Ep 1. Survival of the Fittest

In season 6 episode 1 of Scandal titled "Survival of the Fittest," the Gladiators are back in town to implement their problem-solving expertise. However, this time they have a personal mission to pursue. Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and her team have their sights set on bringing down the current president-elect of the United States. The episode wastes no time picking up from where the previous season left off, as Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) and Francisco Vargas (Ricardo Chavira) are the two candidates running for presidency.

The season 6 opener primarily focuses on the events following the assassination of Francisco Vargas during his acceptance speech, leaving his vice-presidential running mate, Luna Vargas (Tessie Santiago), holding the bag. Olivia and the rest of the gladiators feel that Mellie Grant is the rightful winner, but the question is how to get her the presidency. The team decides to play dirty and scheme a plan to manipulate Luna Vargas into stepping down.

The episode shows several strands of storylines intertwined which includes, Quinn Perkins who is on a mission to find her ex-boyfriend, Charlie (George Newbern). She meets with Huck (Guillermo Diaz), who is going through his own issues, as he is consumed with guilt over his involvement in the Vargas assassination. Abby Whelan (Darby Stanchfield) and Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry), who worked for both Vargas and Grant during their campaigns, are back to their old ways of working towards their interests.

The first episode of season 6 did justice to its title, "Survival of the Fittest," as all the characters dealt with their respective adversities and tried to maneuver through them. Olivia Pope emerges as the 'fixer' who knows how to play the game and win, but not without experiencing conflicts within herself. She finds herself questioning her own purpose and values, which leads to a thought-provoking conversation with her father, Rowan (Joe Morton).

We also witness a subtle shift in the character of Mellie Grant, who is more than just a victim of her husband's infidelity. She is shown as a strong and determined woman who can take matters into her own hands if need be. The episode does a good job of displaying the commonality between Mellie and Olivia, both of whom are smart and capable women, trapped in a male-dominated world, where they have to fight against prejudices and stereotypical assumptions.

The episode does not shy away from addressing current political issues, such as voter suppression, hacking, and foreign interference in elections. The action-packed narrative keeps the audience hooked and leaves them eager to learn what happens next.

Overall, the season 6 opener of Scandal is a gripping and thrilling episode, with well-crafted storylines and impressive character development. It excites the fans, sets a promising tone for the rest of the season and shows that the Gladiators' reign of power is not yet over.