ABC’s ‘Scandal’ season 4: Kerry Washington on Olivia learning to let go

To say that “Scandal” season 4 so far has been dramatic would be making one of the biggest understatements possible. At times, this show has been an emotional bloodletting, watching Huck try to deal with his family, Abby confront his past, and also Olivia struggle once again between Fitz and Jake as she also handles some of the craziest parents known to mankind.

In some ways, you could argue that Olivia’s inability to pull away from those destructive to her life is a reason for her kidnapping, but we know that it is also so much deeper than that. Speaking on the subject to The Hollywood Reporter, Kerry Washington goes through some of what Olivia’s process is right now, and the advantages and disadvantages that come with that:

“It’s pretty intense … What’s really interesting is last season, we were able to see Olivia unravel and have to deal with facing the truth of her past. This season, she’s having to deal with her past and really having to face the things that scare her the most. Olivia is having to say, ‘OK, if I’m going to be an adult, I have to let go of these generational, pathological ideas and relationships and frameworks.'”

Olivia should not have to continue running from her past, or from those who want to negatively influence her. With that being said, she should continue to let go of the ambiguous, and instead go along with the concrete. Her keeping her relationship with Fitz a secret and so much in the gray, for example, leaves her open to being exposed and being hurt. It almost goes back to that cheesy little rhyme about “secret secrets” hurting, which you probably heard millions of times as a child.