'Scandal' News: Olivia Pope Murders Andrew Nichols in Shocking Twist; Season Six Renewal
The gruesome scene of "Scandal's" last episode is enough to stop any character from crossing Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington). Pope ends up killing former Vice President Andrew Nichols (Jon Tenney), who orchestrated her kidnapping in the previous season. And she did it in a way that surprised not only the viewers, but Washington herself. In a fit of post-traumatic stress brought on by her kidnapping experience, Pope hit Nichols with a chair---again and again---which had her face covered in splotches of Nichols' blood. And at that, she turned to Abby (Darby Stanchfield), saying, "Never cross me again."
It is presumed that Pope had gone to the White House bunker to visit Nichols to dissuade him from his plan to reveal his affair with Mellie (Bellamy Young), a deal he had sealed with Abby. But he proceeds to torment Pope by calling her names and other distasteful words which only served to bring back to Pope's mind scenes from her horrifying ordeal.
Another theory which seeks to explain the appalling murder is that Pope had gone down for the visit planning to kill Nichols. The scene serves to bring to the viewer's consciousness the prevalence of the power struggle, even in seeming gentility of Washington. But the scene with Nichols also demonstrates that power does not only exist in those who occupy the loftiest office in the land, or even among those whose coffers overflow. The power of words resides even in those immobile and trapped in a wheelchair.
Power: it is what Nichols lived---and died---for.
"Scandal" season five still has a lot to reveal, with the finale yet in May. Viewers also wonder whether the remainder of the season will bring a reconciliation of Pope and Fitz Grant (Tony Goldwyn).
Although the series creator, Shonda Rhimes has admitted that "Scandal" will not have that many seasons, a season six renewal has already been confirmed by ABC.
No date has been revealed as to the showing of this next season installment.
