Scandal: Season Four DVD Review – Gag Reel Added

Olivia and her team take on Papa Pope in the fourth season of Scandal – which hits DVD loaded with bonus material, an extended finale, and more never-before-seen content.

Olivia and her gladiators take on Papa Pope and B613 in Scandal: Season Four.
Olivia and her gladiators take on Papa Pope and B613 in Scandal: Season Four.

From the brilliant Shonda Rhimes, Scandal features a great ensemble cast that includes Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, Guillermo Diaz as Huck, Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan, Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins, Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant, Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene, Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant, Joshua Malina as David Rosen and Scott Foley as Jake Ballard. The season features another stellar performance from Joe Morton as Olivia’s father Eli Pope. With his performance this year, Morton has morphed this character into one of television’s greatest villains and it would be great to see him and his beloved B613 division get a spin-off show.

While trying to stay as spoiler free as possible, Scandal: Season Four is a rollercoaster ride of a season with all the characters being pushed to the limits, and the audience not fully sure they are all going to be alive at the end of the season. The first episode kicks off after the events of the third-season cliffhanger, and sees Olivia forced to leave her island paradise with Jake to return to the cold world of Washington D.C.

Although she only plans to stay a short time, Olivia is quickly thrown back into the world of crisis management and once again finds herself up against her father, other enemies, and even a few former friends. Olivia also has to contend with the romantic relationships of President Fitzgerald Grant and Jake Ballard – with even a third love interest thrown in for good measure. It is amazing the woman finds time to rest, but explains why she drinks so much wine.

Along with Olivia, the rest of the cast deal with their own issues this season as Bellamy Young’s Mellie Grant (another character that could spin off into her own series) steps out of her husband’s shadow; Guillermo Diaz’s Huck continues to deal with his past and his desire to reunite with his family; Darby Stanchfield’s Abby Whelan adjusts to her new job in the White House; and Jeff Perry’s Cyrus Beene continues to be one step away from a stroke from putting out all the fires caused by his president.

The strength of Scandal is its ensemble cast and the way the show’s writers makes each character truly matter to the season-long arc. Each episode ensures every character has a moment to shine, and enough twist to keep the audience hooked – which makes it perfect for binge-watching one episode after the next. The entire cast is perfect this season which makes the epic storyline work – despite feeling very far-fetched from time to time. Scandal continues to feel fresh and new with each episode avoiding the formulaic feel that weighs down many television series.

Along with collecting all of season four’s episodes, the set features enough bonus material to make it well-worth the purchase price. Bonus features include extended version of the season finale episode, “You Can’t Take Command,” and “No More Blood;” a look at how Washington creates Olivia; and some great outtakes.

Scandal: Season Four shows the series is just continuing to get better, and will leave you waiting until Season Five arrives.

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