The WORST episodes of Scandal (2012)

Every episode of Scandal (2012) ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Scandal (2012)!

A former media relations consultant to the President, Olivia Pope dedicates her life to protecting and defending the public images of our nation's elite. After leaving the White House, the power consultant opened her own firm, hoping to start a new chapter -- both professionally and personally -- but she can't seem to completely cut ties with her past. Slowly it becomes apparent that her staff, who specialize in fixing the lives of other people, can't quite fix the ones closest at hand -- their own.

Last Updated: 12/10/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
The Decision
star
7.19
1663 votes

#1 - The Decision

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/13/2017

With the ugly truth behind Frankie's assassination revealed, a torn Olivia wonders how different her life — and the country — would be if she, Mellie and Cyrus had never rigged Fitz's election.

Directors: Sharat Raju
Writer: Johanna Lee
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Testimony of Diego Muñoz
star
7.22
910 votes

#2 - The Testimony of Diego Muñoz

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/12/2015

David Rosen is caught off guard when a surprise visitor reveals insider information about B613 that could take down the White House and destroy Pope & Associates.

Writer: Mark Fish
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sweet Baby
star
7.24
1946 votes

#3 - Sweet Baby

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/5/2012

Olivia hires Quinn Perkins; On Quinn Perkins' first day, she is given the task of of dealing with a woman's accusation against the President of the United States. Meanwhile, Pope & Associates must prove a decorated war veteran innocent of murder.

Directors: Paul McGuigan
Watch Now:Apple TV
Put a Ring on It
star
7.29
892 votes

#4 - Put a Ring on It

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/26/2015

When Michael gets himself in a bad situation, the Gladiators launch into damage control and put pressure on Cyrus to move up the wedding. Meanwhile, David takes the first step in executing his plan to take down B613.

Directors: Regina King
Watch Now:Apple TV
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
star
7.30
1532 votes

#5 - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/14/2013

After discovering the truth behind defiance, Fitz is still struggling to figure out whom he can actually trust. Meanwhile Olivia is trying to move on with her life, and she meets a handsome stranger, Jake Weston, who sparks her interest. But when she and Fitz are forced to be in the same room again, real sparks fly and things get heated. Back at Pope & Associates, the team handles a new case, and for the first time they're working with David Rosen instead of against him.

Directors: Mark Tinker
Writer: Matt Byrne
Watch Now:Apple TV
Spies Like Us
star
7.33
1514 votes

#6 - Spies Like Us

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/15/2012

Olivia receives an anonymous letter containing a coded warning which could expose Huck's dark past. Meanwhile another Pope & Associates secret has already been exposed and Olivia asks Harrison to step up and handle it. And in the White House, Cyrus and Fitz are dealing with the ramifications of Cyrus' husband's first front page news story.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Other Woman
star
7.37
1424 votes

#7 - The Other Woman

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2012

When a public figure is caught in a compromising position, Olivia and her team must do some heavy lifting, literally, in order to clean up the mess. But Olivia is still dealing with the ramifications of the judge's jaw-dropping verdict, and Abby continues to push for answers. In the White House, Cyrus and Fitz are forced to deal with a serious foreign policy emergency.

Directors: Stephen Cragg
Watch Now:Apple TV
Dirty Little Secrets
star
7.39
1644 votes

#8 - Dirty Little Secrets

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/12/2012

Olivia and her team must keep a DC madam's client list under wraps when she comes under investigation, leading to the firm protecting many of DC's most influential. Meanwhile, Quinn must continue to deal with the President's former intern.

Directors: Roxann Dawson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Honor Thy Father
star
7.40
868 votes

#9 - Honor Thy Father

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/2/2015

David tries to recruit former B613 agents to strengthen his case. Meanwhile, a congressman asks Olivia to help his father escape his looming death penalty.

Directors: Jeannot Szwarc
Watch Now:Apple TV
A Criminal, a Whore, an Idiot and a Liar
star
7.41
1492 votes

#10 - A Criminal, a Whore, an Idiot and a Liar

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/17/2013

Changes continue to rock the White House, as we also flashback to learn more about the rigged election. Meanwhile, things get heated between Olivia and Edison after he makes a shocking accusation.

Directors: Stephen Cragg
Writer: Mark Fish
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Candidate
star
7.44
1176 votes

#11 - The Candidate

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/18/2016

Mellie seeks out Olivia's help but may not be prepared for what that entails, and Liz tries to convince Susan Ross to run for the presidency. Meanwhile, Abby and Cyrus are at odds when a profile piece on Fitz comes into question.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Heavy Is the Head
star
7.46
1178 votes

#12 - Heavy Is the Head

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2015

Olivia and Fitz are back together again and enjoying every scandalous moment together while Cyrus, Mellie and Huck are all still dealing with the aftermath of helping Command. Meanwhile, when a visit from the Queen of Caldonia and her family turns into a tragedy, Olivia is hired to make sure the Royal family’s private life stays private.

Directors: Tom Verica
Watch Now:Apple TV
It's Good to Be Kink
star
7.46
856 votes

#13 - It's Good to Be Kink

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/19/2015

Olivia springs into action when she hears of a woman intending to expose sex secrets of some of DC’s most elite. Meanwhile, Elizabeth fears that Mellie’s sister could be detrimental to their political aspirations.

Directors: Paul McCrane
Writer: Matt Byrne
Watch Now:Apple TV
Even the Devil Deserves a Second Chance
star
7.47
1084 votes

#14 - Even the Devil Deserves a Second Chance

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/2015

While Fitz is focused on winning back the American people, he makes a shocking discovery. Meanwhile, OPA takes on a new client, but Olivia seems preoccupied keeping her own secrets, and Elizabeth North sets her sights on a new agenda.

Directors: Oliver Bokelberg
Watch Now:Apple TV
Beltway Unbuckled
star
7.47
1475 votes

#15 - Beltway Unbuckled

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/2012

A DC college student goes missing and her grieving parents come to Pope & Associates for help. Meanwhile David is still investigating the Cytron case and gets help from a very surprising source; and in the White House, Fitz feels the pressure as Mellie proves once again that she's a political powerhouse.

Directors: Mark Tinker
Watch Now:Apple TV
Boom Goes the Dynamite
star
7.48
1370 votes

#16 - Boom Goes the Dynamite

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/21/2013

Olivia and the team are hired by an up and coming politician, Peter Caldwell, but this time instead of fixing a scandal, they're playing high-powered matchmaker. Meanwhile, David is trying to leave the past behind him, but when he feels like he's being followed, he finally turns to the team at OPA for help. Back at the White House, Fitz is still struggling with whom to trust and how to handle a delicate hostage situation, and Jake just won't take no for an answer when it comes to dating Olivia.

Directors: Randy Zisk
Writer: Jenna Bans
Watch Now:Apple TV
Top of the Hour
star
7.50
1715 votes

#17 - Top of the Hour

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/21/2013

Olivia finds herself in the middle of a media storm, but this time she's on the opposing side of the oval office when Fitz's pick for Supreme Court Justice is caught in a torrid affair with Liv's new client, high-powered CEO Sarah Stanner. Meanwhile, Olivia and Jake continue their flirtatious relationship, while Huck takes Quinn under his wing and Harrison and Abby try to figure out where they stand with their friendship. Back in the White House, Cyrus and Mellie continue to fight for Fitz's attention, but someone else may already have it.

Directors: Steve Robin
Watch Now:Apple TV
Till Death Do Us Part
star
7.51
1291 votes

#18 - Till Death Do Us Part

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/21/2016

As Olivia deals with the aftermath of what she’s done, she finally finds out what exactly Jake and Rowan are plotting. But with their plans already in motion, Olivia is forced to make a gut-wrenching attempt to try and stop it. Meanwhile, in flashbacks, we learn more about Jake’s past and how he first got involved with B6-13.

Directors: Steph Green
Watch Now:Apple TV
Run
star
7.51
863 votes

#19 - Run

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/29/2015

The winter premiere picks up right where the finale left off, this time from Olivia’s point of view. Exactly what happened when Jake went to the bedroom? Who took Olivia and where did she go?

Directors: Tom Verica
Watch Now:Apple TV
Where's the Black Lady?
star
7.51
835 votes

#20 - Where's the Black Lady?

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/5/2015

With Olivia still missing, the team comes together to do whatever it takes to find her and get her home safely.

Directors: Debbie Allen
Watch Now:Apple TV
It's Hard Out Here for a General
star
7.52
1192 votes

#21 - It's Hard Out Here for a General

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/11/2016

It's been six months since Olivia and Fitz have broken up, and they are both handling their newfound freedom in very different ways. Meanwhile, the Pope and Associates team take on a case that could lead to a national crisis.

Directors: Tom Verica
Watch Now:Apple TV
Over a Cliff
star
7.53
756 votes

#22 - Over a Cliff

Season 7 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/19/2018

With the existence of B613 exposed to the world, the Gladiators make the ultimate sacrifice in order to take down Cyrus and Jake — but how far will they go to get justice?

Directors: Tom Verica
Watch Now:Apple TV
Nobody Likes Babies
star
7.53
1563 votes

#23 - Nobody Likes Babies

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/7/2013

As David uncovers the truth about the Cytron case, things come to a head for Olivia, Cyrus, Mellie, Hollis and Verna. Backed into a corner, the five conspirators go to extremes and, in some cases, unconscionable lengths to protect themselves and/or the ones they love.

Directors: Tom Verica
Writer: Mark Wilding
Watch Now:Apple TV
Inside the Bubble
star
7.53
1094 votes

#24 - Inside the Bubble

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2014

An old friend returns for help after her daughter goes missing, Cyrus has an awkward run in during a business breakfast, and Jake uses his connections to get some answers. Meanwhile, Mellie becomes obsessed with a national news story and David goes to great lengths to prove himself.

Directors: Randy Zisk
Writer: Matt Byrne
Watch Now:Apple TV
Rasputin
star
7.54
1057 votes

#25 - Rasputin

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/2015

In the midst of Fitz negotiating a historic peace deal, Olivia must rely on her instincts when a guest of the The White House discloses powerful intel. Meanwhile, Jake uses Huck’s help to get closer to his target, and Cyrus takes matters into his own hands when he realizes he’s been shut out of the inner circle.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV