Scandal: Season 6. Last season, Olivia was kidnapped as a plot to get Fitz to order the invasion of another country — arranged by former Vice President Andrew Nichols. Now, Nichols threatens to take it public. First, Olivia tries to pay him off, but when that doesn’t work, she beats him to death with a chair for tormenting and terrorizing her. But the act of murdering someone is a heavy burden that Olivia struggles with still. Season 6 of the Shonda Rhimes-created drama premieres Thursday night after a long hiatus (made longer after a week delay for an Inauguration special). Last we saw Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and her gladiators was May 12, 2016. Scandal did not return this fall due to Washington’s pregnancy, so all that drama has been building up for eight excruciating months.