Scandal: Gladiators in Suits

            Scandal is ABC’s newest and campiest drama.  I would compare Scandal with the likes of Revenge and The Good Wife.  The main character, portrayed by Kerry Washington, is straightforward and confident, but still has her weaknesses.  She refers to her team as gladiators in suits. In the first episode viewers are able to see Olivia Pope (Washington) and her teamwork to protect reputations other than their own.   Olivia’s job is to protect the secrets of her clients from being exposed.  Although her clients are not always moral, it seems as though Olivia can see the true character of that person and will agree to sign them as a client.  Olivia is the one who is sought after, because she is the best at what she does.  But no one is really sure what exactly it is that she does.  She is the combination of a publicist and a lawyer.  In the first episode she states that she tries to make it a point to never actually enter into a courtroom.  She gets her clients free from any sort of legal or publicity trouble that they are in before it makes head lines. 

            Scandal is very exciting and suspenseful and every commercial break is time that you are wishing that you could get back to the episode.  This is a very good show to watch if you love crime drama procedurals but you are a little sick of the time always spent in the courtroom.  This television takes you on a rollercoaster mystery, where you must follow Olivia Pope’s team as they race the clock to put together alibis or seek and hide the truth.  Olivia has many connections that she has made because of her stellar work. But one connection that she made in the past may come back to haunt her for the entire season.  She has many bridges that she has made through her work, but her lack of bonds with true and loyal friends will certainly bring the conflict.  And the friends that she does have, have secrets that could drag her down.

            This show is so relevant right now because every aspect of the world currently is filled with scandals and secrets.  There are so many scandals every year that ruin hardworking individual’s reputations.  The question that this show brings up is if the secrets that people keep make them who they are.  It is important to remember because the Internet, news and rumors travel quickly and Olivia’s job is to prevent the media wildfire that can stem from her clients secrets being revealed.  Without the Internet news had a harder time getting around the country, but it was also harder to obtain information as well.  Presently, news and information shoots across screens in a matter of seconds and any little rumor true or false will be used and once it is put out into the world it can never be taken back, but Pope might be able to take it back.  Olivia Pope will undoubtedly prevent more scandals in future episodes, but will certainly make some of her own.