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14.
ABC's Scandal returns tonight, and if the second half of Season 4 is anything like the first, there will be a lot of sex. At this point, we know that Olivia Pope(Kerry Washington)—gladiator, daughter of one of the most powerful men in America, mistress, and maiden—loves sex. Whether she's getting freaky with President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn) in the Oval Office, or playing Jake Ballard (Scott Foley) like a yo-yo to get what she wants, O.P. is no stranger to using sex as a weapon, either.
In this season she may finally learn that knocking boots does in fact make her vulnerable, too, but hopefully she'll get a few more good shags in before she starts having second thoughts. So, in anticipation the new season of Scandal, we mined the first three and a half seasons to determine Ms. Pope's finest sexual hours and ranked them. Nature makes us do crazy things, y'all.
Lauretta Charlton is Associate Editor at Complex. Follow her on Twitter at @laurettaland.
13.On the Campaign Trail
When it aired: Season 2, Ep. 8
Why it's sexy: They are getting off on being winners.
Discussing national policy is very hot in Washington. This torrid scene from the early days of Fitz and Olivia's love affair is simple and sweet. They're just having fun and tossing each other against walls. Just because you're campaigning for the highest office in the land doesn't mean you don't need to have playful sex on the road.
12.Feels Like the Very First Time
When it aired: Season 1, Ep. 6
Why it's sexy: It's both innocent and naughty.
This is the first time the president gets the D in, stripping Olivia of her innocence—an act that's overplayed by the cheap symbolism of outfitting Ms. Pope in sexy yet tastefully white panties and underwear. When she smiles coyly and quickly heeds the President's orders to "Take off your clothes," her behavior suggests she hasn't been laid since sneaking out of her cabin during summer camp to let Dexter finger her by the lake. There's something sort of sweet, nostalgic, and pathetic about the scene. Mostly, though, it serves to alleviate some of the sexual tension that's been building during the first six episodes.
11.The Nasty In the Oval Office
When it aired: Season 2, Ep. 8
Why it's sexy: They don't give a fuck that it's on tape.
"Look around you. Look where we are. This can't happen anymore," says Olivia as she and Fitz get a little frisky in the Oval Office while celebrating his first inauguration as president. Just because there are cameras everywhere doesn't stop these two from getting down and dirty. The scene brings the power dynamics of this tempestuous relationship to the foreground as well. Who hasn't been in a situation where their loins win out over their better judgment? Who hasn't wanted to have sex in dangerous places where part of the fun is the risk of getting caught?
10.In the Shower
When it aired: Season 2, Ep. 20
Why it's sexy: The wetter the better.
Sure, there's something sensual about taking a shower with your partner, but it also comes with a considerable amount of inconvenience if you want Olivia Pope's luxurious locks. The first time I saw this scene I thought to myself, "Is she really going to get her hair wet just to have sex with this dude?" She does, which means that sex with Fitz must be worth it.
9.Off the Coast of Zanzibar
When it aired: Season 4, Ep. 1
Why it's sexy: Private beach. Enough said.
That look Olivia makes when Jake is on top of her while she's lounging in a beach chair? Those are his digits at work before the two lovebirds have steamy beach sex 100 miles off the coast of Zanzibar after kissing Chocolate City goodbye. Few things are hotter than getting sand in your vagina and in between your balls.
8.Playing Jake Like Nintendo
When it aired: Season 3, Ep. 16
Why it's sexy: She's using him and enjoying it.
No one in his right mind would let Jake Ballard run a secret government agency like B613, and here's why: The minute Olivia comes to him for sex, he opens the door and lets her in knowing full well she's a ruthless manipulator. As soon as Jake, bless him, falls asleep after getting turnt out, Olivia grabs what she came for and bounces. That said, there's intense chemistry in this sex scene, and even though the premise suggests this is your typical sex-as-weapon maneuver, you can't help but hope that O.P. is truly enjoying herself and sharing some of Jake's "walk in the sun with me" fantasies.
7.Knocking Boots With Jake
When it aired: Season 4, Ep. 2
Why it's sexy: Seeing the back of her naked body.
Once Liv and Jake return from their blissful island retreat, the romance is squandered. Jake stays in a hotel because he refuses to be Olivia's kept man. He's totally down for "booty calls," though because, duh. But Olivia doesn't do booty calls, so when she refuses to admit she misses the D, Jake has to tell her that the exit is on the left. Well played, Ballard. Soon enough, Olivia shows up at his hotel, drops her coat, and the next thing you know her naked legs are wrapped around J.B.'s body and all you can see are her leather boots.
6.Phone Sex Is On Fire
When it aired: Season 4, Ep. 4
Why it's sexy: Watching Olivia touch herself.
Fitz's oral sex game is fire in this scene and the best part is he doesn't even have to perform the act. He describes what he's going to do to Olivia over the phone in detail. Before long, she's touching herself. Sure, this isn't a full-on sex scene, but sometimes the best sex is had after hours, sometimes even days, of torturous foreplay.
5.Jake Finally Scores
When it aired: Season 2, Ep. 18
Why it's sexy: Underdog's have the trillest thirst.
Kudos to Jake for finally getting it in.
4.On the Floor in Vermont
When it aired: Season 3, Ep. 8
Why it's sexy: This is the most expensive date, ever.
POTUS, this is what you call "making love." For the rest of us, there's Henny and porn.
3.The Double-Headed Sex Monster
When it aired: Season 4, Ep. 6
Why it's sexy: Pope gets oral sex from two men.
Let's give it up for Olivia Pope for having two men who are just dying to perform cunnilingus. But who does it better? Olivia can't decide and so in this scene she fantasizes about both Fitz and Jake going down on her at the same damn time. Play on, player.
2.Oral Sex in the Kitchen
When it aired: Season 2, Ep. 22
Why it's sexy: She brings the POTUS to his knees.
Man down! Man down! When Fitz says he's going to unleash his "superpower" he doesn't mean summoning the nuclear football. He means going down on his mistress in a kitchen. There are few instances in network television that place emphasis on women receiving pleasure from men without reciprocating, but here we see a man on his knees using sex and pleasure to try and get what he wants. Fitz is a real slut, am I right?
1.In the Electrical Closet
When it aired: Season 2, Ep. 14
Why it's sexy: Prez gets to hit it from behind.
Olivia's side chick status becomes very real in this episode as she's forced to maintain appearances under the most devastating and personal circumstances. Her shame is so intense during Ella's baptism that it practically jumps off the screen, penetrating your soul like Max Renn in Videodrome. Luckily, there are electrical closets in the White House! At the end of the episode, Fitz follows Pope down a hallway like a creep, throws her into the closet, and starts getting hardcore freaky. Olivia smacks his face and then goes back to making out with the bastard. No words are exchanged. It's raw passion and sex. This scene gets extra points for playing up the fact that, a) megalomaniacs love BDSM. A slap in the face will only make them hornier, and b) hitting it from behind is the go-to when you're having sex in a closet.