Introducing: The Scandal Roundtable 2.10: “One For The Dog”
Johnathan: Right on with the power theme. I was fascinated by the definition and contradictions of what it means to be American. On the one hand, David Rosen constructs America and our values based on how Americans are treated, namely Huck. On the other, a government agent challenges David with an alternative understanding using all the people who fight and die so he can uphold these values as a reference point.
T.F.: I thought David was pretty darn naive for a US attorney, but I guess the point was that someone had to be the moral center.
Loree: And, the episode focused more on saving the Fitz’s place than anything else.
Joe: Yes, and the major storylines, and most minor ones, dealt with power in flux: all of Huck’s rights being taken away under the Patriot Act–which were then returned to him by David Rosen, using Sally Langston’s temporary power; The Evil Southerner Brigade–as I like to call Hollis Doyle and Sally Langston–plotting in the Oval Office while Mellie pulled an Edith Wilson to return her husband’s place; even Harrison using his power of seduction to get the keycard. But to me, the major characters all were orchestrating rather nebulous attempts to score a wealth of Washington power. Also, another thing about The Evil Southerner Brigade: Why are they the only two main characters with southern accents the villains?
Jordan: Speaking of power, I found Verna’s speech to the Knights of the Fitzian Roundtable more than a little self-serving. She says that ever since their first meeting, Hollis has been out for brute power he has “lied for it,” “cheated for it,” and “killed for it.” I hate to break it to Verna but there are nothing but killers in the room with her. Everyone at the table has done what he’s done and, as Mellie proves a couple scenes later, is willing to do it again. It seems like the cost of running with the big dogs Harrison references later. I have no love for Doyle for shooting Fitz (especially since the show positions Fitz, adulterer that he is, as just about the least corrupt character of all of them), but Doyle saw a means to an end and took it. He’s no better or worse than Cyrus with his intern/aide murdering and all of them with the explosion cover-up.
Joe: I’m truly waiting for the moment where Fitz finds out that all this assassination, poll-tampering, and general lie-telling (oh, and Amanda Tanner being murdered for him) is happening behind his back because of not just one, but both, women he loves. And his best friend. And that nice US Supreme Court Justice he appointed. And one half of The Evil Southerner Brigade.
Kendra: Better the southerners than those evil foreigners every other political show seems to want to scapegoat. I wasn’t overly thrilled with this episode (it didn’t pack the punch–sorry, Huck–that I like my return-from-hiatus episodes to have), but I like the idea that in Scandal’s political world, the Big Bads spawn from within. Who’s plotting to kill the president? A white American. Forging signatures to stage a government coup? That’s the First Lady. The two just flat-out couping? Those aforementioned Southerners. Torturing an innocent man? America. This episode was filled with Americans doing horrible things in the name of homeland security and their own self-serving needs. An episode made even better by the fact that the characters were allowed to go on about their business without too many scripted apologies and excuses from some sort of Leo McGarry equivalent.
All that said, I think of my favorite parts had little to do with intrigue. Cyrus and James are adopting a Black baby…domestically!
Joe: Yeah, gays! Even though there’s absolutely no way that couple is going to stay together, let alone parent a baby together. Especially since one husband is plotting the “next Watergate” which would definitely put the other husband (and all of his friends) in jail. I’m sure, however, James met his beauuuutiful daughter in this episode.
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