“Scandal” fans, get ready for the drama to unfold. Season 3 of the hit ABC series is set to premiere on Thursday, Oct. 3, and we’ve got the synopsis for episode 1, “It’s Handled.”

As viewers remember, Olivia Pope’s affair with the president was leaked to the press during the season 2 finale. The upcoming season will deal with the fallout of the affair, and what it means for Olivia and Fitz.

According to an ABC press release, Olivia’s name surfacing as the president’s mistress will be the biggest scandal to date for both the White House and Pope & Associates. Fortunately, a “surprise allegiance” will be formed “in order to get things handled.”

As for Rowan, who was introduced last season as Olivia’s father? He’ll reportedly “stop at nothing to carry out his orders, and no one, including Olivia, can stand in his way.”

The synopsis for the premiere comes a couple weeks after a promo for season 3 was released. “I’m in love with a woman who is not my wife,” the president can be heard saying in the 30-second trailer. But expressing his true feelings for Olivia is not going to be a walk in the park. “My name is out there. We need to make a plan,” Olivia stresses to Fitz as another clip shows her being hounded by reporters.

So, who's involoved in the surprising allegiance that’s formed to handle the affair? Since the trailer shows Millie threatening to air out Fitz’s dirty laundry and Cyrus starting a “kill folder” on Olivia, we’re not sure who could possibly help.

Catch the season 3 premiere of “Scandal” when it airs on ABC on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 10 p.m. Will you be tuning in for episode 1, “It’s Handled”? Let us know in the comments section.

RELATED STORIES