'How to Get Away with Murder' Review/Recap: "Let’s Get to Scooping"

Nora Dominick ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

How to Get Away with Murder continues its reign as television’s greatest new drama with it’s latest episode entitled “Let’s Get to Scooping.”
This episode continues to further the plot of the murder of Lila Stangard when Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) and her firm officially take on the case. Rebecca (Katie Findlay) has just confessed to the murder even though she didn’t do it, and reveals to Annalise that Wes (Alfred Enoch) convinced her that she would be framed. Wes’ good intentions don’t get him very far when Annalise removes him from the case. Most of the episode was framed around Rebecca’s murder charges and the firm’s plans with the case.
Viola Davis was the brightest star in this week’s episode. She continues to shine as the mystifying lawyer and teacher, Annalise Keating. The most empowering image of the night came at the end of the episode when Annalise stripped away her “body armor” to reveal a vulnerable woman. This image was magnificent and left the audience with their jaw to the floor as Annalise took off her wig, her makeup, and her entire outward appearance. Davis proves why she is a two-time Academy Award nominee with this performance, and with this only being the fourth episode, her characters vulnerability, determination, and all around empowerment can only grow from here.

Jack Falahee, as Connor, also flourishes in this episode. All of the flash forward sequences focus on Connor and his involvement in the murder of Sam Keating (Tom Verica). His performance is flawless as he sleeps, schemes, and solidifies his rank amongst the firm’s elite. One of Falahee’s shining moments came during a flashback sequence when he visits Oliver (Conrad Ricamora). He breaks down crying, and for the first time shows Connor completely exposed. Falahee effortlessly portrays Connor’s struggle of trying to dispose all evidence linking them to the murder.
Another brilliant moment comes when he helps with the big case of the week. He does something his character has become notorious for: sleeping with whomever he needs to in order to gain information. Similar to the character of Annalise, Connor’s character has a mystery surrounding him that the audience is intrigued with from the moment he steps on screen. Falahee shines and viewers can’t get enough of his provocative, cunning and charismatic persona.
Liza Weil’s character, Bonnie, has been floating in the background in recent episodes, but this week, she stepped into focus. While trying to reduce Rebecca’s bail, Bonnie retrieves her taped testimony that could save her. It was refreshing to see Weil at the forefront of a story arc for a change. She is a character that needs to be utilized more, and this episode proved why.

The biggest twist of the night came with Viola Davis’ last nine words when it was revealed that naked pictures of Sam were found on Lila’s phone. This one sentence will set up the next few episodes, and inevitably catapult Annalise and her entire law firm into the Lila Stangard case.
With the stakes being raised each week, it’s hard to imagine what the mid-season finale will entail. How to Get Away with Murder has taken cues from another successful Shondaland TV show, Scandal. Each week the drama intensifies, the characters develop, and the audience wants more. It leaves viewers stunned, sick and down right intrigued with the storyline weaving together easily, and the characters blossoming in the legal setting. With so much drama packed into one hour, it’s hard not to end up in a ball on the floor by the time the clock strikes 11pm.
How to Get Away with Murder airs on Thursday’s at 10/9c on ABC.