Warning This story contains spoilers from the season three premiere of Scandal titled It's Handled.
'Scandal's' Tony Goldwyn on Fitz in Season 3 'He's Under Assault''Scandal' Taps 'Friends' Star Lisa Kudrow for Season 3'Scandal' Recruits 'Private Practice's' Paul Adelstein for Season 3'Scandal's' Shonda Rhimes on Olivia's Daddy Issues Harrison's History David's Allegiance'Scandal' Cast Creator Offer 14 Things to Know About Season 3ABC's addictive hit Scandal opened its third season Thursday with an hour that picked up 22 minutes after Olivia (Kerry Washington) was outed as President Fitzgerald Grant's (Tony Goldwyn) mistress and after viewers learned that B613 baddie Rowan (Joe Morton) was the father to OPA's best Gladiator.
After Rowan attempted to fix his daughter's crisis Scandal revealed that the president in a selfish move that ultimately could have opened the door for Fitz and Olivia to have their happy ending is the one who had their relationship leaked to the press. Only he hasn't told the woman whom he considers the love of his life. Instead Fitz Olivia and Mellie come up with a plan to meet the press and allow the president to do what he really wants To tell the public the truth about his affair and feelings for a woman that isn't first lady Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young).
PHOTOS On Set With the Gladiators Inside the Fast Paced World of ABC's 'Scandal'
And while Olivia is busy crafting her plan Harrison (Columbus Short) leads OPA to fix the situation themselves instead spinning the story with Cyrus' (Jeff Perry) help to discredit the reporter who broke the news and having her wind up taking the fall (and become their client).
Meanwhile Rowan enlists B613's Charlie to bring Cyrus to him in a trunk and show the president's chief of staff a classified file containing information with what happened during Fitz and Jake's Navy work in Iran known as Operation Remington.
The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Goldwyn to discuss Fitz's motives Operation Remington and why the president would suddenly trust vice president Sally Langston (Kate Burton).
What is Operation Remington and why is Cyrus freaking out about Fitz and Jake's military history I can't give you any details on that but we know that Fitz and Jake were in the service together and were in some kind of covert intelligence based operation that's been so top secret that most of it has been redacted. Cyrus' concern is because it's a very inflammatory operation whatever it was. It's a nuclear subject.
Do you mean literally nuclear Maybe Honestly I don't know yet. But it's very big.
Who else is involved Is Jake possibly privy to it It would be a major spoiler to indicate that. I'll say maybe.
Fitz says he's going to war with Mellie. How can we expect to see him fight her Fitz is serious about that. He's really calling a spade a spade. It was such a brilliant grand manipulation that Fitz did by outing Olivia in order to protect Olivia even though that seems counterintuitive. He knew Mellie would have roasted Olivia to the pulp by having that information over her. I love that turn because I was very confused and discomforted by that scene when Fitz had his head on Mellie's lap. I couldn't make sense of it. I thought there was more to it than what it appeared to be. When I read that scene it's really to protect Olivia. It's Fitz's moment to stick it to Mellie. Their war with each other goes hot and cold. At times he takes the gloves off and will attack. Other times he moves along as if everything's fine depending on what's happening.
PHOTOS Nudity Slapping Pranks 'Scandal' Cast Share Their Most Scandalous Moments
How was so close to telling America the truth and being able to live as his authentic self. How will he respond to having that taken away Fitz is not going to be happy about that because this whole thing was to protect Olivia. It was also perfect because Fitz has been fighting all of season two to be honest and be his authentic self. That rug is pulled out from under him just when he set it all up to come clean that's going to be really bad for him. Shonda never makes it easy for her characters to do anything.
Now he has to deal with the fact that he's had an affair with the woman who broke the story. How will he attempt to repair his political career now The resiliency of politicians is amazing. I think there's some realistic chance he can rehabilitate his political career but it's not going to be easy. I think it's unlikely but he's a politician as is Mellie so we'll see. At this point it's not going well for Fitz in that way which to be expected.
'Scandal' Everything to Know About ABC's Buzzy Drama From A Z
Why doesn't Fitz tell Olivia that he's the one who outed her and was trying to also protect her from Mellie if he wants to be his authentic self so desperately That's a good question. There's no clear answer for that. For me it's because she wouldn't understand. It's such an explosive thing that he did. There's a component that is manipulative in what Fitz did that is self serving. Olivia would smell that and say You did this so you could be with me and you made my life a living hell by doing it. I don't know that the Mellie argument necessarily would persuade Olivia. Fitz keeps that card closer to his vest. That said he might tell Olivia if things weren't so messed up all the time. If they had time to really communicate he might say Look this is what I did because you were in danger. But he doesn't have the chance since things are too crazy.
Will OPA representing the reporter turned mistress create a rift or greater bond between Fitz and Olivia Both. In one sense Fitz applauds her for doing it because he feels that girl has been abused. But everything will end up blowing up in both of their faces. It's never that simple.
PHOTOS The Couples of Shondaland 'Grey's Anatomy ' 'Private Practice ' 'Scandal'
Fitz tells Sally the truth about his affair and encourages her make the most of his misfortune. Why would he do that There's always a duality happening is he manipulating Sally or is he setting her up Is Fitz throwing in the towel and saying Look I'm done. My goose is cooked. You need to seize this moment to take leadership because I'm out That is what he's saying to Sally. The degree to which Fitz means that we'll have to wait and see. He's already said Olivia is more important to him than the presidency. He means that but his relationship with Sally is a complicated affair so you'll just have to wait and see.
Sally opened up as well and revealed that her husband has been unfaithful and she's also been struggling with that. Could we see Fitz and Sally bond over that I think so. It would also be useful information for Fitz.
Did who outed Olivia surprise you What do you think Operation Remington is Hit the comments below with your thoughts. Scandal airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC. Check back to THR's The Live Feed every Thursday night for our weekly Scandal Case Study postmortems.
E mail Lesley.Goldberg THR.comTwitter Snoodit
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment