All The Smoke podcast [10-15-26]

I'm rewatching the show, and although I enjoyed Huck during my first watch (in my teens), I now find his character a bit unwatchable. I am currently on season 4, and I think Huck's actor turned up the nozzle on camp to the Mommy Dearest level because the acting is so bad that it's almost distracting.

In one particular scene where he's talking to Rosen about B613, the actor makes specific acting choices that I think just camps up the character, like the zero blinking, the childlike reaction to not getting what he wants. But then during the next scene, he's back to normal.

I understand human beings have layers, but in contrast to Olivia who also was suffering from PTSD post-kidnapping, you can really see the difference night and day in the portrayal, where there's more nuance and the physicality isn't as pronounced.

Maybe I'm just frustrated over Huck's decisions as a character, since it seems void of critical thinking, and the crazy acting is getting to a point. But the acting choices with Huck seem so bad - the monologues always come off as like as if Huck is holding in to go number 2.

Maybe it's the lack of subtlety in the acting, and everything is just coming off as too literal. Huck is evasive so he's gonna me quiet. Huck is angry, so he's gonna be shaky. Huck made a mistake, so he's gonna act like a child. This isn't a personal attack on the actor, but just a criticism on the acting choices done with the character. The closest comparison I can think off with Huck was the girl from Obsession, and as far as I know Huck wasn't under a wishing willow.

The character is multi-layered but the acting made him almost infant-like, which is incredibly frustrating.

Up to Season 6 (fought for my life) - think I’ll take a break now. Long rant/jumbled thoughts ahead:

But what a ride.. so much potential just ruined. I’ll finish because I do want to see how things end and obviously, Olitz 😍 love them to bits!!!

Post season 2, everything just declined. Hated seasons 5-6 with a passion. But I must say, Kerry and Tony’s acting in that scene in S5E9, just phenomenal. It felt so raw, so well done, playing off one another. They were so damn good

Seasons 1-2 were excellent, absolutely loved and was obsessed with them, enjoyed the stories and loved some characters and loved to hate others. One of the best shows I’d ever seen (to that point) and locked into my favourites. Romance was great, storylines and cases were great, fun and interesting - very DC. Pacing was *chefs kiss*

The Trail is hands down my favourite episode ( « Happy Birthday, Mr. President » a very close second). Watching Fitz fall for her, his lines in that whole ep - « I am a man in love. With an incredible woman » Such a beautiful confession and the looks between them! Ughhh! Just him falling in love with her and the yearning. Girl, « Say my name »…. I died.

Then season 3 it was like everyone and everything was rewritten leading to so many holes and discrepancies in seasons 1 & 2. The characters and their storylines just went off on a tangent. Like at what point did the narrative change from Liv made Fitz, to Mellie made Fitz????

Also hated the Mellie becoming President storyline. Man I hated it. I pretty much skipped through it and pretended it didn’t happen. That whole season of the presidential campaign was not great. I don’t think she deserved the arc she got. A single divorced woman leading the Republican Party was laughable though.

But anyway, the things the made the show exciting just got lost in the mix. The character changes absolutely irked me (looking at you, Mellie, Quinn & Fitz).

B6-13 just no… it reminded me of when Supernatural went off on that Angel vs Demon war instead of sticking to the “new case per episode” that it’d started with. I hated it. I hate it so much when shows do this. This is why shows like House are still a favourite of mine.

They should’ve just stuck with the new case per episode instead of dragging one marginally interesting story out. The cases were entertaining and tied well with the plot.

That being said, I’m not all that mad about the kidnapping (though it did drag out a bit), because it accelerates her descent into power-lust madness and becoming her parents (which could’ve been written a whole lot better). Plus it really showed how deeply Fitz cared for her, I loved the Helen of Troy comparison. I love a story of a man going to war for the woman he loves. I do wish that their reunion had been sweeter though - there was so much potential for an iconic, loving reunion.

Fitz - man they absolutely destroyed his character. It would’ve perfect if the ONLY person that could scream at him was Liv because when the show first started they emphasised that the only person he listened to was Liv, then all of a sudden everyone’s screaming and telling him off.. like it makes sense for Mellie as the mother of his children to get away with telling him off but who tf is Abby to tell him off? Timid Susan? And pretty much every single woman around him. He started off as headstrong and stubborn from to being under his father’s thumb. The self-doubt, lack of confidence in his abilities, and Defiance was done so well initially but then it became too much . And this was completely butchered in S3 which I absolutely despised. I get we want to show empowered women and stuff (all white women mind you) but make it realistic and maybe don’t direct it towards the Male Lead, it’s weird and makes him seem pathetic, not what sells the romance. He should’ve been written to be more assertive. They turned him into a guy whose sole purpose was to pine for the girl that didn’t want him. A whole ass President - puppet or not. And god the alcoholism, the hoe-ing… just, no…

His character could’ve gone in such a brilliant direction - he had the base for the perfect tortured soul, a privileged white boy with daddy/mommy issues. They could’ve used the revelation of Remington to flesh out his vulnerability and flaws (because I assume at the time he didn’t know the full story at the time - just following orders. We should’ve seen the torment that should’ve caused him like Defiance did) or give him some other reason to off the rails (something other than Olivia). We don’t give him enough credit for Jerry - being there for Mellie while running the country while also dealing with losing his “beating heart” (Cyrus killed me with that line).

Liv’s flip-flopping was unfair to both men though I get why Fitz stuck around. He was ready to give up literally everything for her - her seeing someone else wouldn’t be enough of a reason to make him back off at that point. And I honestly can’t bring myself to hate him for that. And Jake… why was he turned into such a major character?? If he was likeable or had chemistry with Olivia and didn’t have such a dry personality maybe he wouldn’t have been soo bad.

I also have to say, too much Mellie. Too much Quinn-off-the-rails. They were not compelling as main characters. I picked up the show for OLIVIA POPE, her story not some basic ass white characters that we see time and time again (sorry not sorry). Also too much Eli, and B6-13 man. Just kill the story line already. Mellie becoming a whole other character in season 3 was a very bold, very wrong decision.

Her also going for Office was not an arc I enjoyed. Quinn was just unlikeable, even Abby grew on me a little (until she went off the rails). Jake… still so dry, and again I think it’s the actor. I could’ve done with so, sooo much less of him. Russell was more interesting. Gotta say though, I liked Charlie and was glad to see more of him.

Quinn and Huck. Yuck.

I was honestly hoping for a romantic relationship between Elizabeth and Mellie, I liked their scenes together. That would’ve made both characters more interesting i think. I liked their dynamic together.

Also Marcus…? Was this a Harrison (who was GREAT) replacement or something? Him and Mellie..? Also Fitz getting mad about Andrew seems so out of character for someone who wants out of his marriage, his reaction was a truly stupid decision by the writers imo. The way he consoled Liv after Andrew, that was too sweet, just bypassing the whole mess, no hesitation, just to check on her well-being; loved it!

I thought S5 was bad but S6 - the thing with the FBI director… that has to be illegal right? Conflict of interest and what not..? I mean the shows’ whole premise was based on scandals and such, I guess. But that whole thing was too weird.

Also like to point out the Kerry’s hair as the show progressed… it just kept getting worse and worse 😭 someone truly stopped looking out for my girl. Not the fluffed up curls sis, nooo. That lil’ “pouf” the stylist used to do after that press - we all got those and we can all acknowledge they were not cute.

As far as I’m concerned, it ended at S2 with Olitz still together; Liv and Cyrus help Fitz (because I love that trio) win a second term (correctly this time)

YO😭😭😭 I’m obsessed with this lady LMFAOOOO. I’ve unfortunately had a lot of things about Scandal spoiled for me, so I’m always surprised by the amount of shockers that still HAVENT been spoiled. And OMG, I DID NOT SEE SALLY’S MURDEROUS SIDE COMING😭😭😭😭 WTF!!! Bruh the way she called Cyrus was so dramatic too just telling him, “I’ve committed a sin.” Pan out to her covered in blood and her husband BLEEDING OUT ON THE DAMN OFFICE FLOOR!!! Y’all😭 I cannot. I truly cannot. This show is so fucking melodramatic sometimes I just have to laugh (at the most inappropriate of moments nonetheless). I love it so much.

On a serious note though, I really felt bad for Daniel Douglas. And this confused me - why the hell was he laying it on so thick with Mellie at a private dinner if he was gay all along?? It seemed like he was genuinely into her.

This show had SUCH a strong start and every rewatch I dread things going completely off the rails (torture porn, kidnapping, evil Olivia, Fitz’s ho era, etc.)

The gradual reveal of Quinn’s identity and her link to the Cytron explosion, and then to the stolen election? Watching each gladiator struggle with loyalty vs morality? Finding out who really killed Amanda Tanner and who attempted to assassinate Fitz? Cyrus and James fighting over a baby (a FAT one)? The storytelling and relationships and character development is UNREAL - and then it just starts slipping into a total shock value fever dream shitshow.

Feel free to join me in venting or tell me something that will help me appreciate the remaining seasons 😩

Olivia Pope turns a show with an actually okay story line to an unwatchable shit show. It’s actually baffling to understand how people enjoy her character. This is a hill I’ll die on.

I see a lot of talk calling Fitz childish and of course I agree but it’s so much worse when u think about it. I always think of infantilization as someone making themselves childlike and innocent looking so that when people call them out they have that “I’m just a baby 😌” defense to fall back on. But in Fitz’s case everyone with the exception of Olivia does this for him. Cyrus is constantly referring to him as his baby that needs to be coddled and hand held and in the early season Mellie is constantly gentle parenting him into actually fulfilling his duties as president and not acting an absolute fool in public. I don’t remember him ever feeding into this intentionally but I do think it’s intentional that Olivia is the only one that doesn’t engage in this. It’s really weird to see as a writing choice and I kinda wonder what u guys think.

I’ve seen the occasional comments on here that have stated that particular opinions regarding the show are likely influenced by the fact that the commenter either watched the show live as it was aired or binge-watched it. For example, I’ve seen some people say that the reason why so many more recent viewers might be annoyed by the ups and downs of Fitz and Olivia’s relationship is because they are viewing the ups and downs at a way faster past than viewers who watched the show live and had to wait through commercials and for each episode to release across weeks and months.

I’m curious: For those of you who watched the show as it was originally released, what do you think that people who binge-watched the show are missing out on, if anything? How do you think binge-watching has influenced their attitudes toward the show and any particular aspects of it? For those of you who binge-watched the show, is there any perspective or benefit that you believe that you uniquely gained because you did so?

My response would be that, as someone who first watched the show as it aired, I agree with those who say that the ups and downs of Fitz and Olivia’s relationship seemed slower and un-ridiculous when I was only given a little exposure each week, if even that. However, as a separate point, I also believe that I tended to analyze the details of the show more, not because I was particularly intellectual or anything (Lol!) but simply because it helped me get through the wait for the next episode/season.😆 I would also look up so many other analyses for a similar reason.

I'm rewatching Scandal for the first time in almost a decade, and in hindsight, this scene shows how insane Liv is. SPOILER WARNING, FOR FIRST TIME WATCHERS....

This was around S5E06, the impeachment arc. Fitz and Olivia's affair is brought to light, and Fitz facing potential impeachment. Long story short, Olivia is likely gonna be called up to the stand, and because the has a "white hat", (allegedly), she doesn't wanna lie. So Fitz offers that they get married to avoid that, and Liv decides meet with Mellie to release Rowan.

Now that I think of it, it's legit insane 😭, how does the prospect of marrying Fitz even get weighed with releasing the devil 😭. And then she has the audacity to try and act all oblivious after ☠️. Also, Jake read her to filth in the scene after he confronts her with Elise's death, saying she's Rowan's greatest achievement, she really is 😭

Just finished s5e17 (Andrew Nichol’s fate), and it had me thinking..by the end of the show, who hasn’t killed at least 1 person?😭

Do you think Olivia knew that FITZ knew about the abortion?

I'll go on a bit of a rant here, but I despise Fitz for many reasons. He's a shit father, husband, friend and president. But I wanna talk about how he's a hypocrite. Asides from him getting pissed at Melly and Andrew's affair, despite his whole schtick with Liv,(and the white house aid☠️). It's the whole thing with the jurors.

Melly gave up the juror's names after Rowan's threat to release both her and Fitz's affairs and the Remington mission. Fitz gave her so much shit for it, despite sending America to war with West Angola, just so he could save Olivia, but somehow he's so morally superior. It pisses me off so much 😭.

Sidenote: Nelly deserved soo much better, from Fitz, Liv, generally everyone, I know she's not a saint or anything, but still, she really suffered so much 😭.

I find it amusingwhen they talk about "chewy centers" This is a great visual for me. I just see starburst candies. It's almost Halloween...

I finished the series again. So what's your most memorable lines in the show?

other than
'Nobody takes Command'

So I just started watching Scandal.

I tried watching it when it first came out with my friends but couldn’t get it into then but now!?? I can’t believe how good it is! Kerry Washington is everything and I mean EVERYTHING. She’s literally the reason I gave the show so many tries before finally, finally getting the hype. It’s so good!! I mean Kerry/Olivia is so good that I’m actually rooting for her to help get rich white guys get away with their rich white guy crimes. Can you imagine?? Rooting for rich white (conservative) men, as a black woman. Who am I???

I hate the cheating trope so much (as someone who has been cheated on, it ain’t fun) but my god her chemistry with the President is wild, like screaming into my pillow wild! I didn’t understand why people were so attracted to Fitz when the show first came out, all I saw was a white man with no eyebrows… but I GET IT now and I’m crushing 😮‍💨 (that’s my Tarzan)

Funny thing is though, I don’t like Shonda Rhimes, never have. Something about her work rubs me the wrong way - main thing being as a black woman I feel like she doesn’t create enough spaces for black women.

I’ve never seen Bridgerton, because where are the black women??? (I know there’s some, but I’m talking unambiguous black leads, not light/biracial) you have the ability to give opportunities to a group that doesn’t have them, that’s so underrepresented it’s crazy - a group that you yourself belong to but decide to pull the ladder out from under you and lift up a group (White Women) that is already soooo overly represented, a group that’s literally the default face of EVERYTHING. Even Tyler Perry does his part - albeit really, really badly (we don’t support Tyler’s rep of black women in the house).

I understand being complicit initially to make a name for yourself but once that name is made, maybe give others like yourself the opportunity?? And make it happy? (Star-Crossed Lovers smh)

And ofc, Scandal, the fact that there’s just the one black woman… I haven’t gone far in the show, so I shall wait and see.

Another thing, why do y’all hate Olivia and Fitz so much??? The only thing I remembered about this show from years ago was just them (and Cyrus, whom I love! - I didn’t even remember Mellie!) so why all this hate?? They’re genuinely the most intriguing characters on the show so far. I’ve finished season 2 and I can’t stand Mellie - I can sympathise with her for being cheated on but she’s just as complicit. She’s using both Fitz and Olivia to get what she wants, she goes behind his back, disrespects him, manipulates both of them and makes messes then cries about it so nope, I don’t like her. She’s unhappy and she knows Fitz is unhappy but refuses to let him go. But the way people on this sub HATE on them is actually wild - this isn’t the “Scandal” sub it’s literally the “I hate Fitz/Olivia” sub, who, again, are the only reason the show remained so popular but okay, go off. Y’all clearly didn’t grow up on Days of our Lives or telenovelas, if your issue is the messiness in a fictional DRAMA TV series. I won’t lie, they’re the main reason I’m still watching - the eps without them while good, aren’t that memorable from any other TV show. The side characters genuinely aren’t memorable (so far) so again, why all the hate? Wait except Cyrus, I genuinely enjoy Cyrus.

The most powerful man in the world being brought to his knees by a love he can’t have?? How can y’all not eat this up? Talk about tortured! And for a black woman no less!

Olivia Pope was iconic when this show first came out and she still is. I remember everyone trying to emulate her and dress like her. Like that is an icon, no matter how much the show butchered her towards the end (from what I’ve heard).

To be fair I’ve only finished season 2 but so far, I don’t get the hate. We love a FICTIONAL mess on TV.

Also another hot topic, I must say, I’m not digging Jake so far. His face (his eyes maybe?) is weird looking to me and he’s soooo dry; the character/personality, his portrayal, plus the chemistry ain’t there. I see the potential but it’s not landing for me. It’s not steamy or spicy, it’s just there. And maybe that’s why I’m not excited by their relationship - I said what I said. Fitz and Liv have you clutching your pearls - even their non-steamy scenes, you’re glued to them. Jake and Liv, I’m just like “K”

Quinn and Huck were incesting basically, definitely felt weird

I rewatched scandal as an adult and I can’t believe I ever watched this in the first place. All the characters were evil, manipulative, power hunger, and ego driven. It was extremely triggering and I’m in shock this show was so popular. It’s crazy.

I think HUCK was the best gladiator, sorry!

I don’t even know where to start😭😭 I’ve always seen edits about scandal but I’ve never sat down and watched it and now I did I’m like why didn’t I do it sooner?? I mean the plots just kept getting better and better😨 I mean we’re there some unnecessary plots? Well yes maybe one day I’ll get into those but for now I just wanna say my overall thoughts about the show now that I’ve watched all 7 seasons.

Charlie and Quinn have a lovely relationship and I’m happy for them with that said I do not like Quinn I will not fall for the Quinn is not a bad person for turning her back on Olivia after she became command.. just like how huck cared and tried to help liv Quinn just gave up so no she’s not one of my fav characters as u said I’m happy for her and Charlie.

Huck I mean I don’t like huck but u also don’t hate him. Tbh the only reason I like huck is because of his loyalty to liv I mean I need someone as loyal as huck in my life. With that being said I do feel bad for him and how all of his relationships end up. I really wish he was able to go back to his family😕.

Abby I loved Abby until she betrayed liv but I also love Abby for always being there for liv I mean that’s the least she can do. I wish she married david I also liked her with leo I mean j like her with anyone tbh I wish she never betrayed liv.

Fitz ughhhh fitzs I have a love hate feeling for him. I love his relationship with liv but I can’t get into that in this post because that deserves a whole post itself 😭😭 I will say tho I’m a Vermont and jam with kids typa girl not standing in the sun😬.the hate part I feel abt him comes from how much of a baby he is ugh I hate how he’s always trying to assert his dominance like I cringe all the damn time 😭😭like we get it your president but only because of Olivia.

Jake I do not like Jake and I did not like his the whole series that’s all imma say about him he has some really good scenes with Olivia tho that first sex tape was tea that’s it and that’s all tho. I have fed him throughout the series.

Cyrus omg I did not believe everyone when they said never feel bad for Cyrus like that ma is genuinely evil and he did not deserve James, Michael or even fucking tom. He deserves his own post aswell like that man is insane honestly.

Papa popo I hated him at first but I grew to love him he’s honestly not a bad person and seeing him with robin warmed my heart I wish he got his happy ending with Sandra 😕😕

Call me bias but I never hated Olivia throughout the whole series I loved her then liked her I do miss season 1 Olivia but she’s gone sadly🙁🙁💔💔.

Idk what else I’m missing but ik I’m missing a lot lol comments to let me know your thoughts aswellll🥹

Rewatching, and I'm in the thick of the B613 arcs again. Rowan sitting in that bunker, Command answering to literally no one, Huck and Jake getting turned into whatever the job needed. It still gets under my skin.

I know it's TV and Shonda dialed everything up to 100. But the reason B613 works so well is that it feels only a few steps away from real life. No oversight, no paper trail, nobody who can shut it down. Not even the president.

So I'm curious. Has anyone here gone down the rabbit hole on this? Is there anything real, like declassified programs, leaks, or hearings, that comes close to what B613 was? I know about the Church Committee stuff from the 70s and the Snowden leaks. Those feel more like a government overstepping, though, not a whole agency running itself.

Do you think something like that could exist now, or is that the one part of the show that's pure fiction? Would love to hear what you all think, especially if you've read up on it.

Would you want a whole new cast plus Olivia?
Is Fitz still a thing?
Is Jake still in prison?

It took me wayyy too long to watch this series but I’m so glad I did after a coworker recommended it to me this summer. I’m a big How to Get Away With Murder fan so I knew I would like Scandal and I would say I liked it even more than HTGAWM. I found the political aspect/setting interesting. Even though there were definitely issues I had with the show, especially the later seasons, I still really enjoyed it and getting to know the characters. I’m sad that I’m done and won’t get to see everything for the first time again!

Anyone have any recs of similar shows?