How To Get Away With Murder – Always Bet Black

By: Alex Steele

The episode opens on a frantic Oliver (Conrad Ricamora) wiping Annalise’ (Viola Davis) phone while she is seen being processed at the police station. Weirdly though, as he tries to wipe the phone it requires a fingerprint to unlock it. So, did he actually wipe the phone or are we lead to believe he was unsuccessful? Either way, the episode flashes to present time, six weeks before the night in question, where we watch Annalise decide on the perfect pair of shoes. Eventually coming to a decision, she arrives downstairs to find Nate (Billy Brown) busily making her a smoothie. It seems as though he’s well and truly moved in, but when Annalise has somewhat of a shady response to Nate almost filing a missing person report on Frank (Charlie Weber) the mood changes. He is ready to put a label in what they’re doing, but Annalise is going for a more “Church and State” type set up to see where it goes.

Arriving at the college, Annalise is immediately joined by the President who insists that with the investigation still moving forward and everything that’s been happening, she can be on Annalise’ side if only she’ll work with her. The offer seems genuine, but Annalise rejects the offer. The case of the week finds Toby Solomon (Austin Basis), famously known as the Call Girl Creeper, being charged with murder. He’s gone through so many lawyers already hence why it’s fallen in their lap. With no student really giving much to the class discussion, Annalise nearly throws the case away. That is until Michaela (Aja Naomi King) stands up and says she’ll take the case. At court the next day, Annalise, Michaela and Bonnie (Liza Weil) arrive to meet their client who immediately hones in on Michaela. But before he can get any perverted remark off, Annalise assures him that if he hits on her she will cut his balls off. The court proceedings get underway, Michaela knowing everything Annalise is about to say like she knows the case inside out, but when news of “selfie” is introduced into evidence Annalise and her team are caught off guard. Annalise attempts to have it not entered into the case by using tampering and bad faith as reasons, but the judge doesn’t agree. The selfie is entered into evidence and shows Toby posing with the dead corpse.

With a recess now in session, Michaela wants off the case, but Annalise isn’t having it and neither is Bonnie. Once that is handled, Annalise informs the Keating 5 and alike that they’ll be putting Toby on the stand. As everyone gets to work prepping him, Wes (Alfred Enoch) questions where Laurel (Karla De Souza) is. She’s not really at her grandma’s funeral instead she’s paying her father a visit. With this, the episode moves to see Laurel being greeted by her father (Esai Morales) and it doesn’t take long for the sass between them to start. He questions her motives; whether she is just there to find her boyfriend or to check in with her father. This indicates to Laurel that he’s been spying on her, listening to her calls, a habit he really has to break. They head upstairs to his officer where Ursula, a woman specializing in conflict resolution meets them. She’s there upon the request of Laurel’s father as he seems to think they have some things to talk through. Back with Annalise, Bonnie was in the right mind to hide the junk food when Nate moved in. And is that what’s happened, has Nate moved in Bonnie asks. Regardless, Bonnie thinks it’s good. But on the topic of the case, Bonnie thinks the should plead out as the case doesn’t seem like one they can win.

Meanwhile, Connor (Jack Falahee) gets Asher (Matt McGorry) all riled up when he shows Michaela photos of her ex, Aiden. He’s just got engaged, a fact that doesn’t make Michaela too happy. A fact that Toby, the client, tries to help by insisting that Michaela is a 9 (or an 8). And for the first time, we see Asher publicly stand up for Michaela and reveal some jealousy. To mark the entire situation more awkward, Bonnie has arrived to overhear everything with Asher now feeling super guilty for not having told her earlier. Don’t worry Asher, she doesn’t care (or does she?). Elsewhere, Laurel and her father are in the midst of a heated counseling session which reveals to the audience key parts of Laurel’s past and why her relationship with her father is so strained. We learn he left her mother in the middle of a mental breakdown and he also refused to pay ransom money when Laurel was kidnapped when she was sixteen years old. The confrontation intensifies as they begin to talk in Spanish, insults and anger flying between them. He eventually apologizes, but Laurel knowing not to go back down that road like Rebecca did leaves.

Annalise, since heeding Bonnie’s advice, approaches the ADA in the hope of securing a plea deal. Unfortunately, the ADA isn’t going to play ball, but don’t worry! Annalise somewhat calls her bluff and proceeds with the case anyways. That night, Wes and Meggy (Corbin Reid) are enjoying a cute post-sex conversation (his birthday is coming up) when they are interrupted by a phone call from Laurel. Laurel goes to lie about her whereabouts, but Wes informs her that Annalise told him everything. Sadly, their conversation is cut short when her dad arrives bearing treats. He’s there again to make amends, to remind his daughter that she is worthy of so much more than Frank. He calls her out on her daddy issues before admitting to having found Frank. However, until she signs a binding contract her father won’t reveal any information. She throws it to the side, her answer obvious, that is until Annalise calls and she rejects it.

Speaking of Annalise, she gets some bad news via Oliver (who seems to fancy post-workout Nate), Bonnie and Michaela. Toby has been tracked just withdrawing $200k an hour ago. What is he up to? Well, Annalise and Bonnie discover that his precious lawyer is blackmailing him. And over what you ask? Over the death of another girl, Janie. With this new development, Oliver and Michaela are excused for the night and after stalking Aiden’s social media accounts she decides to blow off some steam. And by steam I mean steal $20k from Toby’s money and take a spontaneous trip to Atlantic City. Staying back to take Toby’s statement, Annalise and Bonnie sit while he recounts the event. They were doing drugs, she was a runaway and things got heated when she began to bully Toby by saying that no amount of drugs or alcohol could make her sleep with someone like him. Bonnie looks on horrified, but with remnants of empathy for Toby while Annalise sits and takes it all in. The audience witnesses Toby lose it; he takes a baseball bat and hits Janie with it, killing her instantly. He reveals that afterwards, he stored her in a broken freezer in some warehouse.

Asher, Michaela, Connor and Oliver have arrived in Atlantic City, Asher completely over the moon while Connor and Oliver still struggle to navigate post break-up status. Connor isn’t Oliver’s friend, well not yet anyway. Michaela places her first bet, $20k total, on black to which Asher and company are shocked to find out it is not her money. Thankfully, she wins. Back with Annalise, she notices that Bonnie isn’t handling the news about Toby very well. Bonnie wants to go to the police, but Annalise reminds her that can’t happen. Through this exchange we get deeper insight into Bonnie’s history with her father; she relates to Janie. She could so easily have been a runaway like her. Bonnie continues to cry, tears streaming down her face. Annalise wants her to stay, noting that she doesn’t think she should be alone right now. Bonnie knows that this concern is also a concern that she may call the police. Before Bonnie leaves, she reassures her mentor that she’s okay and that she won’t call.

Things in Atlantic City are going better, Michaela is winning big – $80k big – while Asher spies Oliver flirting close by. Not liking it one bit, he finds Connor and attempts to reignite the flame within his friend to fight for Oliver. Connor, even if he wanted to, doesn’t because like it or not Oliver doesn’t want him. Yet, things go from bad to worse when the guy Oliver was flirting with starts to make a move on Connor. Doing all he can to reject his advances, Connor loses his cool and ends up making the situation so much worse. Oh and not to mention, Michaela ends up losing all the money she initially stole, ending a really terrible night in Atlantic City. In the meantime, Annalise and Nate decide that anything said in the bedroom stays in the bedroom. This decision allows Annalise to fill him in on Toby and his girl in the freezer and the fact Annalise can’t do anything about it. Elsewhere, in another bed, Laurel wakes to a call from Frank who asks if she think he’s stupid. Also, he states that Annalise tried to kill him. Laurel, overwhelmed, hangs up the phone before the conversation can continue.

Before the night ends, Michaela and company make a late night pit stop at a pawn shop where she’s seen hocking her engagement ring. After being offered a lower rate, Michaela states law after law and threatens to clerk, negotiating $1000 more than the amount they needed. This showing gets Asher all kinds of turned on while Michaela, not needing the extra $1k, gives it to a sleeping homeless woman. The next day in court, Toby has taken the stand and Annalise is midway through questioning when Michaela arrives late. We soon learn, as aspects of Toby’s crime against Janie are revealed, that Annalise (with the help of Nate) are framing Jackson Terry (Toby’s ex-cellmate) for the murder. The plan works and the ADA offers them a deal – 3 years if he pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Shockingly, he accuses Annalise of not doing her job correctly. And immediately he learns never to do that again when Annalise lays one hard slap across his face. Speaking no truer truth, she states that he killed 2 innocent women and he has the nerve to complain about 3 years. Talk about getting off easy!

With the case tied up, we watch as the various character arcs do the same. Laurel returns to her fathers’ office, dropping of the signed contract and demanding he hand over the information on Frank. He was last tracked to a town called Coalport in Pennsylvania. Before she leaves, her father says how proud he is of Laurel and the admission of these words hits home. As tears well in her eyes, Laurel doing her best to fight them back, he encourages her not to disappear again and apologizes once more. Meanwhile, Bonnie catches Michaela trying to return the money she stole (Bonnie knows everything) before they share an awkward exchange about Asher. Bonnie really doesn’t seem to care, insisting Michaela “bone” whoever she wants. In the next room, Annalise celebrates her victory by admiring the front page of the college newspaper showing off the strength that her legal clinic still has. Elsewhere, Meggy confronts Wes about his possible (real) feelings for Laurel, noting how happy she makes him. But without taking a breath, he ensures his girlfriend that she is the good thing in his life. How long will it be before that hits the fan?

Speaking of Laurel, she arrives back to the Keating 5 with no good news and by that I mean she lies. Flat out to Annalise and Bonnie. She tells them that she couldn’t do it, she couldn’t sign her soul over to him so therefore they aren’t any closer to finding Frank. Well they aren’t, but Laurel is. Note the look from Bonnie, she can pick a lie from miles away. With that, the episode races forward to the murder night. Annalise is placed in a holding cell while Oliver returns to the crime scene. We are the given another name to checkoff our list – Bonnie survives (thank goodness) and instructs Oliver to follow her after receiving orders from Annalise in jail. While Bonnie distracts the detective, questioning what charges Annalise is facing, Oliver disposes of her phone by kicking it underneath the ambulance. Shocking him suddenly are shouts from the house. They’ve found another occupant inside the house and they have a pulse. Oh no, does that mean with a survivor we’ll know for sure who is responsible for the death of whomever is under the sheet?