Ep 8. Happy Birthday, Mr. President

As the name suggests, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" is an emotionally charged episode of Scandal. The installment revolves around President Fitzgerald Grant's birthday, which is filled with surprises, not all of which are pleasant.

The episode opens with Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and her team being summoned to the White House in the middle of the night. As they enter the Oval Office, they find the President (Tony Goldwyn) alone and inconsolable. It turns out that someone has leaked his affair with Olivia to the press, and the fallout threatens to destroy his career and his marriage.

As Olivia tries to find out who leaked the story, we see flashbacks of the President's birthday celebration, which started out as a romantic affair but quickly turned sour. The President confides in Olivia that he's feeling overwhelmed by the demands of his position and that he misses the passion they once shared. However, Olivia is hesitant to get involved again, knowing full well the toll it would take on both of them.

Meanwhile, Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry) is facing his own challenges as he tries to wrangle the President's Secret Service detail and keep them from talking to the press. He also has a tense exchange with First Lady Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young), who is bitter about the President's affair and the toll it's taken on her own political aspirations.

As the episode progresses, tensions run high. There are moments of joy and vulnerability as the President and Olivia share intimate moments and exchange heartfelt gifts, but these are quickly eclipsed by the weight of the scandal and the betrayal they feel at the hands of someone close to them.

The climax of the episode is a gut-wrenching scene that will have viewers on the edge of their seats, as the scandal comes to a head and the full extent of the President's vulnerability is laid bare. The episode ends with a sense of finality and resolution but leaves many questions unanswered that will keep viewers eagerly anticipating the next installment.

In "Happy Birthday, Mr. President," Scandal delivers another tour-de-force performance, with outstanding acting, tight writing, and pulse-pounding drama. It's a must-see for fans of the show and anyone who loves a good political thriller.