'How to Get Away with Murder' Review: "Meet Bonnie"

Nora Dominick ‘17/ Emertainment Monthly Assistant Stage Editor

Aja Naomi King and Liza Weil in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Meet Bonnie." Photo Credit: ABC
Aja Naomi King and Liza Weil in the How to Get Away with Murder episode “Meet Bonnie.” Photo Credit: ABC
How to Get Away with Murder turned up the intensity this week as Bonnie (Liza Weil) deals with the fallout of telling Asher (Matt McGorry) she killed Sam (Tom Verica). How to Get Away with Murder continues to drag fans into its twisted world and this episode entitled, “Meet Bonnie” sets up a whole new mess of problems for Keating & Associates.
Liza Weil is one of the biggest surprises to come out of How to Get Away with Murder. Every episode she exceeds expectations and continues to grow into an exceptional actress. This episode of How to Get Away with Murder shined a light on Bonnie and her involvement with Asher. Within the first minutes of the episode, Weil shows off her amazing acting skills when she delivers a convincing and emotional speech to Asher telling him Sam tried to rape her and that is why she killed him. Weil continuously astounds on How to Get Away with Murder and Bonnie may be her best role to date. Bonnie has always remained a slight mystery on How to Get Away with Murder, but this week busted the door wide open on this mysterious fan-favorite character. Bonnie tries to jump through hoops this week in order to convince Asher not to tell her secret. The work Liza Weil accomplishes on How to Get Away with Murder defies expectations and fans cannot wait to see what the rest of the season holds for her. Is it too early to start the Liza Weil 2016 Emmy Award campaign?
Matt McGorry and Liza Weil in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Meet Bonnie." Photo Credit: ABC
Matt McGorry and Liza Weil in the How to Get Away with Murder episode “Meet Bonnie.” Photo Credit: ABC
Liza Weil also shared the spotlight with Matt McGorry in this week’s episode of How to Get Away with Murder. McGorry shines this season and has become a crucial character. He had several important moments, but one of his scenes opposite Viola Davis showed off both of their incredible acting skills and the excellent writing. When Asher storms into Keating & Associates demanding to see Annalise, what ensues is one of the best Annalise Keating speeches this season. The How to Get Away with Murder writers continue to knock episode after episode out of the park. When Asher questions why Annalise framed Nate for Sam’s murder and is protecting Bonnie Annalise says that he doesn’t believe Bonnie because, “You’re a man. I don’t blame you, you were never taught not to be one. Then you add your whiteness on top of that, the police are trained to believe you…When a woman says she was raped the law rarely takes our side.” McGorry and Davis give one of their best performances this week and this scene sets the episode in motion.
McGorry also flourishes in his scenes opposite his father, Bill Millstone (John Posey). Asher’s father has always been a sore spot for Asher and this week it continued to define his character. When Asher needs a new immunity agreement for leaking information to the D.A about Annalise, Bill Millstone is on the case seemingly helping his son. Just as Asher is about to sign the agreement, he realizes that his father has worked his own deal. McGorry has the incredible ability to showcase every emotion Asher is feeling with a single word or expression. This season of How to Get Away with Murder is pushing Asher’s character to the forefront and if that means more Matt McGorry, fans are very excited.
Aja Naomi King, Alfred Enoch, jack Falahee and Karla Souza in the How to Get Away with Murder episode entitled "Meet Bonnie." Photo Credit: ABC/Greg Gayne
Aja Naomi King, Alfred Enoch, jack Falahee and Karla Souza in the How to Get Away with Murder episode entitled “Meet Bonnie.” Photo Credit: ABC/Greg Gayne
While Bonnie and Asher are dealing with their own issues, the Keating Four are also dealing with the possibility of going to jail. Each of them copes in their own way. Laurel (Karla Souza) sleeps with Frank (Charlie Weber), Michaela (Aja Naomi King) continues to pursue Levi (Matt Cohen), Wes (Alfred Enoch) digs deeper into Rebecca’s (Katie Findlay) disappearance and Connor (Jack Falahee) tells Oliver (Conrad Ricamora) he loves him. With tensions mounting, the Keating Four finally confront Bonnie, Annalise and Frank about Asher’s involvement in Sam’s murder. Viola Davis brings the heat as she screams at the Keating Four saying, “I’m trying to protect you like always! When are you finally going to except that.” Davis shines in her scenes opposite the rest of the ensemble and these are the moment where she truly stands out.
Wes continued his pursuit of Rebecca’s killer on How to Get Away with Murder this week. Wes and Levi continue to stalk Bruno, a cemetery worker who is connected to Frank. When their investigation leads them to stealing a key to a storage locker, things really start to heat up. Alfred Enoch is playing the other side of Wes this season as he pushes farther away from trusting Annalise and pursues his own instincts. When Michaela, Laurel and Connor realize something is up they track down Wes and find out he is working with Levi and the fact that Levi is the infamous Eggs 911 texter. An episode of How to Get Away with Murder can’t go by without several jaw dropping moments and within the last ten minutes things are set in motion.
Alfred Enoch and Matt Cohen in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Meet Bonnie." Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth
Alfred Enoch and Matt Cohen in the How to Get Away with Murder episode “Meet Bonnie.” Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth
Nothing could’ve prepared fans for the final Bonnie and Asher scenes in How to Get Away with Murder this week. Bonnie goes to Asher and begs him not to testify. As if Weil’s scenes up to this point weren’t poignant enough, she brings the episode to a crashing close and delivers one of her best monologues. A sobbing Bonnie calls Annalise and tells her, “He’s going to testify I was so stupid. I’m always so stupid Annalise. Just blame it on me. I deserve this, you don’t deserve this.” Weil and Davis continue to ride the fine line between love and hate and the duo are definitely the two major forces to be reckoned with on How to Get Away with Murder.
By episodes end, Levi is framed as a drug dealer by Frank and the Keating Four go to the storage locker to find a suitcase filled with money. Just when fans thought this week’s episode of How to Get Away with Murder couldn’t get any crazier, Annalise shows up at Asher’s front door and shows him footage of Bonnie being raped by her father as a child. McGorry delivers one last masterful performance in this episode. How to Get Away with Murder continues to turn up the crazy and defy expectations and this episode may have been the best one this season.

How to Get Away with Murder airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC

Overall Grade: A-

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