Part of deeply loving someone is a predisposition to see the world through their eyes and this is a huge moment for Fitz. There's been a lot of darkness of Huck, but he's trying to be a better person. Look at the fact that Fitz was able to move past that. 2023 TVLine Media, LLC. "It's because of who Olivia is in the brains of these writers. A woman made a choice about her body that she legally has the right to make. "I don't know if he can go [without seeing his family]," said Guillermo Diaz. But give me a break! Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Look what hes forgiving her for and what hes overlooked, in terms of her bailing out on this supposed marriage they were going to have by making a deal with the man who murdered his son, with the father who has tormented her her entire life. Fitz is then incredibly nice to Olivia whom he hasnt seen in months after their split and agrees. Its the burning question Gladiators have been asking since the Scandal midseason finale: Will Fitz ever find out about Olivias abortion? To be clear about "falling apart," Olivia didn't. She did not break up with Fitz because she was f*cked up in the head about her abortion. Olivia told Abby she is not ashamed of her abortion, and she does not care who knows. "I'm just writing what comes out. Shonda sometimes dives into political issues because they are raw expressions of the human dilemma that we all live with everyday. We were all shocked, honestly, at how dark the writers went. Fitz may grow through the experience; I have no idea what Shonda has in mind. He was pro-life and, more relevant, he wanted a child with Olivia more than anything in the world. The 1-minute scene was so flawlessly orchestrated in a way that both refused to strip Olivia of her strength, while also not softening the utterly unpleasant reality of the actual experience of undergoing that procedure. And we don't in fact know where Fitz lives on this issue. We know where it ends and when it ends, Rhimes said, though the question is when. Whats more, it may have revealed Fitzs stance on abortion for the first time in five years. That was followed . Mitch Rustad / She has that thing where when you run away from a commitment or obligation, theres that initial sense of, Im free! (And if I have to tell you who Olivia Pope is, Im not sure why youre reading this; get thee to Netflix and come back post-binge). Fitz is going to be terribly lonely. For a show that has definitely had its groundbreaking moments, Scandal is definitely delivering on the Season 5 midseason finale. Previous Next Scandal TV You May Also Like TV "Bel-Air"'s Creator, Showrunner Break Down the Bombshell Moments in Season 2's Emotional. I havent actually decided, but I wonder sometimes. His connection with Cyrus (Jeff Perry), even thought they tried to patch things up, that trust is fundamentally compromised. Shondaland, the Theme Park? Look what he's forgiving her for and what he's overlooked, in terms of her bailing out on this supposed marriage they were going to have by making a deal with the man who murdered his son, with the father who has tormented her her entire life. I was in the phase of budding adulthood where you essentially just roleplay what youve been taught adults do. But when the vote hits the floor, Mellie throws in a surprise filibuster she wants to protect Planned Parenthood which threatens to throw everyones holiday plans into disarray and (gasp!) It was pretty clear. What's more, it may have. When Olivia misses an important dinner (she was getting an abortion) Fitz is upset. The idea that they were together under the circumstances in which they were together that she was going to move into the White House and become Mellie [Bellamy Young], who was the unhappiest woman weve ever seen was a farce, Rhimes continued. So it might be good for him. What, no one? Olitz. We were all shocked, honestly, at how dark the writers went. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. And it really, really matters whether or not we have these depictions because its inescapable that young people are influenced by them, and its inescapable for their feelings and choices about their own lives will be swayed by these preconceptions. Youre the biggest bitch I know, Liv muses, dont tell me you cant do this. At last, Mellie triumphantly runs out the clock on the bill, even earning a handshake (which she rejects) from cranky Senator Moskowitz. ET on ABC. I was really impressed with the boldness of it; Shonda never fails to amaze me with her fierceness. At the midway point of the ABC drama's fall finale on Thursday, Olivia was escorted into a private medical room and then underwent an apparent abortion. And yet I don't think they have a choice in the matter with this. Because in a completely unexpected moment, Olivia had an abortion on Scandal , and although it was an incredibly controversial move by the show and Shondaland, it was also a truly awesome one. I didn't think Fitz could necessarily recover from the revelation that Olivia had been the one who saved her dad and yet Fitz did, albeit in such a dysfunctional way and making a grab at her and putting her in the White House. Fox says life with Parkinson's is 'getting harder': "I'm not gonna be 80', Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson celebrate 35 years of marriage with cake, Chris Pratt talks Marvel audition fails: 'I was never gonna audition for Marvel again'. Why do you think more shows don't go there? In truth,. I expected to feel and do and say certain things, and the expectation manifested those feelings and prompted me to do those things. She never even casts a patented, subtext-laden, sideways, wincing look that at least lets the audience know that shes currently channeling all of her ~tragic abortion sadness~, even if shes stubbornly refusing to tell Fitz about it (which she never ends up doing). I [didn't] know what to do. But I think that's what makes it worth talking about. Id say 90 percent. The one where EW follows up with the cast. No other characters, including her live-in boyfriend, were even aware she'd had the procedure (that we know of). At the midway point of the ABC dramas fall finale on Thursday, Olivia was escorted into a private medical room and then underwent an apparent abortion. I cant tell you that, Rhimes told EW ahead of the panel. Shonda doesn't make polemic arguments; she's not sending messages. I cant imagine how Fitz will react when he finds out about the abortion. Of course, abortion is something that has been alluded to on TV before, but this is one of the first times it's been shown so openly on network television especially in a clinic. 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. Is this breakup something that Olivia and Fitz can come back from? I can't tell you that. His face would have lit up in a smile and it would be the greatest joy in his life and he'd have embraced her and said, "Oh my God, we're going to start a whole new life together, isn't that fantastic?!" 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It uses medicine or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus. 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. As Liv chugs the moonshine (as a Southerner, I call LIES on how hard she put that sh*t away) and fights with her pissed-off boyfriend about some fancy dinner she skipped while off getting her abortion, we can clearly see that shes not in a great place. "Second to the death of his son, that's the worst thing that could ever happen to Fitz to find out that Olivia was pregnant with his baby, had an abortion and did not tell him," he says. I understand as a viewer but if I were her shrink, I would have a lot to say. 2 days ago. How much more will Scandal explore Planned Parenthood and abortion storyline going forward? 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. The Moral Compass: Kerry Washington asked her cast mates which character on the show has their priorities straight, and Cornelius Smith, Jr. (who plays Marcus) immediately raised his hand with an enthusiastic, "I do!" "My question is, 'Does he need to?'" Perhaps that Rhimes and co-producer Betsy Beers knows when and where the show will end. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. I'm happy that you have fallen in love with Fitz because that's the journey that Olivia went on. 2 days ago, by Victoria Edel Olivia later goes to Fitz to bless Jake (Scott Foley) as Mellies pick for vice president on her Republican ticket. He's going to be very lonely. 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. Why do you think more shows dont go there? The latter event was a surprise to many, but it was unprecedented and something, thanks to Shonda Rhimes, that will forever go . She's like, "Hey, people, I'm putting this on television because this is what is happening in our lives." Unmistakably, we see Olivia upset after the abortion; rooting around in her cavernous White House closet for the moonshine bequeathed to her by her predecessor, the former First Lady (who spent the entire episode filibustering in opposition of a Congressional budget that would've stripped Planned Parenthood of its funding, because its apparently time to get serious about planting the narrative seeds of Olivia running Mellies inevitable presidential campaign). Will Olivia tell Fitz about the abortion? She got the fantasy and then discovered the fantasy wasn't real. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I feel like she disassociated from it. I'm just telling a story that is there for me. Fitz thinks she released the man who killed his son so she wouldnt have to marry him. But emotionally, we were all silent afterward; like, What just happened?!. "If you think the debates in the real world are fun, then" is all Washington would tease. She recently told a French magazine that the rape 'wasn't a big deal.' "The question itself feels so foreign to me because at no point in these five years has any decision that Olivia has made been because of something I wanted," she said. Olivia Munn & John Mulaney's Meet Cute 8 Years Ago At A Wedding Is Relatable, Paramount+s 'Fatal Attraction' Series Follows The Movies Alternate Ending, 11 Photos Of The 'Fatal Attraction' TV Cast Vs. Their 1987 Movie Counterparts, How 'Queen Charlotte' Star India Amarteifio Prepped Her Mom For "Steamy" Scenes, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Now its your turn. Unfortunately, their relationship could not stand the public pressure, eventually leading to Olivia's shocking holiday plans: getting an abortion and moving out of the White House. The abortion and the breakup were both (messy and unpleasant, yes) about Olivia saying, Nope. Sound off in the comments, below. 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. It's such a divisive issue in our society and sadly has become a real political football. He's lost his family; though he has visitation with his kids, he and Mellie are utterly estranged. I can do what ever I want! Fitz may have been replaced by a couch (Laughs.) The truth? At all. So he inappropriately rushed things by moving her into the White House when they just needed time. FIRST LADY SINGS THE BLUES | Now that Fitz has officially moved her designer duds into the White House, Livs finding her sudden First Lady-like duties a tad tedious. She didn't even confirm she'd had an abortion or tell Fitz about . Scandal was recently renewed for a sixth season, but does Rhimes actually look at that as the final season? I feel like she disassociated from it. It was not what I expected with Olivia and Fitz. "I think in a way, Huck has grown and is trying to become a better man, but who knows?" I think she has a lot of work to do on herself. In the first teaser, released Thursday by ABC, Olivia tells presidential hopeful Mellie . So he inappropriately rushed things by moving her into the White House when they just needed time. Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. In its fifth season ABC's Scandal gave diehard Gladiators everything they wanted: a presidential divorce that paved the way for Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) and Olivia (Kerry Washington) to finally go public with their romance and be together as a couple in the White House. People have very strong and justifiable views on both sides of the question. Kerry Washington promised us on Twitter that this was the episode you'd want to watch live, and she was absolutely right. all while [freaking out].". Unfortunately, their relationship could not stand the public pressure, eventually leading to Olivias shocking holiday plans: getting an abortion and moving out of the White House. Does this open the door for Mellie to return? 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. He's 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. The now-former couple agrees that they rushed into things and werent ready (we tried, they say) and that they were broken going into this. Bellamy Young mentioned Mama Pope, while Tony Goldwyn gave his vote to Mellie Grant. Fox says life with Parkinson's is 'getting harder': "I'm not gonna be 80', Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson celebrate 35 years of marriage with cake, Chris Pratt talks Marvel audition fails: 'I was never gonna audition for Marvel again'. Contained in the file is the fact that Olivia had an abortion around Christmas with Fitz putting together that her pregnancy was part of the reason the couple broke up after years of hiding their romantic relationship. 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. The answer is YES, in capital letters. And we repeat:Stop reading now if you have yet to watch tonights Scandal fall finale. November 19 2015, 7:00 PM PST, Stop reading now if you have yet to watch tonights Scandal fall finale. Huck keeps his wits about him, avoids violence and turns the tables (you are nobodys father), and refuses to give Papa Pope the death he apparently desires. His connection with Cyrus (Jeff Perry), even thought they tried to patch things up, that trust is fundamentally compromised. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. is waiting with an apology (You were right, Lazarus wasnt you). He also noted that Fitz does not know about Olivia's abortion and if and when he finds out, he would . "I will put that on my list!" Then I saw Hillary in this green [outfit]. 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. In truth,. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Perhaps that Rhimes and co-producer Betsy Beers knows when and where the show will end. Fitz thinks she released the man who killed his son so she wouldn't have to marry him. It was as if she didn't connect with it at all. Not anymore.. To feel OK about a woman having an abortion, do we need to see her agonizing over the decision? And those expectations were pretty firmly established by what Id been taught to believe about abortion from Hollywood. Adding fuel to the fire that Olivia and Fitz really weren't truly ready to be together in such a high-pressure fashion was the fact that Olivia was pregnant and opted to have an abortion unbeknownst to Fitz. Do you think hes happy now that he knows that his insane shell of a human father is out of the picture again? Rowan keeps up the verbal assault until Huck finally snaps. Shonda sometimes dives into political issues because they are raw expressions of the human dilemma that we all live with everyday. How much of their breakup do you think was based on Olivia's stress from the pregnancy and feeling cornered as she said, not running with the big dogs? Not once did Olivia say she was pregnant, and we had no idea what she was doing at the clinic until she laid down on the table. Heres how the subtle reveal plays out: Fitz accidentally sees Olivias medical file sitting on the desk of chief of staff Abby (Darby Stanchfield). Washington was quick to add that she'll do just about anything to make fun of Goldwyn. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Inside the business of TV with breaking news, expert analysis and showrunner interviews. I cant tell you that, Rhimes told EW ahead of the panel. My question is: Does he need to? Rhimes said at Tuesdays PaleyFest panel. Boom. In possibly related news, a familiar face returns during Thursdays episode, which screened ahead of the panel, that will surely raise some eyebrows. She went in and did it with no emotion. And when they fight, they spiral. She feels that Fitz moving her into the White House so suddenly (and without asking) was punishment for releasing Rowan. Sometimes its more difficult since the show is often from Olivias point of view so I do have to ask Shonda questions in terms of what she has in mind for Fitz. The now-former couple agrees that they rushed into things and weren't ready ("we tried," they say) and that they were "broken" going into this. She's progressive politically but she really does these things because they're important to talk about. Darby Stanchfield said "I'd like to be Papa Pope for a day," to which Goldwyn joked that her character is "headed in that direction." But he did so kind of from the right place; he was trying to take control of the situation. That [Olivia] was going to surrender every piece of who she was to be an appendage of [Fitz] was never going to work. She later figures out that the goal is to start a war between the U.S. and West-Angola by kidnapping Olivia and force Fitz to declare a war. None of this is to say that Olivia's abortion was cast in some casual, glowy, unwrinkled-white-hat light. It's interesting to me that it's a romance, that her primary story is a romancethat's what you've seen. "My question is . I haven't actually decided, but I wonder. So, will he? I wonder how my own actions and feelings about my abortion mightve been changed had my brain walked into that experience with a different set of expectations. Ive always had the end point in mind.. She then heads back to the White House and makes a beeline for Mellies booze stash, which sets up an epic Olitz brawlfor the ages. Nobody puts this Gladiator in a corner. Will Fitz start dating? 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). FATHER KNOWS BEST | Still shackled to a chair, an increasingly desperate Rowan decides to play mind games with his captor/potential executioner, Huck. But there's going to be a tremendous backlash I'm not saying this out of any knowledge of the story, but about life when Olivia has to look in the mirror and realizes that she's pushed away everybody who is close to her life and the man she does love. How much more will Scandal explore Planned Parenthood and abortion storyline going forward? I think it would be, next to the death of his son, the most gutting news he could get and frankly I don't know how he'd recover from that. Its not weird to have a favorite abortion scene, especially when most of them are so completely terrible. But then a weird and telling and amazing thing happens: She never mentions the abortion. Well done, Shonda Rhimes! The episode ends with Olivia, bags packed, moving out of the White House and poised to celebrate Christmas with a big glass of red wine on a brand new couch in her apartment, alone. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Its the first time on Scandal that Fitz has revealed which side of the abortion debate hes on. I'd say 90 percent. 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? Additionally, the poll found that six of 10 moderate and liberal Republicans supporting the right to choose. Todays biggest stories, from pop culture to politicsdelivered straight to your inbox. did conall give maleficent his powers, do seventh day adventists believe in the resurrection, life expectancy of an infantry soldier in combat,