Written by series creator and showrunner Shonda Rhimes and directed by Jann Turner,[1] it premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on October 5, 2017.

However, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), President Grant's Chief of Staff, blackmails Senator Michaels with an envelope containing a lot of prejudicial info on him in exchange of his positive response during the bill vote.

The woman, named Madeline Stewart (Tina Huang), tells her father travelled overseas and, during the previous two nights, he wasn't calling her, which triggered suspicious.

The next morning, Ballard investigates Joshua Stewart (Andrew Tinpo Lee), Madeline's missing father, and discovers he is a CIA agent who helps the Nation several times as an undercover, so his vanishing is something to worry about.

Quinn omits to Madeline the fact that her father is a spy, and Huck (Guillermo Díaz) thinks ahead and visits Olivia, already knowing that she and Jake planned Joshua's death, and states that his daughter will need a body to bury.

[11] This episode features the songs "Fight the Power" by American hip hop group Public Enemy and "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock.

Club lauded the episode, giving it a A letter rating and saying it was "one of the show’s best premieres and it sets the stage for an intriguing season with our favorite characters.

[19] Paul Dailly of TVFanatic has a mixed opinion, giving the installment a 3.8 out of 5 stars rating, saying it was "decent," adding, "It had the characters in some crazy situations, but as far as premieres go, this was the quietest one in quite some time.