'How to Get Away with Murder' Review: "Something Bad Happened"

March 8, 2016

4 0

Viola Davis in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Something Bad Happened." Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth

Nora Dominick ‘17/ Emertainment Monthly Co-Executive Stage Editor
How to Get Away with Murder kicked it into high gear with the latest episode entitled “Something Bad Happened.” With Wes (Alfred Enoch) closing in on what really happened the night his mother died, How to Get Away with Murder truly delivers one of its best episode this season. TGIT’s hottest drama gives fans twist and twist in the latest episode.
The newest episode of How to Get Away with Murder centered heavily on flashbacks involving Annalise (Viola Davis) and Eve (Famke Janssen). Janssen makes her triumphant return to How to Get Away with Murder and continues to shine in her scenes opposite Davis. Fans finally see how Eve factors into Rose (Kelsey Scott) storyline when Rose is brought into the police station involving an issue with immigration and Eve is the one talking to her. Of course this is all part of Annalise’s plan to get Eve to testify for the Mahoney case. Eve’s storyline continues to be an interesting one on How to Get Away with Murder and it has been interesting to see her fit into the Wes storyline for this half of season two.

Famke Jansen in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Something Bad Happened." Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth — Famke Jansen in the How to Get Away with Murder episode “Something Bad Happened.” Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth

The flashback storyline also dives deeper into Eve and Annalise’s relationship. Davis and Janssen created one of the buzzed about storylines earlier this season and their chemistry continues in this episode. How to Get Away with Murder pieces together why Eve and Annalise stopped talking and how their relationship ended. Janssen and Davis have natural chemistry and create some of the best moments in the latest episode. Their scenes are confined to Annalise’s hotel room, but they create some of the best drama. One of their best moments comes when Eve finally confronts Annalise about their failed relationship and why Annalise chose to have a life with Sam (Tom Verica). Janssen brings her A-game in these scenes and her work alongside Davis continues to be some of her best work.
Although a lot of How to Get Away with Murder was rooted in the past in the latest episode, the present day storyline also left its mark. In the last episode, Annalise and the Keating Five received videos that linked them directly to the Hapstall mansion the night Annalise was shot. This week, the stakes continued to get higher and higher as Keating & Associates are given another video from Phillip (Jefferson White). This time the targets are Michaela (Aja Naomi King) and Caleb (Kendrick Sampson). How to Get Away with Murder continues to climb the steep hill towards its season finale and with Phillip getting closer and closer to Keating & Associates fans are on the edge of their seats waiting to see how this storyline plays out.

Karla Souza, Jack Falahee, Matt McGorry and Aja Naomi King in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Something Bad Happened." Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth — Karla Souza, Jack Falahee, Matt McGorry and Aja Naomi King in the How to Get Away with Murder episode “Something Bad Happened.” Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth

One of the biggest moments on How to Get Away with Murder this week involved Annalise hand delivering the videos to the court. In a typical How to Get Away with Murder moment, Annalise proves to be one step ahead of everyone as she calls Keating & Associates and tells them the house will be raided by the cops and to burn everything. The writing on How to Get Away with Murder is always smart, inquisitive and constantly one step ahead of its fans and this scene proves it. Annalise Keating is a character that is always ahead of other characters and it continues to amaze fans.
The heart of How to Get Away with Murder has always been the Keating Five and this week fans were treated by an amazing moment: A Keating Five sleepover. With Phillip running wild sending videos, Asher (Matt McGorry) hosts a sleepover so they can ride out the crazy. Asher, Michaela, Connor (Jack Falahee), Oliver and Laurel (Karla Souza) all pile into Connor and Oliver’s and it’s amazing. Between Asher in a dinosaur onesie and having Oliver (Conrad Ricamora) join in, this was a moment fans will never forget. One of the best moments at the sleepover involves an emotional moment between Connor and Michaela. When word gets out that Connor is looking at transferring schools, Michaela speaks up and tells him he will most likely not get into Stanford. In a heartfelt moment she tells him, “I can’t survive here all alone.” Michaela and Connor have created one of the best friendships on How to Get Away with Murder and this small scene proves it.

Alfred Enoch in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Something Bad Happened." Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth — Alfred Enoch in the How to Get Away with Murder episode “Something Bad Happened.” Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth

Karla Souza continues to be a key player on How to Get Away with Murder. She is one of few characters that has a hand in every storyline taking place. Between working with Wes to finding out Frank (Charlie Weber) killed Lyla, Laurel has been through a lot. Souza has truly shown her acting chops in these last few episodes and that continues this week. She has several key moments, however one of the best comes between her and Weber. When Frank pulls Laurel aside, he tells her that he loves her. Weber and Souza have natural chemistry and they have both grown their characters tremendously. Of course, Laurel can’t revel in the admission of love from Frank because he killed Lyla. In a heartbreaking moment she says that she can’t have someone like him love her. It looks like this ship has hit a giant iceberg and it will be interesting to see how it plays out going forward.
Alfred Enoch is one of the biggest stands outs on How to Get Away with Murder and Wes’ latest storyline gives Enoch room to grow and shine. With Wes inching closer and closer to the truth about Rose, Enoch delivers some of his best acting to date. While Keating & Associates struggles with putting an end to Phillip, Wes continues to look further into the Mahoney trial. Although Enoch has been isolated from most of the cast, he is shining on his own and alongside Karla Souza. Wes gets closer than ever this week and when he finds the police report saying he was in the room when his mother died, Wes has almost cracked everything. Enoch is one of the biggest players on How to Get Away with Murder and this storyline continuously showcases his acting strengths.

Aja Naomi King, Liza Weil, Charlie Weber and Matt McGorry in the How to Get Away with Murder episode "Something Bad Happened." Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth — Aja Naomi King, Liza Weil, Charlie Weber and Matt McGorry in the How to Get Away with Murder episode “Something Bad Happened.” Photo Credit: ABC/Mitch Haaseth

As said above, the flashback sequences on How to Get Away with Murder take center stage in this latest episode. Although Eve and Annalise take up a majority of this storyline, finding out who killed Rose is also important. When Wes finds the police report in present day, this sends fans into the past to learn what really happened. Fans finally learn that little Wes tried to run away after his mother tried to run away. When Rose returns home, Annalise pays her a visit. In a heated discussion fans finally see what really happened. In a moment of pure heartbreak, Rose stabs herself in the neck and unable to do anything, Annalise flees the scene. Enter little Wes to see his mother bleeding out. The flashbacks on How to Get Away with Murder have finally come full circle, however there are still so many unanswered questions. Is anyone else still wondering what in God’s name happened to Annalise and Sam’s child? The next episode of How to Get Away with Murder will hopefully answer this major question.
How to Get Away with Murder can never end with total resolution. In present day, Annalise goes to visit Wes and in a heart pounding moment she quickly figures out there is someone in Wes’ apartment that isn’t Wes. It turns out Wes went to find Eve after seeing her name on a report related to Rose. In a heart stopping moment, Annalise is grabbed by Phillip and things have truly kicked it into high gear. With only a few episodes left until the season two finale, How to Get Away with Murder is climbing to an epic conclusion.