Season 6

On March 4th, 2016 ABC announced that Scandal would be picked up for a sixth season. The season premiered on January 26, 2017 and ended on May 18, 2017.

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[]

Season 6 episodes order was shortened from 22 to 16 episodes and moved to mid-season schedule due to Kerry Washington’s pregnancy. ^[1]
The season features the 100th episode of Scandal which is the 10th episode of the season.
The crew of Scandal started scouting 13 July, 2016. ^[2]
The table read for the premiere took place on July 25th, 2016.
Filming for season 6 started on July 16th, 2016. ^[3]
The first five episodes of the season were filmed before Kerry Washington gave birth to her second child in October.
The filming of the rest of the episodes started again on January 4th, 2017.
The table read for the finale took place on April 14th, 2017.
The cast wrapped filming for the season on April 28th, 2017.
There are few changes of episode order in the first half of the season. The episode "They All Bow Down" which was aired as the fifth episode of the season was originally produced as the fourth. The episode "Extinction" was originally produced as the fifth episode but aired as the sixth. Another episode "The Belt" was produced as the sixth episode but aired as the fourth instead.
Both Scott Foley and Tony Goldwyn who are the main cast members of the show directed an episode (Fates Worse Than Death) and two episodes (Extinction and Transfer of Power) respectively in this season.
Joelle Carter who played Vanessa Moss has been recast and replaced by Jessalyn Gilsig in Season 6. ^[4]
Jeff Perry's daughter Zoe Perry joined Scandal as a recurring cast member. ^[5]

Season Overview[]

The entire season centers around the murder of President-elect Francisco Vargas. It is revealed that his wife, Luna Vargas, was behind his murder because she wanted power. The end of season six concludes with Mellie Grant becoming the first female President of the United States. At the end of Fitz's term, he decided to reinstate a B613 and become Command, due to Rowan's manipulation of him.

Olivia Pope convinces him not to, because she thinks it will destroy him. Then she has Mellie reserve a percentage of the Pentagon's funds in a blind emergency trust and uses that money to reinstate B613 herself. Olivia becomes Command at the end of the season and considers herself the most powerful person in the world.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Supporting Cast[]

Recurring Cast[]

Mackenzie Astin as Noah Baker
Laila Ayad as Charlotte Reid
Susan Pourfar as Becky Flynn
Tina Lifford as CIA Director Lowry
Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Francisco Vargas
Tessie Santiago as Luna Vargas
Jessalyn Gilsig as Vanessa Moss
Saycon Sengbloh as Angela Webster
Larry Sullivan as Nelson McClintock
Chelsea Kurtz as Jennifer Fields
Phoebe Neidhardt as Meg
Zoe Perry as Samantha Ruland
David Warshofsky as Theodore Peus

Guest Cast[]

Episodes[]

01 | 91

"Survival of the Fittest" January 26, 2017

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Shonda Rhimes

The election results for the presidential race between Mellie Grant and Francisco Vargas are announced, and the shocking results lead to an explosive outcome

02 | 92

"Hardball" February 2, 2017

Directed by: Allison Liddi-Brown - Written by: Matt Byrne

Flashbacks show what happened on the campaign trail and to what lengths Olivia was willing to go for the win; Fitz and Abby face a national crisis; the gladiators work to get answers.

03 | 93

"Fates Worse Than Death" February 9, 2017

Directed by: Scott Foley - Written by: Mark Fish

In the midst of a national crisis, Cyrus’s fate is sealed. Meanwhile, Olivia and the gladiators will stop at nothing to get to the truth.

04 | 94

"The Belt" February 16, 2017

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Paul William Davies

Cyrus faces his ultimate challenge but continues to stop at nothing to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Olivia and the gladiators uncover shocking new evidence about the night Frankie was shot.

05 | 95

"They All Bow Down" March 9, 2017

Directed by: Millicent Shelton - Written by: Zahir McGhee

Jake and Vanessa’s messy relationship poses a threat to the campaign, forcing Olivia to take action. Meanwhile, a game-changing revelation about the conspiracy surrounding Francisco Vargas’s assassination is revealed.

06 | 96

"Extinction" March 16, 2017

Directed by: Tony Goldwyn - Written by: Chris Van Dusen

Rowan is caught by surprise when someone from his past resurfaces, and Olivia has to make a life-changing decision about the campaign. Meanwhile, flashbacks reveal exactly what happened the night of Francisco Vargas’ assassination.

07 | 97

"A Traitor Among Us" March 23, 2017

Directed by: Tom Verica - Written by: Alison Schapker

After discovering new information about the assassination of Frankie Vargas, Olivia makes a shocking decision and asks Huck to complete one of the most difficult tasks yet.

08 | 98

"A Stomach for Blood" March 30, 2017

Directed by: Olivier Bokelberg - Written by: Severiano Canales

The events leading up to election night are retold from Abby's perspective, revealing a formidable thirst for power and the explosive secret she's been keeping.

09 | 99

"Dead in the Water" April 6, 2017

Directed by: Nicole Rubio - Written by: Michelle Lirtzman

It’s a race against the clock when Olivia and OPA’s investigation into the conspiracy puts one of their own in grave danger.

10 | 100

"The Decision" April 13, 2017

Directed by: Sharat Raju - Written by: Johanna Lee

With the ugly truth behind Frankie's assassination revealed, a torn Olivia wonders how different her life — and the country — would be if she, Mellie and Cyrus had never rigged Fitz's election.

11 | 101

"Trojan Horse" April 20, 2017

Directed by: Jann Turner - Written by: Jess Brownell & Nicholas Nardini

Olivia and the team are determined to bring down Peus, but as the Electoral College vote nears, the fight for power claims another victim.

12 | 102

"Mercy" April 27, 2017

Directed by: Nzingha Stewart - Written by: Severiano Canales & Ameni Rozsa

Just when Peus’ iron grip seems inescapable to Olivia and everyone she holds dear, a shocking threat to the White House turns everything on its head.

13 | 103

"The Box" May 4, 2017

Directed by: Steph Green - Written by: Raamla Mohamed & Austin Guzman

As the future of the country hangs in the balance, Olivia and Fitz are at odds with Rowan, and Jake employs surprising tactics to manipulate the Mystery Woman.

14 | 104

"Head Games" May 11, 2017

Directed by: Zetna Fuentes - Written by: Chris Van Dusen & Juan Carlos Fernandez

While outgoing President Fitz considers his legacy, the Gladiators question what’s next for OPA, and Jake finally discovers the motivation behind Peus’s and the Mystery Woman’s reign of terror.

15 | 105

"Tick Tock" May 18, 2017

Directed by: Salli Richardson-Whitfield - Written by: Zahir McGhee & Michelle Lirtzman

As the clock ticks down to the inauguration of the first female President of the United States, Olivia takes a big risk to ensure Mellie’s safety.

16 | 106

"Transfer of Power" May 18, 2017

Directed by: Tony Goldwyn - Written by: Matt Byrne & Mark Fish

In the final days of his presidency, Fitz uses his power to make some unexpected changes.

Cast Promotional Photos[]

→ See and enjoy 25 pictures of Season 6 Cast Promos at Images of Season 6 Cast Promos.

→ For more images from Season Six, see the Category:Season 6 Characters page

Promotional Photos[]

→ For more images from Season Six, see the Category: Season 6 Images page

Behind the Scenes[]

→ For more images from behind the scenes Season 6, see the Category: Images from Season 6 BTS page

DVD[]

The Scandal Season Six / Seven DVD was released as a boxet and released in region 1 on August 28, 2018 in region one on August 23, 2016 and then released in region two on October 23, 2016.

Bonus features include:

Deleted scenes
Extended episode: "Transfer of Power"

Season 6 Bloopers

Scandal_Cast_Bloopers_S6_&_S7_(Sneak_Peek)

Scandal 100th Episode on Set Celebration[]

The cast and crew of Scandal celebrated their 100th episode by attending many events and parties, including the following:

Season Six Finale Live Tweet[]

Main article: 2017 Paley Center Season Six Finale Celebration

After the Season Six Finale Celebration at the Paley Center in New York. The Scandal cast gathered to live tweet the Season Six Finale "Transfer of Power". All of the cast were in attendance and were live tweeting the whole episode.