‘Scandal’ Season 6 may Explore Olivia’s Pregnancy Storyline, Lesser Episodes Expected

‘Scandal’ season 6 was greenlit by ABC on March 2016 and may be subjected to scheduling adjustments. It is also expected to have fewer episodes and may explore more of Olivia’s pregnancy storyline.

According to Hollywood Life, the upcoming season for one of television’s most riveting political dramas may seek to delve deeper into Olivia Pope’s (Kerry Washington) controversial pregnancy storyline.

Channing Dungey, ABC’s entertainment president, revealed that Washington’s pregnancy prompted the network to make some adjustments to the show. One of ABC’s strategies was to move the series from its usual fall slot to the mid-season. Dungey said, “We did have to make some adjustments to Scandal for a variety of reasons that had to do with the production schedule.”

Kerry, who garnered several nominations for her role as crisis-manager Olivia, was pregnant with her first child Isabelle on the show’s third season. ‘Scandal’ showrunner Shonda Rhimes opted out of writing the pregnancy from the show. Olivia’s growing baby bump was hid from viewers through clever camera angles, strategic clothes, and accessories.

News of Kerry’s second pregnancy broke before the Met Gala in 2016 thus the series’ change in slot. It is unclear how the show will treat it a second time around.

According to another article by Seattle PI, the show’s usual 22-episode lineup was cut to 16. Despite the delay, fans are optimistic that the time-out would also allow Rhimes to iron out the events for a gripping new season.

Rhimes admitted during a previous interview that she wouldn’t let the series stretch out beyond an eighth season. She said, "I think there's only so much Scandal you can tell satisfactorily. The Fitz-Liv thing can only be told so long and in such a way. It's not a 10-season or eight-season show… I've already decided how long that is and what that's going to be."

Season 5’s finale took audiences on an emotional when Liv’s Christmastime abortion was finally revealed to her former lover President Fitz Thomas (Tony Goldwyn). Fitz accidentally discovered Liv’s medical file on Abby’s desk. Instead of getting angry, he is actually quite supportive.

Goldwyn revealed during an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, "Fitz's about face is completely a function of his love for Olivia… He was pro-life and, more relevant, he wanted a child with Olivia more than anything in the world. But he somehow understands that Olivia made a very personal choice and he instinctively respects that… Fitz may be in a lot of denial here — especially given all the grief he has suffered -- but he means it."

Abortion is reportedly a recurring subject in Rhimes’ work – even ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ featured an abortion arc. It would be interesting how events will play out especially since a pro-choice Republican president has been unveiled in the series.