Welcome to 'Scandal', folks, the only show where an investigation into a plane crash or a political murder can be soundtracked with a jaunty Seventies disco number. With the news of Operation Remington emerging, we're left reeling along with Liv when it's revealed her mother Maya was shot down by Fitz twenty years ago. Dun-dun-dun! In a very cool flashback, we meet Liv's mother when she says goodbye to her daughter for the last time. In the present day, we jump right back into the action, with Liv reeling from the news that Operation: Remmington shot down her mom's plane with Fitz at the helm. Her team are worried but soon Liv leaps into action, heading to the White House to meet with Fitz. However, news of her arrival sends Fitz, Mellie and Cyrus into thinking that she's agreed to run their re-election campaign. Olivia and Fitz soon spar over Remmington, Fitz rebuffing the information and Liv turning down the campaign manager spot. Meanwhile, Leo meets with VP Sally Langston to work on her election campaign against Reston, getting rid of the far religious right in order to secure the Republican ticket. Later, Quinn practises her aim at a firing range to the ire of Huck who calls her out for being late. Liv tells the team that they're on Josie Marcus' campaign now and soon they're at her headquarters, helping the Presidential hopeful transform from 'cute' to 'contender' with help from big business donors whom Marcus charms effortlessly. Unfortunately, Marcus is still the lesser of the two and soon has to reinvent her image. At the same time, Harrison is threatened by Marcus into convincing Liv to give up the Marcus campaign so that an old adversary - Adnan Salif - is trying to get into the US. Harrison is visibly frightened - who the hell is this guy? Cyrus is challenged by Fitz about Remmington, the pair disagreeing about the way to handle things as Ballard keeps hunting into all things Remmington, enlisting the help of analyst friend Kate. In the evening, Liv checks all records of the plane crash that killed her mother - a flashback revealing Rowan's distress at his wife's death - and drunkenly dials her dad, asking him about what he said to her mother before she died. In a devastating phone call, Liv admits her emotional distress. Rowan tells the truth - he didn't give the order to have Maya Pope shot down. They hang up.
James and Cyrus argue over James' interview of Marcus, only for the Tea Party to rally against Fitz due to machinations by Sally. Cyrus arranges a dinner with Sally and Fitz, one she engineered. At the dinner, Sally's husband Daniel (who I totally misinterpreted as a right-hand man last week, my bad!), Sally, Mellie and Fitz debate over the religious right and the future of the Republican ticket - which soon wins Sally the support of an influential pastor. On the election campaign, Abby and Liv coach Marcus through the interview and the answers although Marcus soon bites back and wants to be 'genuine'. At the same time, a scared Harrison asks Huck to remove Adnan Salif's visa to protect himself and Quinn runs into Huck's frenemy, former colleague and assassin Charlie who coaches her through being a better shot. Quinn asks Huck about B613 following her meeting with Charlie, but he rebuffs her questions. Soon, Charlie is training Quinn and both he and Rowan think she'll make a great B613 agent.
Ahead of the interview, Marcus sees Reston's insulting ad campaign, but doesn't let it put her off, delivering a fiery, angry strike about Reston and sexism, including James' unconscious actions. This scores major points and earns anger from Cyrus who later wins back the pastor's support with promise of tax breaks. The talk earns Marcus some big supporters although Marcus' sister Candice deduces that the ad campaign was faked (Abby was wearing the same nail polish, so good catch by Candice!). Ballard hears from Katie about Operation: Remmington news, the pair meeting in a secluded area. A White House agent kills Katie, revealing her to be aiming to kill Ballard as a B613 asset, rather than helping him. Harrison meets with Cyrus, rejecting the chance to drop the Marcus campaign, and soon Cyrus has Adnan on an entirely new visa. Fitz and Ballard fight over the security detail, over Remington, and over Liv, neither standing down or coming to an agreement. Soon Fitz contacts Olivia at her apartment, wanting to renew their relationship. Liv challenges him, fighting him over the mysteries of the plane crash, and revealing that her mother was one of the victims. Fitz doesn't answer her, and soon Liv shows a conflicted Fitz out of her apartment. A much stronger and more interesting showing from the 'Scandal' team this time around as everyone gets something to do and Harrison (Columbus Short) gets some well-needed screentime to develop a dark secret of his own. Short shines here, revealing a scared man beneath the pomp and swagger that we love about his character. Point in fact, plenty of characters get a chance to shine - the Maya Pope story (with Maya being brilliantly played in a scene-stealing one-scene role from CSI: Miami's Khandi Alexander) gets some traction, Josie Marcus' campaign scores points, Quinn becomes the next B613 hopeful and Sally's plans to become President move forward too. A solid, brilliant and noteworthy episode that while suffering from a bit of uneven pacing, still manages to be a thrilling and engaging hour of television. The question now is: what is Harrison's past? Who is Adnan Salif? Will Quinn become a B613 mole and abandon her 'gladiator' status? Check out next week, gladiators, I'll be eagerly awaiting the next episode...