‘Scandal’ Recap: Olivia’s Life Is Handed Over To The Highest Bidder

Many, many people bid for Olivia Pope’s life on the Feb. 12 episode of ‘Scandal’, but only one buyer walked away the winner of the love of Fitz’s life.

Scandal sure knows how to end an episode with a cliffhanger! On the Feb. 12 episode, Olivia (Kerry Washington) was sold and became a bigger pawn in an even deadlier game, Huck (Guillermo Diaz) started to unravel (again) and Mellie (Bellamy Young) had to handle a serious problem that could have potentially marred her perfect image.

‘Scandal’ Recap: Ready, Set, Bid!

Abby’s (Darby Stanchfield) Gladiator instincts finally started to kick in, and she went to Olivia’s apartment looking for her. Except, there was no Olivia. She went to OPA to continue her search and found Huck and Quinn (Katie Lowes).

She didn’t get a warm reception. 

“You’re not a Gladiator anymore,” Huck said to Abby. When it became clear that Huck and Quinn weren’t going to tell her anything, she left. Abby was the “White House” and couldn’t be trusted. 

Ian had brought Olivia to his fellow team, and she was the last person they expected to see. “You don’t work with the hostage,” Gus said to Ian. Well, Ian was calling the shots, and Olivia was going to have a role in their plan. For now.

Andrew (Jon Tenney) was a little late to Ian’s new game and was shocked to hear how plans had changed. Yeah, he was pretty worried that Fitz would literally kill him if Olivia was returned to him in anything less than perfect condition.

Olivia’s bid was nearly set to go, and there were many, many players.  Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) was willing to underhandedly negotiate with terrorists in order to get a place in the bidding. Over at OPA, Jake (Scott Foley) wanted the gang to compile their money together in order get Olivia back. Forget the White House. While Quinn was still paying off her student loans, Huck was sitting pretty with all of B613’s $2 billion!

‘Scandal’ Recap: Everyone Loves Liv

Good thing Huck had $2 billion because Olivia was going to be insulted by anything less than $500 million. Geez. However, they needed to become friends with an all-star terrorist in order to get an invitation to the bidding. They only knew one…

MAMA POPE!

Just when you thought the bidding was going to go off without a hitch, GUS FREAKING SHOT IAN RIGHT IN FRONT OF OLIVIA. “You got a little something,” Gus said to Olivia about the blood splatter on her face. (*Shudders*)

May the odds be ever in your favor, Olivia, because Gus is certifiably crazy.

Cyrus went to Andrew to discuss his political future. He asked Andrew nicely to resign or he would go to prison. Unfortunately, Fitz could also go to prison as well if the country found out that he went to war for his “side piece.” Olivia Pope is NO ONE’S “side piece.”

Quinn and Jake got 10 minutes with Mama Pope (Khandi Alexander), courtesy of David (Josh Malina). Even though they were discussing her daughter’s life, she wanted to make a deal. David wasn’t going to let her out or get her in medium security. Quinn proved to be the ultimate negotiator and offered Mama Pope a TV.

‘Scandal’ Recap: Nothing Better Come Up Mellie

Fitz managed to figure out a loophole in his Andrew Nichols situation. All he and Cyrus (Jeff Perry) needed to do was to prove that the assassination attempt on Andrew was a fake. Cyrus went straight to Liz (Portia de Rossi) and offered her immunity if she testified against Andrew.

“You will, however, be my bitch until the end of time,” Cyrus told Liz. Bow down.

After getting her TV, Mama Pope (aka Marie Wallace) helped them get into Olivia’s bidding. But Huck had a special task to complete first. He butchered three men in order to please Mama Pope’s terrorist friend, Gustavo. Jake went after Huck and walked in on total carnage. Huck believed they needed to saw off the men’s heads as a bounty.

That’s when Jake started sawing off one of the heads. No, I am not joking.

Over at the White House, the power trio — Fitz, Cyrus and Mellie — had a bit of a problem. Andrew threatened Mellie and went for the jugular. If Andrew went to jail, he would tell the world about their affair.

Mellie could not have that.

‘Scandal’ Recap: Billion Dollar Baby

After Fitz finally told Abby about Olivia’s disappearance, she furiously ran to David. He maintained that she did not have a right to know about the situation. In return, Abby called him a “son of a bitch.” For all you Dabby shippers, times are tough.

Mellie mulled over Andrew’s threat by drinking hooch. Drunk Mellie returned and we are so blessed because of it. She told Fitz that he was going to have to allow Andrew to walk. “I’ll be ruined,” she said to him if he didn’t let Andrew go. Fitz admitted that he only wanted Liv to get home safe. Mellie, on the other hand, wanted to be President of the United States one day. To please his Mellie, Fitz agreed to let Andrew walk.

Quinn and Jake drank away their sorrows in Harrison and Stephen’s old office. (Anyone else wondering why they mentioned Stephen’s name after all this time? Maybe I’m reaching too far, but was this an easter egg of some sort?)

Jake was worried about Huck’s state of mind. Quinn said that Huck would be fine; he always managed to pull back from the brink. Huck spent all night creating the perfect Marie Wallace identity for the bidding. When the time came to start bidding, Olivia’s auction was GONE.

Huck began telling Jake and Quinn all the horrible things that would happen to her as a result. Finally, Quinn snapped. She started hitting Huck and called him a “sick bastard.”

“Olivia Pope is dead,” Huck said to Quinn. No, Olivia Pope is immortal.

But yes, Olivia had been sold. A buyer from Iran came to Gus with cold, hard cash. At the end of the episode, Gus handed Olivia over to her buyers.

That’s when the scene cut. How’s that for a cliffhanger?

HollywoodLifers, what did you think of tonight’s Scandal? Who do you think bought Olivia? (My money’s still on Papa Pope.) Sound off on your theories below!

— Avery Thompson
Follow @avery__thompson