Ep 4. Enemy Of The State

Olivia Pope, featured as the lead character in the show Scandal, is a former top aide to the President of the United States. As a crisis management expert, she manages to get her clients out of various scandals while balancing her own personal life. In Scandal season 1 episode 4, titled "Enemy of the State," Olivia has to put her abilities to the test to save a reluctant client.

The episode begins with the evidence against Quinn Perkins mounting and her chances of getting acquitted becoming bleaker by the day. Olivia convinces a significantly distraught Quinn to not give up hope yet and fight for her freedom. Meanwhile, the media is abuzz with the news of the assassination attempt on the President's life, which follows the shutdown of a nearby air traffic control tower.

As the Secret Service agents continue their search for the shooter responsible for the attack, the President's Chief of Staff, Cyrus Beene, tries to prevent the press from publishing stories about the incident. Furthermore, a new client approaches Olivia for help - a military member who allegedly killed his girlfriend and is on the run. Despite the evidentiary base, Olivia believes in his innocence and agrees to represent him.

A standout element of this episode is the manner in which it showcases the challenges that Olivia and her team face in the wake of a high-profile case. Amid the Quinn Perkins case, Olivia begins to receive a barrage of threats from an unknown person who seems to possess information about her old relationship with the President. At the same time, the client they decide to take on presents a peculiar situation.

As the team investigates the case of the military officer, they find out that he was present at the air traffic control tower at the time of the shooting. With this new information, Olivia, along with her team and investigators from the Department of Justice, tries to frame the unraveling events to prove her client's innocence.

The episode features an intense scene where the military member goes toe-to-toe, and eventually, comes close to killing Olivia, in a fit of rage. This is in contrast to the initial impression he gave of himself as being calm and collected, which also goes to show how Olivia's clients may not always be what they seem at first glance.

Similarly, the Quinn Perkins case takes some unexpected twists as well. A surprise witness initially presents themselves, claiming to be an expert on the bloodstains found at the crime scene. However, a later revelation introduces a narrative that dominates the entire season. Alongside that, Olivia and her team work tirelessly to win the case and assure Quinn's innocence.

The episode concludes with the President giving a speech to the nation about the recent assassination attempt. Olivia, at the same time, saves her client's life, washing away the accusations levied against him in the process. As the episode comes to a close, the mystery surrounding Olivia's past relationship becomes more evident, showing that there are numerous other layers to the story besides the obvious scandals.

In conclusion, Scandal season 1 episode 4 sets the bar high for the rest of the season in many ways. From its depiction of the political drama surrounding the President's assassination attempt to Olivia's multifaceted clients and her own personal life, this episode manages to keep the viewer engaged. Regardless, it remains an enthralling watch that any fan of political dramas would greatly enjoy.