By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Thursday, April 23, 2015
Russell is apparently a B613 doofus when it comes to killing because he somehow didn't finish Jake off despite multiple knife wounds. Wouldn't he know where to stab Jake to ensure he was dead?
Then again, Jake must have an incredible amount of spare blood coursing through his veins to keep him alive as he's bleeding out in multiple places. He looks like a dam with multiple leaks once the entire team finds him. (Sidebar: Quinn is still reading a print newspaper? Thanks!)
Jake gets treated by a Russian mob doctor they are able to find since they want to stay off the grid. Jake is exceedingly lucky. Russell didn't hit any major arteries. But Jake's lung is punctured. The doc needs blood. Quinn and Charlie grab some at a local hospital because that's how Gladiators work.
When Russell informs Rowan he killed Jake, Rowan says if that were the case, his daughter would be calling him, seeking vengeance. Since she has gone underground, Jake is still alive. So he tells Russell to find Jake and kill him off once and for all.
In the meantime, the doc needs a favor regarding Black Sable, who is like a lady straight out of "The Americans." She's a ruthless Russian woman brought to America to kill people when necessary. Then the Cold War ended. She became fully Americanized but just got an order for the first time in 27 years. The doc wants them to help her get out of this murder order because if she refuses, she dies.
They find the handler but he's not able to be bought. The Black Sable is retired. She now feels remorse about all her kills. She no longer wants to do it.
Russell's incompetence continues. He fails at first to find Liv, so Rowan shoots him in the upper arm. This gets Liv's attention and she finds him in the hospital, claiming a robbery attempt. They knock him and out and take his phone to the Russian handler so he can go kill Rowan. "Kill Command, set her free," Liv says.
Naturally, this whole plan blows up in her face. Rowan has Black Sable killed - and the handler is in her trunk with the phone she left him. "Against me, you will never win," he tells his daughter.
The mob doctor leaves. Liv puts on a show with Russell in earshot to convince David Rosen & Co. to put off trying to take B613 down. If not, she said, Rowan will kill everyone and "Scandal" will be effectively over. "We are done!" she says. "I'm going to call him and say game over."
Russell informs Rowan the news and Rowen says it's time to move on to some new cockamamie plan called Foxtail.
Sex and pain? Liv has finally (finally!) figured out Russell is Rowan's shill. She gets on top of him in lingerie... and a gun on his forehead. Russell is the only one who could have known about the Russians and had them killed, she explains. She wants intel on Foxtail. What will he say? We find out next week.
Weekly Liv threat quote: 'Some people have bark. Some people have bite. I have both." - Liv to Russian handler she wants "shut down"
Cyrus vs. Sally: Mellie starts her campaign as a Senator of Virginia. Sally Langston, former VP and now a fiery commentator of Bill O'Reilly level fame, raises the issue of her conflict of interest, being too cozy with the president. Abby suggests Cyrus speak to Sally to defend Mellie, although he isn't really on board with this. He calls her out for sexism. Sally then calls out Cyrus and says he really wants that Senate job. He battles back successfully. But the numbers are still bad. She can't win. Lizzie Bear suggests they divorce so people know there is no conflict. Mellie refuses.
Late night call: Fitz used to call Liv late at night for advice. It's been awhile but he's back at it - this time on behalf of Mellie. Liv is not thrilled but goes into fight mode anyway, saying they should make her access/conflict of interest a strength, not a weakness. The strategy appears to work for Virginia voters. But Cyrus is sour. He tells Abyy he thinks Fitz will now be considered "whipped" and that will be the legacy. Speaking of sexist, Cyrus...
About the Author
