Scandal 2.21 Recap - 'Any Questions?'
rating: 4.5
Welcome back to Scandal, the most complicated and deliciously entertaining show out there. When we left last week, we were dealing with the Fitz and Olivia relationship reunion and the slow burning arcs of the Albatross' secret identity - and it all came to a shocking head this week! We begin with Cyrus in the present day, busy dealing with the fallout from Mellie's reveal on live TV about Fitz's infidelities, running as much damage control as he possibly can, intercutting back and forth through flashbacks. Cyrus in unable to tell a reporter where Fitz is and rushes over to Liv's apartment where he barges in on an impromptu morning cuddle sesh between Liv and Fitz. Later on, Fitz stops Olivia from assisting in the mess to keep her from getting hurt and involved which Liv agrees to, just. She ain't happy about not being able to help out. Meanwhile Mellie is getting hold of her own PR consultant (played by John Barrowman) who reads her like a book, earning her respect. They discuss revealing the identity of the mistress and how it will affect how Mellie is perceived by the public, Mellie still hoping that Fitz might come back. Fitz meanwhile tells Cyrus that he won't be seeking a second term in office!
Ballard and the B-613 spy chief meet up, the chief reporting that Ballard messed up keeping the President and Olivia apart. Ballard reports on Charlie and agrees to bring in information of Ballard and Olivia's dalliances. Meanwhile James is confronted by Cyrus over his reporting of Mellie's interview and Cyrus destroys him, telling him that he's useless and his career is nothing. Too harsh, Cyrus. Way too harsh. Their relationship is beyond messed up sometimes. Cyrus and Olivia meet up and discuss the next move for Fitz, Olivia telling him that she won't interfere anymore. She leaves - just as the mysterious B6-13 boss meets with Cyrus whom he clearly knows. The chief knows about Olivia and Fitz, speaking for a group of people wanting to protect the republic. The chief threatens Cyrus with using the tape of Ballard and Olivia and cuts off contacts between Cyrus and Charlie. Just who the hell is this guy?! Meanwhile at Pope & Associates, David is angry about the Fitz situation, seeing as it was his rigging that would have made his career and everything but David tries to move on, even name-checking himself as a member of the team and a gladiator (to Harrison's eye-roll of complaint). Olivia arrives at the office and the team fill her in on Charlie and his interest in the cute stenographer's laptop with regards to the Defiance case. When Olivia checks on the Cytron card, kept in her office safe, David finally learns that Abby stole it but has moved on it seems. 
The team look into Sally Langston, the villainous Southern vice-president (who threatens Cyrus with his imminent failure) while Harrison finally confronts Olivia, offering her comfort and support, as her 'fixer' with Liv as the client. Olivia shrugs this off, enlisting Harrison to deduce whether Sally is the mole as she has the most to gain from this. Harrison and Olivia later share a moment where she gives him emergency contacts in folders in case she's unable to continue. Huck manages to hack into Sally's daughter's email with a tell-all about a rival classmate's nose job (a great idea thanks to David) but soon finds that Sally can't be the mole. Charlie is targeted at his local bakery with a tracer but soon spreads it along by touch to everyone else, sending Ballard and his team on a desperate run to capture their rogue agent. Charlie tries to get in touch with Cyrus but he blocks him, sending Charlie to the Pope & Associates offices for help and assistance. He wants a life, just like Huck. Huck promises to get the name of the mole out of Charlie and does so, aiming a gun at a restrained Charlie. Quinn comes down, stopping him and using his own revenge speech to stop him taking vengeance on Charlie. Nice one, Quinn! Cyrus comes to the offices, needing to speak to Olivia and soon after she comes to the White House where she tearfully confronts him over his plans to leave his presidency. She believes he doesn't believe in himself after the Defiance plans. In his interview, he tells the press to butt out and concedes to a second term campaign, all the while knowing that he can't be with Olivia. Mellie and her campaign boss celebrate. Fitz is back on top however. 
At the offices, the Cytron card has been stolen from Liv's office safe, probably courtesy of Charlie, but they have the name of Albatross. The team react in shock as it's revealed that Billy Chambers, the slimy long-thought-dead senator from last season is the mole and it's none other than David who stole the card!! I knew I saw him eyeballing Olivia when she put the code into the safe!! A fantastic outing from everyone involved and such a brilliant lead up to the finale - with plenty of great nods to episodes and seasons past, it's a great touch to keep everyone on the playing field and a fantastic twist at the end has all the storylines twisting together over the past couple of years. Billy is back and his agenda is murky and mad as ever. Just how did he survive Charlie's planned assassination? Does that secret lie in the apparent deal between them which involves Charlie working for him? How did David get to know Billy? Never mind 'any questions?' - it's more like 'here's some resolution - and with even MORE questions!'. Everyone gets something to do here, from Guillermo Diaz's great work as Huck tries to move on, to Katie Lowes, Kerry Washington and Columbus Short proving to be badasses. Even newcomer John Barrowman gets a bit of decent work in although he's a bit outmatched at the moment by Bellamy Young's relishing villainy. Nevertheless Barrowman is always good fun to watch and while the plot is twistier and thornier than the Evil Queen's rose garden, it's such a great delight to watch. So now we know who the mole is and who the traitor inside the team is - what's next? Will David's treachery be discovered? Will Billy release the contents of the Cytron card to win back the favour of Sally? Until next week's exciting finale, folks...