Scandal

:

Season 2
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 5, 2012
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 73
  3. Negative: 10 out of 73
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User Reviews

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  1. carolyncrantz
    Sep 30, 2014
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Juicy material, but too many plot holes to hold and zero character appeal. This show is only watchable as long as you don't think about what's going on. Olivia Pope is championed as a great figure often wearing a "white hat" and she's supposed to be lauded for her power and courage, yet, if you pay attention, you realize she is weak and ignoble. Olivia is not ruled by justice or a desire to do good, but simply to do what her clients pay her for, which is to "fix" whatever problems they have, and these are often unsavory to say the least, mostly illegal, but worse, immoral. But my biggest issue with this show concerns Olivia and her love interest, the President. Their nearly every interaction involves her trying to get away from him, him unrelenting, her saying not, him saying "but I love you," and then them getting it on. The rape-y undertones of this are super problematic, but this also destroys any notion of Olivia being a strong and empowered woman. Not only are the sex scenes troubling, but her entire relationship with the president involves him barking orders at her, her arguing, him screaming, and her falling in line, and eventually forgiving him because he says she is the "love of his life." But that love only seems to come as long as he can control her, which is sick, twisted, and just plain sad. I've suffered through the first and second seasons, hoping Olivia would finally find her strength and tell the President to go f-off, but that doesn't seem to be coming, so I'm out. (and I just want to repeat, the president is rape-y, and that is so not ok.)… Expand
  2. kaisza
    Jan 5, 2013
    9
    This show is becoming better and better. It has it all: suspense, twists and turns, romance, plots. It is well written, well played and I find myself waiting for Thursday nights just to see what's next .
  3. JP2050
    Nov 30, 2012
    10
    So Addicted and impossible stop to watch. Scandal season 2 finally show the real potential of the show, all the fast dialogues, conspiracy and romance are just amazing. Kerry Washington and the rest of the cast shine in just seven episodes.
  4. mosey2013
    Apr 20, 2013
    9
    I have to admit I ignored this show when it started because I couldn't stand Greys Anatomy. Then one night I saw this excitement on twitter at about the 6 th episode of season 1 and I have hooked ever since its soapy, over the top and tv needed something like this.
  5. PipePVelasco
    Oct 27, 2013
    10
    Impossible miss a single episode. The first part of the show was managed by Fitz's attack, but before then, there is an excellent show. "Happy Birrthday, Mr. President" make people watching the hit has already began. The episode "Truth of Consequences" brilliant, as well as "Nobody likes babies", "Snake in the garden", "Seven-Fifty-Two", excellent the end of the episode "Any Questions?"Impossible miss a single episode. The first part of the show was managed by Fitz's attack, but before then, there is an excellent show. "Happy Birrthday, Mr. President" make people watching the hit has already began. The episode "Truth of Consequences" brilliant, as well as "Nobody likes babies", "Snake in the garden", "Seven-Fifty-Two", excellent the end of the episode "Any Questions?" and the season finale the best episode yet. This season not only Kerry Washington keep doing brilliant job, but Bellamy Young, Perry, Darby, Katie Lowes, Bucatinsky, and for sure Diaz, stole the show.
    The cast, the writing, the directing, the photography, the acting, the costume desing, everything work it out. Well Done ABC's Scandal.
    This show deserve more nominations at the Globes, the TCAs, Critics Choice and Emmys.    … Expand
  6. endaugust
    Feb 17, 2013
    10
    Season 2 of this show is positively off-the-chart, crazily heart-pounding! Unlike "Smash" and "Nashville" which go downhill as it goes on, this show never seems to run out of ideas and intriguing plots.
  7. raviopatra
    Nov 17, 2013
    10
    Well, hats off to Shonda Rhimes. Who would've thought of most of this season's scandalous cases? An attempt to assassinate the President of the United States is a big risk to take, but the show has done it quite perfectly. I think this is the first time in years a show is actually picking up in considerable improvement both critically and commercially in its subsequent season(s).
  8. TheQuietGamer
    Nov 26, 2016
    8
    Scandal's second season makes some steps forward in terms of quality by giving it's supporting cast more to do and fleshing them out a bit. While it doesn't do anything to make "Abby" (Darby Stanchfield) any less unlikable, it at least makes the rest of the cast's sub-plots more entertaining. The main appeal of the series is the overall larger plot of the season that runs in the backgroundScandal's second season makes some steps forward in terms of quality by giving it's supporting cast more to do and fleshing them out a bit. While it doesn't do anything to make "Abby" (Darby Stanchfield) any less unlikable, it at least makes the rest of the cast's sub-plots more entertaining. The main appeal of the series is the overall larger plot of the season that runs in the background of this case a week style show.

    At 22 roughly hour long episodes, at times the pace can kind of feel like it's dilly-dallying a bit to much as we watch these characters constantly flip-flop in their decisions at The White House. Despite that, the still meatier parts of the series take place in our nation's capital and serve as the show's most interesting component. This season provides a lot twists, drama, and forbidden romance to keep us entertained.

    Each episodes individual cases also improved. The writing is no less obvious though, as you can still see the "big twists" that take place in these mini-stories. However, they are filled with more interesting characters for Pope and crew to interact with. New scenarios as well.

    Scandal increases in quality from the simple act of making us give a crap about the people Olivia Pope surrounds herself with. Keeping us engaged when they are the only ones onscreen. The show still needs to work on it's at times obvious twists and I would to see it stop retreading so much ground in terms of characters actions (Oh look, Huck's having another breakdown). With plenty of bigger political drama being the heart of the series, Scandal is even more worth your time now.    … Expand
  9. ElfQueen
    Jan 4, 2015
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've tried working my way through Season's 1 and 2 yet Kerry Washington's over-enunciation (like she's doing jaw exercises, not a naturally articulate woman), always wearing white (which would be distracting fashion for a supposedly a low-key 'fixer'), seems to over-compensate for the insecurities of the producers/show-runners to the fact she's a black woman. "Look, I'm white just like you! Just a slight sunburn; my suit states it all!"" OK, we get it, she's not society's 'typical' idea of Gen X/Y single black woman, since she's cheating with a powerful married white man. Yet it is getting tiresome fast, and the Crisis-Of-The-Week episode arcs are preposterous.… Expand
  10. All_ButTrU4
    Jan 10, 2022
    7
    Scandal's second season makes some steps forward in terms of quality by giving it's supporting cast more to do and fleshing them out a bit. While it doesn't do anything to make "Abby" (Darby Stanchfield) any less unlikable, it at least makes the rest of the cast's sub-plots more entertaining. The main appeal of the series is the overall larger plot of the season that runs in the backgroundScandal's second season makes some steps forward in terms of quality by giving it's supporting cast more to do and fleshing them out a bit. While it doesn't do anything to make "Abby" (Darby Stanchfield) any less unlikable, it at least makes the rest of the cast's sub-plots more entertaining. The main appeal of the series is the overall larger plot of the season that runs in the background of this case a week style show.

    At 22 roughly hour long episodes, at times the pace can kind of feel like it's dilly-dallying a bit to much as we watch these characters constantly flip-flop in their decisions at The White House. Despite that, the still meatier parts of the series take place in our nation's capital and serve as the show's most interesting component. This season provides a lot twists, drama, and forbidden romance to keep us entertained.

    Each episodes individual cases also improved. The writing is no less obvious though, as you can still see the "big twists" that take place in these mini-stories. However, they are filled with more interesting characters for Pope and crew to interact with. New scenarios as well.

    Scandal increases in quality from the simple act of making us give a crap about the people Olivia Pope surrounds herself with. Keeping us engaged when they are the only ones onscreen. The show still needs to work on it's at times obvious twists and I would to see it stop retreading so much ground in terms of characters actions (Oh look, Huck's having another breakdown). With plenty of bigger political drama being the heart of the series, Scandal is even more worth your time now.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 2 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Melissa Maerz
    Dec 10, 2012
    67
    Rhimes doesn't develop these affairs beyond their impact on the characters' careers, perhaps because the tone is supposed to be serious, not fun-flirty like Grey's. So it's hard to tell why these women sacrifice so much for the people they love.
    Read full review
  2. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Dec 10, 2012
    88
    It's lighter, smaller--West Condo!--but still a pleasure. [17 Dec 2012, p.37]