Olivia is enjoying her life away from Washington. But she learns about Harrison so she goes back to bury him. She learns that OPA is closed, Quinn is on her own, Abby's now working at the White House, and Huck is working as computer serviceman. She's about to leave when a Senator calls her. It seems she fears that she killed another whom she went to, to get support on a Bill Grant is working on. But when Olivia arrives she sees the man is still alive. She learns from the Senator that the man made a move on her and she resisted which is how he got hurt. Grant upon learning Olivia's back wonders if she's staying.

Throwing out this fact right away is the best way to appreciate my thoughts on the "Scandal" season 4 premiere: I always found "Scandal" to be a glorified soap opera and ABC placing it in primetime instead of daytime was just an unfortunate oversight. Washington's performance was rooted in melodrama to the max, and her casual lisping diction flooded her work with falsity. How "Scandal" was taken seriously enough to warrant Emmy nominations for acting seemed like one of the seven mysteries of the world. However, "Randy, Red, Superfreak and Julia" was a pleasant hour of television and that's coming from someone who has shown a bias against the series.

The problem with "Scandal" before was its intentionally artificial tone that was inherently sewed into the dialogue, direction, story lines, characters, and performances. Appreciating "Scandal" is understanding its nature, which is unapologetically a soap opera, but what I noticed in the premiere was how passionately the cast and creators embrace and own it. Thankfully the ridiculous melodrama has been toned back and one is able to actually breath amongst the pungent sugary air.

Kerry Washington stuns me with her beauty. She's one of the most gorgeous actresses in the business and you cannot take your eyes off of her when she's on screen. But what Washington brings to the role is a glamorous star power needed to carry this lighter show. Her acting is completely in sync with the jumpy, glossy show she leads. As the tone became less obnoxious in this episode, the more I began to see the fun in her acting and subsequently the show.

I'm no expert on Olivia Pope and her abrasive ways, but I have seen enough to justifiably state that this premiere is one of the best things this series has done. Sure, the corniness remains in areas and "Scandal" is not to be taken too seriously, but I was absorbed into the storyline and Washington's control of her surroundings.

Duration: 3 Discs HD DVD-9 Plastic Bag Packing Ver. ( 22 Episodes Complete Series )