ABC’s ‘Scandal’ season 4 spoilers: How long will Olivia, Fitz’s journey last?

While there are some shows out there (think “Grey’s Anatomy,” “CSI,” or “Law & Order: SVU”) that we really feel can go on just as long as most of the people involved would like for them to, there are others that have a much more particular endgame in mind. One of these shows, at least per its own executive producer Shonda Rhimes, is “Scandal.”

Speaking per The Hollywood Reporter in a new interview, the prolific (and creative) mind made it clear that she cannot milk the story of Olivia Pope forever; as a matter of fact, she really has no intention to do so:

“I think there’s only so much ‘Scandal’ you can tell satisfactorily … The Fitz-Liv thing can only be told so long and in such a way. It’s not a 10-season or eight-season show. I’ve already decided how long that is and what that’s going to be.”

Do you want to guess? If we were to, we’d say that the series has six and maybe at most seven seasons in it. This is the maximum length of the contracts that actors sign prior to when they start a show (option included), and it would also line up in real-time with how long Fitz would be in office as President. Given season 4 will begin around the time of his second inauguration, that is at least four more seasons of stories still to tell.

Granted, there is also one massive caveat in here that has to be mentioned: “Scandal” can really only make it this far in the event that there are people still into the show. If the ratings sink, we could see the Presidency for Fitz and this love story coming to a much-more-sudden end.

What’s your take on this: Should “Scandal” be a show that has a more specific end date in mind? Let us know, and click here if you’re interested in having some more scandalous TV updates served up courtesy of our newsletter.

Photo: ABC