This is one of those shows that is simply a guilty pleasure. And if you approach it without any expectations as I did, you probably won't be disappointed. All I knew about this show originally was that it had a black female lead character based loosely on a real life person who is a Washington power player. Generally ALL of the characters on this show, except perhaps the President, are a bit over the top and dramatic, and if you're looking for great writing ala The Good Wife or Mad Men, then this may not be the show for you. For me, the star-crossed love story between Olivia and the President and their chemistry together, however, is reason alone to watch. This show is the stuff great soaps were once made of, and there's enough mystery to keep you wondering who did what to whom.