BWW Recap: While My Bandar Gently Weeps on SCANDAL

Everything is better with Joe Morton, I've decided. Let's put him in everything, all the time, always. Papa Pope is back and as usual he's a frightened, little kitten... wait, what?

The White House is on the brink of a Peace Accord with the Republic of Bandar. The issue is, a translator seeks Liv out for asylum in exchange for some intel on a secret nuclear facility. Liv checks out his Intel with the assistance of OPA and finds out it is bogus and his asylum is denied. When Huck digs a little deeper, he actually finds that the supposed soda factory is sure using a lot of power and discovers it's actually a base for cyber terrorism. Liv rushes to find Navid and finds he has attempted suicide, but did not succeed. In actuality, he is gay and will be executed in Bandar. The President grants his asylum and signs the Accord. Once the deal is finished, he whispers to the President that there is currently a drone about to blow up the secret facility and there's really nothing he can do about it except smile at the Press.

Cyrus is still out for Liv's head on a platter due to the control she seems to exert over Fitz. He enlists David Rosen to figure out that it is Olivia that is behind the escape of Rowan. Rowan finds Olivia and tells her he is genuinely scared as the people who run Lazarus One have turned on him and he will try his best to protect her. Moved by his uncharacteristic fear, Liv appeals to Jake for help. But that train sure has left the station. Jake will have no more of her using him. I may or may not have stood up and applauded at his speech to her. Not only was he dashing in his suit, but finally telling Liv how selfish and ridiculous she was being was so overdue and justified. When Rosen finally comes to the conclusion that it was Liv, she is arrested. Fitz is heartbroken, but has her quickly released to Cyrus' astonishment. He moves her into the White House with authority and tells her he has called off the hit on Rowan, when in reality, he JUST gave Jake the order to kill. Too bad someone else beat Jake to the punch... Huck has taken Rowan hostage.

A lot to unpack here, but good stuff. Again, so glad to have Rowan and Tom back. (How creepy was Tom's "Helen of Troy" line?) Not sure Liv would be that easily swayed by her psychotic father that he was scared because of a look in his eye? I think Jake nailed that on the head that you'll do anything when you're backed into a corner and Rowan sure was an expert at lying. Sure, I'm curious about these Lazarus people, but I'm not going to feel sympathy for Rowan. Not just yet.

Conversely, all of a sudden Fitz has become the puppet master. He quickly assesses what has been happening and what is being done and turns the table. He has regained control, but what is his end game? Is he trying to keep his relationship with Liv under his reign or is he out for revenge? Will he work with (the sadly underused) Mellie in this plan?

A quick gripe? Quinn? Get off of Marcus' back, jeez. We all know that everyone talks super fast, but get a grip already. That being said, do we have an over/under (pun intended) on how long it takes these two to hook up? Speaking of which, where's Charlie? He's got to show up with this Lazarus thing, right? And while we're on hookups... where are we on the Liz and David thing? I don't know how to feel about it and I feel super bad for sweet, Susan and her unrequited crush. I don't want to see her end up heartbroken. She is such a good sport through all of this. A VP taking the bullet to look stupid to buy the Big Man some time... sure makes you wonder.

And I shall reiterate once more, Jake's mic drop moment. So proud of him for finally telling Olivia off. His wife like JUST died and not a word, just right to her needs. Just, ugh! And his line of the night, "You were supposed to be too good for me. It NEVER crossed my mind that I was too good for you!" Amen, Jake... AMEN! #teamjake

Here's a preview for next week's Winter Finale:

Photo Credit: ABC

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