Watching “Scandal” Seasons 1–3 After Moving to the US: A Fresh Take

I was introduced to the Scandal TV show by one of my friends I met in university. I found it online, and it’s one of those shows I couldn’t stop watching this tv show. When I first binged the first few seasons, I was living in the UK. It was pure escapist fun—Olivia Pope’s crisis firm, forbidden office romances, and fast-paced how-did-they-fix-that? drama.

I’ve since moved to the United States, I landed in 2016, and since then, my view on everything America has changed. Understanding the U.S. political landscape has unlocked so many layered jokes, nuances, and plot choices I once glossed over. So join me as I revisit the first three seasons with fresh eyes—and a deeper appreciation for the show’s razor-sharp writing and real-world echoes. You can find this TV series on Netflix.

Season 1: Launching Olivia Pope & Associates

Olivia abandons her role as White House Communications Director to start OPA—her own crisis-management firm. When intern Amanda Tanner accuses President Grant of an affair, the gladiators jump into action. And yes, Olivia’s past fling with Fitz spills into the open, setting that signature forbidden tension ablaze.

Season Highlights:

• Olivia Pope opens OPA
• Quinn Perkins joins the team
• Scandal with intern Amanda Tanner
• First reveal of the Olivia–Fitz secret romance

When I first watched it, I loved the gloss, the glamour, and the drama. Now, after witnessing real governors’ scandals and media spin in Florida, I’m floored by how accurately the show captures the mechanics of influence—including how it’s portrayed in the media and the fallout after. And yes, Olivia and President Grant’s forbidden fling? It’s problematic and frustrating, but that tension is exactly why it’s such addictive TV.

Season 2: Shots Fired and Moles Uncovered

An assassination attempt on President Grant plunges the White House into chaos. OPA races to unmask a mole leaking classified intel. Olivia’s growing bond with Jake Ballard—secretly B613’s agent—adds new layers of suspense. Meanwhile, Mellie Grant nearly blows the whistle on Fitz’s affair, and we discover the election was rigged in Fitz’s favor… orchestrated by none other than Olivia’s father, Rowan.

Highlights:

• Fitz is shot and survives
• OPA exposes a White House mole
• Olivia connects with Jake Ballard
• Mellie threatens to expose Olivia–Fitz affair
• Rigged election secures Fitz’s victory
• Shocking reveal: Rowan is Olivia’s father

Season 3: Deep Dives into Conspiracy and Family Secrets

OPA investigates Operation Remington, a covert mission that may have downed a civilian airliner—killing Olivia’s mother. Flashbacks reveal Mellie’s trauma at the hands of Fitz’s father. Then the bombshell: Maya Pope is alive, masterminding terrorist attacks, including a funeral bombing that kills Fitz’s young son, Jerry. Grief-stricken Fitz leans on Olivia as Jerry’s death sways re-election polls. In the end, Olivia escapes D.C. with Jake, choosing a new life far from the chaos they helped create.

Highlights:

• Olivia leaves D.C. with Jake
• Operation Remington investigation
• Mellie’s flashback of past abuse
• Olivia’s mother, Maya, was revealed as alive and dangerous
• Funeral bombing kills Fitz’s son, Jerry
• Fitz’s campaign boosted by public sympathy

Final Thoughts

From the outside, I followed headlines and shook my head at some policy debates—but living here through three general elections (and half a dozen Florida flashpoints) taught me how the system really works, where my preconceptions were off, and why no democracy is perfect.

Seasons 1–3 of the Scandal TV show were already unmissable when I first watched them—now, I see every lie, press spin, and power play with fresh clarity. I’m also still hooked on the tumultuous, toxic, yet irresistible Olivia–Fitz relationship. But hands down, living in the US has made every power scheme and press spin resonate on another level. Stay tuned for part two, where I’ll tackle seasons 4 and 5. Have you watched Scandal? What are you currently watching? Let’s talk in the comments.