Olivia Pope

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Olivia Pope
Scandal character
First appearance

"Sweet Baby"
(episode 1.01)
Created by

Shonda Rhimes
Portrayed by

Kerry Washington
Information
Full name Olivia Carolyn Pope
Nickname(s) Liv, Livvie
The Fixer
Occupation Lawyer
Crisis manager
White House correspondent
Family Rowan Pope
(father)
Marie Wallace
(mother)
Significant other(s) Edison Davis
(ex-fiancé)
Fitzgerald "Fitz" Grant
(lover)

Olivia Carolyn Pope is a fictional character portrayed by Kerry Washington, created by Shonda Rhimes and partially based on Judy Smith for the political drama television series Scandal. Pope is a Washington, D.C.-based crisis manager who runs her own firm, Pope & Associates, that specializes in political situations. The character has become a widely-watched fashion and style trendsetter.

Characterization

Pope is a loose depiction of Judy Smith, who served as George H. W. Bush's Deputy Press Secretary and represented Monica Lewinsky during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.[1][2] On Scandal, she is a revered fixer who helped steer fictional United States President Fitzgerald Grant (played by Tony Goldwyn) win office.[1] The fictional Pope is a former lawyer and White House aide.[3] Pope "thinks fast and effectively".[4] Her delivery is through what The New York Times's Alessandra Stanley describes as admonitory, staccato sentences.[1] Among her secrets is her liaison with President Grant.[1] Her employees have law degrees, but do not serve as lawyers. Instead, they are "gladiators in suits" who mollify or avert a wide array of crises.[3]

The role is regarded as groundbreaking. According to Felicia Lee of The New York Times, Pope is only the only main protagonist role played by an African-American woman on American network television since 1974,[5] when Teresa Graves starred as Christie Love in Get Christie Love! for one season.[5][6] Prior to that Diahann Carroll played the title role in Julia from 1968 to 1971.[5] Pope is regarded as a post-racial character, yet possibly the most complex black female lead in television history.[6] Although the show does not touch upon race that often, regarding her much publicized affair with Grant, Pope once said "I'm feeling a little, I don't know, Sally Hemings-Thomas Jefferson about all this."[5] Pope has given Washington a role as a standard bearer for middle-class and upper middle-class, educated black women.[5]

Among women of all races, Washington's Pope is in the stark minority as a female main protagonist of a television series who are "emotionally strong, professionally powerful, and personally complicated". Her leadership of a hodge podge crew is compared to that of Brenda Leigh Johnson of The Closer. Pope's "intensity" enfuses her team with a "sense of urgency" that gives the show its pace.[4] Her strong, professional but feminine leadership style is accentuated by her fashion.[7]

Pope's wardrobe is designed by Scandal costume designer Lyn Paolo (who does or has done costume design for The West Wing, ER and Shameless),[8] and it has caught the attention of the Vogue staff.[9] Paolo attempted to make Pope stand apart from the black, gray and dark blue colors of DC by outfitting her in "chic pastels" going so far as to put her in pink pants or Louboutin shoes at times.[10] Some of her most respected wardrobe pieces are from notable fashion houses such as Ferragamo, Burberry, Gucci, Armani, Prada, Valentino, Tory Burch, and Michael Kors.[9][11][12] The Valentino was saved for the season 1 finale.[13] In addition to the luxurious elements of her wardrobe that are on loan from designers, Pope wears modest elements that Paolo picks up from Nordstrom Rack, Bloomingdale's and Loehmann's.[14] The Pope character has become somewhat of a style icon. Harper's Bazaar and Glamour analyze her wardrobe every week in a dedicated fashion watch columns.[15][16][17] Time describes her as a "a real-world lifestyle tastemaker", pointing out that the Crate & Barrel wine glasses that she drinks from on the show sold out at the store.[11] Washington and Paolo curated a Saks Fifth Avenue installation of Pope fashions in October 2013.[18] That season, Pope's attire was part of a special collection at Saks Fifth Avenue.[19] Vulture dedicated a feature to presenting every outfit Pope wore during season 2.[20] When her wardrobe changed to more colorful and asymmetric looks in season 3, The Huffington Post dedicated a feature to this issue.[8] During season 3, Entertainment Weekly ranked Pope's ten best outfits.[21] Because Pope's wardrobe is pricey, there are features and websites dedicated to cheap alternatives to the exact wardrobe elements.[22] Paolo suggests that the Pope style be purchased at Zara and Ann Taylor.[14] In terms of jewelry, Pope wears long necklaces and exclusively wears Movado watches.[14] She also generally uses one of her modest collection of Prada purses.[14]

When the the Obama administration needed a spokesman for its Affordable Care Act, it had Jennifer Hudson spoof Pope.[23]

Storylines

Season 1

Season 1 introduces us to Pope, her "iron-clad rules", and her demands of loyalty. We meet her battalion of misfits that she has rescued from assorted affairs of varying amounts of unsavory elements.[4] Of the seven episodes of season one, episode six, "The Trial", showed the evolution of the affair between Pope and President Grant.[4] However, the entire first season is strung together by Olivia's management of the Amanda Tanner case about "a former White House staffer who claims she’s had a relationship with the President and is carrying his baby".[4] This season presents the beginnings of Beane's constant attempts to manipulate Grant into dumping Pope.[4] The season ends as Pope's and Grant's shared dream of happiness is shattered.[4]

Season 2

During season 2, it is revealed the Pope had been part of an electoral fraud scheme that had ensured Fitz' election. During a break in her relationship with Fitz, Pope developes an emotional and physical attachment to Fitz' Navy colleague Jake (Scott Foley). Fitz' affair with Pope caused him to become estranged from his wife, Mellie (Bellamy Young), and led to his romantic gesture to move Pope into the White House. However, the season ended with Pope telling Fitz he should go back to his wife and run for reelection after the Fitz and Pope were driven apart by White House Chief of Staff, Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry).[24] The season ended with a mysterious relationship with her father Rowan (Joe Morton) coming to the surface.[25]

Season 3

The season begins with Rowan attempting to fix Olivia's personal life and Olivia teaming with Mellie and Fitz for a press conference to reveal the truth about her and Fitz.[26] Olivia and Rowan have differences over B613 that he heads.[27] Olivia has an emotional history with Huck.[28] She teams with Jake and Huck to expose Operation Remington.[29] During the season, we are introduced to Olivia's mother Maya Lewis (Khandi Alexander) both in the present day and in flashbacks.[30] During the season, Olivia came to believe that her father had made the decision to kill her mother, which was very different than her prior beliefs about her mother's death.[30] Believing that her father and Fitz, conspired to shoot down the plane with her mother, Olivia becomes the client of her own firm.[31] We later find out that her mother is alive and has been held prisoner by her father in a maximum security prison for 20 years for national security reasons.[32][33][34] Lewis escapes.[35] The midseason hiatus from mid-December to late-February left off with Olivia sending her mother abroad.[36] However, Olivia realizes that her mother is a terrorist who married her father for his access to high level intelligence.[34][37]


Reception

"Olivia Pope has the messiest personal life of any character in prime time. And that’s why you’ll probably fall in love with her..."[38] wrote Mark Perigard of the The Boston Herald of Pope's character. Time ranked her second on their list of the 11 most influential fictional characters in 2013.[11]

Maureen Ryan of The Huffington Post wrote "Washington does a good job of carrying every story along in her energetic wake, and even if "Scandal" isn't quite as instantly addictive as "Grey's Anatomy"..."[39] Washington's simultaneous "emotionally and intellectually acute" presentations are usually showcased in a "fast-talking...eloquent, pointed ... ultimatum (or two) to a client or a nemesis balking over a deal." in each episode.[4]

Stanley says her voice patterns are reminiscent of salesman in Glengarry Glen Ross.[1] According to Los Angeles Times television critic Mary McNamara, saying the supernaturally empowered Pope is based on Smith is "like saying Willie Wonka [sic] is based on Milton Hershey".[40] McNamara also says "Olivia Pope is not just the ultimate fixer, she also manages to work only on the side of the angels," although she has the sole flaw of loving the married president.[40]

Slate critic Troy Patterson describes her as intellectually comparable to contemporary protagonists Adrian Monk and Gregory House due to her genius powers of intuition, which enable her to judge guilt and veracity by scales in her gut. However, Patterson compares her emotionally to Roy Lichtensteins romantic subjects such as Drowning Girl despite her angelic swagger and chutzpah.[41]

Staff writer David Hiltbrand of The Philadelphia Inquirer, calls Pope "one of the strongest (in every sense) female characters to hit prime time in recent memory".[42] The Washington Post's Hank Stuever says Pope is a "much-feared" character delivered with a watchability that is "coldhearted but complex".[43]

Awards and nominations

Washington's portrayal of Olivia Pope has garnered mostly positive reviews as well as a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination.[44] The role has also earned Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series nominations.[45][46] Washington's performance as Pope also won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series and a BET Award for Best Actress (also for Broomhilda von Shaft in Django Unchained).[47][48]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Stanley, Alessandra (2012-04-04). "Washington Spin Doctor, Heal Thyself: ‘Scandal,’ ABC Political Drama With Kerry Washington". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  2. ↑ Rodman, Sarah (2012-04-05). "Dirty deeds, fast talk at heart of ‘Scandal’". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Poniewozik, James (2012-04-05). "TV Tonight: Scandal". Time. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Dolan, Jill (2012-05-24). "Scandal". The Feminist Spectator. Retrieved 2014-01-29. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Lee, Felicia R. (2013-04-26). "The Weight Those Heels Carry". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Vega, Tanzina (2013-01-16). "A Show Makes Friends and History: ‘Scandal’ on ABC Is Breaking Barriers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  7. ↑ Marcil, Monique (2012-05-10). "'Scandal': Using Armani and Valentino to make Olivia Pope stand out in a 'male-dominated world'". Zap2it.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Critchell, Samantha (2013-11-18). "Olivia Pope's 'Scandal' Wardrobe Gets Amped Up For Season 3". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Garcia, Patricia. "Kerry Washington's Olivia Pope Wears the Best Coats on Scandal". Vogue. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  10. ↑ Elbasha, Diana (2013-01-10). "Gladiators in Suits: The Enviable Wardrobe of "Scandal’s" Olivia Pope". Washingtonian. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Alter, Charlotte and Eliana Dockterman (2013-12-09). "The 11 Most Influential Fictional Characters of 2013: These are the on-screen figures who got our attention: 2. Olivia Pope". Time. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  12. ↑ "The Enviable Wardrobe of "Scandal’s" Olivia Pope" (slideshow). Washingtonian. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  13. ↑ "The Enviable Wardrobe of "Scandal’s" Olivia Pope" (slideshow). Washingtonian. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Goldberg, Stephanie (2012-09-07). "Fall TV fashion: Outfitting 'Scandal'". CNN. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  15. ↑ Rutherford, Chrissy. "Exclusive: The Weekly Scandal Style Report". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  16. ↑ Ogunnaike, Nikki (2013-10-11). "Scandal Fashion: Loved Olivia Pope's Suit Jacket? Here's Where You Can One Just Like It!". Glamour. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  17. ↑ Ogunnaike, Nikki (2013-10-25). "Scandal Fashion: We've Updated Our Keep Boards With More Olivia Pope-Approved Pieces". Glamour. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  18. ↑ Chan, Stephanie (2013-09-25). "Collaboration Nation: Saks Fifth Avenue Partners With 'Scandal'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  19. ↑ Garcia, Patricia. "Wear the Pantsuits: Get Olivia Pope's Scandal Look". In Zalopany, Chelsea. Vogue. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  20. ↑ Lyons, Margaret (2013-05-23). "See Every Single Outfit Olivia Pope Has Worn on Scandal Season Two". Vulture. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  21. ↑ "Photos/Olivia Pope's Top 10 Looks on Scandal". Entertainment Weekly. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  22. ↑ "Look Like Olivia Pope: Affordable Ways to Get ‘Scandal’-ous Style". ABC News. 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  23. ↑ Fisher, Luchina (2013-09-30). "Jennifer Hudson Spoofs 'Scandal' for Obamacare". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  24. ↑ Fallon, Kevin (2013-10-03). "Five Things to Know Before the ‘Scandal’ Season Three Premiere". Daily Beast. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 
  25. ↑ Rocque, Anslem Samuel (2013-07-22). "Olivia Pope’s Father Speaks on Scandal Secrets". Jet. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  26. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-10-03). "'Scandal' Case Study: Tony Goldwyn Talks Fitz's Bold Move, 'Nuclear' Mystery". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  27. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-10-10). "'Scandal's' Joe Morton Talks Olivia-Rowan's Dysfunctional Relationship". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  28. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-10-10). "'Scandal' Case Study: Guillermo Diaz Talks Huck's Big Revelation -- 'What the Hell Have I Done?!'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  29. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-10-24). "'Scandal' Case Study: Scott Foley on Operation Remington, Bringing B613 Down". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Goldberg, Lesley (2013-11-05). "'Scandal' Casts 'Treme' Star to Play Kerry Washington's Mother (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  31. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-11-13). "'Scandal': Olivia Reveals the Truth About Remington to OPA (Exclusive Video)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-27. 
  32. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-11-20). "'Scandal': Rowan Tries to Fix the Mother of All Problems (Exclusive Video)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-27. 
  33. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-11-21). "'Scandal's' Khandi Alexander: 'We'll Get More Pieces to the Remington Puzzle'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-27. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Goldberg, Lesley (2013-12-12). "'Scandal's' Kerry Washington Previews 'Game Changer' for Huck and Olivia in Revealing Midseason Finale". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-27. 
  35. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (2013-11-21). "'Scandal' Case Study: Jeff Perry Says Cyrus Has 'Blown Up His Marriage'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-01-27. 
  36. ↑ Lennox, Mike Cidoni (2013-12-11). "During 'Scandal' hiatus, Morton will await fate of debatably diabolical dad Rowan Pope". Nanaimo Daily News. Retrieved 2014-01-24. 
  37. ↑ Arceneaux, Michael (2013-12-13). "Rowan Pope Needs Unemployment: Recapping Scandal, "A Door Marked Exit" (Season 3, Episode 10)". Complex. Retrieved 2014-01-27. 
  38. ↑ http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/television_reviews/2012/04/%E2%80%98scandal%E2%80%99_big_turn_on
  39. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maureen-ryan/scandal-abc_b_1406637.html
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 McNamara, Mary (2012-04-05). "There's always a crisis". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  41. ↑ Slate (2012-04-05). "You Tell the President of the United States To Make Time!". Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
  42. ↑ Hiltbrand, David (2012-04-05). "Kerry Washington is formidable in ABC's 'Scandal'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  43. ↑ Stuever, Hank (2012-04-04). "ABC’s ‘Scandal’: Oh mighty Crisis". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  44. ↑ Vultaggio, Maria (2013-09-22). "Why Didn’t Kerry Washington Win Emmy? Twitter Thinks ‘Scandal’ Star Was Snubbed". International Business Times. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  45. ↑ "SAG nominations 2014: The complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2013-12-12. 
  46. ↑ Farley, Christopher John (2013-12-12). "Golden Globes Nominations 2014: ’12 Years a Slave,’ ‘American Hustle’ Lead Field". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2013-12-12. 
  47. ↑ Lang, Derrik J. (2013-02-01). "Kerry Washington & NAACP Image Awards: Actress Wins Three Awards". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
  48. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (2013-06-30). "BET Awards: Drake, Kendrick Lamar Among Big Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-11-10. 
Creator: Shonda Rhimes
Inspiration
Episodes
  • "Sweet Baby"
  • "Dirty Little Secrets"
  • "Hell Hath No Fury"
  • "Enemy of the State"
  • "Crash and Burn"
  • "The Trail"
  • "Grant: For the People"
  • "White Hat's Off"
  • "The Other Woman"
  • "Hunting Season"
  • "Beltway Unbuckled"
  • "All Roads Lead to Fitz"
  • "Spies Like Us"
  • "Defiance"
  • "Happy Birthday, Mr. President"
  • "Blown Away"
  • "One for the Dog"
  • "A Criminal, a Whore, an Idiot and a Liar"
  • "Truth or Consequences"
  • "Nobody Likes Babies"
  • "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot"
  • "Boom Goes the Dynamite"
  • "Top of the Hour"
  • "Snake in the Garden"
  • "Molly, You In Danger, Girl"
  • "Seven Fifty-Two"
  • "A Woman Scorned"
  • "Any Questions?"
  • "White Hat's Back On"
Characters
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