Shes like, Hey, people, Im putting this on television because this is what is happening in our lives. Shonda doesnt make polemic arguments; shes not sending messages. The talk show king was a guest on Channel . "If you think the debates in the real world are fun, then" is all Washington would tease. 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. After a tumultuous few seasons of back-and-forth, Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) and Olivia (Kerry Washington) seemed poised to find happiness. 'Scandal' abortion Fitz Olivia breakup Tony Goldwyn interview - The 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. So why can't we have more abortion storylines storyblips might be a more accurate descriptor on TV? And when they spiral, they finally tell the truth. Olivia is on a journey, Rhimes said. The veteran series also features Addision (Kate Walsh) revealing that she had an abortion after getting pregnant during her affair with Mark (Eric Dane). And of course she's withholding this terrible secret that Fitz has no clue about. Heres how the subtle reveal plays out: Fitz accidentally sees Olivias medical file sitting on the desk of chief of staff Abby (Darby Stanchfield). But the dream may have been better than the reality if Thursdays midseason finale his any indication. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. But give me a break! 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. . I think everything would lead us to believe that Fitz would be ethically pro-life, even if he has a progressive bend like George Bush Sr. But the bigger thing is not a political question; the bigger thing here is the emotional [impact]. I can only assume he would because of his irrational love for Olivia. 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!) 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. Adding fuel to the fire that Olivia and Fitz really werent 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. Brief and devoid of dialogue as it was, Scandals presentation of Olivias abortion was my favorite of any Ive seen in TV or movies. Olivia calls Fitz an ineffectual president and believes the White House is a cage. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Inside the business of TV with breaking news, expert analysis and showrunner interviews. He was pro-life and, more relevant, he wanted a child with Olivia more than anything in the world. She got the fantasy and then discovered the fantasy wasn't real. But hold on! Olivia misses an important dinner and goes to get an abortion. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The episode was notable for featuring a scene in which Olivia Pope has an abortion, . shut down 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. Many may think that because of the six-month time jump that the topic will never be broached again. Does this open the door for Mellie to return? What did you think of Scandal's midseason finale? The following notable deaths in the United States occurred in 2023.Names are reported under the date of death, in alphabetical order as set out in WP:NAMESORT.A typical entry reports information in the following sequence: Name, age, country of citizenship at birth and subsequent nationality (if applicable), what subject was noted for, year of birth (if known), and reference. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. The answer is YES, in capital letters. How much of their breakup do you think was based on Olivias stress from the pregnancy and feeling cornered as she said, not running with the big dogs? I'm happy that you have fallen in love with Fitz because that's the journey that Olivia went on. But his feelings for Olivia defy logic. Come on, it's difficult; there's a lot of scrutiny but what the hell is Olivia so scared of?! To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. Of course, this storyline instantly became a source of controversy among viewers, which is to be expected when such an important and highly sensitive topic is addressed. If you think the debates youve seen in the real world are fun star Kerry Washington teased coyly. Its interesting to me that her primary story is a romance. 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. 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. And yet I dont think they have a choice in the matter with this. "I don't know if he can go [without seeing his family]," said Guillermo Diaz. Scandal Kerry Washington Abortion - H 2016, [Warning: This story contains spoilers from Thursdays season five finale of ABCs Scandal.]. The finale also left viewers to decide if Olivia and Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) got their happy ending and life of jam-making in Vermont. Speaking of debates, Rhimes said that she often had to eliminate dialogue she already wrote for fictional debates "because it already happened in real life.". 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. So, will he? So guess whos waiting in the ladies room to give Mellie a surprise pep talk? But now that Scandal is gearing up to return, I'm starting to wonder if this secret (like most secrets on this show) will ever find its way to the surface. Does this open the door for Mellie to return? When I was 20, I had an abortion. Look at the fact that Fitz was able to move past that. And we dont in fact know where Fitz lives on this issue. 'Scandal' Season 5, Episode 9 recap: Olivia has an abortion! November 19 2015, 7:00 PM PST, Stop reading now if you have yet to watch tonights Scandal fall finale. He's lost his family; though he has visitation with his kids, he and Mellie are utterly estranged. According to a December 2015 AP-GfK poll, support for legal abortion rose from 35 to 40 percent among Republicans last year with seven of 10 conservative Republicans opposing abortion rights in most or all cases. I think it would be, next to the death of his son, the most gutting news he could get and frankly I dont know how hed recover from that. Read More: 'Scandal's' Tony Goldwyn: Having It All Has Never Been So Devastating. Soon enough, Jake finds himself face-to-face with Russell (who took out Elise), ignores his pleas to join Lazarus One, and puts a bullet in his head. 'Scandal': Shonda Rhimes Responds to Abortion Storyline - Variety Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. I'm just telling a story that is there for me. Olivia's 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). Did Fitz find out Olivia was pregnant? - TimesMojo Olivia believes Fitz is talking about Jake, but the president is talking about a womans right to choose. She's progressive politically but she really does these things because they're important to talk about. 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. It was pretty clear. Her father has been saying that, and while he represents evil to a lot of you, he also represents truth., What their future may hold, in other words, is up in the air as is the future of Scandal, as Rhimes reiterated her plans to keep the political fixer drama as a contained story. Why do you think more shows don't go there? Please select the topics you're interested in: The Quick and Dirty Details of Scandal's Season Finale, Jada Pinkett Smith Says "Red Table Talk" Is Looking For a "New Home" After Cancellation, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau "Absolutely" Wants to Work With "GOT" Costar Gwendoline Christie Again, "Bel-Air"'s Creator, Showrunner Break Down the Bombshell Moments in Season 2's Emotional Finale, Jennifer Garner and Angourie Rice Search For Clues in Exclusive Clip From "The Last Thing He Told Me", 10 Books to Read After "The Summer I Turned Pretty", "Jury Duty"'s Judge Alan Barinholtz Is a "Nepo Dad": Meet His Famous Sons, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Washington was quick to add that she'll do just about anything to make fun of Goldwyn. That shed surrender herself to be a prisoner of the White House and be an appendage of him, that was never going to work. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. I was in the phase of budding adulthood where you essentially just roleplay what youve been taught adults do.