The season two finale of ABC’s hit political drama “Scandal” left fans at the edge of their seats as it was revealed that Olivia’s (Kerry Washington) affair with President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn) was not public knowledge. To top it off, fans learned that the mysterious Rowan (Joe Morton) is in fact Liv’s father.
Creator Shonda Rhimes opened up about the upcoming season and what fans can expect to see. While she remained mum about Liv and Fitz’s future, Rhimes did comment on the mistress-gate scandal that will rock the White House.
“They have some big challenges on their hands right there,” Rhimes told TV Guide. “I think Cyrus is busy trying not to have a heart attack, which I also fully understand. It’s going to be difficult for him to deal with. It’s going to be difficult for all of them. We’re going to see some stuff that I hope will be surprising.”
Rhimes also briefly opened up about Liv’s relationship to her dad. “You will see what the father-daughter relationship is like and you will discover many things [about Olivia’s past],” the showrunner teased.
Actress Darby Stanchfield, who plays Gladiator Abby Whelan, also shared some insight with TV Guide into a flashback that will occur within the first two episodes of the season regarding the pre-election days of Liv’s relationship with the president.
“We find out answers to things we thought we already knew, but they’re totally not like you think,” Stanchfield said.
As for the president’s rocky marriage to Mellie (Bellamy Young), Rhimes told TVLine that the couple “are still together” and that “Mellie is in a caretaking mode.”
Not to be left behind, Liv’s Gladiators will have a lot to deal with this season. In regards to Quinn’s (Katie Lowes) torture scene and how it will affect her in the future, Rhimes said, “That’s one of those questions that I love because if you look at it from Quinn’s perspective, she got a chance to torture the man who killed her boyfriend Gideon (Brendan Hines).”
The showrunner added, “She discovered that she’s far more capable than she ever thought she was and she’s rocking some new skills as far as she’s concerned, so she’s enjoying herself. Whether or not the rest of her colleagues at OPA are going to enjoy her in this way is a little bit different. Whether or not Huck (Guillermo Diaz) is going to be in an emotional position t deal with where she is, is also a question.”
“Scandal” season 3 premieres on Thursday, October 3 at 10 p.m. on ABC.