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# Fug the Show: Scandal recap, season 3, episode 14
- URL: https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/fug-the-show-scandal-recap-season-3-episode-14/
- Published: 2014-03-22T19:00:38.000Z
- Updated: 2014-03-22T05:44:54.000Z
- Author: Heather
- Tags: #wp, #wp-gallery, #slideshow, #Import 2026-10-07 07:37

## End Cub Essayer

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-1.xml)

James is dead. Jake Ballard shot him, using a silencer on the first two victims because it was an execution, then removing it and plugging James -- albeit in the back, as James fled, because James is DUMB; run away squealing and OF COURSE the bad man is going to make you really most sincerely dead -- so he could pass it off as a carjacking.

We don't see Cy get the news, but he is sort of mute and shocked at work, and doesn't let himself feel anything because he says the work helps. His assistant steals the show, though. He bursts in on this conference and then lets out this awesome shrill sob that's pure Hollywood from *Mannequin*, and later tells Liv that he's tried everything he can to distract Cyrus and bring him moments ofbarbed pleasure, including deliberately doing things poorly/slowly/flat-out wrong. Ethan the Assistant is officially a delight. I am mildly concerned he is Cyrus's rebound fling.

## Beard Cues Yens

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-2.xml)

We get some flashbacks of James and Cyrus that are very low-commitment and filler-y, designed purely to make us sad at the end; James flirts with Cyrus and chides him for having a terrible neck beard (accurate); James goads Cyrus about whether he's gay; James and Cyrus give into their passion; James and Cyrus fight about Cyrus not coming out to Fitz. These memories are intercut into moments where Cyrus is trying to go about his day, but they're not very enriching compared to past flashback episodes; it's like the show was afraid we wouldn't care, except we actually DID care, because as dumb as James is, he was also a great foil and love interest for Cyrus. I thought we were going to find out James targeted him PURELY out of naked ambition -- why else would he cruise a Neck Beard? -- but it didn't really go that way. Or maybe it did and I just missed it because Their Great Love prevailed and also it was boring.

## Care: Send Ye Sub

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-3.xml)

Fitz is supposed to go court the gun lobby, but he worries that it's in poor taste now. Well, isn't that nice of him. It's decided that Mellie and Jon Tenney will go instead, so that they can have wild sex. I mean, so that the "optics" aren't bad on Fitz, but the campaign still gets out its message.

Sally Langston awesomely calls Fitz and tells him that she, too, will suspend campaign operations out of respect, and then hangs up and smirks to Paul Adelstein that she's all set to go romance the shit out of the gun lobby. And Mellie gets stuck in THE stuffiest hot pink dress. Do we really think Mellie would not have changed into something a BIT more somber, just for milling around the White House in Cyrus's orbit? Mellie is a lot of things, but unmoved by James and Cyrus is not one of them.

## Drub Ya Essence

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-4.xml)

Wombouflage #21: A vase in the Oval Office. All this makes every frame Olivia is in feel so CRAMPED and TIGHT. Which of course it is. Can't they just show Olivia eating her feelings?

## Buy Ace Redness

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-5.xml)

Abby has on a face full of vivid makeup, but she's so pretty that it's hard to complain about it. She can tell something is wrong with David Rosen, and chases him down the whole episode and eventually tells him that he needs to let her help carry the burden because she loves him. So he tells her that Jake shot everyone and left David alive simply to help cover the trail: He got Quinn and Charlie to find a man who'd confess (career criminal with no health insurance, dying, needs transplant, can get one in prison or something, which... that's sobering that his option for health insurance is to go to jail), and all David has to do is arrest him and close the case, but David has a conscience. Abby is like, "Your conscience is going to get blown out of you, ALONG WITH YOUR BRAINS."

## Burn! Ceased 'Yes.'

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-6.xml)

Liv, meanwhile, calls Jake and issues him an order to look into James's death and the missing people. Like he's her personal PI. Isn't that what Pope and Associates is supposed to be? And Jake says no. Why? Because he can, that's why. But also...

## Need Bury Cases

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-7.xml)

Also, Jake is sorry, but he can't come to the door right now. He's afraid that in his weakened condition (from digging a massive grave IN BROAD DAYLIGHT), he could take a nasty spill down into the pit and risk subjecting himself to further B-Ueller absences. You can reach his parents at their places of business. Have a nice day!

## Beery-Ass Dunce

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-9.xml)

Liv wants Huck to check the Daniel Deadlas file, so he does... and realizes that it's missing, and that there's a security camera in the back of the safe. This, of course, points him to Quinn, who took it, so he grabs his Toolbox of Terror and breaks into her place with the intention of turning her inside out...

## Crude, Base Yens

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-21.xml)

... and instead he tells her that he taught her better, so if she allowed herself to be seen, it's because she's still -- deep down -- a Gladiator. Quinn spits in his face heartily, and I apologize for how gross that is to see, but it's better than showing you what happened next, which is: THEY MADE OUT. A LOT. IT WAS HORRIFYING. It was kind of like watching someone's brother rub two dolls' faces against each other, except wetter, and made of actual flesh. These two have NO chemistry like that, and when they broke apart, Huck seemed freaked out and Quinn just sort of panted, and... I have no idea where that's going but it had better not be there, because ew. Quinn and Charlie are actually kind of great together. Such blase little killers. And Huck is really not someone I need to see experiencing lust at this point, because his performance is like watching a wet dragon try, and fail, to blow fire out of its nose.

## Ye Absurd Scene

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-11.xml)

Wombouflage #22: A lamp. Her head is coming out of an actual lampshade. It's AMAZING. Now THIS is what I signed up for; not this Blurry Props in The Foreground nonsense.

## Cure Ye Badness

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-8.xml)

Khandi Alexander is delicious. She sits there in a Terrorist Twin Set and denies to Adnan Salif that she actually IS a terrorist -- merely a mercenary of a middleman, who finds other people to do the job and therefore take the fall, while she escapes with fat piles of cash. Sounds like a great plan, except for all the terrorism. Adnan is like, '"Didn't you blow up a plane" of innocent people? And Khandi gives her a nonchalant little smile that says, "That was personal," the same way one would say, "That was just for shits and giggles." She is a Piece of Work. I am tired of everyone on this show being a terrorist, and I miss the Scandal Of The Week a little bit, but at least the supporting casting in these roles is compelling.

## Seen Beady Curs

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.13.jpg)

So Adnan and Khandi go to meet with a terrorist named Ivan, except Ivan sends his minions instead. So she calmly shoots one of them and then explains to the other that he should let Ivan know that she'd like to see him next time, please. Adnan looks vaguely freaked out by the fact that they're leaving a path of blood behind them, and [monkey's brains, though popular in Cantonese cuisine, are not often to be found in Washington, D.C](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088930/quotes?ref=go-fug-yourself.ghost.io).

## Rescue By Sedan

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.15.jpg)

Adnan puts on a GREAT coat, the kind of coat I would ALSO wear if I wanted someone to listen to me, and begs Harrison for help from one of his friends in the justice department. And then just when her panic has him on the hook, she backs off and says, "Never mind," and flees. I can't tell if this is just her trying to manipulate him into making a mistake, or if she was that easily spooked by The Insanity Of Mama Pope. If Adnan is a bad enough mother that Harrison was scared of having her back in the country, I can't imagine a little recreational murder would bum her out that much.

## Need Ecru Abyss

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.14.jpg)

Wombouflage #23: Jake's desk lamp. Liv goes to Jake to whine, as per usual, and then deduces/gets him to admit that B-UffaloWildWings is responsible for James's death and the ladies' disappearence. Liv, per usual, gets galled and delivers her disbelieving line the way she always does, where the first word has a big exhale on it, like it begins with an H: "HhhhYOUUUUU are responsible?" Olivia has an amazing ability to be taken by surprise by the same stuff, over and over again. Isn't that the tongue-in-cheek definition of insanity -- expecting a different outcome from the same behavior? Anyway, she and her tightly pressed bang wave are peeved, and she accuses him of turning into her father. Jake responds that HE didn't put a soldier in a torture hole and then force him to do anyone's nightmarish bidding; he did it HIMSELF and took on the horrors himself, and this makes him a better, more benevolent Command. Olivia is like, "HhhhWHAAAAT," and leaves. And the thing is, I have no pity for her because if it's SO AWFUL then maybe she should just up and move to Vermont her own damn self and do something else.

## Busy, Serene Cad

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-16.xml)

Disheartened, Liv calls Rowan and asks him to be her father for a second, and sniffles to him that there must not be any POINT to this if there are no white hats anywhere to be saviors. Joe Morton again earns his paycheck in his one scene, with one well-written speech that would never come out of anyone's mouth so eloquently in real life (but that's part of its charm), about how as Command he was responsible for the deaths of 183 people and he knew everything about each and every one of them -- who they were, who would mourn them -- before he gave the word, and that it affected him in ways too immeasurable to count. Basically, heavy is the head that wears the Command crown. But he tells her it's worth fighting to save EVERYONE and that's why he did it, and that's why she should do what she does; you need the white hats to render the darkness impotent. He reaches out and takes her hand and squeezes it. And there is a silent moment where Liv closes her eyes and drinks in the bonding, and then Joe says, dripping with tired scorn, "Are we *done*? Can I stop being *Dad* now?" And gets up and leaves. MIC DROP.

## Burn: Cedes A Yes

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.12.jpg)

Mellie teaches Jon Tenney to shoot so that he can woo the gun guy, and it works beautifully. But he needs a sweeter deal, so Mellie offers him a speech from Fitz. That seals it, and Fritzie calls Fitzie to congratulate him, and Fitz is resigned to accepting the deal but also impressed that they brokered it. Jon Tenney throws all credit to Mellie, and offers to let Fitz talk to her himself, and Fitz is like, "Nah." And THEN Cyrus convinces him to say SCREW IT and instead give a speech on gun control -- he was shot, James was shot; let some good political capital come out of it and steal some votes from Gov. Reston rather than from Sally's pocket. Fitz agrees, and Mellie and Jon Tenney find out... by watching Fitz on the news, just as Sally is celebrating her endorsement from Captain Pistol. Cold. Although they're still off on their trip, so how quickly, exactly, did Fitz move on that? Can you turn a ship that fast? Are we really supposed to believe he did anything presidential when he has so much making out on his schedule?

## Bar Educes Yens

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-18.xml)

Mellie and Jon Tenney hit the room service and the mini bar pretty hard, and get into a lively debate about gun control -- he's for it, and she isn't. And the body language here is pretty telling. Jon Tenney is sitting back against the chair, and Mellie slides into the floor, leans into him, laughs, throws back her head... she seems astonished when he picks up on her cues, but just look at her. She makes the Tower of Pisa look like it has stellar posture.

## Decree Any Buss

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-19.xml)

And if this doesn't say, "Come hither," then I officially no longer speak Hair.

## YES! Nab Seducer!

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-20.xml)

Needless to say, he goes thither. I will be sad when this ends in tears, in a way that Fitz/Olivia cannot move me.

## Decry Us! Be Sane!

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-22.xml)

LIv's team comes to her with its problems: David is wavering! Adnan is back and acting strangely! Quinn is in deep and needs rescuing! And instead of being like, "You know what? CAN I HAVE A MOMENT? Also, I quit," Olivia sits back with a little smile on her face, clearly recalling her father telling her that SHE is the White Hat Brigade and that she is Saving The World One War At A Time or somesuch, and gets back into action. I think she's forgetting somewhat that the end of that conversation sounded a lot like, "PSYCH! Smell you later, sucker."

## Abused Scenery

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.23.jpg)

Liv talks David into playing along with Jake's plan in service of the greater good -- lose the battle, win the war, or something -- while at the Lincoln Memorial. Note to the spies and assassins of this show: If you are trying to find people colluding, stake out every major monument in D.C. It's ALL about being seen together in public when you don't necessarily want to be seen together in public.

## Be Secure, Sandy

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.24.jpg)

The coda to Cyrus's story is that he chickened out of coming out to Fitz until the first State Dinner, at which he saw everyone dancing with their loved ones and went out and fetched James from the press line, led him into the room, and danced with him. I'm not sure I believe that gesture, nor that Cyrus would spring it on Fitz that way (even though Fitz is cool with it, obvs), but all this really does is serve to give us a memory of how much Cyrus loves James, and how much James impacted him. However, it didn't occur to me until this moment that I don't REMEMBER just how "out" Cyrus is. And if the world doesn't know he and James were an item, and they came out in front of this room full of people at a State dinner... how does the world NOT know? ALL these people are going to go home and tell two friends.

## Rub Eyes; Ascend

![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-25.xml)

We do get to see that Mellie had on great jewels and TOTAL Disney Princess Banana Clip hair at the dinner, so that's at least worth the trip. And for as surprised as Mellie looks, Fitz seems delighted, which is cute.

## Ye Scabs Endure

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.26.jpg)

So, lacking a new press secretary, Cyrus decides to go out there and make the announcement that James's killer -- a fiction he actually believes, thanks to Olivia -- has been found and arrested. And halfway through, prompted by the memory of dancing with James, he breaks down, and it's quite touching. You can see Cyrus realizing that the last good thing that tethered him to human morality has just been destroyed, and in a sense, by Cyrus's own hand. Like he believed that as long as he saw love in James's eyes, he'd find absolution every time, and now that won't come anymore. I will admit, I totally teared up when Jeff Perry crumpled, gasping for breath and for air and for a rewind button, and Fitz lovingly hugs him and then helps him off the dais. It's the nicest thing Fitz has done in a long time, and also, I realized right now that I might miss James. He was a nice occasional blast of fun for Cyrus. And WHAT of that child he bought for them? Oy.

## Busy, Re-Encased

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.27.jpg)

Wombouflage #24: The podium.

## A Bye; Crudeness

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14.28.jpg)

And finally, we learn that the shot to the back did not kill James instantly. He lay there -- I am not going to show you the close-ups because it was actually pretty freaky, how pale and bloodied and DYING he really looked -- and Jake squatted next to him and blithely apologized, then promised him that his daughter would be completely safe and untouched forever and that he could let go, and that death was coming, coming, coming... and then it comes, and it's really very sad. If they had just let Jake shoot him in the back and never made us see him, or see this, it would've been way less flagrantly manipulative... but the thing is, sometimes the flagrant manipulations are really effective, and it was nice that this show got me to feel something again other than irritation.

[Fug the Show: Scandal recap, season 3, episode 14In which Mellie shoots and scores, and -- despite some banal moments -- this damn episode got me misty at the end. This week's anagram: Cyrus Beene Sad.![](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/content/files/www-gofugyourself-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/scandals3ep14-1.xml)](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/fug-the-show-scandal-recap-season-3-episode-14-03-2014/)