ABC’s ‘Scandal’ season 5, episode 8 preview: Rowan pays Olivia a visit

Hey, would you look at that! On Thursday night’s new episode of “Scandal,” Rowan a.k.a. Eli Pope is back out in the real world, and that more than likely means major trouble is coming for almost all of the characters.

In the sneak peek below, you can see Joe Morton’s stellar character have a conversation with Olivia Pope, offering her what is basically a not-so-kind warning about some of the potential threats that could await her out in the world. He claims that as a result of himself being locked away for so long, in many ways Pandora’s Box was metaphorically opened and there are a wide array of other threats that have been unleashed. He, by comparison, is almost insignificant.

Do we actually buy what Rowan is selling? We feel like the answer to that is a pretty clear “no,” but the question more so than that is if Olivia is. Thankfully, she’s not. We feel like there is a certain kernel of truth to what Rowan is saying here in regards to there being bigger fish to fry out in the world now, but you cannot overlook his present. This is a strong, violent, powerful guy, and someone who will become the head of the snake once more if you allow him to.

How Olivia handles his reappearance is going to be a huge theme of Thursday night’s new episode … and the same goes for how Fitz deals with some of the news that has fallen at his feet.

Want to get some other news right away when it comes to “Scandal”? Then be sure to head over to the link here, or sign up over at this link to secure some other TV news on everything we cover, sent right over in your direction via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)