Even gladiators must fall. So it is, that Olivia Pope may have officially handled her last Scandal, with reports claiming the Kerry Washington-Shonda Rhimes drama will come to an end with the seventh season next year.

TVLine broke word that ABC was planning an official announcement of Scandal’s seventh and final season at next week’s Upfront presentation. Rhimes herself reportedly made the call, which ABC accepted, thanks in part to the prolific creator’s extensive roster of other network dramas.

Three episodes remain in the current sixth season of Scandal, which itself was renewed for Season 7 all the way back in February. Season 6 has been averaging 5.7 million total viewers, a definite fall from a Season 4 premiere height of twelve million.

One could certainly argue that even prime Scandal’s more outlandish politics pale in comparison to the real thing, but was Season 7 the right spot to end regardless? Stay tuned for ABC’s official announcements next week.

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