Kerry Washington’s directorial debut on Scandal was one for the books.

This week’s Scandal was next-level enticing and dramatic. Kerry Washington made her directorial debut–and boy, she did not disappoint. After the events of last week’s Olitz, “one night only” hook-up, Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) enticed Liv (Kerry Washington) with the prospect of some time away in Vermont. With the “loss” of Quinn and betraying her friends on her mind, Olivia jumped at the opportunity to escape. Little did she know, Fitz along with her merry gang of White House misfits were all staging an intervention. Huck (Guillermo Diaz), Abby (Darby Stanchfield), Marcus (Cornelius Smith Jr.), and David (Joshua Malina) were lying in wait within the confines of Fitz’ Vermont home for Olivia. A moment of happiness and peace was fleeting for Liv as she soon realized what she had walked into–an all-out war.

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Despite the attempts of the group to cajole Olivia and get her to confess to killing Quinn, Olivia did not budge. The episode presented some beautiful moments during each character’s individual monologue pleading Olivia to face her sins. It appeared Huck was the only one who struck a chord with her. However, his refusal to face her pushed Olivia to the edge–and the brink of betrayal. Liv managed to get out of Vermont by lying and appealing to the group and convincing them that she will resign as Chief of Staff. However, it was all part of her epic plan to betray everyone she loves, and of course, get into bed with Jake (Scott Foley).

While Olivia drama was next level, we also saw some sweet, peaceful moments between baby Robin and Charlie (George Newbern), Quinn (Katie Lowes), and Rowan (Joe Morton). Charlie finally reunited with a wife and baby he presumed to be dead–while witnessing Rowan and Quinn sing/ dance to “Hit Me Baby One More Time” for Robin. It was quite the interesting dynamic while Charlie grappled with this new reality and Quinn’s decision to hide out to bring justice down on Olivia.

Mellie (Bellamy Young) experienced some livid feelings as she learned the truth from Cyrus about Olivia’s involvement with killing President Rashad. On the same frequency as Quinn, Mellie is ready to bring down Olivia–even if it means using Jake as leverage. What events will transpire after Olivia’s most recent betrayal? We can’t wait to find out!

Here to discuss the Vermont intervention, Olivia’s betrayal, and Rowan’s dancing moves is our Scandal roundtable. Let’s see what they had to say!

Mindset Podcast (@Mindset_Pod)– Podcast focusing on social justice and black culture

Myoshi (@BeingMyoshi)– Writer, comedian, and traveler

Lucy (@lampareaux)– Account manager, life enthusiast, New Yorker

Torri (@torrij89)– PA real estate agent, occasional photographer, and Shondaland fanatic since 2005

Julia (@DrJuliaPRS)– Plastic surgeon, food lover, movie connoisseur, music junkie, mother of cats, and child of God

1. What an episode, right?! What were your thoughts on Fitz tricking Olivia into going to Vermont for an intervention?

Mindset Podcast (@Mindset_Pod): By any means necessary!!! Lol

Myoshi (@BeingMyoshi): I said that last week lol. Olivia Pope was going to talk her way out of it. The intervention is something Liv has done to get her clients’ answers so she knew how to fake remorse.

Lucy (@lampareaux): Olivia has been there many times to save Fitz during power highs and lows, Fitz stepping up for Liv really warmed my heart. Especially since it involved the dreamland of Vermont! We’ve fantasized a scenario where these two end up together in Vermont for years, so beautiful to see a short but possible depiction of what it would look like. When Liv laid her head on Fitz’ shoulder all of my season one fantasies of a happy ending for these two came to life!

Torri (@torrij89): I understand why Fitz did this, but I don’t like the way he went about it. She was so excited to spend time with Fitz in “their” house in Vermont to get away from DC and her troubles. But instead, she was tricked and ambushed by the intervention that didn’t even help. If anything it made Olivia double down on her behavior.

Julia (@DrJuliaPRS): If anyone could get her “alone”, it would be Fitz. Their attraction to each other (no matter how many seasons they try to fight it) is STRONG!!!!! Then he mentioned Vermont?!? Child please..she didn’t stand a chance! What I think is interesting is that when you compare her “B6-13 leadership” to her father’s, she still gives in to her emotions. We got a glimpse at the romantic side of Rowan, but he killed that woman without blinking. Yeah, he had some strain in his voice afterward, but Olivia ain’t about THAT life…and it may be her Achilles’ heel.

2. Watching Charlie with Robin was absolutely adorable–especially the humming scene with Rowan. How did you feel about his reunion with Quinn, meeting his daughter, and interacting with Rowan?

Mindset Podcast: My whole heart melted into pieces. These stone-cold assassins loving this little baby?!!…It was soo beautiful.

Myoshi: At first I was excited about Charlie reuniting with Quinn, but then I started to feel bad for him. I mean your newborn knows another man better than you and you have to witness it. Once I saw Rowan help him handle the baby I felt so much better for Charlie getting to really bond with his daughter.

Lucy: So beautiful!! We often forget to humanize ex and new B6-13 members because they do the bad horrific things necessary to let good things happen. Seeing Rowan, Quinn, and Charlie singing and interacting with the baby let us know they still have hearts. Looks like a baby brings out the good in people no matter what.

Torri: I’m so happy Charlie found out that Quinn and the baby weren’t actually dead. Like he said in the episode, he was about to go on a full killing spree in order to avenge her murder. The three of them make such a cute family, which is why I feel a bit uneasy about how involved Rowan has become in Quinn and the baby’s life. Don’t get me wrong, the Britney Spears sing along with added dances moves was adorable, but with Rowan, I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to reveal his true motives.

Julia: I’ll be honest. Those scenes of interactions had me so conflicted. I don’t even know who I like and dislike anymore. I mean, it was sweet that Rowan taught him that and he almost seemed warm and cuddly with the whole “Baby One More Time” choreographed performance, but he’s STILL ROWAN!!! Now, I beginning to see how Olivia forgets how he acts. He always has an agenda.

3. After tonight’s episode, it’s safe to say Mellie is ready to wreak havoc on Olivia. Based on how the episode ended, what do you think her game plan is?

Mindset Podcast: None-I love Mellie, but she’s never been good with strategy except with Fitz. Her plan involves lots of heart and very little head.

Myoshi: Oh man, I think Mellie is going to shut out Olivia and hurt her with losing her power. Liv was sleeping with Jake and he took her position right from under her with her own plan of attack.

Lucy: Mellie wants her groove back! Mellie never gets a romantic ending and Olivia seems to often be the person to roadblock this. Fitz, Marcus, and now The President of Bashran?!! Liv always has a reason why Mellie can’t get with her significant person. Can’t Liv see Mellie be happy? If I were Mellie, I’d be pissed too! Enough is enough, it’s time for Mellie to set her own rules on her own terms and Liv has to learn to deal with it. Mellie is definitely kicking Liv out of the Oval Office and reclaiming her presidency.

Torri: Mellie is obviously LIVID with Olivia. Firing and replacing her position with Jake is just the start of her revenge on her. What else she has planned I’m not sure, but it will not be pretty.

Julia: Well, her first move of putting an apparent rift between Olivia and Jake seemed to have worked, but I’m curious if Olivia is aware of this too. I mean, it’s B6-13. Jake was out of character this episode with giving in to Cyrus and appearing to have snitched on Olivia. So, I really don’t know, but at the same time Jake seemed a little hurt when she got out of bed talking about “That’s an order!” So, I don’t know if he wholeheartedly split with Olivia or what. I’m so confused.

4. In an effort to reach out to Olivia, each character had a heartfelt monologue in front of the door. Which one was your favorite and why?

Mindset Podcast: Huck’s because it came from such a pure place. He genuinely loves her. And Liv knows that he will ALWAYS be her fave gladiator.

Myoshi: I would have to say Huck’s monologue. Even though it wasn’t so heartfelt, but it was the closure he and Olivia needed. She knows Huck is done with her especially when she tried to play him.

Lucy: Huck. Huck will always be my favorite because Liv literally saved him from nothing and seeing the disappointment on his face hurt me. Feeling like the person who was once your savior is now your enemy is devastating and I felt it in Huck’s monologue.

Torri: My favorite monologue was Abby’s. I felt that her speech to Olivia was the most honest and heartfelt. Abby knows what having and losing power feels like from her time at the White House, and she and Olivia have been friends long enough for her to know how Olivia really feels about her actions. True friendship is the ability to call out your friend when you see them going down the wrong path. This dialogue resulted in the best line of the episode. “You don’t destroy things, you fix them.”

Julia: David Rosen… My interpretation of his monologue: “Facts. These are the facts, girl. Yes, I know you, but these here are THE FACTS.”

5. Olivia made it a point to highlight everyone else’s mistakes and felt angered for being judged. Did you feel like it was fair for everyone to confront Liv when they are guilty of their own sins?

Mindset Podcast: Yes! In life sometimes we have to be the mirrors for the ones we love. We don’t just let them go rogue without saying, hey…you’re going rogue! #realfriendsaremirrors

Myoshi: I don’t feel it was fair. Especially after Abby almost let Huck die over her power play last season. It’s like every move they all made was over power so why judge Liv now.

Lucy: Yes! Liv pushed the button to kill own of her own! No matter how power high you get, you never throw your own people under the bus. Everyone had their faults and mistakes, but to pull the plug on a friend is crossing the line and unforgivable. I understand Liv’s point that the teapot was calling the kettle black but she needs to understand there are limits and levels to this.

Torri: Olivia had some very strong points in her mudslinging at everyone who ambushed her for the intervention. Her glass house comment to Fitz was spot on and hilarious. But her criticism of Huck was the truest to me. That man has literally killed hundreds of people for the “Republic” and his judgments of Liv are a bit hollow to me. I get his hurt because he believes Quinn is still dead, but him not trying to understand why Olivia did what she did is maddening.

Julia: Well, to an extent because some of the stuff THEY did was under her direction and in a way it still fell on her. I can’t recall all the things they said, but what I do remember about their character history is that she would have them do some CRAZY stuff for “the greater good”.

6. Quinn seems to be okay with hiding out in Rowan’s home. How did you feel about her comfort with this and her plan to bring justice down on Liv?

Mindset Podcast: I don’t think it’s comfort as much as strategy. She has an end game. To Quinn, living with Rowan is a means to an end.

Myoshi: Poor Quinn, wasting her youth with Papa Pope. If the gladiators couldn’t bring down Liv, how does she think she can? Besides her evidence in the baby’s playpen was discovered. It’s going to take some smart plays and too much waiting to make this work. Not worth it Quinn–leave the country with Charlie and the baby, and live free.

Lucy: I think good things with Rowan are often too good to be true. I can’t help but shake the feeling this can easily end up bad for Quinn. We never truly know Rowan’s schemes and objectives. On Quinn’s revenge on Liv, hey you reap what you sow and Liv has it coming for her. Liv’s pretty much undefeated amongst all the characters but I think Quinn will be the right one to bring judgment day upon her. It’s only right and long awaiting.

Torri: Quinn needs to bring it down a peg or two. I understand her being upset that Olivia was going to allow Rowan to take her life, but she has to remember that if it weren’t for Olivia Pope she wouldn’t have a life to take. Instead, she would be rotting away in a jail cell still being Lindsay Dwyer. What Quinn needs to keep questioning is why Rowan has clothes for her baby up to 12 months. That’s not just protection from Olivia; she’s still his prisoner that just has free reign of the house.

Julia: Again, I always look at Rowan with the side-eye because he ALWAYS has an agenda. Quinn has always seemed like the naive one even when she took over the group. I don’t know if she really knows Rowan and I’m concerned. Maybe she has her own agenda, but I’m not that sold on the idea that she does.

7. Liv managed to fool everyone and wasn’t fazed by the repercussions. Did you fall for her apology or did you know she was playing everyone?

Mindset Podcast: We knew. When she hugged Fitz, it was the look in her eyes that gave it away.

Myoshi: As stated earlier, Liv is too good. I knew she was playing everyone from the look in her eyes. She was waiting to make the move after she came up with that fake letter in the room. Liv is too smart in situations like that. She definitely knows how to play Fitz.

Lucy: THIS. IS. LIV’S. GAME. She knows how to play the sympathy card. I saw she was playing them from a mile away. She knew they’d cave, she’s their beloved no matter how much wrong she’s done. Not gonna lie it was well played on her behalf, I almost fell for it too but I knew it was way too easy. Liv wouldn’t let power get taken away from her just like that. We all know she’d put up a fight. It’s why we love her.

Torri: I have to admit, for a second there she had me fooled. But alas, I should have known that this new Olivia always has a dirty trick up her sleeve, even if she seems sincere. I just wish her plan worked out in her favor because that strut down the halls of the White House was EVERYTHING!

Julia: I did fall for her apology, but when I saw her giving Jake the googly eyes, I knew she played them.

Final Verdict: What goes around, comes around, Liv. You best watch out!

Kerry Washington killed it in her directorial debut, and the episode was a testament to her success. At times, Scandal can become too predictable or repetitive but this week was a welcome change with Washington’s direction. A lot is at stake now, especially after Olivia’s very public betrayal against her nearest and dearest friends. How they will deal with Olivia moving forward will be a dramatic spectacle that we cannot wait to see unfold. Olivia has isolated herself from everyone and everything–with Jake being the last one to go. How will she face all her friends including ‘back from the dead’ Quinn and furious, livid Mellie?

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This episode stood out amongst the rest this season because it highlighted an aspect we don’t often see in Scandal–everyone coming to Liv’s rescue. For so many seasons, it has been Liv rescuing and “fixing” everyone else’s problem and now they are forcing her to face hers. However, Olivia has gone over to the dark side and there’s no telling if she’ll ever come back. Is it possible we have lost the old Olivia for good? Next week’s episode promises to increase the drama tenfold by teasing a Quinn and Olivia reunion. What will happen when Liv realizes Quinn is alive? And how will the group approach Liv after her epic betrayal? We can’t wait to find out next week!

Scandal returns Thursday, February 8th at 9/8C on ABC.