‘Scandal’ Tweet-cap: Mediocrity Is Not an Option

Warning: This recap for the “That’s My Girl” episode of Scandal contains spoilers.

The apple does not fall far from the tree, poisoned though it may be.

Rowan once said that to Olivia, and his words have never been truer than in tonight’s season finale.

Olivia finally stands up to her father and frees Jake from his control — but in the end, does exactly what Rowan wanted. He wanted Jake as the VP candidate, and Jake becomes the VP candidate (albeit for Mellie, and not for Frankie Vargas). He wanted Olivia to assert herself and take the White House, and now there’s a fire lit under her to do just that, thanks to Cyrus’s machinations.

Look at what Olivia has done this season: She’s killed. She’s manipulated. She’s seized power. Huck advised her that the only way to beat Command was to become Command, and Olivia has done just that.

To defeat the monster, Olivia has become one herself.

Here’s a rundown of the finale:

Ticket to ride

Jake is still under Rowan’s thumb, doing his bidding, which includes poisoning Vanessa’s father so that she gets her inheritance. Poor guy — one minute he’s talking about how Jake is the son he never had, the next he’s dead.

Both the Republican and Democratic conventions are taking place soon, and that means Mellie and Frankie are frantically searching for vice presidential candidates. Olivia and the gladiators vet distinguished men with military backgrounds, while Cyrus approaches a surprise choice: David Rosen! David is naturally suspicious of Cyrus’s motives, because, well… it’s Cyrus.

Edison visits Olivia and passes along Jake’s message about getting him away from Rowan, and Huck is gungho to do it. But Olivia sadly says they have no way of doing it.

Rowan seems invincible right now. He meets with Frankie Vargas to offer a huge campaign contribution, and in return, he wants Cyrus to suggest Jake as the VP candidate. And if Cyrus doesn’t make it happen, Rowan threatens to tell the world about the fake shooting he set up in Harrisburg.

The gladiators decide on a VP for Mellie — Bill Wagner. Unfortunately, he admits that he dealt cocaine in college. Olivia decides they can clean up his past, and Huck and Quinn find Bill’s former partner and give him a new identity and life in Albuquerque. Hey, maybe he can switch to meth?

Abby meets with Fitz to go over details of his convention speech. Mellie has strict guidelines and wants final approval, and Fitz seems resigned to it all. He ponders writing his memoirs in Paris. Or retiring to Vermont. You know, like maple syrup Vermont. Maybe he’ll make jam.

Of course, maybe he won’t, because he finds Olivia’s hospital records on Abby’s desk! Uh oh… this is not great, Bob.

Escape plan

Cyrus visits Olivia and pleads with her to help him stop the whole Rowan/Jake VP train, because if Rowan gets his way, he’ll control the White House. And nobody wants that. He tells her the White House battle should be between the two of them, mentor and student.

Meanwhile, Mellie has read Fitz’s speech and blows her top. She confronts him at the convention center and points out that his speech is all about him. He defends himself, saying if he talked about her, the news cycle would make it all about their relationship.

She’s not having it, though. She stood by for too long, supporting Fitz as he talked about how great he was. Now, he’s still trying to talk about how great he is, when she’s the one in the spotlight. “I got here on my own,” Mellie declares. “This stage is mine.”

Olivia meets with Jake in secret, but she regretfully tells him she hasn’t figured out a way to get him away from Rowan. Then, Bill Wagner’s cocaine past comes out, and she has an idea: Put Jake on Mellie’s ticket!

She goes to the White House to tell Fitz about it, and despite Abby’s best effort to prevent it, the two talk. Fitz says he misses her… and not in “that way,” but just as friends, talking and listening to her. He is OK with Jake as VP and he’ll change his speech because Mellie wants him to. And he apologizes for not listening to Liv enough when they were together. “I support your choice, Liv,” he says. “Not that you needed it.”

Tom gives Cyrus surveillance on Michael and Ella’s whereabouts, and offers to take Michael out. Cyrus shakes his head and the two share a very tender moment. He doesn’t want their relationship to just be about killing people. Awww, sweet!

Olivia is trying to figure out how to get Jake out, when Huck gives her some advice. As Rowan always says, “You can’t take Command.” So you have to become Command. She marches over to her father’s house and informs Jake that he’s going to be Mellie’s VP. When they try to leave, Rowan puts a gun to Jake’s head but Liv just stares him down. Then, she dares her father to shoot.

“He won’t hurt you, you’re his son,” Olivia says. And Rowan can’t pull the trigger. He flinches! Olivia has saved Jake!

To the White House

Cyrus is thrilled that he’s not under Rowan’s thumb, but now they need a VP. He calls David, but apparently doesn’t offer him the spot. Hmmm. Then, at the Democratic convention, Cyrus breaks up with Tom out of nowhere. What happened to that honest, true relationship? Cyrus reunites with Michael. With no explanation! What is going on?

Over at the Republican convention, as Fitz gives his speech, Jake thanks Olivia for what she’s done. But now he doesn’t want to be on the ticket. He wants to buy a normal house, coach a normal JV baseball team, and have three normal kids with Olivia. But she balks.

“Mediocrity is not an option for me,” she says, shaking her head. Jake realizes that she saved him more to win against her father than to be with him. So, he chins up, and heads out onto the stage with Mellie.

Abby tells Olivia some stunning news: Frankie has selected his VP and it’s… Cyrus! No wonder he cut off his affair with Tom. Liv calls him, angry as hell. He used her to get rid of Jake, so that he could take that spot. And when she threatens him with Harrisburg, he retaliates with Andrew Nichols.

“One of us is getting to the White House,” he says.

A vengeful Olivia stalks back to her gladiators. She’s ready for war. Yes, one of them will get to the White House: “Me.”

At his house, Rowan smiles, watching the news. Everything he wanted has happened. “That’s my girl.”