after Donald Trumps inauguration), Rhimes said, I am not commenting on conversations with my boss. I like my job. Anything about scheduling, ask the internet. Im fine with whatever they do, Rhimes said dismissively on Tuesday. It has nothing to do with my job. I like to stay in my lane. We arent in reaction to that. Five episodes were shot before we knew anything. Added Rhimes: I dont know that there are any similarities....

After a whole season, we finally figure out who technically killed Frankie Vargas Maya, Maya, Maya. This whole finale is about mothers, in a sense. Maya trying to protect her daughter. Quinn well, lets not ruin that for you quite yet. And of course, theres Luna. Luna trying to protect her children from the spotlight and the dangers of being presidential children. Luna, trying to use the death of her husband to push a nation forward....

Ill be joining you as your aficionado this season, and together well see to it its handled. Lets just say that its probably fair to say Amanda and this lady have something in common. Remember when exit polls were fun to watch? Credit: ABC/Tony Rivetti Mellies camp seems pretty excited, but suddenly, it falls into Frankie Vargas court. Jake is nowhere to be found, and Olivia is pushing Mellie in the direction of having her concede....

But who’s going to meet with the Rangerettes?! So, this is it, yall. The last first popcorn. Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABC The last first glass of red wine. The last first gasp when Huck does something absolutely insane. Its the last first episode of a season ofScandalbecause this is the final season. And man, its going to be a big one…I can feel it. Last season was a journey, but we made it to the other side....

Well, here we are where crazy meets crazy. We know that Rowan killed Vargas. We know that Rowan killed his girlfriend. Credit: Kelsey McNeal/ABC According to some fans, Rowan also killed this show. So we find ourselves in a complicated place: where this showmightjust kill Rowan back. But at the end of the episode, thereissomeone whos life is on the line. And thereisa reason to keep watchingScandal, yall. The flashback episodes are over, and were back to single-timeline crazy....

Yeah, its insane. Charlie, Quinn, and Rowan are playing a very strange game of house at Rowans place. Of course, its all for the greater good, but Olivia? Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC Well, all she can see is betrayal and revenge. Olivia has one week to announce her resignation before Mellie announces it for her…as a termination. Thats when Vanessa pops back up. What hole have you been hiding in? Oh, David, someones been watching the alternate-world news....

Lets be real with each other.Scandalhas been off the rails this season. One more election night episode, and we were all going to lose it. Im not going to sit here and pretend like the past eight episodes didnt happen. Credit: Scott Everett White/ABC Oh Huck, there you are. All maybe-dead in the trunk of a car. Thankfully, we still have time because Huckisalive. Or at least he is for now....

Tonight, we flash to Elis past, in the days leading up to the election. He sits in on a professors class, and feels like Eli isnt just class-crashing. He went to grad school with this woman named Sandra who had a keen understanding of dinosaurs. Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC It all seems very vanilla, as youd expect from two academics with a shared love of bones. But thats never been who Eli is, so it doesnt take long to see him come out....

You know that classic love story: Boy meets boy. Boy kills a little bit for boy. Boy realizes that other boy also likes boy. Credit: ABC/Nicole Wilder And if youdoknow the story, how in the world do you keep all the boys separate? Its complicated, but thats whatScandaldoes best, isnt it? Actually, she was probably sleeping with him. Damn it, Jennifer. Naturally, she wants to help Cyrus for a price....

Kelly Clarkson once said, The trouble with love is, it doesnt care how fast you fall. Okay, thats not the actual lyrics. Remember when a young staffer fell for the presidential nominee? Credit: ABC/Bryon Cohen No, not Olivia… Marcus. And Mellies that nominee. Lets just hop in. After a curiously fast FBI investigation, neither Fitz nor the FBI is interested in chasing down Cyrus. In his words, Its a less polite way of saying go have sex with yourself....

Just in time for Mother’s Day, someone special makes a return to Washington… Hey! A press secretary answering questions the press asks thismustbe fiction. Why yes, yes it is. Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABC Yes, Abby messed up likewhoa, but who hasnt accidentally almost turned the country over to terrorists? Thanks for the memories, girl. Sorry you couldnt take over the country. Of course, it came from Rowan, who passed it on to David as a gift....

Olivia’s team is tasked with taking down D.C.’s biggest threat to date. We kick off this week after an insaneScandalepisode last week that said goodbye to everyones least favorite favorite. And its almost as if an apocalyptic reset button has been pushed. Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABC Olivia is in bed with Fitz. Rowan is captured and being jailed in the White House, but with danishes. Isnt that a great life? Rowan doesnt want it though....

As a culture, rich white people arent known for adding much to the world. Perhaps we can attribute the Kardashians to them. Maybe even smallpox blankets. Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless Softy Huck is the best Huck. David cant be persuaded to help Cyrus, though. In doing so, hemightbe able to get this situation turned around. It definitely leaves some questions. She took Olivias advice to heart and is canoodling in bed with Fitz in her pajamas....