No More Blood

"No More Blood" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of Scandal, and is the 60th overall episode. It aired on February 19, 2015, in the U.S. on ABC.[1]

"No More Blood"
Scandal episode
Olivia thanking Stephen for saving her from her kidnappers.
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 13
Directed byRandy Zisk
Written byHeather Mitchell
Original air dateFebruary 19, 2015 (2015-02-19)
Guest appearances

Plot

Olivia is about to be handed off to the Iranians when she speaks their language and foils the deal. Gus reopens the auction, allowing Huck one more chance to bid on Olivia using Marie's credentials. Meanwhile, Fitz and Cyrus disagree on how to handle the situation, eventually leading Cyrus to plot with the CIA to kill Olivia to prevent international secrets from being leaked. Mellie explains to Fitz that Andrew's blackmail threatens her chance at becoming President herself, and Fitz agrees to let Andrew walk. However, Mellie also plots with Elizabeth to take Andrew down. Olivia is eventually sold to a group in Russia, despite Huck tying for the winning bid. Stephen Finch shows up and rescues Olivia, then brings her back to America, shortly before Andrew has a massive stroke. Fitz goes to Olivia's apartment, but she reveals her disgust at his decision to go to war with West Angola for her, and tells him that she is on her own.

Production
Henry Ian Cusick returned to the series playing Stephen Finch.

The episode was written by Heather Mitchell and directed by Randy Zisk.[2] The episode focuses on the continuing auction of Olivia on the free market and how everyone tries to rescue her. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes explained on Twitter that the twelfth and thirteenth episodes were one extended episode and was therefore divided into two episodes; "Gladiators Don't Run" and "No More Blood".[3]

The episode saw the return of former cast-member Henry Ian Cusick playing the character Stephen Finch, after leaving the show after the first season as the character would be living a normal life with his fiancée Georgia. Shonda Rhimes explained the return saying “It was the only sensible solution when you think about Olivia’s life, where she’s gone and where she’s been". She further explained that the character was the only one Olivia hadn't abandoned and there was no baggage in their relationship.[4] Darby Stanchfield teased the return of Cusick when interviewed about the storyline of the kidnapping of Olivia, saying “There is the most freakin’ hugest surprise that happens in the next four episodes that the original Gladiators are going to freak out over." Katie Lowes also mentioned the twist saying “It’s a real surprise for the original Gladiators, the people who have been here since the beginning. It’s a real OG situation.”[5]

Reception

Broadcast

"No More Blood" was originally broadcast on Thursday, February 19, 2015 in the United States on ABC. The episode's total viewership was 9.62 million,[6] up 4 percent from its comparable telecast from last year.[7] In the key 18-49 demographic, the episode scored a 3.2/10 in Nielsen ratings,[6] up 10 percent from last year.[7] It was the top TV show in the 9:00 p.m. slot, beating The Blacklist, the series finale of Two and a Half Men, Backstrom and Reign.

The 9.62 million people tuned into the episode marked a 2 percent increase from the previous episode (9.32), in addition to the installment's 3.2 Nielsen rating in the target 18–49 demographic marked a 3 percent increase from 3.1, which was from the previous episode.[7] The Nielsen score additionally registered the show as the week's second-highest rated drama and third-highest rated scripted series in the 18–49 demographic, only behind Fox's Empire and CBS's The Big Bang Theory.[8] Seven days of time-shifted viewing added on an additional 1.6 rating points in the 18–49 demographic and 4.26 million viewers, bringing the total viewership for the episode to 13.89 million viewers with a 4.9 Nielsen rating in the 18–49 demographic.[9]

References
  1. "Shows A-Z - scandal on abc". The Futon Critic. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  2. Writer: Mitchell, Heather. Director: Zisk, Randy (February 19, 2015). "No More Blood". Scandal. Season 4. Episode 13. American Broadcasting Company.
  3. Rhimes, Shonda (February 13, 2015). "@theserieskiller Last episode and coming episode were one really long episode and now they are two episodes. That is how we do. #Scandal". Twitter. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  4. Abrams, Amanda (February 20, 2015). "Anatomy of a surprise Scandal return". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  5. Webb Mitovich, Matt (January 14, 2015). "Scandal Stars Tease 'Hugest' Surprise: Longtime Fans Will 'Lose Their Minds!'". TVLine. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  6. Bibel, Sara (February 20, 2015). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'Scandal', 'Two and a Half Men' & 'How To Get Away With Murder' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  7. Bibel, Sara (February 20, 2015). "ABC is Number 1 on Each Thursday of the February Sweep in Adults 18-49 for the First Time in 8 Years". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  8. Kondolojy, Amanda (February 24, 2015). "TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: Academy Awards Telecast Tops Adults 18-49 & Total Viewers for the Week Ending February 22, 2015". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  9. Kondolojy, Amanda (March 9, 2015). "'The Big Bang Theory' Leads Adults 18-49 & Viewership Gains + 'The Blacklist' Tops Percentage Increases in Live +7 Ratings for Week 22 Ending February 22". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
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