Scandal is one of the most shocking shows on television, keeping audiences on their toes and completely altering the show’s universe within a single hour week after week.

“The Belt” changes directions so many times it nearly leaves our heads spinning. Here are the 7 most shocking moments from Scandal Season 6 Episode 4.

7. Abby Gets Busted

Ever since Abby came to the White House she has been grappling her way up the food chain and learning from people like Cyrus and Olivia, who often get whatever they want because they take it.

Now that Abby is Chief of Staff she’s begun to act as if she too can get whatever she wants. Right now she’s trying to protect Cyrus, because she considers him a friend. She evokes Fitz’s name in order to get her way, using his power to get what she wants.

She’s used to doing it, she’s used to watching Olivia and Cyrus do it, why should this time be any different? This time it comes back to bite her when she gets caught. She’s quickly lost Fitz’s trust.

Abby’s facing quite the double standard here, but since she’s out of the President’s inner circle this could be the thing that finally drives her back to OPA.

6. Huck Gets a Girlfriend

Huck hasn’t always had the best of luck when it comes to women, or a personal life. But he’s developed a crush on the sweet girl from the Vargas campaign and he’s been helping her learn to protect herself.

It’s a sweet, pure thread through the episode to remind everyone that not everything is wrapped in the gloom and doom of high-stakes political intrigue.

5. Fitz and Angela

The President is literally in bed with the FBI Director. Now don’t get me wrong I love Angela, I think she’s great and she should sleep with whoever she wants, but why does it seem like I am the only one shocked by this development?

Even in the Scandal universe I feel like that relationship would be a huge conflict of interest! She’s working on an open investigation into his friend and former Chief of Staff, and he may be single but he’s still the President of the United States for a few more months.

Why is the show treating this relationship like they’re just two normal people who happen to be dating?

4. Michael Leaves Cyrus

Michael has been too good for Cyrus since day one, but as he promised he’s never left his side. Now he’s finally had enough. Liz doesn’t follow through for Cyrus in his request to get a manipulative letter to Tom, instead she gives them to Michael.

What’s interesting about this is that he implies that she’s a little bit afraid of him. Michael is a good dad and a good husband, but he’s got a past and it’s not all that clear. What don’t we know about him that makes even Liz North fear him?

Cyrus: Elizabeth shouldn’t have given you this. Michael: I made her. Some people are smart enough to be afraid of me, you know?

3. Cyrus is the Oval

I hate Cyrus as much as the next guy, but watching this happen makes even me feel sorry for him. His husband is leaving him, the President intends to pursue the death penalty against him, and then he gets the daylights beat out of him by angry gang members who hate him over a crime he didn’t actually commit.

Cyrus is a terrible person and he often deserves the horrible things that happen to him, but the composure of that scene with the music, the timing, and the false sense of security, makes the audience feel as if they got sucker punched too.

2. That Entire Dream Sequence

After Cyrus takes that beating he falls into a dream where he is forgiven by Olivia and the American people, he’s elected President, sworn into office. The audience doesn’t have any clue that it isn’t real until Mellie walks in and he realizes this is her office.

Mellie: You should probably go, I’ve got a lot of work to plow through. Plus I don’t want your blood on my carpet.

It wouldn’t have been the first time that Scandal pulled a quick time jump and gave us emotional whiplash. However, we’re only 4 episodes in to Scandal’s insane 6th Season, and they seem to be playing the long con with us as to who will actually take office after Fitz. (But can we all agree that Mellie’s Oval Office is absolutely stunning?)

1. The Last Five Minutes

Tom is innocent? Cyrus is innocent? Cyrus played the guard with his insane cannibal hall mate and then let him DIE? This entire sequence is as hard to watch as it is to look away from. Cyrus fooling the guard and then letting him die anyway when Tom confesses is classic Cyrus Beene.

And even though I had been certain of his guilt, because killing his running mate to become President is exactly the type of thing Cyrus would do, it appears this is one crime he didn’t commit.

He may be innocent when it comes to the death of Frankie Vargas, but he’s still got a long way to go to get back to the Oval Office, and I don’t think breaking out of his cell, getting a guard killed and attempting to murder a fellow inmate are going to help him get there.

What did you think of this episode of Scandal? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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