My Problem with Olivia Pope

     I used to really feel bad for Olivia Pope. This woman was in an impossible position, in love with somebody she couldn't have, and doing her best to stay strong and move on. Right? So wrong! After watching the 2nd season finale of Scandal, the boiling hatred I felt for President Fitzgerald Grant spilled over and spread to Olivia, or "Livvie", as he affectionately calls her.

      Most people who watch the show with me know that I hate the President for his fickle, impulsive, selfish, insensitive behavior that seems to hurt everyone and everything he touches. His personal life sucks, and in my opinion, so does his running of the country, since that job seems to be done by everybody else (enter, "Defiance"). I felt bad for Olivia because she was obviously so in love with him, and I felt that he took advantage of her feelings for him and then broke her heart anytime something happened that he didn't like. In my opinion, he didn't treat her much better than he treated his wife, who he claims to despise. 

      But back to Liv. I felt so bad for her because I knew she was trying to do the right thing. She was trying to accept her reality and move forward. But as season 2 wore on, I just began to see her as pitiful, and by the end, I disliked her almost as much as I dislike her partner in crime. My reasons? 

1. She wasn't doing her job - No, not the political fixer thing she's good at. She can do that in her sleep. More like the job she has of protecting her heart. I don't know one woman - including myself - who hasn't fallen for the wrong person from time to time. Some of us take longer to get the picture than others, but usually, we wake up and realize that the person we're dealing with is just no good for us. We at some point decide that enough is enough and it's time to get going before we die of heart failure. But Liv just kept falling for the same old thing, over and over. He didn't have to work, he didn't even have to beg. He just grabbed her and kissed her, and that's all she wrote. Like really Liv? Is it really that easy? I guess until he breaks your heart AGAIN. 

2. She didn't respect the honor code - Now again, up to this point, I was sympathetic because at least Liv was TRYING to do the right thing. We all saw how she reacted in season 1 when Mellie found out, how bad she felt for her. She knew that she was wrong for messing somebody who was already taken. And for those of you who argue that he didn't love his wife, it doesn't matter. He should have dealt with his situation with his wife first. If he decided he didn't want her anymore, get a divorce. Separate yourself. By cheating, you only add a third person to the relationship drama. And as a self-respecting woman, I don't believe Liv should have willingly entered the drama. And as a woman, I know how I would feel if my man was cheating, whether I loved him or not. It's embarrassing. It's humiliating, and it's demoralizing. And then they continue to do it once they know she knows? Rubbing it in her face? And that's not asking for a fight? Say what you want about Mellie, but if I were in her shoes, I'd be downright diabolical. And then for Liv to help him devise a "foolproof" plan to have her removed from the White House? tsk, tsk, tsk, Liv. Shame on you.

3. She didn't keep her feet on the ground - This was my biggest problem the last few episodes. Liv and Fitz were living in a fantasy world. In what world, does the President of the United States give up being leader of the Free World to be with his mistress? He's a jerk for even suggesting it, and she was a jerk for being willing to let him. What would life after be like for them, realistically? Are they going to travel the country as motivational speakers about how to give up lifetime opportunities for love? Or were they going to hide out on a ranch somewhere for the rest of their lives? And did anybody else notice that they don't really have much to talk about EXCEPT politics and whether their affair was on or off this week? They literally talk about nothing else. So, as much as she "loves" him, does she really love him, or him as the President? Because from where I stand, that seems to be the only thing that they really have in common. Oh, and they are apparently really good at sex. Which brings me to my next point. 

4. She lets herself get played like a radio - WE GET IT! The President is good in bed. But, ma'am. There has to be more. He doesn't even have to plead his case to get back in. Like, dang, all it takes is a kiss? Girl, no! Grow some metaphorical cojones! Make him tell you how it'll be different this time. Give him an ultimatum and a deadline. Or better yet, walk away. Get you a man without the strings, without the attachments. Yeah, he can have some baggage, I mean who doesn't? But find somebody who can dedicate ALL of his time and love to you. Not someone who has to put the entire country, his ego, then his wife, and SHOULD be his kids (notice we only saw the baby) all before you. When he wants you. It's just not right. Stick up for yourself. Letting him talk to you like you're a whore, or a servant is so not cool, and I'm not impressed.

5. She can do better - Liv has all these wonderful things going for her, and with the snap of this man-child's fingers, she's willing to throw it all away. Somebody who loves you wouldn't put you in that position, or they'd be willing to get down in the trenches with you. And for those of you who argued that Fitz was willing to give up the presidency for her, that is FALSE. He was willing to give it up anyway because he was scared to run again. That means he was USING HER, once again. And the fact that she took that on herself is a problem to me. She didn't call him on his selfishness, she took the blame on herself. LADIES! Please stop letting these men give you guilt that you don't own! Was she wrong for Defiance? Heck yeah! But she was wrong for what SHE did, not what HE did. And the fact that her guilt and love are so closely knit together is a problem for me. Neither one of them is realistic about what they want, and Liv is the one who keeps coming up short. I want to see her do better. Come on, Liv!

Update: I can't stand Liv these days, but I'm loving the FLOTUS Mellie Grant! Click to find out why!