Ep 12. Truth or Consequences

The episode "Truth or Consequences" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the political drama series Scandal, which aired on January 31, 2013, on ABC. It follows the continuing story of Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), a crisis manager and the former White House Communications Director, and her team at the crisis management firm Olivia Pope & Associates, as they navigate the treacherous terrain of Washington, D.C., politics while dealing with personal and professional challenges.

In this episode, Olivia and her team are still reeling from the revelation that the President of the United States, Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), was involved with the assassination of Supreme Court Justice Verna Thornton (Debra Mooney). As they try to figure out their next move, they are confronted with a new crisis: a cyberterrorist has hacked into the intelligence community’s top-secret files and is threatening to release them to the public unless his demands are met.

Meanwhile, Fitz is grappling with his own demons. He’s struggling with the guilt and grief of Verna’s death, and he’s also feeling trapped in his own marriage to First Lady Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young). Mellie, on the other hand, is determined to keep her position of power and is willing to use any means necessary to do so.

As the episode progresses, the team at Olivia Pope & Associates tries to track down the cyberterrorist and stop him before he can release any sensitive information. Meanwhile, Fitz discovers a new ally in the form of Senator Edison Davis (Norm Lewis), who has his own presidential ambitions and is eager to help Fitz take down his opponents.

But as the team gets closer to the truth behind the cyberattack, they discover that it is not just a random act of terrorism, but is actually part of a larger conspiracy involving some of the most powerful players in Washington, D.C. Now, Olivia and her colleagues must navigate their way through a web of lies and deceit as they try to uncover the truth and protect their clients.

"Truth or Consequences" is a tense, high-stakes episode that highlights the show's signature mix of political intrigue and personal drama. It delves deeper into the complicated relationships and power struggles between the show's main characters, making it a must-watch for fans of the series. The episode is filled with twists and turns, and leaves viewers on the edge of their seats as they wait to see how the drama will unfold.