'How to Get Away with Murder' Review/Recap: "Hello Raskolnikov"

Nora Dominick ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

How to Get Away with Murder is back and better than ever. After an emotional and dramatic mid-season finale where fans learned the fate of Sam Keating (Tom Verica), How to Get Away with Murder brought all it had and returned stronger (if that’s even possible).
So, Annalise has told the cops that Sam has gone missing and he was Lila Stangard’s (Megan West) baby-daddy however, the Keating Five– Connor (Jack Falahee), Michaela (Aja Naomi King), Laurel (Karla Souza), Wes (Alfred Enoch) and Asher (Matt McGorry) need to be questioned by the police. Of course, Asher has nothing to do with this mess, but as for the rest of them, they have to come up with an elaborate web of lies to get out of this one. This episode of How to Get Away with Murder saw some relationships (both romantic and not) begin to blossom while other began to crumble. One of the most surprising relationships was Connor and Michaela. Falahee, who has become a fan favorite on the show, continues to give unbelievable performances as Connor. This week he took his acting to the next level once again when Connor became the scared one and turns to Michaela for help. He tries to convince her that turning themselves into the police will be the best thing. Considering in recent episodes, Connor and Michaela often did not see eye-to-eye, this dynamic will be an interesting one to explore and Falahee and King are sure to do an excellent job.
Another relationship that began to crash and burn very quickly was Asher and Bonnie (Liza Weil). After Bonnie crawled into bed with Asher during his bonfire party, it looks like everyone’s favorite preppy student is smitten. After Asher admits to the police that they have a relationship, Bonnie must set it straight. In a heartbreaking moment, Bonnie tells Asher, “I was drunk and desperate.” Looks like Team Basher may be dead in the water for now but, fans should never count out a college boy scorned.

Viola Davis is a goddess on How to Get Away with Murder. She is now the 2015 Screen Actors Guild Award Winner for Best Actress and that was one of the most deserved awards given out this awards season thus far. This episode saw Davis grow as a performer once again as she begins to fool the police into thinking Sam has disappeared. She shines as Annalise (Viola Davis) and this episode made fans realize how much they missed Davis on their screens each week. Her scenes opposite Alfred Enoch continue to be the most captivating and continue to have fans wondering if a romantic relationship could spark in the future. Wes and Annalise standing with each other and helping each other after the disappearance of Sam is magnificent. Although this week picked up after the events of the murder, the characters are dealing with the ramifications, especially Wes and Annalise. The two of them are the only ones that know what really happened that night. Enoch and Davis give amazing performances as they try to keep the details under wraps from the police and the other students.
Alfred Enoch has surprised audiences week after week and has definitely shed his persona of Dean Thomas from the Harry Potter franchise. One of his best moments of the episode comes when he goes to Annalise and begs her to let the other students know she is helping them. Through tear-filled eyes Wes manages to utter, “I can’t do this anymore. I don’t know how but, we have to tell them.” Enoch has grown so much as an actor and this scene showed his incredible talent.
Although it seemed like filler in this episode, Keating and Associates are still working on the Lila Stangard murder case. With Sam’s death, Annalise is doing everything in her power to get Rebecca acquitted. With the DNA results of Lila’s unborn baby officially revealing that Sam is the father, the door on the case has sprung wide up. By episode’s end, the tables have been turned fully on Sam after evidence on his laptop puts him at the Kappa Kappa Theta sorority at the time of Lila’s murder. Even in death, Sam is causing trouble.

Davis had a lot of knock out moments this week but two of the best came towards the end of the episode after Rebecca (Katie Findlay) gets acquitted of murder. While collecting herself in the bathroom after putting her husband in the center of the murder trial, two women walk into the bathroom and begin to talk about Annalise, “She’s not like you or me… she’s not a person like the rest of us… she is an animal.” In one of the most intense encounters, Davis saunters out of the bathroom stall, washes her hands, and gives the two women the best death glare seen on television. Davis continues to slay and become the queen of network dramas.
The other moment comes outside the police station when she decides to tell Connor, Michaela and Laurel she will help them get away with murder. She consoles Connor and convinces Laurel and Michaela not to turn themselves in. Her acting is flawless and she portrays a vulnerable woman who just wants to protect the people she cares for. There are very few moments when Annalise breaks down and this is one of them.
How to Get Away with Murder continues to throw twist after twist at their viewers and by episodes end, they dropped one of the biggest bombs on the show when Sam’s sister shows up in town defending his honor. How will Keating and Associates deal with this latest twist? Keep tuning in week after week as the Keating Five try to get away with murder.
How to Get Away with Murder airs on Thursday’s at 10/9c on ABC
Overall Episode Grade: A-