A Scandal In Review

Olivia Pope & Jacob Ballard

[neryskiras]

Ash Tyler in 2x03 - Point of Light

[roundabout02]

Where does one go to talk about Star Trek Discovery without having to plow through an ad nauseam amount of regurgitated complaints that the show isn't "Star Trek" enough? Whatever that means. Honestly, it is the same complaint: 'Sick of liberal Hollywood trying to force inclusivity and diversity down our throats.' 'Why did they change the Klingons look?' 'This iteration of Star Trek isn't like the others'...blah, blah, blah, VOMIT!

For the love of James Holliday and the Oasis, Shut.Up!

This iteration of Star Trek is not, and should not be modeled after its predecessors! Yes, should there be care in regards to continuance, absolutely? Will it always match canon? No, but name me a series of this show that hasn't violated canon from the original at some point or another! You can't! Why can't this iteration of the show be enjoyed on its own merits? Yes, it has a black female lead who is not a captain. And guess what? That's okay, and it's still interesting, because she is smart, persistent, emotional, awkward, loving, logical, arrogant, devoted and empathetic. Annnnd she can kick butt when she needs to! Yes, it portrays openly gay characters, but their sexual orientation is not what makes them interesting or vital to the overall narrative. Yes, the show is unapologetic in show casing women getting it done sometimes in less than orthodox, sometimes reckless, quirky ways.  (Ensign Sylvia Tilly, please and thank you) And while the show certainly doesn't hold your hand through every moral/ethical conundrum, it has certainly given the audience plenty of moments of quieter, personal moments to ponder.

Take for instance the Ash/Voq, Burnham/L'Rell in this latest episode. In the immediate aftermath of the revelation of what Lt. Ash Tyler endured at the hands of L'Rell, he wasn't given much time to process the trauma of it. The war was still raging, and there was no easy amendments even within himself since they were still moving from one crisis to another. In the finale, we see a glimpse of his inner reconciliation. He makes a decision to leave with L'Rell, imo, for a number of reasons. First, he realized that what Michael told him about the punishing, solitary work that comes with figuring out who you are after tragedy was unavoidable. Secondly, his comment to Michael about being able to see both sides of the issue in accessing Voq's thoughts perhaps he could honor the part of him that is Voq by aiding L'Rell. Thirdly, I think he felt since going back to Starfleet would do more damage than good, especially for any chance of reconciliation with Burnham, not to mention a constant reminder to Stemants regarding Hugh...he did what he thought was honorable.

Honorable or not, Ash Tyler does not belong in the Klingon world. The mistrust, disdain, arrogance, sexism and intolerance towards himself, L'Rell and to a certain extent the part of him that's Voq were always present in that culture even prior to his physical transformation. The instability of that volatile situation has taken its toll. It's evident in his conversation with L'Rell as she practically begs for his (Voq's) affection. It felt like one of many rebuffs towards her that was now coupled with the blatant disrespect from the other Klingons which he confronts her about. Looking at these gifs that realization of being misplaced--simply not belonging anywhere is evident.

I say all of this to say that I find his storyline truly fascinating, disturbing, tragic, complex and yet hopeful as he is once again tossed into a new situation. Yet, no one is discussing the intricacies of what's happened to this character throughout this series. Nor how his story is much like Michael's redemption arc in S1 where she had to figure out who she was after tragedy.

[wegotpopedsir]

What are your favorite fanfics and where can i read them? the olake ones

ok there aren’t a whole lot of olake fanfics especially compared to o/itz but there are some really good ones that I recommend!

@jamaicanheaux writes really well you can check all of her fics out -here!

-The Overhaul- probably one of my favorite fics, I love the characterization of Olivia and Jake i think its very realistic!

-Intriguement- a law school AU of Olivia and Jake by the same author of The Overhaul-they’re young and flirty!

-Strangers: the first part in a 4 part series on Olivia and Jake on the campaign trail with a scene with Mellie I love! (Friends pt.2) (Lovers pt.3) (And More pt. 4) 

-So Much More kinda picks up where the Campaign Trail series ^ left off

- The Normal, The Extraordinary: a 5x21 Olake AU with cute cameos from Fitz and Mellie giving advice!

- A New Chapter: Jake and Olivia reunion fic inspired by this post! QUINN YELLING AT OBLIVIOUS OLIVIA! DONUTS!

- You’re the Clock: HONESTLY its so positive and Olivia and Jake are so happy and in love!! 

-What if?: A cute, fluffy story if Jake and Olivia met before she met Fitz

-Hold Onto Me (‘Cause I’m A Little Unsteady): OLAKE SOULMATES!! QUINN BEING #TEAMJAKE

-Prediction for Season 7: ok if you’re in the mood to cry check out this fic its beautiful and heartbreaking and something i could see happening 

There are some more on fanfiction.net and AO3 that you can find its probably easiest if you sort by Jake also check  /tagged/fic on my page I have some more there!!

[roundabout02]

Thank you for linking these stories.

[roundabout02]

Pistols, Protests and Papa Pope

Can we all take a moment to appreciate the award winning performance Rowan put on for Fitz in motivating him to return to D.C.? Omygod, I giggled so hard at the shameless con job he put over on Fitz. The mere theatrics of holding that pistol (which was featured far too prominently during the episode not to resurface later) breathlessly sitting on the floor, projecting paranoia at Olivia realizing he was gone. Begging with tears in his eyes for Fitz to help him save Olivia. To move her...where exactly? Back into the light or out of his way, because like everyone else (mainly) Rowan is minus a power source, and he wants his power back. It was brilliant to play on his isolation and emotions in that big house minus Olivia. Between that performance and Marcus knocking him sideways verbally and physically, he put that unearned power to some use to help the statue protester. Now he is off to D.C to unsuspectingly become a distraction for Olivia in order for Rowan to reclaim B613.

[zalrb]

What did you think of Scandal 5b olake? Like I seriously didn't get what feelings they had for each other because one time they are having rough sex and flaunting their sexual prowess and another they are kissing and making tenderly (5x18). I'm a huge fan of their relationship and would like to know your thoughts on those episodes.

Well first of all I think 5b in general was a weird time for Scandal, it just got to this bizarrely dark place unlike anything we’d really seen so, at least for me, navigating the new tone of the show was a little confusing.

In terms of Olake, what I understand that relationship to be is Jake and Olivia are so attuned to each other that their dynamic is whatever it needs to be for Olivia at any given time, like when they first started dating, he was her do-over

then it was about standing in the sun

and then when she was going through all of her chaos with Fitz in 5a it was about a safe space

and this is a good thing but it can also be a not-so-good thing because there are times where it’s not what Jake needs it to be and those are usually the times when Jake steps away or calls Olivia out and Olivia surrenders her vulnerability to him, which is different than the vulnerability that naturally shines through when they’re together, when she actually surrenders, it’s a wilful accommodation of Jake’s needs.

So, when 5b started, Olivia was like Olivia Plus in terms of being emotionally distant and instead of it manifesting into the cold exterior she puts on, I think it just transformed into something that would be self-destructive promiscuity if it weren’t with Jake? She wanted to bury herself in something and someone, something that made her feel alive but also not allow her to think and Jake understood that and was there for her to do that with, which actually made it a safe space for her to bury herself in viscera. I think it’s also shown when Jake wants something more with her because he will do something like touch her face or try to kiss her forehead and Olivia almost allows him to but then slaps his hand away or takes a step back because that isn’t their unspoken agreement, their agreement is to be purely sex despite what feelings there may be between them. However, Jake appears to be in a relationship with another woman, seems to have a partnership with another woman, emotional vulnerability with another woman and that triggers an emotional response in Olivia, which is jealousy:

and I find it interesting that she was stalking them and had them under surveillance but she couldn’t articulate that what she felt was jealousy, that’s how out of touch with her own emotions she is until Jake made her confront her jealousy by showing up at her apartment and putting her in her lane. And the demonstrating of sexual prowess I think, while disturbing, was actually a demonstration of emotional and psychological understanding? Because Jake enters her bedroom and gets her off but it’s to demonstrate that he knows her, knows which buttons to push, which moves to make and when Olivia gets Jake off in the bathroom it’s to demonstrate the same thing, like no other woman will be able to do this, to read you like this, to turn you on like this, no one will ever get you the way I get you.

And then when they have their more vulnerable lovemaking by the end of season 5, it’s what their sexual prowess demonstration was just without the pretence, it’s both of them just finally admitting to each other that no one gets them the way they get each other.

[roundabout02]

Very well stated!

[fluffycakesistainted]

With the Olivia & Fitz plot, just read between the lines...

So I read this article by melliemotherfuckinggrant, and while I agree with the sentiment that Olivia and Fitz’s relationship is toxic and all types of wrong, and the reasoning for this, I disagree with the viewpoint on how it’s been written and portrayed on-screen. I understand her frustration, but I think the author unintentionally hit the nail on the head in her description of Olitz as Scandal’s “supposed love story”. She laments that the show “has yet to provide any outlook on this relationship that is not hopeful or positive” (hasn’t it…?) and that it’s “still portraying the…relationship as a positive, admirable love story” (is it…?). My answers to the parenthetical questions would actually be, Yes, and No, respectively. If one completely ignores the noise of the hardcore Olitz fandom, and some of ABC marketing’s and the entertainment media’s tendency to swoon over the actors’ chemistry, and just looks at the story that Shonda Rhimes & Co. have written, Olivia and Fitz’s relationship takes on a much different undercurrent. Again, I do understand the author’s and other viewers’ frustrations with seemingly the only problem being shown with the relationship is that he’s married. That the other issues within their dynamic are rarely stated in dialogue, or sometimes seem glossed over or ignored. Or that Fitz should really be getting told about himself a lot more, especially from Olivia. But what I’ve noticed about Scandal is that it’s more show, don’t tell. It’s a very wordy show, but not too many of those words are devoted to blatant spilling of feelings or emotions or confessions. And that’s if most of these characters can figure out how they truly feel about something, and if they have someone to tell it to, if they even want to talk about it at all. Most instances when this does happen it’s in bursts and monologues, but there’s no through-line of sincere, heartfelt conversation. It’s not that type of show. It tends to operate a lot in subtext and visual symbolism though. For instance, Olivia wearing white/light vs black/dark, depending on her mood or circumstances. Plus, the main character is not a big talker (outside of work), and has a complex about dealing with and expressing her emotions and personal feelings. This, of course, affects the portrayal of Olitz and seems to shine a more positive light on it since Olivia tends to silently “condone” Fitz’s behavior more often than she verbally protests it (And there were times when she has very verbally protested). But although Scandal doesn’t usually insert direct statements about Fitz’s behavior towards, not just Olivia, but multiple characters, into the narrative, Shonda’s implied that the way he’s written, particularly his aggression, is purposeful and consistent. Which leads me to believe that the combination of his actions and Liv’s level of reaction to them is a deliberate aspect of the story being told about them.

Keep reading

[fluffycakesistainted]

*3 Major Turning Points & 4 Major Phases*

We know that Olivia and Jake’s relationship has been constantly evolving and developing, taking on new challenges and circumstances from the beginning. But I’ve noticed that there’s been 3 specific major events that can be seen as 3 specific tuning points in their relationship status, especially concerning Liv’s behavior, attitude, and level of attachment towards Jake. Because Jake’s been pretty consistent since entering the show. He cares about and loves Olivia and wants to be with her. And that’s that. But anyway, these events seem to form clear demarcations between “before” and “after”, and separate Olake’s relationship into 4 major phases. As in, Liv was generally a certain way with Jake before a certain event happened, and then a threshold was crossed, and not only was there a noticeable change, but there’s pretty much no going back for her after it’s happened. Of course there are a number of other shifts and phases in between, but the ones I’m focusing on are what I see as the biggest shifts that caused more drastic, longer-lasting changes. 

Keep reading

[roundabout02]

@fluffycakesistainted...Is there a possible update to this lovely post in the works?

[witchwolfmouse-deactivated20190]

reality vs. fantasy

This post is most likely not going to be as coherent as my previous posts because I am fresh off the high of that season finale but did y’all peep all the Olake parallel scenes and how hard Olivia played Fitz which is exactly what her daddy wanted her to do in the first place? Truly, I am hollerin’.

Let’s start with the ‘family is a weakness’ line of Rowan’s that Olivia internalized and sat to the side not because it’s bullshit but because she refuses to let it get in the way of what she needs. This ~lone wolf thing that her father had going on for the longest time is not who she is. Olivia needs people; she needs a family and she’s worked hard to develop her own and that’s not something she’s willing to let go. Interestingly enough though she is willing to let Fitz go, and I believe it’s because he’s not her family.

Olivia’s family accepts all of her even the dark scary parts, the parts that are evil, the parts of her that are ruthless and vindictive. They accept her which is why it was laughable that Fitz ever believed Rowan actually wanted him as the head of B613. Totally in character of course but utterly laughable. I actually guffawed when I watched that scene because B613 is a shadow organization. Their hands are stained with blood, and they do what they have to in order to preserve the republic. They are duty bound and they serve at the pleasure of the nation not the president. Fitz, a man that was willing to go to war for love. A man who was willing and able to carry on a relationship with a woman whose father killed his child. A man who has time and again put the nation in jeopardy because of his ~feelings could never be Command. No one is ever given that position. It’s not handed to you; you take it. How could a man whose favor and beliefs shift with the changing of the wind ever be formidable or fortified enough to withstand the demands and costs of Command? So, yes, Olivia did save him but she also reaffirmed what and who he is to her. A fantasy.

Their kiss on the lawn of the White House was picture perfect. Pristine in its beauty. Honestly, the stuff of romance. I applaud the show for it even as I giggle behind my hand because it was a masterful move. It’s telling that Olivia yelled, “Mr. President,” instead of Fitz. It’s telling that she told him that she wanted him to stay but he couldn’t if he was going to be Command and that even after he rescinded the order, Olivia still sent him on his way. She said goodbye. It wasn’t an ‘I’ll see you later’ or ‘I’ll see you soon’ but goodbye because Fitz is not her family and he does not fit into her world. He loves an idea of who she is just like she loves an idea of who he is but unlike him, Olivia’s love is tied to the White House, the seat of American power. You vacate that seat and her love vacates itself with you. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t care just means she has different priorities.

That’s not how family works though. Family has a seat at the table. Family knows where the bones are buried. They may not know all of the story but they know more than others and that’s a weakness Olivia is willing to have. It’s also something that Jake understands and Fitz never could. Fitz wants to live in an idyllic vision of what he believes to be true about people. The world is black and white to him but he’s also willing to be led by his nose in situations that he doesn’t want to deal with. Olake believe in shades of grey. They head straight through the realities of life no matter how ugly they are. And Olivia has something with Jake that she’s never had in a partner; the ability to be herself, to not pretend. She doesn’t have to be better than she actually is. All of that darkness she has sitting inside her; all of that anger can be all the way at the surface. It can lash out; it can strike and Jake won’t turn away from her. He may not always like it and he will certainly tell her about herself if needed but he won’t turn away. Olivia knows this because Jake has actually seen her at her worst, and he’s still here. Talk about ride or die.

Olake were epic levels of partnership in the finale. They were clearly a unit. They moved together. It was beautiful to see because it felt like we came full circle. Olivia before the mirror in her gala dress reminded me of s2 when she was getting ready to go on a date with Jake and ended up backing out because of Fitz. Both times Jake came to her door except this time they stepped out together. But their door conversation also reminded me of the end of s4 when they put her father away and Jake told her to take what she is owed. But this time instead of her running off to Fitz, she and Jake go and take what she is owed together. She takes the White House and she reconstitutes B613 and becomes Command with Jake by her side. As she yelled to Fitz in that hotel room in s3, Jake being there is for her. It has been that way since she realized she loved him. It’s been that way since she brought him into her family. It continues to be that way. Olivia told her father she wants to share this world i.e. her world with him, and though she wasn’t talking about Jake, I do believe wanting to share her world also extends to him, too. I would not be surprised if those three have Sunday dinners together. Just like I’m not surprised that when Olivia truly and wholeheartedly stepped into being Command she chose Jake to be with her.

added: Also,I’d like to point out that Fitz and Olivia don’t work because she needs a partner. She cannot carry all the weight of the relationship on her shoulders and that’s what Fitz requires. He is the most high maintenance of men. She always has to be on. With Jake she can be every facet of herself which is what happens when you step outside the romance novel with the poorly constructed plot and back into the reality of what you need in a partner. Olivia and Fitz are like the epitome of love not being enough to sustain a relationship.

[roundabout02]

Love every bit of this!

[closeyoureyesinthesun]

What would you say is the most romantic thing Jake has ever done for Olivia?

This ended up being trickier to answer than I initially thought, assuming by “done for” you’re referring to actions, and not just words. Bc Jake has absolutely slayed some seriously swoon-worthy speeches to Olivia, but blatantly or typically show-my-love, win-her-over/back gestures? He honestly hasn’t done many of those. Largely bc he hasn’t needed to. Olivia is the one in their relationship who usually reaches out with such overtures. She’s the primary pursuer, instigator, and re-conciliator. Jake pretty much just makes his presence and his feelings known, and Liv can either take it or leave it. And 9 times out of 10, she takes it: I’ll help you get out of B613. Close your eyes. Have a key to my place. Be with me in every way a real boyfriend would. I’ll call you even though you told me not to. Live with me. Come to dinner at my dad’s house. I bought you imported beer. Let’s have dinner and talk every night. Dance with me. You free tonight? Look at me. Talk to me. You can’t marry her. Come with me.

And that isn’t even all of it. So between all of Olivia’s due diligence to keep Jake by her side in any and every way, he hasn’t had much time or need to do so himself. But, he has squeezed in 3 moments of “action” that I consider his most romantic. So to finally answer your question:

3x04 - When Liv was freaking out and admitted to Jake how scared she was, and he told her to lay her head on his shoulder, held her, comforted her, then proceeded to leave her irrevocably shook by promising “You’re not alone in this. I’m not going anywhere”. Signature Olake scene right there.

3x10 - I consider this a signature Olake scene, too. How could it not be? It’s the first time Jake told Liv he loves her. But I didn’t choose it bc of that, I’m still focusing on actions and gestures (and lbr, ever time Jake’s confessed his love it was romantic as all hell and those scenes deserve a meta all their own of me gushing over them). And Jake’s gesture in this “goodbye” scene was detaching himself from Liv after being appointed Command, bc he believed he wouldn’t be able to devote the time and attention to her he previously did, and probably also bc he was going deeper into the “underworld” and didn’t want Liv involved with him as he did so. Not only do I find this to be a highly respectable choice, but yes, a romantic one, too, in the level of care and consideration it showed towards Olivia. He didn’t want her to feel strung along or frustrated by only having access to part of him (we saw that in action in 5b. She did not like it, to say the least), when and if she could access him at all. So he gave her a clean break (of course, she didn’t leave him be for long at all, but it’s the thought that counts).

3x18 - Remember how Jake told Liv that she’s not alone in this, and that he wasn’t going anywhere? Well, I picked this last most romantic gesture bc it’s probably the most blatant single instance of Jake following through on that promise. Olivia was, once again, freaking out, and packing up to hightail it outta there. And Jake, after calmly listening to her vent, just goes, “Take me with you”, and proceeds to do a callback to himself by going, “You don’t have to be alone”. I don’t believe his offer had anything much to do with him, beyond the fact he had nothing obligating him to stay in DC. He simply didn’t want the woman he loved, who was in clear distress at the time, to go through it alone. And why should she, when he, having the recent track record of being her go-to shoulder to lean on, was right there and willing?

Oh season 3, demonstrating once again why you’re my favorite Olake season. Anyway, Olakers feel free to reblog with your own 2 cents about Jake Ballard’s romantical side!

[side note: I believe this characteristic of their relationship - Jake expressing his feelings mainly through words, that Olivia had never heard from a man before, and that he does back up, vs Olivia mainly expressing her feelings through actions and overtures, some of which Jake had probably never been on the receiving end of - is most likely by design. And if not, then it’s definitely a noticeable pattern.]

[roundabout02]

Hmmm...most romantic Jake moments. Two come to mind, but I am listing just one for now.

Most romantic moment for me isn't so much a romantic moment than an emotional presentation of the depth their relationship was moving into. Jake at Olivia's door asking her to let him in. In their own ways they tried to separate personal from professional, but failed terribly. The idea of standing in the sun had gone from just an idea to a necessity. This place they found themselves in was so foreign and dark. Uncharted terrain. Jake being far better with words was so completely clumsy in action here. 2am, drunk at her door...dude? No...just no. So, Olivia refusing to allow him in was the right call. His intentions may have been good, because he wanted to apologize...ask for her forgiveness. Something he normally never has to do.

[whodoesntloveagoodscandal]

I haven’t had much to say about this season of Scandal because frankly it’s been a little too all over the place for my taste. However, last night with the re-emergence of Olitz we were finally back in familiar territory. Granted, it was toxic, nauseating, ‘why are we here again?’ territory but it was familiar nonetheless.

I will admit that even though I hate Olitz with the heat of the burning sun that Olivia and Jake want to stand in I could always (begrudgingly) admit they had chemistry and spark. Compatibility? No. The ability to make each other happy? No. The willingness to put the other before everyone else? Well, one of them was willing but the other (*looks at Liv*) not so much. But I digress…

The point is no matter what I could always feel the the chemistry…until last night. I watched the episode the first time around and there was something off about it but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. So I watched it again today to see if I could figure out what it was (besides the obvious) that was bothering me and finally it clicked. And since it clicked I have a question to ask, are we going to talk about how Olivia played Fitz like a drum…or nah?

That’s what felt off about the whole thing. She played them, she played them ALL, but no one more than Fitz.

Keep reading

[roundabout02]

My mind keeps coming back to your blog entry, because it reminds me of something Cyrus said regarding Fitz a while ago being the greatest politician. Luring in with grand gestures and seemingly sincere words and actions to get what he wants. Nothing is ever truly sincere with him. It’s all for show. I never thought I would be suckered in by his act since I generally haven’t had much use for the character in quite a long while. But suckered in this season I was. Up until this episode I naively believed Fitz had grown up a bit. Compared to Olivia, Fitz and nearly everyone around her seemed to have moved on in a way. He and Mellie appeared to have developed an amicable relationship where they were actually friends. He appeared to have moved on from his obsession with Olivia to find a brand new, drama minimal relationship with Angela. He seemed content where he was in life and where it had the possibility in going. This episode reminded me that he is still the self serving, entitled, needy, misogynist he has always been.

Look how quickly he was to trash Mellie to Olivia when he thought she was lying. Olivia stepped in to defend her. Adding insult to injury, Angela is doing her job. Her due diligence in pursuing a lead regarding Olivia which she wasn’t under obligation to give him a heads up about and he first insinuates she is making this personal, because it’s Olivia. Then he completely disregards her life, her hard work to achieve becoming the FBI director by having her removed and shipped off to Omaha. Makes me wonder why he took up with Angela in the first place. Was it because he discovered she and Olivia knew one another? Was it his attempt in trying to make Olivia jealous? Because he sure threw Angela under the bus the moment he thought he had an in back into Olivia’s life. Then comes his grand gesture in “saving” Rowan and bringing him under his protection. The lure of indebtedness.

Like Rowan, Fitz outed himself regarding his obsessive need of Olivia. Rowan said without Olivia, he becomes extinct. Fitz said if she went to prison he loses her forever. Their interest in Olivia is about themselves, their selfish needs rather than any of Olivia’s needs or wants.

Can’t believe I got suckered in…

[mwendesunstar]

JAKE IN SCANDAL AT!

I can talk for weeks about this episode! Another thought:

The results of the Olitz break-up in S5 lead many Olitzers to rest on misconceptions about it’s demise. Olivia was blamed for everything, and if she’d only given them a chance, she would have been very happy in wedded bliss with Fitz. They greatly believed that Jake and her father’s presence in her life pulled her out of the light to help create the Olitz problems and prevented her return to Fitz. As we know, Shonda has been shedding a hard light on the core of people’s nature and the nature of their relationships. It seems to me that part of the motivation for this is to finally address misconceptions, and this 100th episode did just that. Shonda gave Olitzers all that they have been begging for and complaining about, WHILE staying true to her own intentions for the story.

Shonda presented our Scandal characters at their core being the exact same people shed of Defiance; drastic, external lifestyles didn’t alter that. However, the one important person missing in Olivia’s what if imagination was Jake. Yes, he had a moment with Fitz, BUT, for Olivia’s ride-or-die partner in real life, who has been by her side the entire time, a man she shanked for and boldly faced her father as COMMAND for, for the very first time in her entire life, it was interesting that he was seemingly a blip in his own partners thoughts, nearly nonexistent. In a promo released the day of the episode, where tons of scenes were flashed, it ended with Jake and Olivia talking about standing in the sun, together. We also saw the island scene of them with Olivia wearing her natural hair proud and free! Now, the episode opened up with Olivia caught between idealism - Fitz, and Jake - realism. Fitz says, it’s my way or the highway in choosing Cyrus, but Jake doesn’t give her a rigid ultimatum, he simply provides his OPINION to his partner, which motivates Olivia to think on her own and eventually come to her OWN decision/opinion in choosing Cyrus. Even though we are witnessing the struggle between the men on the decision of Mellie or Cyrus in the WH or how to remove the power players, the underlying decision of Olitz and Olake is THERE! Shonda put this there purposely. She is always speaking on this struggle since it’s a great metaphor in highlighting the struggle between Olivia’s own two sides of idealism and realism, power and normal. Olitz and Olake reflect Olivia’s own personal journey. And, here we are at the decision episode.

So, how does this underlying decision transfer into Olivia’s thoughts after both men leave the office, when Jake is seemingly a blip in it? So little a blip, that you might as well say he was not there at all, not even interacting for a Nano second with Olivia in some random but telling path cross or something. WELL, I believe Shonda DID have Jake all up and through there in hidden, most subtle ways, functioning under the radar of Olitzers who would find a way to blame Jake for any negativity expressed between Olitz, missing Shonda’s point in wanting us to focus on Olivia and Fitz’s OWN problems. Not problems caused by outsiders or other external factors, but their OWN internal problems. But, if we can watch closely with an open and unbiased eye, we can see Jake is subtly there. Shonda has to find a way to isolate Olitz in allowing people to see the truth of the fantasy allowed to run its course, but also stay true to her desire to speak on Olivia’s internal struggle, mirrored through Olitz and Olake. You can’t have anyone else who is questionable around the uber fantasy play out, giving viewers the opportunity to attach blame when they see things don’t work out as expected between the love birds. Scandal media history has faithfully shown, it will happen since Olitz is simply too much soul-mates in love not to be fabulous, lol!!! At least, not to experience a very happy marriage filled with being IN LOVE. 

So, how does Shonda accomplish all this?  1. Give the uber fantasy, bells, whistles and all in a wedding mirroring Fitz’s uber romantic proposal. 2. Put Olivia in a beautiful, traditional, princess wedding gown, the likes of which many have witnessed in photo shopped images of Oliva in wedding gowns on social media. 3. DON’T bring in any nay sayers to the union, and DON’T delay the dream! They rushed to the dream: Fitz is married, looses presidency, divorced, BAM, at Olivia’s door in no time ready to marry her, they have sex, wedding bells are ringing. Give it to them, and give it to them now! 4. Briefly, and realistically, show her father by being at the wedding, unhappy, to eventually slither out the door, never to be in Olivia’s presence again. Eli is not an issue. 5. Mellie has nothing to say until the wedding is already underway. She’s miserable, kicked to the side, can’t believe he did it, it’s over. 6. Jake is NOWHERE in plain sight. That’s it. It’s smooth Olitz sailing from her on. As one Olitzer tweeted, it was so wonderful, everything they always wanted, in the beginning. 

So, where is Jake’s hidden presence? In 3 major places: 1. Olivia’s natural hair (which many of you talked about). 2. Marcus 3. The fact that Olivia did not want to travel like a rock star and live in some “huge and expensive” (as she put it) Vermont like home somewhere on Mt. Olympus, depending on Fitz’s money. Fitz wanted to blow off work and play in the upper crust sandbox, but Olivia wanted to go to work! Money is no object, Fitz informed her, but Olivia wanted normal living, working, earning, and making things happen for herself. She did not want to be a kept wife riding her husband’s riches. Jake left Olivia’s apartment to establish his own base in S4 since he told Liv he will not be a kept man. She liked her own, modest apartment. Olivia wanted NORMAL; what is considered mediocre to Fitz’s way of life. The scene when Abby shows up to Olivia’s cheap looking office area; you can tell Abby looks down on it a bit, but Olivia didn’t mind it at all. 4. The OLAKE SEXY/TANGO scene slightly adjusted for Olitz! It was flipped for Fitz to show up in finding Olivia at her door when it was Jake at the door, Olivia displays the same brush off attitude she gave to Jake - playing hard to get. She acts as if she doesn’t care, and you think that Jake is going to leave on the elevator the way Olivia let the elevator doors close on her, but at the VERY last surprising minute, Olivia flips in rushing to both men! Fitz even lifted Olivia up with her legs wrapped around Fitz’s waste, just like with Jake, ending with the door pound of Olivia’s back against it! It was a nod to JAKE and Olake! Another nod to Jake was Olivia wearing a leather jacket, just like Jake! I remember looking like, wow… Olivia in a leather Jacket. It felt odd but I liked it! But, I now realize it was a nod to Jake.

Elaborating just a bit on #1, the natural hair. We all know Olivia only wore that with Jake. There was one time she was in the shower with Fitz when her hair naturally wet and hanging due to the water, but I noticed that, when Cyrus burst into the room to find her and Fitz the next day still in bed, it was all straightened out. She put that flatiron to it before going to bed with Fitz since I don’t believe she felt comfortable with her hair dry, a bit puffier, and not hanging with Fitz. How many women has been with their boyfriend overnight, and you make sure your face and hair are on point while in the bed with him! I can see her doing her hair in private while Fitz is in bed waiting or watching television, whatever. But, with Jake, she has no problem wearing it natural and free. The natural has always been associated with Olake.  Lastly, to elaborate a bit on #2, Marcus. Marcus represented Jake in being a partner next to her that she seems most equal to, compatible with. They even had Marcus dance with Olivia! They seemed so compatible and happy around one another that Fitz accused her with sleeping with Marcus. Fitz felt threatened by Marcus just like he felt threatened by Jake in real time. Abby even looks at them questionably when she finds them dancing together; she came to discuss Olivia being a better wife to Fitz. Abby admitted that Fitz was a disaster, but because he is her husband, she believes Liv should try. I felt the Jake qualities within him so much. Liv even did that giddy jumping up and down like when she saw that Jake was about to dance with her. I remember thinking before likening him to Jake that, if Liv weren’t married, I can see her and Marcus getting together. Jake was by her side the whole time in the AT, quietly, as usual. Had Jake played in Marcus’s position, he’d have just been allocated some of the blame for the poor marriage. With Marcus put in the equal partnership-like role, people won’t associate them as harboring romantic feelings, since Marcus and Liv have none of that vibe in real time. He loves Mellie.

[roundabout02]

Jake to Olivia:

“You know why you’re so mad at me? Because you like me.” Oh, Olivia…you just can’t shake that tramp, can you? 😁

Boy…you’ve created quite the firestorm with this blog entry. What’s that saying, “A hit dog always hollas.’ You must have mowed down a pack of them. 😊

I was thinking about all the hub bub this episode stirred up, and while I still have some misgivings about the avenue the writers chose, a few things regarding the continual shipping debate stands out to me.

First, it only makes sense Olivia would not imagine Jake in her world because there would have been no reason to have been tasked by either Rowan or Fitz since Defiance never transpired. That in itself isn’t some indictment of Jake’s lack of importance or value in Olivia’s life. Secondly, it also makes sense Olivia would imagine a life with Fitz. That,too, wasn’t an indication of his importance in her life as we came to see. However, an important thing to note is once the election was over, Olivia chucked Fitz the dueces via email and got on with her life. Her very normal life where she was dating and starting a business with a great partner in Marcus. It wasn’t until Fitz showed up at her door that Olivia seemed to give the man a second thought. Again, free of the shame or burden of taking up with a married man naturally she agrees to marry him. All is right with the world…right? She loves him. He has made this grand gesture in proclaiming his love for her…it’s all good. Wrong. It doesn’t take long to realize the two led completely separate lives. Outside of the bedroom their lives didn’t appear to interact at all. Olivia wasn’t the high powered, formidable Olivia Pope, but she was happy running her store front business trying to shape policy.

Fitz minus the presidency was well, still Fitz. Someone Olivia realized she wasn’t truly feeling. So much so she has divorce papers drawn up and was ready to chunk him the dueces once again.

Those truths weren’t colored by whether one believes Olivia wearing her natural hair throughout the episode or the leather jackets or even the comfort level her and Marcus shared were nods to Jake permeating her subconscious thoughts. They stood alone in showing what reality within the narrative has already shown us…Olivia and Fitz don’t work fundamentally simply because they don’t. With no Rowan or Jake in the picture Olivia still came to the same conclusion about Fitz…he is ineffectual. And even in her less than formidable AT self, he simply did not match her fly!

“Maybe I’m your do-over. So close your eyes.”

;-)

[duubellay]

[roundabout02]

This scene tho! That break in Jake’s voice when he says, “Wanting you,” as he ducks his head and looks away…*flatline*

[witchwolfmouse-deactivated20190]

@roundabout02: But wouldn’t that be working against his own interests since he didn’t want any parts of this mess. And when has Jake ever been vengeful towards Olivia? 

We must bear in mind that three months have passed since Jake and Olivia had their ‘put the tie on’ moment. We don’t know what has transpired since then or where they stand with one another. I think it’s notable the two didn’t have a scene together not to mention Jake’s absence throughout the majority of the episode. It looks suspicious. Granted it could be a red herring, but I’m willing to indulge speculation because I’m interested in seeing where this goes.

Jake helping Olivia get the White House wouldn’t be working against his interests if those interests changed in the past few months. Clearly something has gone down because Vanessa is not only drinking enough to be sloshed but she feels comfortable enough doing it in front of the campaign staffers. She really and truly does not give a damn. I’d make the leap that’s because she knows that not only is she in a loveless marriage but also that Jake is in love with Olivia. Vanessa was seeing hints of that before her wedding, and I bet it has become glaringly obvious by now.

If Jake’s interests haven’t changed then he could have still done it to save Olivia, in this case from herself. The level of desperation pouring off Olivia in the premiere was alarming. She nearly threw a tantrum because she lost and there was something about her that reminded me of the glimpse of evil we saw in her face in 5x07. Olivia objects to murder when it comes to getting what she wants, but she isn’t above using someone’s death to get it. Honestly, Olivia can be a bit terrifying when it comes to getting her way, and while I do think it’s to serve the good of the republic, I also think that she believes that she is what is good for the republic regardless of what puppet or scheme she has to use to grab power.

But I do think there’s room to speculate on whether or not Jake actually did sabotage Olivia. Jake has been vengeful toward Olivia exactly two times in the series. The first was when he was Command. Olivia shut down his network which made it impossible to communicate with his B6-13 agents in the field and because of her he lost a bomb that was intended to assassinate the President and would cause hundreds of deaths. That resulted in him busting into OPA, slamming her into a door, and holding her there by her neck. The show, to this day, has not brought it up but it is something that happened. The second time was 5x07 when he thought Olivia was directly responsible for Elise’s death. Jake didn’t put his hands on her, but he was very predatory and antagonistic. I do think he’s capable of lashing out at her in a less than savory manner. However, I don’t think it’s something that would end their relationship.

Olivia and Jake are not healthy neither as individuals nor as a couple. They didn’t start healthy, so I don’t look at them as two people who will act reasonably when provoked, perceived or otherwise. I love this ship because the two of them can be good to one another. They can work on themselves and be better to each other. But I also recognize that they have a darkness about them. Olivia is willing to forgive murder. We’ve seen her do it. I’m pretty sure that if Jake actually had killed Fitz’s son, Olivia would have moved past it the same way she moved past him killing James. Murder is not a deal breaker for her. Jake’s motive for killing Vargas, if he did it, could throw a wrench in the ship long term, but I doubt that. It depends on how they frame it. And as @fixernspy pointed out, it could bring their 5x08 conversation that got interrupted back to the forefront.

And since I’m already several paragraphs deep into this, there’s also the possibility of Jake not being involved in this but being accused by Olivia anyway which could still bring 5x08′s convo back to the table and they could work through why Olivia even thought he’d do that regardless of whether it was to help or hurt her. There’s so may ways to go and now I feel compelled to ask @fluffycakesistainted for her thoughts because I’m intrigued to see where she’d take this if she’s inclined to weigh in. *holds out the mic*

[roundabout02]

Continuing my thought:

They aren’t in a healthy place with one another, and it’s impact is seen in how miserable they both are. Olivia looked like she is on complete edge ready to topple over. Jake just looked defeated. Resigned to this misery of navigating through the corruption of DC. It’s taking it’s toll. Mellie said it best, “This place! I’ve lost my son in this place, my marriage!” It’s taken so very much from her personally. Olivia may have been breed for tbis world, but it is bound to strip her of what makes her so unique if she continues in this vain.

[witchwolfmouse-deactivated20190]

the beginning of roundabout02′s thoughts: You know, you’re right. Without further information on what has happened over the course of the past few months, it’s impossible to know where they stand with one another. Personally, I think Jake’s disappearance is a red herring. The blatant emphasis placed on it makes me think while we should question why he disappeared, it doesn’t necessarily equate to his killing Vargas. Also, agreed, they were not in a healthy place with one another at the end of S5. 

Yeah, I can see how Jake’s noticeable absence could be a red herring. I’m not wed to the idea of him being responsible or somehow being a part of Vargas’ killing. It was just my initial gut feeling, and I’m interested in the way this conversation has evolved since that first post.

I’m not sure if we’re ever going to leave DC since it’s the seat of American power, and Olivia is all about being the most influential force amongst the most influential people. What she needs to do is to find a way to channel her ambition in a way that’s healthy. If Jake/Olivia are going to be able to move forward together then they are going to have to find a happy medium. I still stand by my opinion that it wasn’t right for him to ask her for ‘normal’ in the way that he was asking for it. I have no where near the power and influence Olivia wields, but I, too, was offended and wanted him to go on somewhere with that nonsense. Jake’s whole speech was very cis white male. America is overrun with white mediocrity. Olivia is a black woman, there is no room for mediocrity in her life. If they are going to be ‘normal’ then it has to be their normal whatever it looks like and it definitely doesn’t look like an ugly house in a community with mediocre people and a mediocre school district. Jake can miss both me and Olivie with that bs.

[roundabout02]

I was recently talking to a friend about Olivia's much needed balance between thirst for power and whatever normal looks like for her. The woman we were reintroduced to in the premiere is out of whack. You could see the toll the campaign has taken on her when she glanced over at an equally miserable Jake removing that glass of champagne from a truly miserable Vanessa. How does she do that? What set of circumstances propels her in her journey to that realization...I wish I knew. However she gets there, and I believe she will should be exciting

[witchwolfmouse-deactivated20190]

@roundabout02: But wouldn’t that be working against his own interests since he didn’t want any parts of this mess. And when has Jake ever been vengeful towards Olivia? 

We must bear in mind that three months have passed since Jake and Olivia had their ‘put the tie on’ moment. We don’t know what has transpired since then or where they stand with one another. I think it’s notable the two didn’t have a scene together not to mention Jake’s absence throughout the majority of the episode. It looks suspicious. Granted it could be a red herring, but I’m willing to indulge speculation because I’m interested in seeing where this goes.

Jake helping Olivia get the White House wouldn’t be working against his interests if those interests changed in the past few months. Clearly something has gone down because Vanessa is not only drinking enough to be sloshed but she feels comfortable enough doing it in front of the campaign staffers. She really and truly does not give a damn. I’d make the leap that’s because she knows that not only is she in a loveless marriage but also that Jake is in love with Olivia. Vanessa was seeing hints of that before her wedding, and I bet it has become glaringly obvious by now.

If Jake’s interests haven’t changed then he could have still done it to save Olivia, in this case from herself. The level of desperation pouring off Olivia in the premiere was alarming. She nearly threw a tantrum because she lost and there was something about her that reminded me of the glimpse of evil we saw in her face in 5x07. Olivia objects to murder when it comes to getting what she wants, but she isn’t above using someone’s death to get it. Honestly, Olivia can be a bit terrifying when it comes to getting her way, and while I do think it’s to serve the good of the republic, I also think that she believes that she is what is good for the republic regardless of what puppet or scheme she has to use to grab power.

But I do think there’s room to speculate on whether or not Jake actually did sabotage Olivia. Jake has been vengeful toward Olivia exactly two times in the series. The first was when he was Command. Olivia shut down his network which made it impossible to communicate with his B6-13 agents in the field and because of her he lost a bomb that was intended to assassinate the President and would cause hundreds of deaths. That resulted in him busting into OPA, slamming her into a door, and holding her there by her neck. The show, to this day, has not brought it up but it is something that happened. The second time was 5x07 when he thought Olivia was directly responsible for Elise’s death. Jake didn’t put his hands on her, but he was very predatory and antagonistic. I do think he’s capable of lashing out at her in a less than savory manner. However, I don’t think it’s something that would end their relationship.

Olivia and Jake are not healthy neither as individuals nor as a couple. They didn’t start healthy, so I don’t look at them as two people who will act reasonably when provoked, perceived or otherwise. I love this ship because the two of them can be good to one another. They can work on themselves and be better to each other. But I also recognize that they have a darkness about them. Olivia is willing to forgive murder. We’ve seen her do it. I’m pretty sure that if Jake actually had killed Fitz’s son, Olivia would have moved past it the same way she moved past him killing James. Murder is not a deal breaker for her. Jake’s motive for killing Vargas, if he did it, could throw a wrench in the ship long term, but I doubt that. It depends on how they frame it. And as @fixernspy pointed out, it could bring their 5x08 conversation that got interrupted back to the forefront.

And since I’m already several paragraphs deep into this, there’s also the possibility of Jake not being involved in this but being accused by Olivia anyway which could still bring 5x08′s convo back to the table and they could work through why Olivia even thought he’d do that regardless of whether it was to help or hurt her. There’s so may ways to go and now I feel compelled to ask @fluffycakesistainted for her thoughts because I’m intrigued to see where she’d take this if she’s inclined to weigh in. *holds out the mic*

[roundabout02]

Continuing my thought:

They aren't in a healthy place with one another, and it's impact is seen in how miserable they both are. Olivia looked like she is on complete edge ready to topple over. Jake just looked defeated. Resigned to this misery of navigating through the corruption of DC. It's taking it's toll. Mellie said it best, "This place! I've lost my son in this place, my marriage!" It's taken so very much from her personally. Olivia may have been breed for tbis world, but it is bound to strip her of what makes her so unique if she continues in this vain.

[fixernspy]

Olivia/Jake + Rowan | He Owns You. He Owns Me Too.

[roundabout02]

This just breaks your heart. Yet, there is a strange beauty to it as well.

[fluffycakesistainted]

Has anyone else ever wondered if a tiny part of Liv shut down B613 because of her conversation with Jake in 3x16? You know, after the 'I asked you to save me, and you said no' conversation. My God, my heart. Someone include an appropriate wall slide, chest clutching gif for this please.

Well, yes and no. No to 3x16, because she had already decided to shut down B613 in 3x14. But yes, its effect on Jake was her catalyst for this decision. And it wasn’t a tiny one, either, it was pretty much her main motivator. So here’s a chest-clutching gif as per your request:

Liv’s been horrified and disgusted by B613 ever since she found out it existed. But did she go on a dangerous all-out crusade to shut it down? Um, no. When she saw what her dad and B613 did to Jake between seasons 2 and 3, did she set out to end it then? Still no. In fact, that whole experience scared her into submission even more for a while. Then she found out what Jake did in “No Sun On The Horizon” (perfect episode title, btw) and all of a sudden it’s “Brick by brick, we’ll tear that building down until there’s nothing left but a hole in the ground.” Like whooaa, ok. 😬

We know she was already pissed about Jake being made Command from when she railed on Fitz about it. But then she accepted it, found a way to keep him close (if you like the interpretation that it was a partial, maybe even subconscious, motivation for Jake the fake boyfriend), even used his position to her advantage (“little errands”, keeping tabs on Rowan, watching out for Quinn). Plus, she really believed he would at least take B613 in a different, better, Rowan-less direction. And then, the man who just one episode prior asked her to save him from that place, committed a triple cover-up murder, and one of the victims was her own friend. Now Jake wasn’t just a deployed gun, a toy soldier, but the one who made the call. He was fully converting over to the dogma, “the B613 in your brain.” (Speaking of 3x16, after she asked him if, basically, he could hear how crazy something like “I would never kill your friends” sounds, if he could hear the B613, he admitted that, “Yeah, I can hear it.” And that’s when she starts to move closer to the door. Because, the way he said it, yes, he can hear it, and he wishes he didn’t. He begged her to save him from it, and she didn’t, and it took him. Yikes, this scene! 😫) This was what Olivia was afraid of when she devastatingly admonished Fitz, “You know what that place is like, you know what it does, and you made Jake, Command.” And one more time for emphasis, because I love this scene:

She was soooooo pissed…

Again, she later resigned herself to the comforting belief that Jake as Command would be different. And, technically, he did operate differently, just not in the ways she would have wanted. I don’t know what all she thought Jake could possibly do tho, considering B613′s very specific purpose, but I guess knowing that at least Rowan wasn’t in charge was enough. The last thing she ever would’ve wanted, probably actively dreaded, was for Jake to become her father 2.0, as she pretty much screamed at him in their fight in 3x14. And the whole first part of her tirade just screams of the denial she was in. Seriously, “Who put you up to this?”? Ummm, he’s Command. No one puts him up to anything. But apparently when she found out B613 was behind it, her mind went to, Someone made Jake do this. He would never choose to do this. That wasn’t even in the realm of possibility for her until she confronted him. Then there’s these moments where you can actually see it finally click for her, the realization that it was indeed him, all him. So apparently this is what it looks like when Liv’s biggest fears come true right in front of her face:

Considering her fear and anger at the thought of Jake becoming like her father, it’s kind of interesting and ironic that it’s Rowan she goes to after this, and Rowan who’s the first trigger to her ultimately forgiving Jake. And there’s something I noticed while skimming thru some of these scenes before answering this. So Liv reaches out to Rowan after flipping out on Jake and she’s all in her feelings and questions what the hell the point of it all is if everyone she loves (coughcough) “is a monster”. When he finally asks her “What happened?” that has her spinning out like this, she tells him about Sally Langston murdering her husband, and that “Jake killed 3 people to cover it up…” And Rowan goes, “Oh, that.” And I love this, and how he said it. Like, Of course, it always goes back to your precious Jake, doesn’t it? He’s always been pretty insightful about their relationship, even when they themselves weren’t. Sally killing her husband was crazy and awful, but Liv’s honestly dealt with worse, and Sally obviously wasn’t one of the people in her life she was stressing about. James’ death, if it happened any other way, if it actually had been a carjacking, would’ve made her sad, not wig out on an existential crisis about no one in her life being “worth saving” (…saving. Which just so happens to be her and Jake’s thing.) So anyway, that’s when he goes into his “183” defense of Jake monologue. Which starts Olivia on taking a bit of the blame off of Jake, and placing it on B613 in general. As she later says to David, “Jake Ballard did what anyone in his position would have done. The problem isn’t Jake, David. It’s B613, and the fact that it even exists.”

So in conclusion, yes, for Olivia personally, B613 finally went one step too far by corrupting her Jake (Abby literally calls him “Your Jake” in 3x14, ha), her formerly sun-chasing Jake, so for that it had to go. 😊 Maybe she didn’t think about it in terms of saving him, exactly. But she’d be damned if that place continued its homicidal underground reign with her Jake, of all people, at the helm. And her dad did say that the point of her was

And drag Jake away from B613 and back towards their sun she surely did, whether it happened the way she planned or not (it didn’t), whether he liked how she did it or not (he didn’t). ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[roundabout02]

Oh, goodness the door scene! Catches me in the feels every. single. time! They were drowning in misery. When Jake said, "I don't have a home!" and his voice broke...chile!

[fluffycakesistainted]

Can u pls explain the significance of the flashbacks in 4x22? Cos I'm still confused. My interpretation was she either wants to be by herself in the sun or she does want it w/ Jake but she isn't ready and/or feels suffocated w/ events until then so she goes to her 'safe' choice. Plus, the song choice after and sunny referenced in a previous flashback, both w F*tz, I'm a bit unsure. Cos my theory sort of supports me; she wants the sun w/ Jake but isn't yet ready to admit it. Also, thanks 4 meta.

Ummm, I can’t say with certainty what the significance of those flashbacks were, but the island ones seem to be emblematic of a time when she was at her happiest. I don’t think she started having those flashbacks until after the kidnapping, so they were triggered by trauma (her PTSD) or sadness (Jake leaving her in 4x22). Another thing that might point to this reading is that the red door she was locked behind was spliced in with the happy images.

What I know for sure tho is that there’s no way in hell Olivia wants to be by herself or without Jake in “the sun”. The show, and Olivia herself, have made it very, very clear that “the sun” is for them, both of them, and only them. Of course she wants the sun with him, she told him in 4x09 after he told her he loved her. If he’s not there, it’s not “the sun”. They are each other’s sun. She also blatantly agreed to be with him and only him in 5x18, so I’d say that was also admitting it, along with “I’m ready to be happy.” So that’s at least twice. Her letting him know she wants to be with him isn’t one of their issues anymore. Now, vocalizing her feelings about why she wants him, that’s another story…

And she may have been stressed and suffocated for a lot of s4, but not at the very end you’re referring to. They had just gotten Rowan locked up, she was feeling relaxed and content, and was totally ready to kick it with Jake at her place that night and probably into the morning. So no, her feeling “suffocated” had nothing to do with going to Fitz. And while you’re right that she has historically let herself get dragged back to the familiarity and “safety” of the kind of “love” she had with Fitz and thought she deserved, like dream!Abby mentioned in Liv’s dream earlier that season, there was no real choice in going to Fitz in 4x22, it was kind of made for her, by Jake. Yes, she decided to do it, but, as is usually the case, she didn’t instigate it, she was steered into it. And between her having PTSD-induced flashbacks right before, and Mellie later point-blank asking her just what the hell she thought had happened between her and Fitz as to why Mellie was even gone, the show has indicated that Liv wasn’t thinking any kind of sensibly when she waltzed over there. Plus there’s the song choice, which was deliberately used to feel off as hell, which I wrote about in this convo soon after that finale aired. It’s subtle, and confusing at first, but pretty clever once you make the connection. 

[roundabout02]

When I saw this scene being discussed again the other day, I remembered that I had wrote the below comment several months ago on FB, that I thought I had posted here. So, if I can jump in with my two cents for a moment…

Doors…that definitely seems to be a running theme with Olivia and Jake. If one isn’t allowing entrance through, one is meeting the other at one surprising them with a kiss and chaste reprimand that they’re late. Later, they will cross the theshold of one together…forever bonded having endured a test by…well, gun point.

In this scene, however, the door remains wide open; yet, there is an unwillingness to cross the threshold of it, especially on Jake’s part. When you consider the symbolism most associated with doors it represents either a transition or metamorphosis. Passage from one state to another, or between lightness and darkness. Jake even uses a simplistic summation in describing Rowan and Fitz…the other men in her life and perhaps how Olivia likely sees them.

“You’re father the bad guy and the president the good guy.”

Dark and light.

In retrospect, I have to give Olivia props in not making excuses when Jake stated he was in love with her, but she was in love with Fitz. It was honest. Olivia believed herself in love with Fitz, and that’s where they were. At a threshold once again, and if Olivia were to make a transition from mistress, her metamorphosis to main chick/silent leader of the free world, he was not going to intefere. Not this time.

What struck me so soundly revisiting this scene is how smoothly Jake guides Olivia to the decision to go to Fitz. Since it’s seemingly contrary to what he wants, the subtle manipulation goes undetected mostly. Jake wants Olivia, no question, but not if she is still clinging to the past. Fitz, her father and even her thrist for power has no place if they are to stand in the sun together. However, he will let her go to discover that truth for herself.

Which leads me to the images that flashed after Jake walked away. Initially, I took it as insight to what Olivia was thinking, however, I believe it was commentary on where Olivia was psychologically. Theresa D. (Poster from FB) was right when she said Olivia knew the moment Jake said his mission was complete he was leaving, and it clearly rattled her. She did not want him to go; but she also knew there was no convincing him otherwise. So, with that soft music and sound of ocean waves (that I did not notice initially) playing underneath that shot of Olivia lying out on the beach, I thought it showed us that this is where she desires to be. It is not a fantasy for her…she has lived it. But she is trapped; locked behind doors inside her own head and heart harboring daddy issues, programming, fantasy and thirst for power. Those doors can’t remain locked forever…a transition, a metamorphosis is underway. She is ready to take flight. Her private jet, like her unexpressed thoughts sit idling, ready to take flight, but remain grounded because the person who is attached to that happiness she experienced has just walked away, and she doesn’t want to stand in the sun alone, but for now…

It’s a complicated scene to say the least, but it is full of foreshadowing, symbolism, love, sacrifice, realization and hope.

At least, that’s my best guess on this scene…

[elkstudies]

how to make this year, your year

A list (mainly for me tbh) of things to help make this new year the best it can be :)

Drink water: this is so beneficial and being hydrated can help boost productivity

Set yourself some goals: break them down into smaller tasks & make them attainable. Make sure they’re somewhere they’ll always be insight!

Save: Put something away every week, even if it’s only $2, buy the end of the year you’ll have money you can treat yourself with, buy those plane tickets :D

Work hard: try sit at your desk/ go to the library 5/6 times a week, work on achieving your academic goals; prepare ahead of classes, refresh old materials; study a little every day

Try something new: join a new society, try out new hobbies, fun fun fun

Exercise: ew I know but even a 20 minute walk outside has so many benefits :)

Explore: go to new places! It doesn’t even have to be a new country, often the place you have explored the least is the area around you! 

Do something you’ve always wanted to do: get out of your comfort zone and just do it, seriously.

Plan: start a bullet journal, write down what you need to do & when it needs to be done, it will help you be more productive & you’ll feel super organised

Eat well: eat fruit and veggies, try new foods & new combinations!

Organise your money: try out an app like Mint or Wally! It’ll surprise you how much you spend on some things and how much you can possibly save!

Read: educate yourself or transport yourself to different lives, just by opening a book! Download goodreads and set yourself a reading goal!

Take photos: it’s so nice to look back on! At the end of the year print them out and stick them in a lil’ notebook :)

Treat yourself: once a week/month or whenever, do something nice; go out for food, go to the movies, have fun 

Make time for friends: friends are fun, chill & talk, watch movies whatever floats your boat

Have a sleep schedule: & stick to it, sleep cycle is v v helpfult for this

Do something for the greater good: volunteer/help out your local animal shelter/donate stuffs to charit, everything counts

Do things alone: ex. have a meal alone; it’s really refreshing every now and then just to chill & be in your own head & no one will judge you for it, promise. 

I hope you all have the best 2017!

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[roundabout02]

I really like this. A keeper.