My Love for Mellie Grant

     This is a follow-up to a post I wrote a few months ago about my issues with Olivia Pope and how she handles her situation with Fitz. You can read it to get into the nitty-gritty, but I basically perceive her as a smart dummy who keeps returning to her own vomit, only to have to spit it up again later. But, I digress. 

     Mellie Grant, the President's wife, however, has my UTMOST respect. She may not run the show the way she wants to, but her survival skills are boss. She adapts to her situation and she does it well. I may not agree with everything she does, but I peep her game. She's no slouch. I love her. I truly do. My reasons?

1. Her game face is always on. - The reason so many people seem to think the affair between Liv and Fitz is "acceptable" is because they think Mellie is not affected by it. They see her as some cold, ice-queen who has no feelings for her husband, and therefore deserves to be cuckolded. Her actions in the last couple of seasons showed me a totally different story. I saw someone who was raised and taught to be a certain kind of wife, who fulfilled the role that was asked of her, and yet still was blindsided by the fact that, despite her efforts, she still wasn't good enough for her husband. I saw a woman who found out that she was betrayed by not one, but two people she trusted right under her nose, and yet continued to keep a smile on her face although she was clearly crushed by the discovery. Then, I saw her accept that she couldn't change the situation without giving up the things SHE worked for, so she kept it moving. She squared her shoulders, and went to war. Mellie, I salute you.

2. She continues to hold down the fort. - Ever notice that when Fitz and Liv get together, the rest of the world falls apart? I applaud Shonda Grimes because she has a way of making that almost seem okay. Almost. But then the pieces blow up and they have to get put back together. And no matter how many tunnels Cyrus runs through (most hilarious episode ever!), and how many spins Liv tries to put on it, it's ultimately Mellie who finds that one element of surprise that either takes the heat off completely or directs it in a manageable way. Sure, she makes messes sometimes but she sure knows how to clean them up. If Fitz would stop letting his little brain rule him, he would see the treasure he truly has in his wife.

3. She lets the truth be known where it counts. - Make no mistake about it, Mellie recognizes how valuable Olivia Pope is to her husband's administration, and even to her marriage to an extent (remember when she invited Liv to that function because she realized Fitz would be miserable until he saw her?). She'll even extend an olive branch when she needs to. But Olivia Pope will always be (a word that is too mean to mention) to her, and Mellie will never let her forget it. Nothing fake about it. You mess with her man, and threaten the stability of her family, you're going on her list. She also has no problem reading Fitz when his behavior is out of control, or Cy when he gets too big for his VP britches. Some things she'll tolerate, but she doesn't play when it comes to her (older) kids, the presidency, or her own image. Neck roll and finger snap, Mellie. You are not the one!

4. Despite all the heartbreak, she still loves her husband. - It's obvious every time he comes back to her and lets her in. She accepts him, and gratefully. No questions asked, no throwing Liv back in his face. Arms open wide, even knowing he'll probably do it again. It's even in the way she VOLUNTARILY stepped back and allowed the affairs to continue so that her husband could be happy, even if she wasn't the one supplying him with that happiness. It's in how long it took her to come forward with the truth after the affair was thrown in her face time after time. It's in the fact that she was willing to carry a baby she clearly didn't want as a last-ditch attempt to reconcile her marriage. Like I said earlier, I don't agree with everything she does, but her motive is centuries old. "How do I get the man I love to love me back?" Her goals are obviously misguided because you can't make someone love you who doesn't. And I'm sure that after all this, she can love him and hate him at the same time. But it's clear she takes her vows seriously. She could have decided to get her own boy toy and let her husband do what he wanted. But she hung in there. I'm proud of you, Mellie. 

5. Regardless of what happens, she will land on her feet. - I said it before. Mellie is a survivor. She controls her situation to the extent that she thinks will benefit her, and then she sits back and waits for the next opportunity. She is a strategist, and a good one, if I say so myself.  She's not going to let ANYONE ruin her life, and if she has to be miserable for a time to ensure that she wins in the end, she sucks it up. Despite what Fitz and Liv think, she CLEARLY knows her husband better than anyone around him, and she definitely knows which way to pull the rope he continues to use to hang himself. The game playing is not working for her marriage, but it sure will land her a cushy spot in life, wherever she chooses to go. Nobody, not Fitz, Cyrus, or Olivia, is going to ruin her life. Long live Queen Mellie!