Sometimes, it takes more than just one season to appreciate the beauty of a show. This appears to be the case with ABC’s American political thriller series Scandal, which debuted in April 2012.
The show stars Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, whose character is partially based on Judy Smith, former press aide for the George Bush administration. Pope’s job focuses on protecting the public image of the nation’s elite. This becomes a struggle when Pope forms a relationship with president Fitzgerald, played by Tony Goldwyn. Issues of past relationships and other cast members fall into play throughout the show.
Creator Shonda Rhimes from the hit series Grey’s Anatomy began developing the show in early 2011. As described by Vulture’s Matt Zoller Seitz, the new series “had all the hallmarks of a guilty pleasure.” The show brought in impressive ratings at its season two finale, breaking its previous records and pulling in 9.1 million viewers.
Seitz says, “Season two is where Scandal went from being an interesting, promising show to a flat-out terrific one. Hell, let’s call it great: to do otherwise would imply that Scandal is innately less respectable than Homeland or the Americans, both of which are good, at times superb shows, and which mix domestic intrigue and political skulduggery so that one feels like an extension of the other.”
Scandal’s third season will premiere this fall on ABC.