Rowan 'Eli' Pope, played by Joe Morton, has become the man that people love to hate in Scandal Season 4. In the previous seasons it was still unclear whether he was on the good or the bad side. This new season, which has just aired its season finale, he transformed into a monster that even her daughter and show's main protagonist Olivia Pope (played by Kerry Washington) don't know him anymore. He is manipulative, powerful, pushy, and has no regard for lives (and emotions) just to protect the United States of America and her daughter. He runs over whoever gets in his way, even Liv.
Although viewed as a monster and a sociopath, Joe Morton thinks Scandal Season 4's biggest 'villain' is just being objective. He just wants to keep the republic standing on its own feet. As for how he treats his daughter, Morton believes that Rowan do love her but there's one thing that is pushing him to continue doing the bad things and disregard chances of a happy and peaceful life with Olivia Pope.
In an interview with Huffington Post about the growth of his character in Scandal Season 4, Morton said that power and love are two things important for Rowan Pope. When asked if Rowan values Olivia's love as much as his power, Morton said:
"Yes, I think he does. I don't think he ever pretends to love his daughter. I think anything he says to her about how he cares for her is the truth. The only thing he ever manipulates is [who did what]. But he puts it out in such a way that people believe it because he's using their emotions. Like Olivia, for instance, convincing her that she was somehow indirectly responsible for Jerry's death."
Morton said that his character is not a sociopath just like what fans think. Even though his evilness has grown leaps and bounds in Scandal Season 3, Morton thinks he is just doing his job.
"So my point of view about Rowan is that he does what he says he does which is to protect the republic and his daughter. And he does whatever is necessary to accomplish both those things, even if they are in conflict."
Scandal Season 4 will return on January 29 next year.
