ABC’s hit crime series “How to Get Away with Murder” returned with a new episode on Jan. 29. The show follows professor and defense attorney Annalise Keating (Viola Davis, “Blackhat”) as she mentors five of her best law students through the ins and outs of the criminal justice system.
So far, the season has revolved around the murder of sorority girl Lila Stangard (Megan West, “Constantine”), who had close ties to many of the characters (Spoiler alert: For those who haven’t seen last week’s episode, turn back now).
Keating’s students become so convinced her husband, Sam (Tom Verica, “Hound Dogs”), committed the act that they confront and murder him in a climactic standoff. The show left off with that fateful evening, where Keating is revealed to have witnessed the entire event.
Last week’s episode picked up with Keating convincing her star student Wes (Alfred Enoch, “Sherlock”) to cover up her husband’s murder—without telling the others that she knows what they did that night. Keating also lies to the police about her husband’s “disappearance” in order to get the focus of the Lila Stangard investigation off her client, Lila’s best pal and Wes’ girlfriend Rebecca (Katie Findlay, “The Carrie Diaries”), and on to her (dead) husband, who she believes impregnated and murdered Lila.
In the end, Keating convinces the court to investigate her “missing” husband’s involvement in Lila’s murder, all while helping her students get away with his murder. And, just when things seem to be working out in Keating’s favor, her husband’s sister (Marcia Gay Harden, “The Newsroom”) shows up looking for answers. It seems Keating’s worries are far from over.
In this fast-paced thriller, it can be hard to keep up and get the facts straight. But that’s part of the show’s appeal. “How to Get Away with Murder” is a jigsaw puzzle of murder, sex and mystery, unashamedly casting doubt onto the viewer’s mind at every turn. Its mission statement seems to be to trust no one and nothing, only adding the thrilling suspense and complex secrecy. Each character’s motivations are constantly in question, especially that of Keating.
Viola Davis recently won a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for her performance as Keating, and it’s no surprise why. Though Keating is the main character of the show, she remains a seductive mystery to viewers. Davis expertly unravels the character’s many layers with grace and conviction, but she’s careful not to reveal too much. There’s something undeniably electrifying about not knowing what Keating might do next—Davis’ careful unpredictability keeps the viewer, and the characters, on their toes. Her talent paints every scene, no doubt securing Davis plenty more awards this year.
“How to Get Away with Murder” is a rare show in that its greatest strength is also its greatest flaw. Its fast-paced, daring leaps keep the show fresh minute to minute, but they also dangerously lend themselves to prematurely running out of creative steam. The characters are put through the ringer this season, so it’s hard to imagine what could possibly come next after the season-long arc is resolved. Nonetheless, “How to Get Away with Murder” has never been so tantalizing and fun to watch.
The show airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
