What I’ve Learned from Watching Season Three of Scandal
I have been vaguely aware of the TV show Scandal: The Complete First Season
for some time, but never
watched. That is until about a month ago when “enjoying” the consequences of
having zoomed through writing
the draft of the next book in the Your
Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis series. In other words, my mind was
mush. At the end of one day, when my mind had become even mushier that it was
when I got up, I needed a very particular form of entertainment. Something that
would grab my attention, without actually making me think.
for some time, but never
watched. That is until about a month ago when “enjoying” the consequences of
having zoomed through writing
the draft of the next book in the Your
Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis series. In other words, my mind was
mush. At the end of one day, when my mind had become even mushier that it was
when I got up, I needed a very particular form of entertainment. Something that
would grab my attention, without actually making me think.
Enter Scandal.
This turned out to be the perfect televised
popcorn to consume while my brain slowly knitted back together. I am not ashamed to say that in the last four
weeks, I have binged on the first three seasons of the show. And I have learned
a few things, especially from that third season (other than a) I love Mellie; and b) all the women need a sandwich). Be forewarned: there are a few
spoilers ahead.
1. Olivia
has terrible taste in men.
No, really. The push-pull of her affair
with a certain high-level politician was only romantic for so long. At a
certain point, you just want to smack the woman and tell her to leave this man
who makes her so sad. She does, briefly. And who does she choose? An assassin.
The woman needs therapy.
2. When
looking for a romantic partner, think of what would cause you the most pain.
Then do that.
Once upon a time, I swooned over tragic love
stories (Gerard Depardieu in Cyrano de Bergerac
, anyone?). As I found myself
telling my niece this weekend when she wondered why anyone would go see a tragedy
like Verdi - La Traviata / Cotrubas · Domingo · Milnes · Bayerisches Staatsorchester · Carlos Kleiber
, sometimes something very sad can be beautiful. In the case of
opera, this is absolutely true. In the case of life, not so much. Now, it could
be argued that Scandal is essentially a soap opera and I can get behind that. But
still. Maybe it’s that I’m not so young anymore, but this being drawn repeatedly
to pain like a moth to a flame just seems so profoundly unhealthy. And a little
ridiculous.
, anyone?). As I found myself
telling my niece this weekend when she wondered why anyone would go see a tragedy
like Verdi - La Traviata / Cotrubas · Domingo · Milnes · Bayerisches Staatsorchester · Carlos Kleiber, sometimes something very sad can be beautiful. In the case of
opera, this is absolutely true. In the case of life, not so much. Now, it could
be argued that Scandal is essentially a soap opera and I can get behind that. But
still. Maybe it’s that I’m not so young anymore, but this being drawn repeatedly
to pain like a moth to a flame just seems so profoundly unhealthy. And a little
ridiculous.
In real life, people learn. Don’t they?
3. Sex
always involves tearing clothes off your partner.
It’s amazing. All of them do it. They’ll be
in the middle of something else, then all of a sudden look at each other, and before you know it, the clothes are being
torn off and who cares about making it to the bed. The nearest desk/table/counter
will do. These people must have cauldrons of sanitizer.
4. Doing
bad things for good reasons still make them bad things.
Admittedly, I have never been exposed to
the upper echelons of political power. I still find it hard to believe that
everyone at this level is so unremittingly nasty, self-serving, and able to rationalize
doing truly terrible things while telling themselves it’s all for the greater
good. No, it’s not!
5. If
there is Hell, it’s like the Washington, DC in Scandal.
Hell isn’t filled with fire. It’s filled
with mean, nasty, immoral people doing unethical, hideous things (destroying
people’s lives and careers, torture, murder) all in the name of The Republic.
It’s like Survivor, but instead of being voted off the island, you’re voted out
of your life. At a certain point, it stops being entertaining and just makes
you feel like you need a shower after watching it. (Also see my post on
Damages)
6.
No one smiles with joy. Because there is no joy.
Very few of the characters seem to be able
to muster an honest smile. Mostly, they grimace.
So why did I dive right into Season 4?
What’s your favourite entertainment
popcorn?
Comments
I can count on two fingers the people who've returned my smile or at least looked at me without the "don't look at me" stare since moving here in June 2014. Bad look on everyone. Mean. Angry. "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" face. But then those with kids probably look at their spawn that way with all the nannies pushing the "I love you enough to have carried you for nine months and endured unimaginable pain to push you out, just not enough to want to raise you. Besides, you'll learn Spanish! Bi-lingual looks great on college applications" little tikes around in strollers that cost more than my first car.
Ad posters line the metro station walls here. You know you're in DC when you see one reminding parents to pay their "nanny taxes!"
P.S. Before I recently started dating a man after five years of dating myself and having decidedly one-sided philosophical conversations with my cats, I used to watch the best Scandal sex scenes on YouTube with some regularity. I am not ashamed!