Scandal review – 3×13: ‘No Sun On The Horizon’

Was the Last 30 seconds as amazing as promised? Short answer: meh.

Let’s bitch it out…

In “No Sun on the Horizon,” Sally Langston (Kate Burton) can no longer hide her crazy. In the aftermath of murdering her husband, God has decided to stop communing with Sally. The only way to hear his voice again? Confessing to the world that she forgot about “thou shall not kill.” Good thing there’s a presidential debate coming up…

Sally’s not the only one freaking out about her husband’s death. David (Joshua Malina) brings evidence over to Pope & Associates about the murder and, sadly more relevant, Cyrus (Jeff Perry) and Mellie’s (Bellamy Young) role in the cover up.

In the best scene of the night, Liv (Kerry Washington) and her XXL men’s coat confront Cyrus. They share some hysterical laughter when they realize that the upcoming presidential debate is murderer’s row. (Side Note: did Governor Reston kill his wife’s lover/contractor? It’s been awhile…). Like Cyrus tells Liv, “nobody’s perfect.” As soon as Liv walked into Cyrus’s office she knew what would happen: she would tell him that Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) can’t run if his Chief of Staff and wife could go to jail. And Cyrus tells Liv to zip it, and not to tell Fitz anything. After dreaming about the idea of living out in the sun, she realizes she’s been sucked back into the darkness.

Which is a shame because just beforehand, Liv began exploring her relationship with Jake (Scott Foley). When they both lament the positions they’re in (he’s realizing the weight of B613 and the decisions he has to make), Jake offers to run away with her and leave all this behind. I have a new found respect for Liv after seeing the meal she brought to his house – a double order of cheese fries and a bottle of wine. Just for her. But mostly I got distracted by this exchange:

Jake: If you get drunk tonight, I’m going to take advantage of you.
Liv: No, you won’t
Jake: No I won’t….run away with me, Liv, and save me
Liv: Take advantage of me, Jake

The potential of these two saving each other makes it even more depressing when they choose different paths. Liv has all but given up any qualms she had about the dirty work during the Defiance debacle; she’s now full-on committed to Fitz’s success no matter what the moral costs. And Jake, well, let’s see…

In a Cyrus Monologue ™, he asks Jake to kill Sally and save the republic before she confesses and destroys America’s faith in government (because if the Chief of Staff and FLOTUS are involved in a cover up, people will stop paying taxes and burn down DC, I guess). Jake initially turns down the request. But in a surprisingly weak turn as the head of the most powerful assassin agency ever, he gets manipulated by his own emotions. Between Quinn (Katie Lowes) egging him on that he’s not part of Liv’s family, and Liv stating that she was going back to the darkness (read: Fitz and his campaign), Jake decides to order the murder of the VEEP if she looks squirrelly at the debate.

Good thing Liv has that under control. She tells Fitz about the murder and cover up, and orders him to throw the presidential debate. Sally needs a sign that she’s back in God’s graces or she’ll confess. Fitz eventually lets his “personal failings” slip into the debate, which reignites Sally’s fire and brimstone just in time to stop her from telling the world about the murderous White House extra-curriculars. Good thing too, because our favorite bodyguard (hi Tom!) was thisclose to pulling the trigger.

Which brings us – finally! – to the much-touted last thirty seconds. I think ABC has been watching its own Bachelor promos too much (“the MOST. DRAMATIC. ROSE. CEREMONY. EVER!”). Now that we know Sally is safe, it’s down to the only other two people who could possibly get shot (because obviously someone is going to get shot right?): David and James (Dan Bucatinsky).

The likelier candidate is James since Cyrus found the bug his husband put in his office and realized that James is Publius (Side Note: we were only forced to hear that one time this episode, so thank you for that, Scandal writers!). While we don’t know which (or if either) of David and James are dead, we do know that it is Jake (JAKE!) who is holding a gun to their heads after killing two reporters.

Other Observations:

• Survival 101: If Cyrus ever looks at you crying and says “I’m sorry…more than anything, I love you” then you need to run, dude. You know what’s coming!
• The attempts to hide Kerry Washington’s pregnancy are more ridiculous than ever this episode. If I have to see one more out-of-focus chair covering up the lower 2/3 of her body, I’m going to scream.

Best Lines:

• George Newbern’s Charlie (to Quinn): “We sell paper for real?”
• Jake (to Quinn): “Watch how you talk to clients, we’re starting to lose fake business”

What did you think of ‘No Sun On The Horizon’? Were you also not surprised that either David or James would be in peril? Are you happy that Sally can once again claim “Jesus is my homeboy”? Sound off below!

Scandal airs Thursdays at 10pm EST on ABC