Olivias frustration with her position in the White House intensified as she watched Sen. Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) work tirelessly to support Planned Parenthood (in the latest Scandal episode that delivered a timely message). But as Mellie eventually starts to falter under the strain of holding court on the Senate floor she needs to pee, badly! That was followed by an epic, seemingly irreparable quarrelbetween Liv and Fitz, after which she moved out of the White House. Thats where shes coming from as a dramatist. And for Scandalas a whole? What did you think of Scandals midseason finale? "It was the last shot of the night, and I had no idea she was going to show up," he said of the former First Lady and Secretary of State. For most women, having an abortion is just one unglamorous task in an ongoing mission to put together all the pieces of the life we want. The abortion and the breakup were both (messy and unpleasant, yes) about Olivia saying, Nope. Olivia told Abby she is not ashamed of her abortion, and she does not care who knows. Shes like, Hey, people, Im putting this on television because this is what is happening in our lives. Shonda doesnt make polemic arguments; shes not sending messages. "I think in a way, Huck has grown and is trying to become a better man, but who knows?" Hes lost his family; though he has visitation with his kids, he and Mellie are utterly estranged. "It's because of who Olivia is in the brains of these writers. I was in the phase of budding adulthood where you essentially just roleplay what youve been taught adults do. And maybe they're right. Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. After a tumultuous few seasons of back-and-forth, Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) and Olivia (Kerry Washington) seemed poised to find happiness. I havent actually decided, but I wonder sometimes. Olivia comes home, grabs Mellie's hootch . Scandal airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. So guess whos waiting in the ladies room to give Mellie a surprise pep talk? She couldnt have that conversation because to her, that's terror and a ball and chain. Will Olivia tell Fitz about the abortion? It is a giant 180 for the man. I don't really feel like I have that control of her. How much more will Scandal explore Planned Parenthood and abortion storyline going forward? Hes very progressive in so many ways and my guess is that Fitz would have a fairly progressive view on the matter, if only to say that it should not be in the hands of the government. Its interesting to me that her primary story is a romance. I [didn't] know what to do. But that might be good for Fitz. The Existential Yearning Of Are You There God? She also mentioned that just like Liv, Fitz is on a journey too. 5 Meanwhile, Fitz finds out that Olivia aborted his baby. Olitz. A woman made a choice about her body that she legally has the right to make. It was as if she didn't connect with it at all. And the pressures are intense and to not have anybody that you can share your confidence with, who you know has your back and frankly who understands your frailties, that's a tough place to live in. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. His connection with Cyrus (Jeff Perry), even thought they tried to patch things up, that trust is fundamentally compromised. Fitz overreached a bit by moving her into the White House prematurely. Sound off in the comments, below. Read More: How Shonda Rhimes Is Changing the Dialogue About Abortion on TV, It all set the stage for the most epic fight Scandal has yet to feature between the couple that has long been considered end game. Having the female lead of such a popular show have an abortion on screen was such a powerful, important moment, and even though it just happened, I can see it having a bigger impact on TV in the future. Thats what youve seen. I think Olivia is lying to herself. But. We were all shocked, honestly, at how dark the writers went. Additionally, the poll found that six of 10 moderate and liberal Republicans supporting the right to choose. Goldwyn previously told THRthat Fitz would have a progressive view on the matter. Why do you think more shows dont go there? What the Fans Want v. What Shonda Wants: During the audience Q&A, a fan asked Shonda if she feels obligated to write for what the fans want or what she wants. ET on ABC. The only thing more satisfying and more peaceful than getting what you want is recognizing that youll never get what you want, accepting it, and giving up the pursuit of the thing you know you can never have. 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Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. Viewers veto judges' votes on dj vu-inducing top 12 'American Idol' episode, Ashley Judd reflects on mom Naomi's 'irreplaceable loss' a year after the country star's death, Michael J. [Warning: This story contains spoilers from the season five midseason finale, Baby, Its Cold Outside, of ABCs Scandal.]. Soon enough, Jake finds himself face-to-face with Russell (who took out Elise), ignores his pleas to join Lazarus One, and puts a bullet in his head. | JuniorSenatorMellie whos still hankering for some respect gets more dirt kicked in her face, this time by some Senators sternly ordering her to vote for the new spending bill. Here's everything that happened: Huck's Family Drama: The audience previewed Thursday night's episode, in which Huck must deal with the emotional fallout of not being in his son's life. However it looks like, if it brings sheer joy and peace, I'm in.". I want her to be whole. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Inside the business of TV with breaking news, expert analysis and showrunner interviews. Added Rhimes: "I think everybody is evolving this season. Its a really interesting choice [for them to break up]. A fan noted that since Disney has the upcoming Star Wars experience and Universal has Harry Potter, might fans ever get an actual Shondaland? If youre on a TV show and youre having an abortion, youre either the sullied slut whos also probably a drug addict because why not, a rape victim, or the young woman whos making a sad-but-right decision to protect her future but who will be haunted for the rest of her life by her choice and while I suppose all of these representations are accurate portrayals for a small percentage of real women who have abortions, theres a glaring lack of grown-up woman who makes a decision to end a pregnancy, schedules an appointment to do so, goes, leaves, and carries on living her life without falling apart. The latter is exactly what we saw Olivia doing on Scandal, and as weird as it is to think, Finally! ", Olivia's Abortion: Scandal has aired four new episodes since Olivia's abortion (as part of the mid-season finale), and Fitz still doesn't know about it. But that scene has both points of view pretty firmly in place, which is part of what made it so sad. Will Fitz start dating? Its the burning question Gladiators have been asking since the Scandal midseason finale: Will Fitz ever find out about Olivias abortion? So, will he? shut down the government! All Rights Reserved. Perhaps that Rhimes and co-producer Betsy Beers knows when and where the show will end. But I think thats what makes it worth talking about. But on a show like this, it's difficult to know for sure if a secret is ever really buried for good, and this heated argument may be too tempting for Shonda Rhimes to resist. And the pressures are intense and to not have anybody that you can share your confidence with, who you know has your back and frankly who understands your frailties, thats a tough place to live in. The veteran series also features Addision (Kate Walsh) revealing that she had an abortion after getting pregnant during her affair with Mark (Eric Dane). It happened unceremoniously, unexpectedly, and the storyline moved forward quickly in fact, Olivia' abortion only got one minute of airtime. My question is: Does he need to? Rhimes said at Tuesdays PaleyFest panel. ", Why Quinn Isn't Fond of Marcus: "I think she was the newbie for a while," said Katie Lowes of Quinn. But to me, her primary story has been discovering herself. She brought them coffees and worked her way up the ladder, and Marcus has gotten in there a little bit quicker than it took Quinn. Shonda talks about the White House being this prison and cage and how horrible it is. His connection with Cyrus (Jeff Perry), even thought they tried to patch things up, that trust is fundamentally compromised. Perhaps that Rhimes and co-producer Betsy Beers knows when and where the show will end. Well done, Shonda Rhimes! Olivia later goes to Fitz to bless Jake (Scott Foley) as Mellies pick for vice president on her Republican ticket. For. That was followed . Watching it tugged at some visceral memory of my own abortion; My body remembered what it felt like to be lying there, the feeling of the doctor's hands on me, and the grip of my own around the edges of the table. Smith, who we spoke with just a few weeks ago, said "Marcus is fighting to set the bar, and yet [others] are trying to remove it in, The 51 Best Mothers Day Gifts to Buy This Year, 63 No-Fail Gift Ideas for Every Guy on Your List, 53 Genius Gifts for People Who Have Everything. See More: The Couples of Shondaland: 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Private Practice,' 'Scandal'. Fitz may be in a lot of denial here especially given all the grief he has suffered but he means it.. But he did so kind of from the right place; he was trying to take control of the situation. is waiting with an apology (You were right, Lazarus wasnt you). ! She couldnt have that conversation because to her, thats terror and a ball and chain. But that dream shattered is part one, and part two is the colossal lie and betrayal and withholding of that terrible truth that Olivia didnt tell him. Do we need to know that choosing to handle a pregnancy in that way is the heartbreaking conclusion of a tortured decision-making process? Part of deeply loving someone is a predisposition to see the world through their eyes and this is a huge moment for Fitz. Look at the fact that Fitz was able to move past that. He's lost his family; though he has visitation with his kids, he and Mellie are utterly estranged. In the dramatic mid-season finale, Olivia and Fitz's brief time living together in the White House comes to a breaking point. But I do, and I think when people love each other as primally as these two people do, I think they can come back from anything. If Fitz were smart, hed stay 100 miles away from her; he should get in another relationship because, really, how much abuse can two people take? For Olivia the character, it only highlighted her bravery. It's not a paint by numbers. No other characters, including her live-in boyfriend, were even aware she'd had the procedure (that we know of). When Olivia misses an important dinner (she was getting an abortion) Fitz is upset. What if I had seen Olivia having abortion like it was a part of awesomely choosing what she does and does not want for her life, and how amazingly at peace she seemed to feel as a result? That abortion blew my mind. 2 days ago, by Lindsay Kimble To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. Do it! commands Rowan, as Huck starts to choke the life out of him. That does not mean she does not love Fitz, and it does not mean that Fitz is not worthy of love. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Olivia is on a journey, Rhimes said. "I literally ask the question because a woman made a choice about her body. I think theres hope. Switch-Up Day: Good Morning America's Lara Spencer (who moderated the event) asked the cast if there's a fellow Scandal character they would love to play just for a day. It's interesting to me that it's a romance, that her primary story is a romancethat's what you've seen. Abortion has been a regular subject on many of executive producer Shonda Rhimes programming. A woman made a choice about her body that she legally has the right to make. There's always been Mellie and/or Olivia as this other yin and yang. Before I did, I did a few other things: I talked to my boyfriend; I spent a week locked up in my apartment, going through the should we or shouldnt we motions of deciding what to do with my boyfriend, who wanted me to have the baby, and I pretended like I didnt already know that I wanted an abortion the second I found out I was pregnant. After a tumultuous few seasons of back-and-forth, Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) and Olivia (Kerry Washington) seemed poised to find happiness. "He got beyond the fact that her father was responsible for murdering his son," Goldwyn explained. Its the burning question Gladiators have been asking since the Scandal midseason finale: Will Fitz ever find out about Olivias abortion? And then, we end the . Everyone else, you may proceed. Its going to be horrible if he finds out.". Im going home, says Huck, who reminds Rowan that HIS family, Olivia, is the only reason hes still alive. I somehow feel as though his reaction wouldn't be all that understanding. Fitz may grow through the experience; I have no idea what Shonda has in mind. I want her to fully be on her journey. But I do, and I think when people love each other as primally as these two people do, I think they can come back from anything. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. Fitz blasts her as being more manipulative than Mellie. Will there be a time jump when the second half of the season returns? What ever Fitz has done wrong, what ever mistakes Fitz made or overreaching he did, they could have made a go of this. My fingers are crossed. Fox Says Battle With Parkinsons Disease Keeps Getting Tougher: Im Not Going to Be 80, TV Premiere Dates 2022: The Complete Guide, Broadcast TV Unscripted Scorecard 2022: Whats New, Renewed and Canceled, TV Pilots 2022: The Complete Broadcast Guide, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. It was a quiet scene that lasted only a minute or two, but that was enough. I was really impressed with the boldness of it; Shonda never fails to amaze me with her fierceness. For a show that has definitely had its groundbreaking moments, Scandal is definitely delivering on the Season 5 midseason finale. Fitz is certainly not blameless in this but I think Olivia's fear is a huge part of this. That said, here's a look at where everyone wound up. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Abby and Fitz don't really know each other. America So She Could Breastfeed Privately, Michael J. Rhimes previously said shewanted to take on the abortion arc in season oneof Greys but instead opted to feature Cristina suffering from an ectopic pregnancy and losing the baby because the showrunner feared it was too early in the medical dramas run to take on such a weighty subject. To me, that's what was so disturbing about that abortion scene: it was so mundane. She's like, "Hey, people, I'm putting this on television because this is what is happening in our lives." He also noted that Fitz does not know about Olivia's abortion and if and when he finds out, he would . Not only does he not have a partner, hes utterly alone. Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. Here's everything that happened: Huck's Family Drama: The audience previewed Thursday night's episode, in which Huck must deal with the emotional fallout of not being in his son's life. To feel OK about a woman having an abortion, do we need to see her agonizing over the decision? But he did so kind of from the right place; he was trying to take control of the situation.
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