Ep 3. Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington

After the bombshell revelation at the end of the last episode, "Scandal" returns with "Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington." The episode picks up with Olivia and her team continuing to deal with the aftermath of the information about Fitz and Mellie's son, Jerry Jr. Meanwhile, Olivia receives a new client in the form of Congresswoman Josephine Marcus, who is looking to run for president. However, Olivia soon discovers that Josephine has a secret that could put a wrench in her campaign.

The episode opens with Mellie being questioned by the media about her involvement in the cover-up of her son's death. She denies any involvement and blames Olivia for the leaks. In the meantime, Fitz is distraught over the news and refuses to take Mellie's calls. He seeks solace in his relationship with Olivia, but she is too busy dealing with the fallout to give him much attention. Abby is also dealing with her feelings for David Rosen, who is now living with her but is still investigating the leak in the previous episode.

At the same time, Olivia takes on a new client in the form of Congresswoman Josephine Marcus, who is looking to unseat President Grant in the upcoming election. With the help of Olivia and her team, Josephine gives a rousing speech about her background growing up poor and her dedication to the American people. It seems like Josephine has a real chance at becoming president, but things get complicated when a video of her teenage pregnancy is leaked to the media. Olivia and her team investigate the video and discover that Josephine gave up the baby for adoption, a fact that she has kept hidden from everyone.

As Olivia and her team try to come up with a strategy to deal with this new development, Josephine struggles with whether or not to come clean about her past. With the help of Marcus's family, Olivia decides to use the situation to their advantage and paint Josephine as a relatable figure who has overcome adversity. In the end, Josephine delivers another powerful speech in which she reveals her past to the American people and promises to fight for those who have had similar struggles.

Meanwhile, Mellie continues to deal with the fallout from the previous episode, as she and Fitz are being investigated for their involvement in the cover-up. She seeks out Olivia's help, but Olivia is too busy with her new client to give her much attention. Mellie turns to Cyrus for help, and he agrees to do what he can to protect her and Fitz. In the end, Mellie is cleared of any wrongdoing, but she realizes that she has lost the support of the American people and her husband.

Overall, "Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington" is a strong episode that deals with the fallout from the previous episode while introducing new storylines that promise to be just as interesting. The addition of Congresswoman Josephine Marcus is a welcome one, as it brings a new dynamic to the show as Olivia and her team try to help her get elected while dealing with her personal scandal. The episode also continues to explore the relationships between the various characters, with Mellie and Fitz's marriage falling apart and Abby and David's relationship moving forward. All in all, it's a solid episode that leaves viewers excited to see what happens next.