Scandalnever wanted for interesting characters. With fixers, politicians, spies, and journalists abound, the series maintains a rich ensemble cast to support its protagonist, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington). But in the transition between its first and second seasons,Scandaldrops the ball in its choice to write out what could have very well been one of its best-supporting characters.Scandalshould never have gotten rid of Stephen Finch (Henry Ian Cusick).
‘Scandal’ Got Sloppy In Finch’s Disappearance
Series showrunner and creatorShonda Rhimesisquoted as saying on Finch’s second season absence"In the making of the show, there was less for him to do than is deserving of him. I felt, why hold him back from doing other things?" But that simply didn’t have to be the case. In fact,Scandal’ssecond season handles his absence poorly. The justifications for Finch leaving Pope & Associates don’t really match up with what we see of his character in the first season. Finch is amongthe most dedicated and understanding of Olivia’s friendsin the first season. The implication is that he was so disgusted at Olivia’s choice to defend Quinn for allegedly bombing a building, but this makes no sense. If anyone would trust Olivia’s judgment on this, it would be Finch.
Additionally, Finch’s absence leaves a gaping hole in the narrative. It makes sense that his absence would be felt as Pope & Associates scrambles to work without him. But because Cusick didn’t come back at all, flashbacks to Olivia’s past thatshouldinclude her good friend Stephen Finch just…don’t. It’s jarring to watch the series delve into how Oliviamet each of her friendswhile completely neglecting someone who, just episodes ago, was one of the most important people in her life. Quite frankly, at a point, it begins tobreak immersion. As an audience member, you become distinctly aware that Finch the character isn’t just gone – Henry Ian Cusick, his actor, is too.
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This drama not only kept fans on the edge of their seats, but tugged at their heartstrings, too.
‘Scandal’ Didn’t Need To Drop Finch
Though Finch’s characterization as a semi-reformed playboy who sleeps with women for information was perhaps a bit too light-hearted for a series that would quickly delve into much darker themes in its second season, minor tweaks to the character could have accounted for this. In fact, given Olivia’s propensity for involving herself with older men due to issues with her father, Finch’s continued presence in the series could have served as a fitting contrast. All the older men in Olivia’s life treat her terribly. Fitz, Rowan, Edison, and even Cyrus all treat her like garbage at one point or another.By being her friend and confidant throughout the series, Finch would have given Olivia the emotional space to unpack some of her paternal woundswithout all the messiness of a lover or all the outright danger of a political ally.
There was a place for Finch in the narrative, and whenScandalgot rid of him, the show suffered. ThoughScandal’s second season limps through Finch’s absence as characters bicker over who gets his office, Pope & Associates never feels full again. Harrison steps up as a friend to Olivia, but it’s not the same. And even he ends up dead byScandal’s fourth season. There is something to be said about the lonely, dire straits Olivia winds up in. One ofScandal’s central themes revolves around the sacrifices we make for the betterment of the nation and how power turns people into monsters. So it does track that Olivia would lose people along the way. But the central concept ofScandalis thatOlivia Popeis a good woman dragging the people she loves into the light come hell or high water.Finch’s leaving from the series was too suddenand too easy. It should have taken more for him to abandon her. And though he does make a brief appearance inScandal’s fourth season, it is a far cry from the warmth and friendship his character could have given Olivia all along. A friendship and warmth Olivia really needed.
Scandalis available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.
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