(The Root) — Turns out Mellie got it wrong. "Flyovers" and "trailer trash" aren't the only ones who fall for a push-up bra and a mic. Olivia Pope's a sucker, too. Stuff the president in a penguin suit, put him in front of a podium and the girl's a goner.
In this week's episode of Scandal, "More Cattle, Less Bull," our OPA heroes found themselves far from the creature comforts of the capital, traveling all the way from their posh K Street digs to a cheap motel in Montana. And while Harrison, Huck, Abby and an increasingly creepy Quinn bribed yokels into keeping quiet about a client's dirty little secret, boss lady Olivia helped herself to some wine back at headquarters.
On the b-side, Liv's winter boo, Jake, won't give up his quest to take down her dad, the CEO of Murder Inc. Meanwhile, "worst lady" Mellie will do anything short of being human to get her husband re-elected, and chief of staff Cyrus is trying not to have another heart attack. In the middle of it all is Fitz, the president with penis problems, cracking jokes.
With this much drama swirling around her, Olivia could hardly get a word in edgewise. Whether she's on-screen or off, folks just can't seem to keep Olivia's name out of their mouths. Here are the top five quotes of the night that prove just how fast all roads lead to Liv.
1. "We got Poped, sir." —A White House minion when OPA shows up in Montana
Google, Facebook, Skype. You know you've made it when your name, your brand, becomes a verb.
Pope/pope verb 1. To practice the art of being a boss 2. To shut down any plot your enemies ever even dreamed off.
Try using "pope" in a sentence the next time you're being awesome.
2. "Olivia Pope, the gift that keeps on giving." —Cyrus after his political rival becomes a star thanks to Liv
He probably doesn't want to admit it, but Cyrus has got to be super proud of his former friend-cum-foe. The student has become the master. With Olivia spending most of the episode playing for the other team, Cyrus can't do much more than concede defeat. He taught her too well.
3. "You're everything to him, Liv." —Mellie admitting defeat
Oh, and add to that, "He's not alive when you're not here. He can't breathe when you're not here." That's when I blacked out for the first time in this episode. Basically Mellie finally recognized that the only woman who can make a man out of her husband is his mistress. Mind? Blown. What's next? Is Mellie gonna tell all the little kids of the world that Santa's real name is "Mom and Dad"?
4. "I don't play second fiddle to anyone, even the president. Good night, Olivia." --Jake, who's finally coming to grips with the Fitz of it all
Olivia just isn't Olivia unless she's loving up on some POTUS. They've got the kind of bond that's weathered ballot fixing. Noisy-boots Jake is no match. But he's got more tricks up his sleeve this Halloween.
5. "Liv's mom." --Huck after putting the last piece of the Operation Remington puzzle together
Have you ever screamed so loud that you actually scare yourself? That's what happened probably a billion times over last night when super snoopers Huck and Jake realized that Fitz, a former employee of the killing company B16, might could somehow be responsible for the death of "Liv's mom." Those two words broke my mind. And that was the second time I blacked out during last night's episode.
Helena Andrews is a contributing editor at The Root and author of Bitch Is the New Black, a memoir in essays. Follow her on Twitter.
Helena Andrews is a contributing editor at The Root and author of Bitch Is the New Black, a memoir in essays. Follow her on Twitter.