Season 3

Shonda Rhimes posted on twitter on May 10, 2013 that ABC ordered a third season of Scandal. The season premiered on October 3, 2013 and ended on April 17, 2014. It was broadcast on Thursday nights at 10|9c on ABC.

About

The season continues the story of Olivia Pope's crisis management firm, Olivia Pope & Associates, and its staff, as well as staff at the White House in Washington D.C. Season three had ten series regulars, all returning from the previous season, of whom seven are part of the original cast of eight regulars from the first season.

Season News

The writers of Scandal began working on season three stories on May 20, 2013.
Scott Foley (Jake Ballard) was promoted to series regular for third season. ^[1]
On Friday, July 19th the cast of Scandal got together for the official Season Three publicity photoshoot. ^[2]
The first table read of the season took place on Thursday, July 18, 2013. ^[3]
Filming for season three began on Monday, July 22, 2013. ^[4]
Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky's (James Novak) producing partner, played a recurring role on the show this season. ^[5]
Jack Coleman joined the cast in a recurring role as Daniel Douglas Langston, as reported on Tuesday, September 24. ^[6]
The cast went on a filming hiatus from November 12 - December 2, 2013. ^[7]
Kerry Washington was pregnant with her first child during the second part of the season and since her character Olivia Pope is not pregnant, you can see them hiding the baby bump by making Kerry wear larger coats, hold big purses and stand behind objects and actors while filming.^[8]
Also due to Kerry's pregnancy, the overall episode order was trimmed from 22 to 18.
For her performance as Olivia Pope in this season, Kerry Washington won the Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series and was nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Award, Best Actress in a Television Series at the Golden Globe Awards, and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Dylan Minnette and Madeline Carroll joined the cast to play Jerry Grant Jr. and Karen Grant respectively.^[9]
Nazanin Boniadi and Khandi Alexander debut in recurring roles in this season.

Season Overview

Picking up right where we left off in the Season Two season finale moments after new channels reported that Olivia Pope was President Grant's mistress, "The First Mistress". Olivia silently riding in the limo with her father, who takes her to an airport where he expects her to relocate and get the spotlight off of herself but Cyrus convinces her to stay and fight. The gladiators try to protect their bosses image; meanwhile the White House in collaboration with the gladiators "handle" it by shifting the attention to another White House staffer. The most shocking revelation was learning that it was Fitz who instructed his trusted Secret Service Agent Tom to leak the name to a reporter, Vanessa Chandler. Not too long after that to keep the press from talking about Olivia as being Fitz's mistress Mellie Grant schedules a public lunch with Olivia to make it look like they're friends and there's no way Olivia would sleep with her husband. Millie is trying to "hook up" Olivia by providing her with a list of public figures who are single. Olivia settles for Jake Ballard.

Speaking of Jake, last we saw him he was in "the hole", well the fixer won't let him stay in there for long. She fights with her father about releasing him; flashbacks reveal how Olivia got Huck released from "the hole" five years ago. After Eli paid for Olivia to go to law school she agreed to have weekly dinners with him. After Olivia gets attacked at the subway station and rescued by Huck who killed the two attackers she tells her father about it who finds Huck and locks him up in "the hole" but before Command locked Huck up, Huck had told Olivia a little bit about "Wonderland" and where it was located. At one of Olivia and her father's dinners he unknowingly gives it away that he works at/for "Wonderland". Olivia stops coming to family dinners, but when Rowan puts Edison Davis - her fiancee at the time - in the hospital she agrees to return to dinners if he releases Huck.

Speaking of Huck... after Jake hits a wall - metaphorically speaking - while looking into the death of Olivia's mother, Maya Lewis, he seeks out assistance from Huck. After they have enough proof that her father ordered the army pilot - who happens to be Fitz - that shoot down Maya's plane they take what they have to Olivia. At first she doesn't want to know anything about it, but after some flashback memories of her mother she let's Huck & Jake tell her their theory. Olivia begins to wonder what her father has been keeping from her all these years. After Rowan Pope visits the OPA office Huck violently confronts his boss - Liv - asking her if "Command" is her father. Yes he is!

Cast

Episodes

01 | 30

"It's Handled" October 3, 2013

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Shonda Rhimes

With Olivia’s name out there as the President’s mistress, both the White House and Pope & Associates face their biggest Scandal to date, and a surprise allegiance is formed in order to get things handled. Meanwhile, Olivia’s father, Rowan, will stop at nothing to carry out his orders and no one, including Olivia, can stand in his way.

02 | 31

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" October 10, 2013

Directed by: Allison Liddi-Brown - Written by: Heather Mitchell

Through flashbacks we learn more about Olivia’s estranged relationship with her father. Meanwhile, both the White House and Pope & Associates are still in the middle of cleaning up the very big and very public mess they created.

03 | 32

"Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington" October 17, 2013

Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc - Written by: Matt Byrne

A Midwestern mom hires Pope & Associates under mysterious conditions that lead to a very dangerous situation. Meanwhile, Fitz and Mellie admit their true feelings for each other.

04 | 33

"Say Hello to My Little Friend" October 24, 2013

Directed by: Oliver Bokelberg - Written by: Mark Fish

With Pope & Associates still struggling to find clients, the team decides to take on a philandering senator who enjoys taking photos of his not so public areas. Meanwhile, Mellie gets involved in her own Scandal with Democratic Congresswoman Josephine Marcus.

05 | 34

"More Cattle, Less Bull" October 31, 2013

Directed by: Randy Zisk - Written by: Jenna Bans

The team investigates Democratic Congresswoman Josie Marcus, while Olivia and Mellie have a surprising run-in during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Meanwhile, Jake and Huck get closer to the truth about Operation Remington, which could lead to devastating results.

06 | 35

"Icarus" November 7, 2013

Directed by: Julie Anne Robinson - Written by: Peter Noah

Olivia must make a very important decision that will affect all of her relationships in the White House, and Harrison’s allegiance to the Gladiators is tested. Meanwhile, the team continues to prep Josie Marcus while Cyrus and Mellie plot against her.

07 | 36

"Everything's Coming Up Mellie" November 14, 2013

Directed by: Michael Katleman - Written by: Peter Nowalk

Mellie is still trying to recover from the public backlash of the last year so she decides to do a hard-hitting news interview. Meanwhile, as Cyrus continues to plot against Sally Langston, we learn how Fitz, Mellie and Cyrus became a team. Back at OPA, Huck continues to push Quinn away, but Quinn’s bloodlust could get her into some dangerous situations.

08 | 37

"Vermont is for Lovers, Too" November 21, 2013

Directed by: Ava DuVernay - Written by: Mark Wilding

Olivia and the team try to handle both uncovering the truth behind Operation Remington, while also managing a potential crisis with the Josie Marcus campaign. Meanwhile, Quinn falls further down the rabbit hole with Charlie, and Cyrus creates a plan to take down Sally, but doesn’t think of the possible harm he could inflict on himself.

09 | 38

"YOLO" December 5, 2013

Directed by: Oliver Bokelberg - Written by: Chris Van Dusen

As the team gets closer to the truth, loyalties are tested and relationships are pushed to the limit. Meanwhile, Cyrus has to deal with his own Crisis and he realizes that he may have gone too far.

10 | 39

"A Door Marked Exit" December 12, 2013

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Zahir McGhee

Now that the truth is out there, things will never be the same and everyone will have to face the consequences of their actions.

11 | 40

"Ride, Sally, Ride" February 27, 2014

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Raamla Mohamed

The White House deals with a bombshell announcement from Sally Langston. Meanwhile, Olivia finds herself in a challenging new role.

12 | 41

"We Do Not Touch the First Ladies" March 6, 2014

Directed by: Oliver Bokelberg - Written by: Heather Mitchell

Old feelings and jealousies arise at a Presidential event causing Fitz to face a harsh reality. Meanwhile, Quinn tries to prove herself to B613 and Leo Bergen sets up a meeting between Sally and an old friend.

13 | 42

"No Sun on the Horizon" March 27, 2014

Directed by: Randy Zisk - Written by: Matt Byrne

A well prepared Fitz gets thrown a curve ball during the first presidential debate, Olivia receives shocking news and is forced to make an extremely difficult decision, and the gladiators work with a powerful CEO accused of murder. Meanwhile, one dirty little secret could lead to deadly consequences.

14 | 43

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" March 20, 2014

Directed by: Paul McCrane - Written by: Mark Fish

Sally sets a meeting with the NRA which sends the White House into a tailspin. Olivia and Huck come to shocking realizations and a surprising person asks for help from Pope and Associates.

15 | 44

"Mama Said Knock You Out" March 27, 2014

Directed by: Tony Goldwyn - Written by: Zahir McGhee

The Grant children prepare for a live sit down television interview with Fitz and Mellie at the White House. Meanwhile, Adnan looks to Harrison for help and Rowan warns Olivia to stop investigating B613.

16 | 45

"The Fluffer" April 3, 2014

Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc - Written by: Chris Van Dusen & Raamla Mohamed

Abby steps in as Olivia’s proxy and takes on duties at the White House. Meanwhile, the team continues to investigate B613, and someone throws a wrench in Reston’s presidential campaign.

17 | 46

"Flesh and Blood" April 10, 2014

Directed by: Debbie Allen - Written by: Severiano Canales & Miguel Nolla

A security breach calls for an all hands on deck situation at OPA. Fitz’s re-election campaign becomes stalled and he considers going against Olivia’s advice. Meanwhile, Adnan and Maya continue to plot their next move.

18 | 47

"The Price of Free and Fair Elections" April 17, 2014

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Shonda Rhimes & Mark Wilding

Election Day has arrived and nothing is off limits as the candidates try to capture votes. Meanwhile, Olivia tries to understand Maya’s motives and Charlie makes a very surprising move.