Scandal Season 5 Episode 8 "Rasputin"

I want to say one thing before I start the recap; the writers better not let anything happen to Rowan Pope. He’s one of the reasons I look forward to watching weekly. Okay, back to the recap.

The episode begins with Fitz escorted by the secret service to their discreet interrogation facility. He opens the door to the interrogation room and finds Olivia handcuffed with blood stains on her jacket. Flashback to 48hours earlier, the White House is hosting the President of Bandar, Razani, to negotiate a peace treaty. The treaty may take longer than expected when one of the President’s translators, Navid, tries to make a deal to disclose a powerful Intel in exchange for an asylum in the US.

Olivia takes this information to Fitz. He agrees that they look into it before they go through with the deal. To remove suspicious from Fitz, he tells his vice, Susan to express her dissatisfaction to some of the conditions in the treaty in attempt to stall, giving Olivia and her team time to verify the Intel.

After Olivia leaves, Cyrus questions Fitz on the progress of finding Rowan. Fitz reveals that the FBI isn’t involved in the case. Suspicious as always, Cyrus tells David of Rowan’s release from prison. He tell him he’ll personally investigate the matter. Cyrus is really determine to be in control once again but won't be easy with Olivia as his rival.

During the negotiation meeting, Navid collapses and is then rushed to the hospital where Olivia is waiting for him. Olivia tells him she needs to confirm before the President agrees to give him asylum. He discloses to Olivia a secret factory operating the desert and gives her a location.

On her way to the office, she finds Tom waiting for her at the elevator. He takes her up to meet Rowan. Rowan informs her that he's been haunted and will try and protect her as long as he’s alive. Olivia believes him as soon as he saw something in his eyes she’s never seen before; FEAR.

Jake is summoned to the white house by the President. it turns out that it was Olivia that sent for him. She tells him of her conversation with Rowan and wanted Jake to help but he snaps and I don't blame him. Why would you take pity on a man who put you in hole, tortured you and killed your ex-wife. Huck is helping Jake track Rowan but he doesn't want to get involved and get back to his old ways so Jake is on his own now.

David and Elizabeth are still hooking up. As much as I'm happy for him, I hope never to see them in a sex scene again, they have the worst chemistry ever! Sadly, Susan still has feelings for him so it's only a matter of time she's going to catch them, she almost did last episode.

Olivia keeps receives calls from Mellie threatening to tell Fitz about Rowan’s escape if she does go through her end of the deal. Quinn calls Olivia and tells her the location Navid gave them leads to a soda factory. Olivia rushes to the hospital and tells him his intel was bogus and the deal is off. Thanks to Huck and his spy senses, he examines the surveillance photos of the Soda factory and discovers that it's a disguise for an unknown facility there are running.

Olivia immediately calls Abby to stop Fitz from signing the treaty. Olivia goes to the hospital to tell Navid that he's telling the truth but finds him in the bathroom, bleeding from his wrists. He'd rather die because he'll be killed in his country for been gay. Luckily for him, the doctor arrive in time to save him.

Olivia informs him that his intel is correct and the president has agreed to give him asylum. After conducting his investigation, David shows up to Cyrus' office and tells him that one of the suspects involved in Rowan’s escape is Olivia and has sent a team to arrest her at the hospital.

Back to the first scene, Olivia finally tells Fitz the truth. He summons Cyrus to his office and tells him to do whatever it takes to drops the charges against her. He tells him that Navid's Intel is correct and is giving him asylum. He also tells him to move all of Olivia’s belongings to the White House. Jake finally discovers Rowan’s location but when he gets there, he finds Tom unconscious on the floor and Rowan missing. It is then revealed in the last scene that Huck captured Rowan and is held in an undisclosed building.

 

 

 Thoughts

Olivia is becoming my least favourite character this season. I don’t blame Cyrus who’s trying everything to discredit her but it seems his effort is only bringing them closer. I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeves.

We’re still in the dark on the history of the mysterious Lazarus one, the people behind it, what they do, what they plan to do. I hope this won't drag out like Olivia's kidnapping.

Fitz’s conversation with Olivia seems off because she looks more like a captive now, telling her that he has assigned the secret service detail to keep her safe and protected. We will know by next episode if she's still running things or she has lost her freedom. 

 

 

Memorable Quotes 

Olivia: I believe him. My gut says he is telling the truth.
Jake: Of course you do, otherwise you'd just be a fool with daddy issues.

 

Cyrus "We're living in a new world, Red. A world where Olivia Pope is judge, jury, and executioner."