.  Millie will soon realize that her barriers are internal and only she can dissolve them or go around them.

In other words, Millie sacrificed her own development and now her inside is not solid enough for the job that she is aspiring for.

The question is; Does Millie have the capability to shift into presidential material?  

[CeeCee]

Love you guys
I thought it was sloppy that no one thought jake would plant some sort of surveillance in David's office. Especially since that's what he's known for, this is how we were introduced to him, he came into Olivia's life because he was hired to surveil her. He is the presidents personal P.I. Huck is known to sweep Olivia's apartment monthly for any unauthorised cameras, listening devices. AND THEYRE B6 13 AGENTS! Rohan is still alive so no one thought that he wouldn't know what was happening? I'm disappointed in the sloppiness especially knowing who Huck is and Then knowing who Jake is. This was sloppy

[jamaicanlawyergirl]

Pt 2 of 2 In addition you guys dismiss the Melody/Harmony storyline but it's 100% justified and needed and should not be dismissed. Where was Sofia today with her usual insight? If you are even a casual observer of politics this was important and true to life. Bamm saying just go to her and prep her, get real. Let's just say your daddy has an outside son and you had no relationship and you treated as shit would you expect him just out of the blue someone come knocking at his door to ask ant you to give a glowing recommendation? No you would not. Lizzie went to check and realize there was a problem and realize could not be solved with just asking to say nice things. Only solution is to try to repair Melody and Harmony relationship which means repairing and building the sibling relationship. Only way to build loyalty. Except Mellie is very bad at relationships. This ties in with her relationship with her husband and her kids and how she treats everyone around her. Why she may fail at politics. Look at Obama. People dug up his half siblings and other family member that he may not have known as he did not have a close relationship with his Dad after his parents divorced. The brother who is living in China spoke on unfiltered and I think wrote a book while Barack is now in office but during his first term could have been damaging had he known something bad to hurt reelection chances. Obama political opponents also went to Kenya and even her in USA trying to find dirt thru family members. Remember father second wife aka step mom talking ant she has proof he was born on Kenya. Or them using his aunt illegal immigration status to try to derail his 2008 run for the Presidency. So, yes Bamm the storyline was perfectly necessary and important to Melliie's run for Senate and maybe in the future President. Someone did mention Tiger Clinton and his drug using or even Bush sibling that rob people with the collapse of the Savings and Loan banking scandal back in the 80s Bush avoiding service, Laura killing that kid driving drunk and list goes on. Gotta contain and control the narrative at all times. I believe Lizzie was trying to do it with more honey than vinegar.

[SweetAura]

I absolutely love this panel! Usually. Kennelia is my favorite on the Afterbuzz reviews, but with this panel I can't pick a favorite. Perfect balance!

[phreddd]

Bamm took it SO THERE with the "Jason's Lyric" reference at 19:07

[sylviawoods]

Happy birthday, Sophia. Great job tonight. You're the best part of Scandal.

[lornalamotte]

I have to admit that it took me awhile to get into this episode. I started and stopped about 3 times but when I watched it all the way through I was impressed. The theme honor thy father applied to three characters with daddy issues. Olivia as always. The congressman's dad kept telling him to honor him by keeping silent but the son instead decided to honor his father. We see the roots of Mellie's problems which is her father falling for another woman and leaving them like Fitz wants to do. It made sense to me.

[pmeshelle]

I do agree that the scandal of the week was pretty weak, but I feel like they incorporated it so that they can reintroduce Papa Pope. When she went into the monologue about how the father is really harming the son instead of helping him it immediately reminded me of Papa Pope.

[BrendaJoi]

One more comment. I really love all 4 of the reviewers. We all won't always agree but the "Fab 4" do a pretty good job of analyzing the show from their unique and personal perspective as well as giving us plenty to think and talk about. Sometimes they are almost as entertaining as Scandal, itself.

[kombuchana]

The best thing about this after show and why it is the most successful is because the hosts are consistent and they provide amazing insight!!! 

[laxi]

i tuned in 30min after the review was live.. i'm now watching it from the biggining.. everyone saying this Aftershow was bad.... it better be not. Pliz! it was the best episode after a couple of weak one!
 
last 5 min were CRAZY! plus the music... woow

[tness]

The most honest aftershow of the week.

[nowfuture]

I don't think Olivia was thinking that deeply about taking the father's right away to sacrifice himself for his son; all she felt was that he was indeed innocent, her client (his son) desperately wanted his father's name cleared, and that inner fire to save those who are deserving of salvation came into full flame within Ms. Pope. Olivia has always been like this; she has a sincere desire to help good people overcome tremendous obstacles to their moving forward in life, in whatever way she has to do it. She'd prefer to do things the RIGHT way, but if she has to go through the back door for these good people to receive justice, she will! She will sacrifice her peace of mind and her white hat in the details of bringing about justice, but she seeks to maintain the white hat in the big picture. It almost seems to become very personal for her... like she is the salvation of good people who are powerless in overcoming wicked obstacles. She is not above playing dirty, if need be. Why she didn't initially come to understand that the son did it, I'm not certain of, but she eventually came to it on her own. So, I can rest with that.

I actually pause the show to make my comments along the way, so later on you may have mentioned this, but if not, I'm surprised you guys didn't talk about Olivia's small speech to the father that motivated him to allow his son to tell the truth. That speech to the father about his son was very telling about the struggles she experiences with her OWN father as well! That father/son speech was a father/daughter revelation about Olivia and Eli. It helps you to understand Olivia more. She has a lot in common with son going to jail.

[catherineduffy]

So agree Sofia Mellie is not acting very presidential. She is acting like a spoilt brat. She needs to pay her dues and show what she has rather than feeling that because she stood by her husband that she deserves to be President. She needs to come into her own. Even though she is running for Senate her ultimate goal is to become President and she is not showing signs of being worthy of the Senate let alone President.
Bamm Ftiz is not to blame. Mellie is a grown woman and brings her husband's mistress in whenever she needs her so no I disagree. Mellie knows exactly what she is doing and it is irritating to see her blaming him whenever she does not get her own way. Didn't Mellie tell her husband to go to war for the woman he loves? What is the deal with that? Mellie is crazy because she chose power over love.
Emile I agree this episode was all over the place. It was not one of my favourite episode either. I was not sure where Shonda was going with it. Too many plots going on.
Bamm I agree Olivia is losing her place as the star of the show. Everyone is getting better story lines than she is. The whole scandal that needed to be solved looked just like the prison story a while back. Wow, Sofia so true the dad deserved to have the white hat so his son could have a life and Olivia took that away from him. But it was the son who wanted to stop living a lie so Olivia did have the white hat on ultimately.
Olivia and OPA seem to be played all the time now. Everyone seems to fake them out. 
Why do they keep making Jake look like such an important part of the story all the time when he has no real reason to be on the show? The whole Jake B613 thing made no sense to me. Again OPA was off.
They had David threaten Jake because they were trying to fake us out and make us think David was being killed off. Jake is no Command. He is just useless. Not sure what his role is at the moment

[jevonk]

You've seen one B613 centered episode...you've seen them all. Something about the tone of the episode was off. It was predictable and the acting was too over the top. Jake, Huck, Quinn, and Charlie running around like the Scooby Gang trying to portray as spies was just bad all around. I don't know what's wrong but it didn't flow. Olivia working the case was good and Mellie dealing with her sister was hilarious. I am going to love watching Mellie true colors come out as she runs for Senate.

[selamt]

We really need somebody that isn't about olitz on this panel. I like jake. I am so glad he isn't dead. I'm glad he is one of the 'good guys'. The writers have ruined fitz character for me. I was olitz... I can't stand them anymore.

[MrHenry]

Happy birthday Sofia :) Lots of love from Henry in Denmark.

[jamaicanlawyergirl]

What you mean Ant time Fitz does something? Fitz was the primary parent edit them kids before the presidency. Fitz was loyal to Mellie through their whole marriage until he met Olivia. Even when Mellie shut him out for 10 years and would not even sleep with him for 10 damn years. Fitz never asked Mellie to give up her career, she made that decision on her own scheming and even the kids she decided to have them because they were good political props. So, disagree with your premise Bamm. Not saying, Fitz isn't flawed mightily so but not in his. He wanted her to haveher own identity both professionally and as a person.

[CatHarlem]

I recently discovered "AfterBuzz/Scandal" tv. I like your didn't feedback. Sophia, please let the others complete their statement versus cutting them off.

Harmony was brought in to show that Mellie has Daddy issues.

Bamm, Liv was wearing the white coat when she went to the jail. I think you guys completely missed the boat with the Congressman Reed case. The Congressman was Liv's client NOT his father. He wanted her to get his father off without telling her the full story. It was obvious Liv knew the father wasn't guilty after their first meeting. She needed the son to be at peace with why his father took responsibility for the HIS son's crime. She also needed the father to be at peace with his son's decision to stand up and take responsibility for the crime he committed. Two issues were relevant with this storyline "Honor Your Father: parents do the best they can do and hope for the best". The sounds about the suicide will be key when the Fitz suicide will be discussed.

I still believe Jake is a bad guy. He's a manipulator. He's jealous of Eli Pope and Fitz. He wants power without earning it.

David is like a coach roach, he should be dead but he keeps coming back.