After Olivia deciding to abandon Olivia Pope & Associates, as well as the drama of working in Washington D.C. altogether, the season 3 finale damn near looked like a series finale. But, being that Shonda Rhimes thrives on drama, it was only a pause. A moment in which Olivia was given some time to relax, collect her thoughts, and perhaps finally break the spell Fitz had on her which made her lose sight of who she was. Though with Harrison's death reaching her, she comes back to give him a proper burial, since seemingly no one else would.
Topic 1: Vacation Time Is Over – Olivia, Abbie, Huck, and Quinn
While Liv was away, her business fell apart. The former OPA office now has sheets covering the furniture, and surprisingly wasn't leased to new people; Huck now works as an IT tech, named Randy; Quinn is still using her B6-13 knowledge to snoop around, and in fact was the one who found Olivia to deliver the news; and Abbie is now a White House press secretary.
Each of them surprise Olivia for between Quinn finding her, and then Huck being distant, and Abbie having the nerve to even insinuate Harrison's death was partly caused by Olivia, needless to say this return home is less than pleasant.
Topic 2: A Time To Mourn – Mellie & Fitz
Though things are especially bad in the White House for with Mellie and Fitz's son dead, Mellie has thrown away looking polished, and like some sort of southern belle, and now walks around in Uggs and gives not a single care about her appearance. Not only that, but also the way she talks is a bit more raw than how she used to casually talk. Also, she has picked up a drinking habit.
As for Fitz, losing his son has made him quite an odd leader. For one, he has utterly cleared out his cabinet, is starting to work closely with Democrats, and is also working on an equal pay bill. All of which is highly perplexing to his base and making RNC chairwoman Lizzy (Portia de Rossi), a bit frustrated. For not only is Fitz reaching across the aisle, he isn't fund-raising. An issue to her since the guilt money she thinks they could collect is not coming in. Though when it comes to guilt, no one beats Fitz for with his son dead, and then his mistress disappearing, Mellie tells us he tried to commit suicide. Assumingly because his son's death, and whatever may have happened to Olivia, I can only assume he thought was his fault and part of the burden which comes from having powerful enemies who know your weaknesses.
Topic 3: It's Like I Never Left – Olivia
Despite Olivia's return mostly on the hush hush, somehow Senator Vaughn (Jessica Tuck) finds out Olivia is back in town and recruits her to help her with a sticky situation. Said situation? A classic Olivia fix in which someone seemingly is murdered and she is asked to help cover it up and do crisis management. Something which solely draws her back in due to the victim almost being raped or sexually assault off- screen. For while Olivia likes being on vacation, remember it was the need to be a gladiator that built OPA, and basically tore it down. Still, she can't leave a woman who was nearly raped, but fought off the perpetrator and put him in a coma, without proper protection. So, she gets a lawyer friend named Clark and gets back to work.
Leading to the countdown beginning. For with everyone from Cyrus to Fitz knowing Olivia is back, it is only but a matter of time. And to really push how self-aware the show is, Cyrus himself says: "We have seen this movie before" and damn if you aren't a bit intrigued how Olivia and Fitz are going to end up back together. Especially since with Fitz trying to work on his marriage again, and Olivia having a very close and sexual relationship with Jake, it would take something big to justifiably bring those two back together. But, as of now, they can walk past each other without looking at one another, though through the movement of their fingers, you can see there is the desire to touch one another.
Topic 4: What Lies Ahead?
With Olivia back means OPA is back in business, minus Abbie however since, despite the disrespect she receives by being called "Red" instead of her name, she seems to like being Olivia's White House stand in. Leading to the question of what new cases OPA may take on, and how will it handle decreased personnel? Also, with Jake returning with Olivia, he wants to know what will happen with B6-13 since David hasn't made any moves against them [1]. Though with a recent promotion to becoming the new attorney general, he is given all the power to do something, but who knows if his cowardice will lead to anything being done. For while Jake was menacing, Rowan is a whole different monster.
Leaving one last topic: Rowan. With him back in power comes the question of what he may do with it? He has killed a president's son, hid his wife once more, and lies to Olivia about everything, including Harrison's death. Yet you can see she lacks the evidence to put against him, and so badly wants to believe he is telling her the truth. So whether he may get away with everything or eventually be exposed to the light, it is hard to say. However, with Joe Morton winning an Emmy, and arguably bringing the best out of the characters, perhaps his future plans should be considered more interesting than his past being revealed.
Topic 1: Vacation Time Is Over – Olivia, Abbie, Huck, and Quinn
While Liv was away, her business fell apart. The former OPA office now has sheets covering the furniture, and surprisingly wasn't leased to new people; Huck now works as an IT tech, named Randy; Quinn is still using her B6-13 knowledge to snoop around, and in fact was the one who found Olivia to deliver the news; and Abbie is now a White House press secretary.
Each of them surprise Olivia for between Quinn finding her, and then Huck being distant, and Abbie having the nerve to even insinuate Harrison's death was partly caused by Olivia, needless to say this return home is less than pleasant.
Topic 2: A Time To Mourn – Mellie & Fitz
Though things are especially bad in the White House for with Mellie and Fitz's son dead, Mellie has thrown away looking polished, and like some sort of southern belle, and now walks around in Uggs and gives not a single care about her appearance. Not only that, but also the way she talks is a bit more raw than how she used to casually talk. Also, she has picked up a drinking habit.
As for Fitz, losing his son has made him quite an odd leader. For one, he has utterly cleared out his cabinet, is starting to work closely with Democrats, and is also working on an equal pay bill. All of which is highly perplexing to his base and making RNC chairwoman Lizzy (Portia de Rossi), a bit frustrated. For not only is Fitz reaching across the aisle, he isn't fund-raising. An issue to her since the guilt money she thinks they could collect is not coming in. Though when it comes to guilt, no one beats Fitz for with his son dead, and then his mistress disappearing, Mellie tells us he tried to commit suicide. Assumingly because his son's death, and whatever may have happened to Olivia, I can only assume he thought was his fault and part of the burden which comes from having powerful enemies who know your weaknesses.
Topic 3: It's Like I Never Left – Olivia
Despite Olivia's return mostly on the hush hush, somehow Senator Vaughn (Jessica Tuck) finds out Olivia is back in town and recruits her to help her with a sticky situation. Said situation? A classic Olivia fix in which someone seemingly is murdered and she is asked to help cover it up and do crisis management. Something which solely draws her back in due to the victim almost being raped or sexually assault off- screen. For while Olivia likes being on vacation, remember it was the need to be a gladiator that built OPA, and basically tore it down. Still, she can't leave a woman who was nearly raped, but fought off the perpetrator and put him in a coma, without proper protection. So, she gets a lawyer friend named Clark and gets back to work.
Leading to the countdown beginning. For with everyone from Cyrus to Fitz knowing Olivia is back, it is only but a matter of time. And to really push how self-aware the show is, Cyrus himself says: "We have seen this movie before" and damn if you aren't a bit intrigued how Olivia and Fitz are going to end up back together. Especially since with Fitz trying to work on his marriage again, and Olivia having a very close and sexual relationship with Jake, it would take something big to justifiably bring those two back together. But, as of now, they can walk past each other without looking at one another, though through the movement of their fingers, you can see there is the desire to touch one another.
Topic 4: What Lies Ahead?
With Olivia back means OPA is back in business, minus Abbie however since, despite the disrespect she receives by being called "Red" instead of her name, she seems to like being Olivia's White House stand in. Leading to the question of what new cases OPA may take on, and how will it handle decreased personnel? Also, with Jake returning with Olivia, he wants to know what will happen with B6-13 since David hasn't made any moves against them [1]. Though with a recent promotion to becoming the new attorney general, he is given all the power to do something, but who knows if his cowardice will lead to anything being done. For while Jake was menacing, Rowan is a whole different monster.
Leaving one last topic: Rowan. With him back in power comes the question of what he may do with it? He has killed a president's son, hid his wife once more, and lies to Olivia about everything, including Harrison's death. Yet you can see she lacks the evidence to put against him, and so badly wants to believe he is telling her the truth. So whether he may get away with everything or eventually be exposed to the light, it is hard to say. However, with Joe Morton winning an Emmy, and arguably bringing the best out of the characters, perhaps his future plans should be considered more interesting than his past being revealed.
