The beginning of the end for ABC hit Scandal starts Thursday night when the show debuts its seventh and final season.

The Shondaland production shocked and thrilled audiences during its impressive run, and will go down as one of the biggest hits in ABC’s history.

Stars Kerry Washington and Joe Morton recently sat down with TheHollywoodReporter to share their thoughts on the iconic series, its final season and the legacy they hope it’ll leave behind.

Washington feels the show’s exhilarating storytelling will be its biggest hallmark when all is said and done.

“I hope that we leave a legacy of groundbreaking storytelling [that’s] unpredictable. I hope that people remember being a little bit more alive because of our show,” she said.

The 40-year-old star continues, “We take you on a ride of intensity, fear, romance and elation, whatever it is, but you feel more alive every Thursday at 10 p.m. when the show is over and you’re more connected. That is an important part of our legacy.”

Morton, who has delivered some of the most memorable monologues of the series as Olivia’s no-nonsense father, Eli, believes show creator Shonda Rhimes is the true reason behind the show’s legendary status.

“On some level, Shonda is the legacy. She broke all kinds of things by becoming the producer of this show, How to Get Away With Murder and Grey’s Anatomy, and she’s moving on up, as it were [with a big Netflix deal]. Here’s this Black woman that managed, in a very strange time politically, to accomplish a great deal in this business.”

The final season of Scandal premieres Thursday, Oct. 5th at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.