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.

Luna, trying to, in a sense, be the mother of America.

But lets start with Maya.

Thats the best place to start.

They thought she was gone, but then again, is trouble ever gone in this town?

Rowan has sent Jake out into the field to take out Maya, but of course she isnt there.

Its wonderful seeing Quinn get her due.

Shes been keeping this team together for more than a minute.

This woman is too much.

She says that this is still Rowan, and hes putting Olivia in jeopardy by locking her up.

Who knows what the truth is anymore.

Regardless, Maya in chains deserves her own spin-off.

Guys, its the kind of stuff Emmy nominations are made of.

She launches into a story about their time as a family.

Maya pulls herself up on the table and starts screaming, Dont you remember?!

Rowan joins her in her cell, and these acting powerhouses go head to head.

Its also… you know, America.

But they find common ground, even after Rowans talk about his past love.

They find that common ground over Olivia and that vacation they spent together so long ago.

That leads us back to OPA, where Quinn is bringing Abby in for some questioning.

She got information on the bank accounts that might be used to pay off Mellies would-be assassin.

Quinn isnt there for Abbys apologies… just her papers.

Off a cliff together, full speed.

Elsewhere, Olivia goes to visit Rowan, who is having some special bonding time with his dino skeleton.

All Maya is at this point is just a skeleton of the woman he used to love.

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Elsewhere, Mellie brings Fitz to the White House balcony to ask what hed do.

It seems selfish the whole strife about having her inauguration behind closed doors, but Mellie hasearnedthis.

She cant decide what to do because this is what shes dreamed about her whole life.

But he says the final decision is hers; itisher day.

Quinn is still Quinn, and Maya is still Maya.

What does that mean?

Well, it means that Maya isnt bank-rolling the assassination.

What is Mayas response?

It takes Jake pulling Olivia off her mother because Olivia is fire now.

Olivia will beat you with a chair.

Olivia takes NO prisoners.

She apologizes to Mellie for letting her down, but Mellie wont be bothered with it.

This is a moment for her, a moment for women, and even a moment forOlivia.

Mellie wont give up, and she even convinces Olivia not to either.

Could you have even imagined this three seasons ago?

Mellie and Olivia… just two strong women getting it all done.

Olivia suggests that they release Maya and track her.

End her when they need to end her.

Fitz isnt interested in that though, because its Mellies life on the line.

Its a pretty yikes moment, but it also feels full circle.

Its what happens when you let crazy wear the White Hat.

Its just bonkers enough to work.

We live in Olivias world where Quinn runs OPA, so we have to just go with it.

Speaking of going with it, Quinn tells Abby that shes pregnant.

I mean, just look at Rowan and Maya.

(Recap continues on page 3.)

Hey, look at that!

What a transition… Rowan goes to visit Olivia, who reveals shes let Maya loose.

Rowan freaks out and tries to convince Fitz to do something about it.

He wants B613 reinstated, and he wants Fitz to run it.

Fitz has to keep Olivia in check because shes apparently just as crazy as her father.

And Olivia meets up with Mellie to let her know that shes got her back.

Its all out of whack, kids.

And thats why we have a whole other hour of this finale.

Never one to turn down inappropriate sex, Fitz leans into it and hops right into the sack.

I dont know why anyone is shocked about this considering it happens every single time.

But even with Maya on the loose, weve reached Inauguration Day.

Everyone takes their places, and of course, Maya makes her appearance.

She takes down one of the guards and steals his guard.

She tells Olivia to move, but as Olivia ducks, nothing happens.

Mellie is sworn in, and up in the stands, Rowan stand over Mayas body.

Shes been shot, and the target has been neutralized.

And so Inauguration Day continues.

Mellie has no time for it though because shes alive, and she has Inauguration fun to get to.

Dealing with crises of her own, Quinn calls Abby in to take over OPA.

Quinn wants to bail and go be boring and vanilla again.

She wants to raise this kid and be on the PTA… not resolve Washington nonsense.

So this is it for Olitz.

He boards the helicopter, as outgoing presidents are meant to do, and he departs.

But Olivia steps outside and screams, Mr. President!

He whispers, The cameras, and she simply says, I dont care.

Its the end of an era, guys.

(Recap continues on page 4.)

But its not the series finale, nor is it the season finales final moment.

OPA taps into all the footage of Frankies inauguration to get it all figured out.

After a few flashes, the alleged truth is terrifying.

It seems to imply thatLuna Vargas is the culpritbehind all of this nonsense.

Its just crazy enough, and on brand enough forScandal,to make sense.

Anything they do to take Luna down will ultimately ruin Mellies presidency.

Thats howScandalgets real women arent afforded the same mistakes men make.

If Mellie has one misstep… her own or otherwise, her entire presidency will be engulfed by it.

And it confirms that maybe, in a strange world, Maya wasntsobad.

Healthcare in this country.

Maya isperfect, guys.

Inside OPA, as the team prepares for the inaugural ball, Abby tells Quinn to hire her.

She wont take over for Quinn, but she will help her.

So Quinn tells Charlie that theyre going to have a baby.

And then theres Jake, who shows up to be Olivias date.

They come together, this duo of vice-president killers, and tell Luna that shes going to kill herself.

Luna wanted to further the country and be better than Frankie could ever be.

She insists that shes not a monster, but here we are.

So Luna takes the pills, and now we have a, what,thirdvice presidential death?

Olivia goes to Mellies office and tricks her into fully funding B613 again.

Olivia will trigger the operation herself, and Rowan and Fitz are out.

She tells Rowan that she loves him, but if he crosses her again, shell kill him.

And God knows she will because shes now offed two vice presidents.

She kisses his head and says, Ill see you Sunday.

She tells him that she knows he wanted Luna Vargas to fall so that he could rise to VP.

And then she finishes by telling Cyrus to stay in town so that she can nominate him.

We have at least a summer to figure it out.