SCANDAL 2x19, 2x20, 2x21 & 2x22 Reaction! | SEASON FINALE | Kerry Washington | Shonda Rhimes
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Huck's past is explored in depth, revealing his recruitment into a black ops CIA unit, his family, and the trauma of his 're-education' through solitary confinement.
- ❖The number '752' is revealed to be the exact time Huck last saw his family before they were taken from him.
- ❖Mellie Grant uses President Fitz's affair to her political advantage, demanding his commitment to their marriage for his re-election campaign and threatening public exposure.
- ❖David Rosen, initially a victim, strategically records Billy Chambers confessing to multiple murders, leading to Chambers' arrest and Rosen's appointment as US Attorney for D.C.
- ❖Quinn Perkins shows a disturbing aptitude and enjoyment for torture, mirroring Huck's past methods.
- ❖Olivia Pope's father is dramatically revealed as the enigmatic 'Command' figure, the head of the powerful, secretive organization B613.
- ❖The show consistently uses unexpected plot twists and character revelations to keep the audience engaged and guessing.
- ❖The hosts discuss the complex power dynamics between Fitz and Olivia, noting Fitz's aggressive displays of power and Olivia's strong resistance.
Insights
1Huck's Traumatic Origin Story and the Meaning of '752'
Huck's past is fully unveiled, detailing his recruitment into a black ops CIA unit, his marriage to Kim, and the birth of his son, Javi. He was brutally 're-educated' through prolonged solitary confinement, forced to deny his family's existence. The number '752' signifies 7:52 AM, the last time he saw his family at a train station before they were taken, a memory he revisits in a deeply emotional scene.
Huck's flashbacks show his life with Kim and Javi, his forced recruitment, and the torture that led him to forget them. The scene at the train station where his son asks for a dollar and his wife is present, followed by the revelation that AM was their last encounter. (, , , , )
2Mellie Grant's Calculated Political Gambit
Mellie strategically moves to Blair House and threatens to publicly expose Fitz's affair on national television if he doesn't recommit to their marriage and political partnership. She uses her intelligence and ambition to leverage the situation, forcing Fitz to choose between his political career and his relationship with Olivia.
Mellie's conversation with Fitz where she states she's moving to Blair House and will hold a press conference exposing his infidelity if he doesn't comply. (, )
3David Rosen's Rise to Power
David Rosen, previously a victim of political machinations, demonstrates his strategic prowess by recording Billy Chambers' confession to multiple murders. This evidence leads to Chambers' arrest and secures David a position as the new US Attorney for the District of Columbia, marking a significant personal and professional victory.
David records Billy Chambers confessing to killing the CIA guy, Wendy, and Molly. He then uses this recording to secure his new position. (, , )
4Quinn Perkins' Disturbing Transformation
Quinn, initially a seemingly innocent character, increasingly embraces the methods of Huck, including torture. She actively participates in interrogations and shows a growing comfort and even enjoyment in extracting information through violent means, signaling a dark shift in her character arc.
Quinn's participation in torturing Billy Chambers, culminating in her taking over from Huck and showing a chilling smile after extracting information. (, , )
5Olivia Pope's Father Revealed as 'Command'
In a shocking season finale cliffhanger, Olivia Pope's father is revealed to be the enigmatic and powerful head of the secretive B613 organization, known as 'Command'. This revelation recontextualizes many past events and places Olivia in an even more dangerous and complicated personal and political landscape.
The final scene where Olivia's father appears and she calls him 'Dad', confirming his identity as the leader of B613. (, )
Key Concepts
Character Iceberg
The hosts apply this model to Huck, noting that his quiet, hardened exterior in earlier seasons only revealed a tiny tip of a much deeper, more complex, and traumatic past. The finale dives into the submerged 90% of his character, explaining his current demeanor and skills.
Narrative Flexibility
Drawing parallels to 'Breaking Bad's' Jesse Pinkman, the hosts discuss how writers often create ambiguous character backstories to allow for creative liberty and adaptation as a show progresses, rather than having every detail planned from the outset. This allows for characters like Huck to have their pasts filled in later based on the show's success and evolving narrative needs.
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
Mellie's political strategy against Fitz is framed as MAD, where she threatens to expose his affair and destroy his political career, knowing it would also impact her, but betting on her ability to recover or gain sympathy.
Notable Moments
Huck's '752' revelation at the train station.
This scene is a powerful emotional climax, finally explaining the cryptic number Huck repeats and revealing the profound personal tragedy that shaped his character.
Mellie's live TV interview where she exposes Fitz's affair.
This is a bold and unexpected political move that dramatically escalates the stakes for Fitz's presidency and showcases Mellie's ruthless ambition and intelligence.
Fitz choosing Olivia over his re-election bid.
This moment highlights the depth of Fitz's feelings for Olivia and his willingness to sacrifice immense power for their relationship, challenging Olivia's perception of him.
Quinn's first torture scene with Billy Chambers.
This marks a significant and disturbing character development for Quinn, showing her dark potential and her growing alignment with Huck's methods.
David Rosen's strategic recording of Billy Chambers and subsequent appointment as US Attorney.
This is a triumphant moment for David, who had been consistently outmaneuvered, demonstrating his intelligence and resilience, and elevating him to a position of significant power.
The final scene revealing Olivia's father as 'Command'.
This is the ultimate cliffhanger, completely recontextualizing Olivia's life and placing her at the center of a much larger, more dangerous conspiracy, with her own family at its head.
Quotes
"I am in love with a woman who is not my wife. I want to be with her, not in the shadows, openly. And if that means I have to stop being president, so be it."
"You're not the fixer here, Liv. You're the problem. You're the client."
"My relationship with Olivia is going to spark a real dialogue about race in this country and it is going to blow the Republican party wide open."
Q&A
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