On Thursday, ABC’s “Scandal” is back for the uninterrupted run of this season’s eight final episodes.
As unforgettable as “Scandal” can be, most of us aren’t blessed with Olivia Pope’s (Kerry Washington) remarkable memory.
With that in mind, TheWrap offers the following primer to where the winter finale left off. (Spoiler alert if you didn’t watch the winter finale!)
1. New Mama Pope details make Papa Pope more likeable.
While Olivia was pretty peeved at her father about hiding the existence of her mother for decades, we learned some pretty damning things about her mother. Aside from having changed her identity multiple times, Maya (Khandi Alexander) was really a British spy and mercenary who sold government secrets to the highest bidder. So in the end, was Rowan (Joe Morton) actually protecting Olivia from heartbreak and the U.S. from a very dangerous spy in its midst?
Also read: ‘How I Met Your Mother’s’ Nazanin Boniadi Joins ‘Scandal’ in Major Recurring Role
2. Quinn (Katie Lowes) is no longer a “gladiator.”
Her relationship with B6-13 agent Charlie (George Newbern) has gone romantic, but she still tried to return to Pope & Associates after failing to take Rowan out with a poisoned syringe. Problem is, Huck (Guillermo Díaz) wasn’t having it and pulled her gladiator status.
3. Cyrus (Jeff Perry) copped to being evil.
There were no romantic endings for the show’s resident gay couple. After Cyrus basically told James (Dan Bucatinsky) that he’s the devil and deal with it, the reporter agreed to stick around… if Cyrus makes him the White House press secretary.
4. David Rosen (Joshua Malina) has Sally Langston’s (Kate Burton) murder confession.
She killed her philandering gay husband and had the good sense to guilt Cyrus into helping her cover it up. But, someone at the NSA is listening to everything we say on our phones and captured her confession to Cyrus. That recording landed on attorney David Rosen’s desk and it remains to be seen what he’s going to do with it. Does that mean her presidential campaign is off?
Also read: 5 Questions Answered on the ‘Scandal’ Winter Finale
5. Jake is now the head of B6-13.
In a pissing contest between Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) and Rowan, Jake (Scott Foley) has been elevated to commander of B6-13. Yes, folks, Jake has a job (and an actual storyline) again! We’ll see how long that lasts and how sending her father to the unemployment line affects his relationship with Olivia.
Above, watch a preview from Thursday’s spring premiere in which Mellie (Bellamy Young) uses an interesting tactic to get Olivia onboard Fitz’s re-election campaign.
And below, watch fan favorite scenes from this season so far.
“Scandal” is back on Thursday at 10/9c on ABC.