Scandal Review: Day 101 (Season 7 Episode 3)

To my surprise, Scandal Season 7 Episode 3, “Day 101,” is a solid character study of President Fitzgerald Grant that gives us a lot to think about, and could affect where his character ends up by the end of the season.

I don’t think it’s a secret that I am not the biggest fan of President Fitzgerald Grant III, and so the prospect of a whole episode of him settling into life during a 100-Day Grace Period while Mellie settles into office didn’t excite me.

Although Fitz may not be my favorite character, Scandal Season 7 Episode 3, “Day 101,” does give Tony Goldwyn the chance to shine as we get a stark portrait of the ordinary man through his interactions with his secret service detail, everyday citizens, Marcus, and Rowan.

Let’s break down some of the facets of Former President Fitzgerald Grant.

Fitzgerald Grant: Turkey Sandwich Maker

After being waited on for eight years, Fitz wants to do things for himself. It’s a cool idea. I don’t think a lot of political television shows have really delved into how a President settles into life out of office, let alone try to be as independent as any regular Joe.

For Fitz, this proves difficult, especially when you consider that Fitz really hasn’t done anything for himself his entire life.

The extent of Fitz’s entitlement seeps into his relationship with Marcus later, but in the early days watching Fitz attempt to drive a car, make his own turkey sandwich, and activate a debit card is very entertaining.

The scene at the grocery store, where he buys $355 in groceries is a nice parallel to Mellie’s speech about not having a credit card to buy a vibrator in the last episode.

Still, I think this is mostly a novelty for him in the end, and an attempt to assert some independence.

Fitzgerald Grant: “Self-Made Man”

One thing that came across really clear is the way that Fitz thinks his legacy is his and isn’t shaped by Olivia in any way.

For longtime fans of the show, you’ll know that President Grant was only President Grant because of the campaign’s decision to rig Defiance Ohio’s elections results in his first campaign. And Fitz knows this! The idea that Fitz got there on his own is laughable since both he and viewers know this.

It’s particularly interesting to see how Fitz views Olivia within his administration because throughout six seasons almost everything Fitz has done has been for Olivia. He relentlessly pursues her season after season.

When Marcus lays out how the public views their relationship, he’s astonished, especially regarding the “Olitz” written in Christmas lights that Marcus describes.

When he comes to the conclusion that he isn’t going to factor his romantic relationship with Olivia into the library, I started seething. One of the driving points of Scandal has been her relationship with the President, from the beginning. It’s shaped his Presidency in both good ways and bad, and he’s essentially minimizing that to a footnote.

(Do I have to remind you about when he almost went to war over her in Season 3? You know? When she was kidnapped?)

This self-involved view of himself is exactly what I was expecting when this conversation started, but like it or not, there are now photos of the kiss from the inauguration floating around the media. Fitz can’t delete Olivia from his legacy as easily as he desires.

Fitzgerald Grant: The Foil to The Girl Who Runs the World

Since she’s so tied into Fitz’s legacy, now is a great time for Papa Pope to pay the former President a visit and insist that Olivia is both his and Fitz’s problem, as well as the problem of everyone who wants to protect the Republic.

I had many issues with Fitz and Rowan’s scene, and they all center on this idea that a relationship with Fitz will somehow disarm this new “dark” version of Olivia.

While I could understand Rowan’s frantic ravings about how Olivia taking the role as Command would corrupt her. I can’t shake that this long monologue was the icing on the cake with the distinct flavor of a woman is in power and we don’t like it.

Rowan’s issue, that Olivia won’t make a good Command, sounds eerily familiar and I can’t help but shake my head at it. The thing is that he’s essentially coming to Fitz for help to disarm his daughter, who has the power to take charge and potentially affect real change.

I am trying to avoid seeing Rowan’s argument as being a thinly veiled annoyance about the fact that a woman is running a super-secret spy agency, but the first thing that Olivia oversaw, brought a spy home in Season 7 Episode 1 “Watch Me.”

Plus, it’s ironic now that Rowan is going to Fitz for help with Olivia now because he wasn’t a fan of their relationship. Not to mention, in my own reading of Season 6 Episode 10 “The Decision” I thought that Olivia was attracted more to the power of the office than Fitz. So how is this going to work?

Fitzgerald Grant: Magic Man

As entitled and whiny as I find Fitz, he does seem to have a certain magic about him that brings people in and makes them want to make a difference. That’s always sort of been his thing; the reluctantly magical man who didn’t choose this lot in life but was bred and groomed for it.

His moment with the local activist is a great reminder of that magic, but now I wish he would use it for some good. Yes, he’s now out the 100-Day waiting period, but he’s going back to Washington for Olivia, not to affect change.

What did you think of this episode of Scandal? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Scandal airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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