Season 5

Shonda Rhimes posted on twitter on May 8, 2015 that ABC ordered a fifth season of Scandal. ^[1] The season premiered on September 24, 2015 and ended on May 12, 2016. It was broadcast on Thursday nights at 9|8c 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 five has eleven series regulars, all returning from the previous season, out of which eight are part of the original cast of ten regulars from the first season and two new regulars were added.

Season News

Portia de Rossi returned to season five as a series regular. ^[2] ^[3]
Cornelius Smith Jr. also returned as a series regular in Season 5 ^[4]
The first table read of Season 5 took place on July 14, 2015. ^[5]
The Scandal crew went back to work on Monday July 6, 2015 to prepared for the first episode of Season 5.
The filming for season five started on July 16, 2015.
Mia Maestro and Ricardo Antonio Chavira joined Scandal in recurring roles for Season 5.
The Scandal Season Five DVD was released on August 23, 2016 (Region 1) and November 23, 2016 (Region 2).

Season Overview

Olivia Pope and Fitz Grant now embrace being a couple, going public with their relationship, thus leading to Olivia taking on many more of the First Lady-established roles in the White House. She continues managing Olivia Pope & Associates, which Marcus Walker becomes a part of, even using it to spin her image once the world looks down on her due to her new relationship with the President. However, by the midpoint of the season she feels too suffocated in this new life, and so she leaves Fitz, the White House, and secretly has an abortion. Olivia returns to her old life, dealing with the aftermath of her and Fitz's break up, and Rowan gets out of jail and reclaims Jake Ballard as his lapdog, while Fitz starts sleeping around and is put in his place by Abby. Meanwhile, Cyrus and Mellie are forced to move on with their lives now that Fitz has kicked them out, Cyrus Beene struggling to figure out what he wishes to do next, and Mellie running for and being elected as a senator, being her next step in making a run for the presidency, which is the main focal point of the second half of the season.

Mellie makes a run for the presidency and takes Olivia on as her campaign manager, having to go against the likes of current Vice President Susan Ross (Artemis Pebdani), Hollis Doyle, and Pennsylvania Governor Francisco Vargas, the latter of which has his campaign managed by Cyrus. David Rosen and Elizabeth North push for Susan's presidential run, and David begins to fall for her while also entering into a sexual relationship with Liz, ending in heartbreak for two of the three parties involved. Quinn Perkins and Charlie begin seeing each other, and Cyrus also has marital problems with Michael (Matthew Del Negro). Jake marries Vanessa Moss as per Rowan's arrangement, and also kills her father, also upon Rowan's request. Olivia brutally murders former Vice President Andrew Nichols when he starts to recover from his paralysis and threatens to expose a great number of secrets, Fitz learns of her secret abortion, and the season concludes with Mellie and Frankie named as the respective Republican and Democratic nominees, with Jake and Cyrus selected as their respective VPs.

Cast

Main Cast

Supporting Cast

Season Recurring Cast

Mia Maestro as Elise Martin
John Prosky as Senator Stanley Gibson
Rose Abdoo as Senator Linda Moskowitz
Romy Rosemont as Patty Snell
Annabeth Gish as Lillian Forrester
Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Francisco Vargas
Danny Pino as Alex Vargas
Joelle Carter as Vanessa Moss

Guest Cast

Jon Tenney as Andrew Nichols
Dearbhla Molloy as Queen Isabel of Caledonia
Adam Fergus as Prince Richard of Caledonia
Hilty Bowen as Princess Emily of Caledonia
Josh Brener as Gavin Price
William Russ as Frank Holland
Denise Crosby as Janet Holland

Episodes

01 | 70

"Heavy is the Head" September 24, 2015

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Shonda Rhimes

Olivia and Fitz are back together again and enjoying every scandalous moment together while Cyrus, Mellie and Huck are all still dealing with the aftermath of helping Command. Meanwhile, when a visit from the Queen of Caldonia and her family turns into a tragedy, Olivia is hired to make sure the Royal family’s private life stays private.

02 | 71

"Yes" October 1, 2015

Directed by: Tony Goldwyn - Written by: Heather Mitchell

Meanwhile, back at the White House, Fitz is determined to find who’s responsible for causing the latest turn of events, and Abby receives unexpected guidance from a master of damage control as she struggles to catch a break.

03 | 72

"Paris is Burning" October 8, 2015

Directed by: Jann Turner - Written by: Matt Byrne

Olivia and Fitz face some very big consequences and Mellie brings in an old friend to make sure she gets her way. Meanwhile, Abby shows Olivia she is fully capable of handling working at the White House.

04 | 73

"Dog-Whistle Politics" October 15, 2015

Directed by: Zetna Fuentes - Written by: Mark Fish

Eager to get answers, Jake unexpectedly crosses paths with someone he thought he’d never see again. Meanwhile, Huck and Quinn recruit a familiar face to help smooth over the media storm surrounding Olivia, and Fitz quickly finds out the true cost of mercy when he discovers not everyone fully supports his actions.

05 | 74

"You Got Served" October 22, 2015

Directed by: Kevin Bray - Written by: Zahir McGhee

Olivia knows she can’t handle this latest storm on her own and calls for help from an unexpected source. Meanwhile, Mellie and Cyrus continue to pull strings from the sidelines and Jake is still occupied by a ghost from his past

06 | 75

"Get Out of Jail, Free" October 29, 2015

Directed by: Chandra Wilson - Written by: Chris Van Dusen

Fitz and Olivia are presented with a shocking plan that might just make all of their troubles go away, and Mellie is put through the ringer when confronted about her troubled marriage. Meanwhile, the Gladiators continue to defend Olivia, and Susan Ross turns to David for advice.

07 | 76

"Even the Devil Deserves a Second Chance" November 5, 2015

Directed by: Olivier Bokelberg - Written by: Raamla Mohamed

While Fitz is focused on winning back the America people, he makes a shocking discovery. Meanwhile OPA take a new client, but Olivia seems preoccupied keeping her own secrets and Elizabeth North sets her sights on a new agenda.

08 | 77

"Rasputin" November 12, 2015

Directed by: John Terlesky - Written by: Paul William Davies

In the midst of Fitz negotiating a historic peace deal, Olivia must rely on her instincts when a guest of the The White House discloses powerful intel. Meanwhile, Jake uses Huck’s help to get closer to his target, and Cyrus takes matters into his own hands when he realizes he’s been shut out of the inner circle.

09 | 78

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" November 19, 2015

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Mark Wilding

Olivia is feeling more and more frustrated as she takes on “First Lady” type responsibilities at the White House. Meanwhile, Mellie proves just how powerful she can be and Jake and Huck continue the hunt for Rowan.

10 | 79

"It's Hard Out Here for a General" February 11, 2016

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Severiano Canales

It's been six months since Olivia and Fitz have broken up, and they are both handling their newfound freedom in very different ways. Meanwhile, the Pope and Associates team take on a case that could lead to a national crisis.

11 | 80

"The Candidate" February 18, 2016

Directed by: Allison Liddi Brown - Written by: Alison Schapker

Mellie seeks out Olivia’s help but may not be prepared for what entails and Liz tries to convince Susan Ross to run for the presidency. Meanwhile, Abby and Cyrus are at odds when a profile piece on Fir comes into questions.

12 | 81

"Wild Card" February 25, 2016

Directed by: Allison Liddi-Brown and Tom Verica - Written by: Mark Fish

While Fitz is preoccupied with his own interests, Cyrus begins to orchestrate his next master plan, and Elizabeth North uses David to mastermind a plan of her own. Meanwhile, Olivia continues to question what exactly Jake is planning in his new role as head of the NSA.

13 | 82

"The Fish Rots from the Head" March 10, 2016

Directed by: Sharat Raju - Written by: Heather Mitchell

Olivia and the team take on some embattled Secret Service agents. Meanwhile, Abby has her hands full trying to keep Fitz in line, and Jake begins to reveal a few secrets of his own.

14 | 83

"I See You" March 17, 2016

Directed by: Paris Barclay - Written by: Matt Byrne

Olivia continues to spy on Jake while the gladiators have to fend for themselves. Meanwhile, Susan and Mellie are feeling the pressure as their campaigns heat up; Abby begins to question Cyrus’ motives; and a blast from the past surprises everyone.

15 | 84

"Pencils Down" March 24, 2016

Directed by: Regina King - Written by: Chris Van Dusen

When Mellie makes a very public faux pas, Olivia must decide how far she’ll go to fix it. Meanwhile, the Gladiators learn valuable intel about Jake’s new love interest, and David Rosen seeks advice about his love triangle with Liz North and Susan Ross.

16 | 85

"The Miseducation of Susan Ross" March 31, 2016

Directed by: Scott Foley - Written by: Raamla Mohamed

Following the first Republican debate, Olivia is presented with damaging information about an opponent and enlists the Gladiators to verify its authenticity. Meanwhile, David deals with fallout from his dating life, and Cyrus continues to work on his own political agenda.

17 | 86

"Thwack!" April 7, 2016

Directed by: Tony Goldwyn - Written by: Zahir McGhee

The election is in full swing, which means everyone is doing their best to take down their opponents, but when a potential leak threatens several candidates, they have to work together to keep their secrets safe. Boundaries are pushed and lines are crossed as we find out just how far some people are willing to go to protect themselves

18 | 87

"Till Death Do Us Part" April 21, 2016

Directed by: Steph Green - Written by: Paul William Davies

As Olivia deals with the aftermath of what she’s done, she finally finds out what exactly Jake and Rowan are plotting. But with their plans already in motion, Olivia is forced to make a gut-wrenching attempt to try and stop it. Meanwhile, in flashbacks, we learn more about Jake’s past and how he first got involved with B6-13.

19 | 88

"Buckle Up" April 28, 2016

Directed by: Olivier Bokelberg - Written by: Michelle Lirtzman

As Mellie, Susan and Hollis prepare to meet with Florida’s governor and vie for her influential endorsement, a spin war between Abby and Olivia threatens to keep their candidates grounded. Meanwhile, Cyrus is faced with a decision that could dramatically alter his future.

20 | 89

"Trump Card" May 5, 2016

Directed by: Jann Turner - Written by: Severiano Canales and Jess Brownell

Olivia and Abby have to put their differences aside and work together to try and take Hollis Doyle down. Meanwhile, Edison realizes he may have made a deal with the devil as Rowan and Jake continue to try and pull the strings behind his campaign

21 | 90

"That's My Girl" May 12, 2016

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

As Mellie, Susan and Hollis prepare to meet with Florida’s governor and vie for her influential endorsement, a spin war between Abby and Olivia threatens to keep their candidates grounded. Meanwhile, Cyrus is faced with a decision that could dramatically alter his future.

Cast Promotional Photos

→ See and enjoy 82 pictures of Season 5 Cast Promos at Images of Season 5 Cast Promos.

Promotional Photos

→ For more images from Season 5, see the Category: Season 5 Images page

Behind the Scenes

→ For more images from behind the scenes of Season 5, see the Category: Images from Season 5 BTS page

DVD

The Scandal Season Five DVD was released in region one on August 23, 2016 and then released in region two on October 23, 2016. To celebrate the release of 'Scandal: The Complete Fifth Season' on DVD, TV Line released an exclusive first look at the laugh-packed blooper reel.

Season 5 Bloopers - Scandal

Scandal Season 5 Bloopers

2015 Shondaland EW & Essence Cover Issues

Main article: 2015 Shondaland EW Magazine Cover Issue

Main article: 2015 Shondaland Essence Magazine Cover Issue

On the afternoon of September 2, 2015 Shonda Rhimes, The casts of Scandal, Grey's Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder gathered in the month of August for an exclusive photo and cover shoot with Entertainment Weekly, People Magazine and Essence Magazine, in New York.