WARNING: This story contains major spoilers from the season 7 premiere ofScandal.
Read at your own risk!
Scandalkicked off its final season on a bit of a different note.
Richard Cartwright/ABC
The lack of clear and present danger raises a very intriguing question: Is Olivia Pope the new threat?
The premiere set up Kerry Washingtons white hat-wearing political fixer as one of the most powerful women in America.
Yes, even more powerful than the first female POTUS Mellie Grant (Bellamy Young).
Or does Olivias thirst for power ultimately make her the new villain?
Thats interesting, Washington told EW during a recent set visit alongside other reporters.
I never thought about it in those terms.
I dont know if I have enough birds-eye view to answer that yet.
Im not sure I can answer that yet.
If even Mellie cannot stand up to her, can anyone challenge her?
Will QPA need to rise to the occasion?
I would say all of thats possible, Washington says.
So I think part of what were discovering is, who can you trust?
The members of QPA certainly feel that way as well, particularly when it comes to their former boss.
Right now, I feel like she is the one threat.
I cant think of anything else.
Adds Darby Stanchfield: Shes a force to be reckoned with.
Fitz is not aware of the dark threat on Olivias soul, Goldwyn reminds.
If that changes, Fitz will be profoundly alarmed and concerned.
And the Terminator turns out to be Linda [Hamilton]s character.
Indeed, Olivia seems to be taking a tip from her father in pushing away any emotional ties.
So everything has to stay right-sized in her world.
Even so, Washington insists Olivias power moves in the premiere are born out of lessons learned.
Shes trying to do everything differently, Washington says.
But could her overconfidence end up being her undoing?
Anything is possible, Washington admits.
Look, if she had it all figured out, there would be no show.
But its not going to be simple.
I feel just as excited and nervous and honored and determined toward excellence as I did in our pilot.
Thats what this team and this material and this show brings out in me.
Scandalairs Thursdays at 9 p.m.
