Ep 2. The State of the Union

As the second episode of Scandal season 4, "The State of the Union" is filled with drama, political intrigue, and intense relationships among the show's key players.

The episode starts off with a literal bang, as Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) narrowly avoids being hit by a bullet meant for her latest client, President Fitz Grant (Tony Goldwyn). The shooting at the State of the Union address sets off a chain of events that tests Olivia's abilities as a crisis manager and ultimately leads her to make a crucial decision that could change the course of her career.

Meanwhile, Fitz is dealing with his own set of problems - his marriage to Mellie (Bellamy Young) is on the rocks, and his affair with Olivia is becoming increasingly complicated. The tension between Fitz and Mellie reaches a boiling point in this episode, as Mellie confronts her husband and demands to know the truth about his relationship with Olivia.

As always, the rest of the gladiators at Olivia Pope and Associates are in the thick of the action - Abby (Darby Stanchfield) takes on the thankless task of managing the media frenzy surrounding the shooting, while Harrison (Columbus Short) and Quinn (Katie Lowes) work to uncover the truth about who's behind the assassination attempt.

"The State of the Union" also introduces a new set of characters who are sure to play a prominent role in the season ahead. Portia de Rossi joins the cast as Elizabeth North, the head of the Republican National Committee, who butts heads with Olivia over a potential Supreme Court nomination.

Overall, "The State of the Union" is a fitting follow-up to the explosive season premiere, and sets the stage for even more twists and turns in the episodes to come. For fans of the show, it's a must-watch.