Scandal

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Season 1
  • Network:
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 5, 2012
Season #: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Scandal Image
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 201 Ratings

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  • Starring: , ,
  • Summary: A former White House communications director, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) now runs her own crisis management firm, helping clients fix potential career-ending problems.
  • Genre(s): Drama

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Scandal

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 29
  3. Negative: 1 out of 29
  1. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Apr 5, 2012
    83
    On "Grey's Anatomy," particularly in the first two years, Rhimes proved herself skilled at crafting gripping love stories. She's outdone herself here.
  2. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Apr 5, 2012
    70
    Even if Scandal isn't quite as instantly addictive as "Grey's Anatomy" was back in the day, this is a well-paced, generally well-acted show with some promising elements (though there is also an occasional tendency to offer contrived redemptions that don't make a ton of sense).
  3. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Nancy DeWolf Smith
    Apr 6, 2012
    70
    It's still a fun, fast ride, with lots of twists and turns, murder and menace, and after only a few episodes we know enough back story about most of the main characters to care what happens to them.
  4. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Chuck Barney
    Apr 3, 2012
    63
    The cast around Washington is also quite solid, and the show looks and is refreshingly different from a typical procedural. But it also feels a little too slick and superficial, and those gaps in logic may be a problem for some viewers.
  5. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Lori Rackl
    Apr 5, 2012
    63
    This female-skewing drama gets points for its actors' performances and its originality.
  6. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Cynthia Fuchs
    Apr 5, 2012
    60
    The show's formula looks to be this: the silly plots swirl, the brokers scheme, and the minions toil, but in each episode, Liv finds a moment to chat with one of these wise, powerful, and inevitably troubled women. In these moments, Scandal is slightly less tabloidy and soapy, and slightly more beguiling.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Mar 30, 2012
    30
    As usual, Rhimes' workplace characters talk very fast, but the manic visual style can't obscure a series flawed on most every level.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 53
  3. Negative: 18 out of 53
  1. bigweezey
    Jul 12, 2013
    10
    This is the best show on television right now and I have watched a lot of shows recently. Kerry Washington does a really good job of takingThis is the best show on television right now and I have watched a lot of shows recently. Kerry Washington does a really good job of taking the seriousness of this show and mixing it with pleasure. The acting and writing for this show is extraordinary. It is a show that you have got to keep up with because it is a fast-paced show dealing with the white house and other things around that. I hope this show stays on for many more seasons to come.… Expand
  2. viny
    Jul 27, 2015
    10
    I just love it... The actors are amazng, the characters well developped. The further it goes with the other seasons, the more I fall in loveI just love it... The actors are amazng, the characters well developped. The further it goes with the other seasons, the more I fall in love with this TV show... Just PERFECT.… Expand
  4. mrose2012
    Dec 28, 2012
    10
    I discovered Scandal really late. I am not a fan of Private Practice or Greys so I avoided this show but I am now hooked,. Scandal is smart,I discovered Scandal really late. I am not a fan of Private Practice or Greys so I avoided this show but I am now hooked,. Scandal is smart, fast and sexy. Its like a romance ,mystery , crime novel wrapped up in a nice package . I love it… Expand
  5. raviopatra
    Nov 17, 2013
    7
    The first season is a little bit shaky. Understandable, since the plot is quite complicated. The show's got potential, big ones, and ShondaThe first season is a little bit shaky. Understandable, since the plot is quite complicated. The show's got potential, big ones, and Shonda Rhimes is usually the person to trust when it comes to good drama. Apparently, she's not only good at medical shows, but also political ones.… Expand
  6. martinex
    Apr 12, 2012
    5
    I'll say one thing for Shonda Rhimes, her style is immediately recognizable. Unfortunately lines comparing surgeons to gods (Grey's Anatomy)I'll say one thing for Shonda Rhimes, her style is immediately recognizable. Unfortunately lines comparing surgeons to gods (Grey's Anatomy) create an immediate animosity towards the characters she tries so hard to elevate.… Expand
  7. Shiftyeyeddog
    Apr 9, 2015
    3
    I can't hack the utterly ridiculous self-righteous and overheated speeches being spouted every five seconds. They are beyond tiresome and myI can't hack the utterly ridiculous self-righteous and overheated speeches being spouted every five seconds. They are beyond tiresome and my eyes started to hurt from excessive rolling. I think they are going for a comic book, Justice League-with-lawyers-style here, but the lectures are just too long and too frequent. Superheroes take action, they don't sermonize.… Expand
  8. otstrel
    Mar 23, 2014
    0
    Kerry Washington totally ruins this otherwise pretty good series. I don't think I ever saw such poor acting anywhere else. Every single sceneKerry Washington totally ruins this otherwise pretty good series. I don't think I ever saw such poor acting anywhere else. Every single scene she plays is overacted and fake.… Expand

See all 53 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best TV Season of 2012
14
#14 Most Discussed TV Season of 2012
3
#3 Most Shared TV Season of 2012

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