This episode is a hard one for white Americans to watch. I know Bc I am a part of that majority. It is also hard when America is having to ask the very tough question, why are young black unarmed men dying at the hands of police so often? And I often t is a white cop. It is especially hard for me, as a spouse to a police officer myself. People in the comments are upset that this episode touched so close to home and made people uncomfortable, but in doing so, it creates a dialogue full of powerful opinions. I watch scandal on Netflix, therefore, I binge watch it. I have enjoyed I for so many reasons, and one of those is Bc it's an escape. I am able to watch a drama unfold in front of me that doesn't reflect my own life. Sometimes I want he shows I want to be real, and other times, I want an escape! This episode did not let me escape. It was real.
Olivia has just come back from being held captive and is fighting how to function in her everyday life, while living the horrors of the past few weeks (week, time is unclear here) and trying to hide from the pain. She gets called in by the DC Metro Police to handle a situation involving a young black man, Brandon Parker, being shot by a white police officer. The community starts to gather around and their anger grows. While this is happening Brandon's dad, Clarence, points a shotgun and the men who are trying investigate the shooting. The dad is adamant that the police force that wrongly killed his son, shouldn't be the one that handles the investigation. While Pope and Associates are investigating the shooting, the President and Beane are trying to find a replacement for the VP. Cyrus picks a candidate that fulfills the promise that President Grant made to the US while he was running for office-running the government a different way, and not maintaining the status quo. While they are trying to find someone who can represent a minority, Olivia is fighting for the minority.
The only true negative I personally found was that they opened up a huge topic only to have it miraculously come together in the last 5 mins. But, such is episodic television! Great show and worth the watch!!!
7 Reviews
Ignore the overpolitical theme, great ep
MiketheWhistle19 July 2019
This was a great ep, but you have to ignore the subject matter a bit. Courtney Vance is a great actor and truly makes this ep really good. His portrayal especially at the end is fantastic.
As to the subject matter, it's completely off-base as there are no statistics that backup that black men are killed at a rate statistically abnormal by white police officers. Are black men killed by police, yes; but by both white and black officers. Are the shootings avoidable? In some cases yes, in some cases failure to follow instructions is the main reason which is apparently what happened in this ep. And if you listen to the charges against the officers, murder was not one of the charges; it was the cover-up. Was the speech by the white police actor over played? It depends if you listen to it. I was raised to respect my elders, parents, military, police, and pretty much everyone. Unfortunately that isn't the case anymore and I can say that from experience with my stepson who doesn't give respect to anyone despite best efforts. So they were just playing on the news of the day, which gets ratings.
Still relevant
omclark12 June 2020
Great story
bunnyxboox15 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was portrayed really well showing us some real life issues that are still relevant. It wasn't in your face or pushing an agenda, just telling a story. Not everything has to be fact checked, this isn't based on anyone in particular. I didn't finish watching this episode thinking all police are awful, because that's not what they were trying to do. I just thought 'what a sad story, shame that this may be some people's reality'
All I think to focus on is the story being told, how heartbreaking it was and realise that some parts of this may/has/is some people's reality which is extremely sad.
Ironic that people are saying it's a biased political agenda. You do know what some of the main elements of this show is about? White House... president.... Politics.. anyway.
All I think to focus on is the story being told, how heartbreaking it was and realise that some parts of this may/has/is some people's reality which is extremely sad.
Ironic that people are saying it's a biased political agenda. You do know what some of the main elements of this show is about? White House... president.... Politics.. anyway.
Political agenda much?
elizabeth_rose3245 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I don't watch entertainment television to have politics pushed on me. I understand that much of this show is politically based, but including true world politics, such as the modern day issues between the black community and police officers is truly uncalled for. It's almost despicable. Scandal, why must you push such a political agenda? I don't want to see an entire episode wrapped around cop hating. Just stop. I feel like I can't watch TV anymore without a political message nowadays. This episode included a white police officer shooting a young black boy and this inevitably becomes a real world situation, obviously reflecting that of Trayvon Martin. Please, for goodness sakes, just avoid actual politics in a TV show and just create new story lines.
Political correctness
dobergirl22 November 2016
This was the worst Scandal episode I have watched to date; I am a bit behind with the episodes. My mom is a big fan and she turned me on to Scandal. The reason I keep watching is because the script writing is phenomenal, and the cast is extraordinary. As an audience, we tune in to entertainment medium to escape every day life. We want another place to go to get away from politics and mainstream media garbage dumping. I feel that this story line was so biased and only served to push a narrative and an agenda that frankly not all Americans, particularly blacks, agree with. Please don't take Scandal down this road because you will RUIN a really great show. Leave your opinions about controversial topics out of the narrative and stop trying to influence us (your audience) to your point of view. We do not all share it.
Inappropriate Low Blow
chubbydave11 August 2017
In this episode, Olivia Pope is asked by the Washington DC police department to help calm a crowd gathered after a young black man was shot by a white police officer. Racial tensions and tensions between the police and citizens were portrayed.
The portrayal of the DC Metropolitan police department was inaccurate and shameful. The fact is that the DC government and the DC police do not have a strained relationship with the citizenry. The politicians and many of the employees of the DC government consist of local people. The police department has a good relationship with the citizens and they do not shoot unarmed citizens. This is not an accident. This is a result of the recruitment and training of the department.
I know that the show takes place in DC. They could have easily written the story to be about a nearby city like Baltimore.
The portrayal of the DC Metropolitan police department was inaccurate and shameful. The fact is that the DC government and the DC police do not have a strained relationship with the citizenry. The politicians and many of the employees of the DC government consist of local people. The police department has a good relationship with the citizens and they do not shoot unarmed citizens. This is not an accident. This is a result of the recruitment and training of the department.
I know that the show takes place in DC. They could have easily written the story to be about a nearby city like Baltimore.
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