Scandal Review: Dog Whistle Politics (Season 5 Episode 4)

Scandal uses an interesting storytelling technique this week, and while some story lines dazzle and excite, others fall short of their mark, leaving us confused and mildly disappointed.

This week, the regular course of the show is interrupted by clips of a generic news show in the world of Scandal at the top of the hour and upon the return of the show after each commercial break. It was interesting to see how they pull us in as if we aren’t only watching Scandal from our reality, but also from the point of view of the citizens in the show. I also liked seeing the things the press got wrong and right about Olivia Pope; college Olivia with her eyes on the White House is a particular favorite.

Olivia Pope and Associates is looking for new blood, that is Quinn needs help. Jake left to handle whatever fresh hell is breaking loose in France, so Quinn seeks out the help of activist Marcus Walker. In a beautiful throwback to the Pilot, Quinn extends the offer that was given to her 5 years ago and asks Marcus to be a gladiator in a suit. He declines initially, but after watching the news and seeing how the press is treating Olivia–not just as a woman, but as a woman of color–he decides to join up.

Meanwhile, Mellie has an interesting first day in the Senate. She finds that the senate is less divided by party and more so by gender. When she’s called into a meeting with the Senate women’s caucus meeting, she expects to start talking about equal pay or reproductive rights. However, they’ve called her in because they want to impeach Fitz, but won’t move forward without her say so.

Mellie: They want to impeach a man because he broke his vows, and disturbed the office of the presidency, and distracted the country with his libido and the only person who gets raked over the coals is the woman he screwed.

Initially, Mellie doesn’t want to impeach Fitz. She may not love him, but she still feels some sense of loyalty to him, and to the life they built together. She’s reminded of that when she comes to the residence to get some of her things and finds Fitz playing hide and seek with Teddy. They share a sweet family moment while Teddy giggles behind the curtain. Mellie tells Fitz that she’s tired of fighting and if he doesn’t hurt her, she won’t hurt him. Even though I do not trust Fitz, this moment reads as tender and nostalgic, and in part justifies why Mellie hasn’t just completely cut ties with him.

At OPA, Marcus is tired of the gameplan Olivia gave Quinn and Huck, which is essentially sitting on their hands and letting the press run roughshod over Olivia’s reputation. He’s noticed that because Olivia is a woman of color, the press isn’t making it a racial issue–but the way they’re talking about her is dripping with racism. Marcus goes off book turns the focus from Olivia’s reputation to the deplorable way that the media is talking about her.

Marcus: That is how I gladiate.

I love Marcus’ addition to OPA. He’s revived them in a great way, and with Cornelius Smith Jr’s confirmation as a series regular earlier this year, I cannot wait to see more from him!

Fitz is given an ultimatum by several male Republicans to roll back the Brandon bill, or they’ll move to impeach him. He chooses Olivia above all else by driving to her house and taking her out in full view of the press. Unfortunately, his bold move is taken as a slap in the face by Mellie, and she gets the women of the Senate together again, moving guns to the wall to impeach her backstabbing husband. I’m really looking forward to watching Mellie go to war against Fitz, I just hope she, and Olivia, come out on top.

Other thoughts:

• Olivia: I do not need to be rescued; I find it offensive.

• Cyrus gets absolutely ugly toward Mellie when he tries to compare his devotion to Fitz to hers by throwing the death of her son in her face.
• I was completely bored by Jake’s adventures in France with Charlie and his ex-lover/wife Elise. B613 usually packs more of an interesting plot, but it lacks fire this season, I hope they step up their game soon.

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What did you think of this week’s episode of Scandal? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Scandal airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Samantha Coley

Samantha (she/her) is a social media specialist by day and a sci-fi junkie by night. As a freelance writer and podcaster, she also enjoys live-tweeting, blogging, good music, and better television. Her current favorite television shows include Star Trek (yes, all of them), Riverdale, and Stranger Things and there will always be a place in her heart for Battlestar Galactica, Leverage, and The West Wing.