My Latest Scandal Rewatch Made Me Hate Olivia Pope

A couple weeks ago, I decided to rewatch Scandal for an Olivia Pope feature on my Top 5 HBICs blog. Before I wrote her section, I wanted a refresher on why I loved her, especially since she was ranked #1. Shockingly, the more I watched, the more I came to dislike her character and the show all together. Don’t get me wrong, the very first seasons were definitely prime but even then, I perceive everything differently now and her formidable status no longer overshadows her faults. For my HBIC blog, I rewatched multiple shows/episodes (How to Get Away with Murder, Dear White People, Gossip Girl, etc.) and that made me love the characters even more, but not with Scandal. I never saw this shift coming, and now I’m reflecting on what caused my perception of Olivia Pope to change.

The Glory Days

I admit, my title was clickbait, I don’t hate Olivia Pope, I just don’t see her character as likable anymore. The glorious Olivia Pope that once lived in my mind is no longer there, it’s as if the mask slipped. Now when I see Olivia Pope, I’m unimpressed and disappointed. Why are you allowing this man to squander your potential? Does being the other woman excite you? If love was her ultimate desire, she had a plethora of suitors to choose from, yet she willingly assumed the role of a mistress. There was a time when Olivia’s focus was on running Pope and Associates, the first seasons were excellent because of it. Witnessing her work her magic and fix the impossible was top tier entertainment, until the President became her only client. Scandal’s decision to sideline the Gladiators and focus primarily on the White House was the downfall of the show and Olivia’s character.

There’s no denying Olivia Pope’s everlasting fame as one of the most iconic female characters in TV show history. She’s highly skilled, resourceful, and powerful, along with an array of admirable qualities. However, it means nothing to me because she loses all her senses when it comes to men, or I should say ‘a man’. It was beyond frustrating to see the way she’d immediately fold for Fitz; all it takes is for him to say one word and she’d be weak in the knees, sucking in shaky breaths, cracks in her voice, tears even. She continuously surrendered herself to a (married) man that never deserved her. Fitz was truly her Achilles Heel, but one that could’ve been avoided had she invested in a good therapist. We’ve seen how awful her parents are, she has both mommy and daddy issues, no amount of wine and popcorn was going to fix that. If she had worked to heal and overcome her struggles, especially those related to self-esteem, I doubt she would’ve pursued a man who was not only unavailable but also as undeserving and boring as Fitzgerald Grant.

The Formidable Fool

I guess with a show called ‘Scandal,’ Olivia could never truly escape that man and his troubles. Their fate was sealed from the very start and her character just worked around the foolishness of it all. Fitz would always be included in her story, occupying her mind even when they’re not together. I’d just love to untie the strings that connect them so she can truly thrive and grow past all the drama and adultery. She has immense power and influence, and yes, he’s “The Leader of the Free World”, but we all know he’s just Fitz (yawn). He wouldn’t be there without her or those stolen votes, and he acts like a child at times, it’s appalling. The world was hers for the taking and instead of reaching her true potential, she sought out a (married) man for nearly a decade.

My first impression of Olivia Pope as a teenager was positive, but now that I’ve had a second, more mature look at her, she’s a disaster. She’s extremely hypocritical and the whole ‘Gladiators in Suits’ and ‘White Hats’ act is extremely corny (and tired). Look, I’m not expecting Olivia to be perfect or virtuous; typically I love female antagonists. However, even as an anti-hero she’s not the least bit likeable in my eyes. It was painful to watch, from the writing to the storyline and other aspects, but I honestly don’t care to get into it. I made it halfway into Season 3, and now that I have more clarity, I have no desire to continue. Upon further research (two tweets and a subreddit), I see that a few people who’ve rewatched share the same sentiments I expressed in this blog. It’s a shame this show aged poorly for me, but on a more positive note: Olivia’s wardrobe will always remain impeccable. Beautiful gowns, Olivia Pope. Beautiful gowns.

Not going to lie, this whole thing has me nervous about rewatching my favorite shows. It’s like finding out an old friend used to talk mad sh*t about you and now all your memories together feel tainted. However, a Revenge rewatch is calling my name and I have a feeling Emily won’t disappoint!