Overview: The hottest show on television takes ruthless ambition to all-new heights of shock and awe in the game-changing fifth season of ABC's 'Scandal'. The Oval Office is up for grabs, and none of the players are playing nice, including Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), who now realizes she can never be content as a wifely First Lady.

DVD Verdict: If you are not aware, every episode of 'Scandal' ends in a cliffhanger (of sorts) that leaves the viewer desperate to watch the next episode. Which is also highly recommended if you like Shonda Rhimes' other shows such as both 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Private Practice.'

'Scandal,' as I truly hope you all know by now, is a fun and exciting romp through the murky world of the DC political landscape. If you don't ask too many questions or get too deep into plausibility, it's a lot of fun. So many twists and turns, and amazing how everyone is connected. Addicting! Can't stop watching!

But, having watched every episode of this new season now it's the sort of series I have spent a lifetime avoiding! Hey, it had to be said. Some episodes more than once. I can't explain it. All the most conventional tropes are trotted out with regularity - husbands cheat, senators cheat, presidents cheat, and a plucky self-possessed young woman essentially runs the nation as the power behind the President's throne.

But, having culminated my evening in the season finale and I have to say I have fast become addicted. It could be the binge viewing aspect, sure, but that aside the writers are very skillful in connecting each episode. Very skillful indeed. It has every element to captivate me and make me crave another episode.

In my humble opinion, Season 1 was great, but the fact that following seasons seemed to outplay each one, one after another, well, well played Shonda! And the stakes get raised once again here in 'Scandal - The Complete Fifth Season' for domestic bliss pales in comparison with holding the reins of the highest office in the land. So when faced with a chance to wield unrivaled influence at any cost, will Olivia Pope continue to wear the white hat ... or prove that she is, indeed, her father's daughter?

As we prepare for a battle royale as Olivia, the White House politicians and the O.P.A. "gladiators" play an anything-goes game of blackmail, murder and seduction in a bid for that all-consuming, all-corrupting commodity: Power, I have to become very honest with you all, once again. Overall, this Season 5 seems to be all about destroying everything that was built up over the first 4 years. Things such as Fitz/Olivia love story, the OPA family, the morality of David Rosen, and the strength of Olivia who is now a violent crazy puppet of her father (to be brutally frank!)

Not that it was a bad season, it wasn't, far from it, but I guess when all you do is build, build, and build some more over five years, you have to tear some things down to their foundations to be able to rebuild, stronger and more pleasingly. I'm sure Shonda, of all people, knows where she is going with Season 6 already, but it's hard to see where all those new pieces will fit in the ruins and rubble left behind by a stormy and turbulent Season 5

That said, do what I did regardless and succumb to all 21 intoxicating episodes, spiced with exclusive, never-before-seen bonus extended episodes and a hilarious bloopers reel! Relive every drop of scintillating drama as you raise a glass to 'Scandal - The Complete Fifth Season', out now via ABC Studios. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

- Extended Episodes
- Bloopers

www.ABCstudios.com/Scandal