Random #Scandal thought 837 🤔: Rowan is as symbolic of something in Liv as Fitz is…
Y'all know I have spent years talking about Fitz being not just a man, but a reflection of something inside Olivia–a want, a desire, a striving to unearth. Once I got over my anger regarding Liv’s false representation to Fitz about choosing Rowan (and blatant self-delusion akin to 506-508), something clicked. The first was that Rowan was, essentially, the cause of their break-up in 509. I wrote about how he was an present absence all over their argument . But there is a bigger point.
If Fitz is symbolic of Hope, then Rowan is symbolic of Fear. Survival of the Fittest (title of 601) in the human species has always required both. Fear is one of the oldest parts of our brains. It helps us to sense danger, and take actions to ensure we keep ourselves alive. This way our species doesn’t suffer Extinction (title of Rowan’s ep 606). It’s useful to us.
However, Hope is also necessary and must have a place in our lives, because without it, we also cannot survive. Our ancestors had to have hope in order wander out of East Africa to explore, in search for better. That also kept them alive. It’s how our species was able to adapt as we branched off to different parts of the world. In the specific case of our enslaved ancestor in American (Caribbean, South American), they were heroes because they had hope that their enslavement was not all there was to life. They knew they were meant to be free. Can you imagine how much courage it took to maintain hope back then? Harriet Tubman had that gun mostly because her sense of hope required keeping her folks in line so that their fear wouldln’t make them turn back. Her hope made her a leader! I’m getting teary eyed just thinking about it. Because our ancestors had hope, I am able to type this post right now. We wouldn’t be here without that.
Back to the point. Fitz tells Olivia that he brought her father into custody (Rowan is fear itself, remember, and its also his primary sense of control over Olivia), so that they can focus on taking down Peus (’fear and fright) together. Y’all know that I’m not keen on some hasty romantic rekindling with Olitz when Olivia is clearly not ready (that bonkers shit about choosing her father is a clear indication that she’s got work to do if her AU imaginings have any hope of manifesting).
BUT. You also know that I think Fitz’s presence in Olivia’s life is essential to her ability to grow. People mostly change (for better or worse) because of the presence of others in their life. Fitz has done the work on himself that he needs to do. Therefore, he can be an unselfish, supportive companion in Liv’s life without her having to worry about protecting and ‘saving’ him. In fact, he saved her from herself this time (thank God because her martyrdom solution was dumb af and would have solved nothing except the eclipse of the sun (#407)). As @JArmstrong05 (Twitter) reminded me, Fitz took himself out of competition with Rowan (though Olivia hasn’t reached that plane of consciousness). To circle back to the Helen of Troy/Trojan Horse comparison Scandal’s been doing since S4, Fitz (Menelaus) sees the bigger picture is about Olivia (Helen of Troy)’s safety and recovery, not some dick battle with Rowan (Zeus, Helen’s Father) . We can read this as Fitz being cognizant that fear (Rowan) is a necessary part of life, even if it has to be contained. That’s mighty big of him, considering Rowan is the man that killed his son. Fitz has to help Olivia fight the fear and fright. Because without the presence of hope (the light), the overabundance of fear will keep Olivia boxed into a small, lonely life with that daddy of hers (”You never choose one of them over me. I will not allow it” (407). Kinda like the nightmare I had.
You will recall that for a long time I have talked about how in order for Olivia to ‘live’, Rowan has to ‘die’. That ‘death’ has been symbolic, really, of Liv learning what place Rowan has in her life, and act accordingly. So, to sum this up, Fear (Rowan) has a place in our life that keeps us alive, but in order to grow, Hope (Fitz) is necessary. We have to work harder to keep the latter’s influence in our life. Without it, our world and our lives remain small.
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- noredpaint said: On point! Love it! 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👊🏿👍🏿
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Eye opener…Geat commentary!!!!
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