Scandal.s04

The first half of the season focuses on the "Where in the world is Olivia Pope?" mystery, culminating in her harrowing kidnapping. This arc, particularly the episode "Run," was praised by critics at The A.V. Club for its claustrophobic tension and Washington’s powerhouse performance, stripping the character of her "white hat" invincibility.

Season 4 saw the departure of Columbus Short (Harrison) and the promotion of Portia de Rossi (Elizabeth North) to a series regular. Scandal.S04

The season picks up after the shocking events of Season 3, with Olivia ( Kerry Washington ) having fled D.C. with Jake Ballard ( Scott Foley ) to a remote island. Her self-imposed exile is cut short by the death of Harrison Wright, forcing her return to a fractured OPA (Olivia Pope & Associates) and a grieving White House. The first half of the season focuses on

Joe Morton won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work leading up to and during this season. Season 4 saw the departure of Columbus Short

Mellie Grant ( Bellamy Young ) transitioned from a grieving First Lady to a formidable political player, eventually running for the Junior Senator seat in Virginia. This arc provided some of the season's most compelling character development as she stepped out from Fitz's shadow. The B613 Fallout

While still a powerhouse for ABC's "TGIT" lineup, Season 4 saw a slight dip in average viewership compared to the peak of Season 3, though it remained a social media juggernaut.