Warning: This post contains spoilers.
Rest easy, Gladiators, Scandal is back.
Olivia Pope and co. are once again dominating Thursday nights and the premiere kicked things off with a royal bang. Inspired by the real life tragedy of Princess Diana, Pope was forced to solve a murder conspiracy, while dealing with Fitz, who's ready to end things with Mellie.
Since this is a Shonda Rhimes production, the premiere's twists and turns came from every angle, packed into a juicy hour-long episode. Here are the 8 most shocking things that happened.
1. Princess Diana parallels
The episode opens with a fancy state dinner for Princess Emily, a lawyer who became royal after marrying the prince of Caledonia. She's a real Kate Middleton type, but her plot line was inspired by Princess Diana. Not only does she die in a tragic car crash, but her body is also splayed on the road, gruesome fodder for all the bloodthirsty paparazzi.
Omg they are recreating the death of princess diana #Scandal— rian (@RianHilton) September 25, 2015
Then guess what? One of those photographers wasn't actually a photographer. He was an assassin, sent to kill Emily. The plot thickens.
2. Fitz shows up to Mellie's swearing-in.
The president has been playing around with the swearing-in, determined not to go despite how awful it would look to the public. It's so set in stone that Abby announces it to the press -- only to find out halfway through that he's actually there, right beside Mellie (as he should be). Who convinced him? Who do you think? Olivia Pope to the rescue.
3. Divorce papers
Even though Fitz attended the swearing-in, he couldn't let Mellie be happy for too long. As soon as they were alone -- bam, divorce papers. Of course, true Scandal fans have seen him pull this stunt before, but this time he seems to seriously mean it. Not only that, but he lobs in some serious digs, telling Mellie all she's good for is "waving and smiling."
me when Fitz gave Mellie the divorce papers: pic.twitter.com/gQo3XmZs09— jovan (@EhJovan) September 25, 2015
4. "Did Quinn hurt you ... on the inside?"
OK, so maybe this isn't totally shocking, but Huck is starting off this season as a sensitive lump on Olivia's couch. He's retreating into himself and not even a professional fixer can shake him out of this dangerous funk.
Huck wants Liv to fix him. They are really co-dependent and this friendship is too much pressure. Too many burdens. #Scandal— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) September 25, 2015
5. The. Princess. Was. Pregnant.
Not only was the princess a) sleeping with her bodyguard and b) assassinated, but she was also c) pregnant with the bodyguard's child.
6. Killer queen
Though we're led to believe Emily was killed by her jealous husband, it was actually the trifling queen all along. She was disgusted by the pregnancy and the thought of a mere mortal inheriting the throne.
But not so fast. Olivia sneakily gets the information to the prince, who lets the queen have a piece of his mind and commands her to “live out the rest of your days at the winter palace. Alone.”
The Prince just sent the Queen to the Wall to join the Night's Watch #Scandal— Tatiana King Jones (@TatianaKing) September 25, 2015
7. Hello, Jake
Huck needs to get himself together, so he turns to Jake. It's the world's smallest B613 reunion.
8. Sally knows about Olitz
Somehow, the one-woman Fox News show, otherwise known as Sally Langston, got intel on Fitz and Olivia's relationship. She also shared a few sneaky photos, which show Olivia and Fitz, ahem, looking a little too friendly.