Scandal - You Can't Take Command

Bearing the title of a familiar phrase on the show, Scandal's season finale brings the war between Olivia (Kerry Washington) and Rowan (Joe Morton) to an end as Olivia's father uses blackmail to force the recently-elected Senator Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young) to forcefully put an end to David Rosen's (Joshua Malina) attempt to bring B613 to light. With every member of the Grand Jury killed, thanks to the unsuspecting First Lady, and the fact that Rowan has cleared house with the last few members of the secret government organization that could identify him, Rowan claims victory. He also trumps Olivia's last hail mary to turn over all proof of B613 to the CIA who decides to sweep it all carefully under the rug leaving Olivia and Jake (Scott Foley) with no further avenues to explore to take down Command.

Ever since Olivia's abduction the show has centered on her attempt to reclaim her life, in part to break out from under the thumb of her father whose control of her she equates to that of her former kidnappers. Despite the title, which echoes Rowan's philosophy, and turns out to be true, Olivia may have been thwarted in taking down Rowan but Eli Pope is an entirely different animal. Closing one chapter of the series, "You Can't Take Command" opens another with Jake's exit stage right, major shake-ups in the West Wing, Fitz cutting off his connections to both Mellie and Cyrus (Jeff Perry), and a tease of the President of the United States and his former campaign manager giving into their feelings once more.