BWW Recap: Filibust A Move on SCANDAL

With an odd beginning to Season Five, Shondaland sends SCANDAL into the holidays with a bang. Not a literal one (okay, well maybe one), but there were plenty of shock-worthy moments in tonight's winter finale.

As we begin to see the public accepting Olivia Pope, we see that she is also a shell of who she used to be. She is baking cookies and picking out China patterns and all the things she abhors about being just Fitz's live-in girlfriend. She has become everything she feared.

Huck is still holding Rowan hostage. Rowan keeps prodding Huck to try and break him into going to the dark side once more, to once again be one of Rowan's "Sons,' but there is hope. Maybe Huck has finally conquered his demons. After reminding Rowan that maybe he isn't the best to dole out fatherly advice, he makes the shocking move to release him without harm. Jake tails Tom to find that he is working for Russell now (Remember that guy who nearly killed Jake and did kill Elise and also was Olivia's fake boyfriend for a bit? Yeah... him) and Jake has no patience left for Russell and puts a bullet in his head. He finds Rowan after Huck's release and tells him he knows he isn't Lazarus. Rowan tells him, "Welcome home, son," and then he and Rowan... have Christmas together? What the... what? So Huck has fought his dark side and Jake is surrendering to his? What is happening? Why is Jake still so hot?

Liz and David are still... climbing Capitol Hill, if you know what I mean? But, David may be a tad bit more invested than Liz. He presents her with a bracelet for Christmas which Liz scoffs and rejects. When the poor, doting Susan Ross gives David a lovely gift for Christmas, he decides to give her the bracelet instead. Liz notices it and is... jealous? I love Susan Ross. Come on, David, for once in your life, do the right thing.

But let's face it, the real hero of the episode is Mellie. FINALLY, Bellamy Young given a chance to shine. Upon discovering that the Senate Committee wants to put Planned Parenthood on the discretionary funding list, Mellie decides to take stand (literally) and filibuster by reading all of the programs that are not on the discretionary funding list. She must stand at the podium for 16 hours to prevent the vote, without a break. Olivia is inspired and sends Susan in to ask a question so Mellie is able to yield the floor and take a break. Mellie completes the filibuster and stops the bill. Victory to the Junior Senator from Virginia. Aside from the basic human rights thing, Liv's personal motive becomes clear when she shows up for her appointment at Planned Parenthood that evening and gets an abortion. Yes, you read that correctly. (I'll go out on a limb and guess that many will be outraged at this whole plot point, but then, what aren't people outraged about these days?) When she arrives back at the White House, she and Fitz have a knock-down, drag-out (metaphorically speaking) fight as they both come to realize their relationship is over. Liv moves out of the White House and Fitz is left alone. Mellie spends Christmas with the kids, Huck heads home to his family, Marcus to his, Quinn and Charlie find each other and let's not forget Jake and Rowan (?) all fade into holiday cheer.

Olivia and Fitz's breakup scene was heart-wrenching, even to those of us who are 100% Team Jake. We've all been there, those vicious things that fly out of your mouth that you've been holding on to for so long. Without question, the best Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington scene, thus far, this season, but as Fitz said, Olivia is usually right. She cannot keep up that role, nor would he want her to. That's not her. And what was his motive as she asked? Revenge for keeping her father alive or for her getting him released? It was bizarre and she called it out. Bravo! The question is, where does their relationship go from here? Yes, it's over, but they are still going to be in each other's lives. They do need each other on a human level. And does this send her back to Jake? Is it too late now that Jake and Rowan have reconciled? Basically, a whole new can of worms has been opened, so naturally it's time for a three month break. So looking forward to the internet outrage over the abortion and pro-Planned Parenthood storylines. Everyone is always SO reasonable on the internet. Happy Holidays!

And that wraps up SCANDAL in 2015. See you in February!

Photo Credit: ABC

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