I gave an advance review of Shonda Rhimes’ new television series Scandal earlier this week. But that was based on having watched three episodes (out of only seven in this freshman series) and did not take the series episode by episode. It’s tough to gauge a review in that sense, because (and since this was my first time reviewing a show from multiple episodes) I don’t exactly remember if I would continue watching the series based off its pilot alone.

All I know is that by the end of the third episode, I wanted to continue watching. Based off the pilot, I’m not that sure.

See, while the pilot’s first scene is completely enthralling — I mean, it completely sets the tone of the show in under three minutes[*] — it wasn’t exactly new. These are fast-paced people who work for The Ultimate Badass. As much as we all like to think something is different about that than a dozen other shows: there isn’t anything different about it. But that’s okay… I love watching fast talking people and a badass female lead. It’s a television niche that I really love. Who doesn’t?

[*] Also, I would like to add that I completely thought Quinn would most definitely be the lead character on the show. If for nothing else to at least help us navigate this world. But the series has a different take. And I find myself, even in the third episode, wanting more Quinn scenes. It just seems natural to have them, but I don’t know if they’ll go there in the last four episodes or not.

That said, the first scene in which we meet Olivia is almost laughable. Does no one agree? And it’s not even the situation she’s in. I mean, it’s also that. Why not kill her and take the flight out of the country anyway? What’s stopping them? Anyway, the performances do not live up to the introduction that she is given by Quinn and Harrison. But as I mentioned in my advance review, I think Kerry Washington nicely slips into her role as the episode progresses. And by that, I mean she basically owns it. Thank you, Scandal for not just telling me that Olivia Pope is amazing but showing her in all of her descriptor glory. Even if we’re told constantly that Olivia knows every groove of her mission, but always turns out to be false…

But by the time she puts the President’s alleged mistress in her place (prematurely), I was completely invested in her badassery (a word I think I just made up). Then came the inevitable “Badass, perfect lead has issues” scene, where we cement the fact that she and the president also had (currently have?) an affair… and at that point, I may have been a bit frustrated. Coming from three months of a seemingly burgeoning quadrangle on Vampire Diaries, I wasn’t ready for one on Scandal. So perhaps the president truly does love Olivia, but he’s married to his wife. Then what is this random affair? Are we supposed to believe he actually loves Olivia if he’d hookup with some employee?

I mean, truthfully. It’s somewhat of an issue moving forward with the season. So either you buy into it, or you let it go, because either way: it’s the central story. At least in this episode, the fallout between Olivia and Prez Grant causes an emotional drive between the case-of-the-week for ultimate impact. But as we move forward, we won’t be seeing a he said/she said story, we’re mostly watching Olivia struggle with between fact and emotion, and how she wants to deal her cards as she helps the President’s mistress.

And it’s pretty compelling.

Meanwhile, there’s an entire crises team back at Olivia’s office and they all seem to do nothing. Not even Quinn knows why the hell she’s there. They mostly just dillydally around. One has a crush on one that’s getting engaged. The other seems antisocial. And there’s that guy who’s smooth I guess. Oh, and the one who’s closest to Olivia. But that’s about it. This is The Olivia Pope Show — and even when it’s not about her, it’s about her. Then again, Olivia and Washington command it.

Overall, a solid pilot episode. That sense of uncertainty with the characters and their structure in this universe never seems to leave, but the execution is done so well that it doesn’t even matter. Wait — what does Olivia Pope do? Oh, who cares, she’s great at it… whatever “it” is!

And that ain’t a bad way to spend an hour Thursday nights.