Scandal Season 8 Release Date and Network
The final season of Scandal, season 8, premiered on September 27, 2018, on ABC. The series finale aired on April 19, 2018, after a total of 18 episodes ordered for the final run. ABC, a division of The Walt Disney Company, confirmed the premiere and finale dates through its official press releases and programming schedules, as reported by industry outlets like Forbes.
Scandal season 8 marked the conclusion of the political drama created by Shonda Rhimes. The show had previously aired on ABC for seven prior seasons. The network announced the final season order in May 2017, confirming that the eighth batch of episodes would serve as the series finale.
Episode Count and Streaming Availability
Scandal season 8 consists of 18 episodes, which is the same episode count as the previous season. The complete season is available for streaming on Hulu, which holds the exclusive digital rights for the ABC back catalog in the United States. Hulu’s library includes all eight seasons of the series.
For viewers outside the United States, availability varies by region due to licensing agreements. In some international markets, the series streams on platforms like Disney+. The show’s streaming distribution is managed by Disney Platform Distribution, the content arm of The Walt Disney Company, as noted on SEC filings and corporate disclosures.
Cast, Ratings, and Final Season Performance
The lead cast of Scandal season 8 includes Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant, and Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan. The final season maintained a consistent lead cast from the previous seasons, with no major additions to the principal ensemble.
Scandal season 8 ratings declined compared to earlier seasons, reflecting broader trends in broadcast television viewership. The season premiere drew approximately 3.4 million viewers in the key demographic, according to initial ratings reports from Deadline. The series finale concluded the show’s run with a total of 124 episodes across all eight seasons.