BWW Recap: Here Comes the General, Rise UP on SCANDAL

Is it me or does Season Five already seem better without Olivia and Fitz together? Tonight's episode was a breath of fresh air as SCANDAL returns to form for the second half of Season Five.

Quick catch up from the fall; Jake and Rowan called a truce and became besties, David Rosen (who was nowhere to be seen tonight. BOO, Shonda!) was sleeping with Liz, but starting to have the warm and fuzzies for Susan Ross, Marcus joined OPA full time, Mellie filibustered a vote that saved Planned Parenthood funding and good thing, because Liv was on her way there for an abortion. (Cue Internet Outrage). Oh and Liz and Fitz broke up. Can I get an Amen?

Now, here we are, six months later. Jake is living with Rowan and still besties, I guess. Rowan still creepily calls him his son, but Rowan and Liv are also getting along swimmingly. He is beaming with pride at how she took the reigns for a few months in "the oval" and had all the power. She is not, however, speaking with Jake. In fact, when he shows up at her apartment, she quickly shows him the door. I am, of course, kidding as they had graphic, angry sex. (I'm back in, Shonda!).

And OPA are actually taking cases again and they're interesting, relevant and important. The head of the NSA, General Nancy Peters, hires them for help as her computer has been hacked. The hacker in question has stolen all the documents for "Project Mercury." The Associates quickly assign guilt to Nancy's programmer boyfriend, Billy. They just need to figure out if he's a spy or a whistleblower. As Abby and the President are briefed that the Post has received a call about Project Mercury, Fitz calls in Jake to work on it as well. (Suddenly everyone loves Jake). Jake, Quinn and Huck find Billy's hideout, but he is gone. Suspicious that this guy would be so good at hiding, Quinn digs further and realizes it was not Billy who was the hacker, he was set up. With Liv in tow, they head back to the hideout and find Billy dead, confirming Quinn's research.The President asks Nancy for her resignation and announces the new head of the NSA: Jake Mother-Loving Ballard. It was he who hacked the computer, framed and killed Billy. He and Rowan have been working together and they have just claimed a major power position in the government. I'm guessing that was the last hallway escapade Olivia and Jake will have for quite a while. Is Fitz really this stupid? Never mind.

Other subplots include Mellie wanting to write a book, Liv telling her to write a real one and she'll help her, Huck and Quinn keeping Marcus at arm's length to protect him and Abby becoming Fitz's work wife to Cyrus' delight. But nothing was as interesting as Jake going back to the dark side.

Rowan is one of my favorite characters as I never have any idea whose side he is on. Never! And for some reason, seeing him suck Jake back in to his web is gratifying in ways I'm not proud of. I also enjoyed Olivia explaining to Abby the difference between being lonely and being alone, a problem that Olivia is about to face as well since her ex-boyfriend won't take her calls and her hallway sex partner is now her mortal enemy and in some twisted ways... her brother? Of sorts? Too much? Lastly, Huck is probably doing the right thing in the long run protecting Marcus, but maybe let the dude in on your plan? I can't take the heartbroken puppy look on our new friend.

Regardless, THIS is the SCANDAL that we all know and love. It sure did seem to lose its way for a while in the first half of this season with all the weird Liv/Fitz crap, but it was so damn enjoyable tonight to see it back in top form. Only one critique, but, it's my standing complaint: MORE DAVID ROSEN! At this point, ANY David Rosen would be great. But kudos on the opening with shirtless, Jake Ballard. Much obliged.

Here's a preview for next week's all new episode:

Photo Credit: ABC

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