How To Get Away With Murder – Something Bad Happened

By: Alex Steele

Last week’s episode had us asking “Did Wes kill his mother?” This week’s episode somewhat answered that question, but then opened up so many other doors. “How To Get Away With Murder” to twist and turn and dive deeper into the psyche of all members of the Keating Five. This week is no different. Something Bad Happened opened with Wes (Alfred Enoch) talking to someone; venting about all the details he has uncovered about his mother’s murder. We are then shown that he is talking to that pretty, caring therapist from a few weeks back – is she a potential love interest? A plant from Annalise (Viola Davis) tasked with keeping an eye on Wes? Anything is possible. Cut with shots of Laurel (Karla Souza) and Annalise discussing the revelation that Wes was a suspect in his mother’s murder. This opening sequence depicts what truly is the nature of “HTGAWM” – the theorizing, the plotting, the scheming.

Viola and Karla are phenomenal scene partners and with the current story arc they are absolutely heart-stopping. This opening scene where Laurel urges Annalise to tell the truth and to reach out to Wes, to help him, falls of deaf ears. Annalise is stoic and somewhat sarcastic in her position and she doesn’t budge. Ten years earlier, we see a frantic Rose (Kelsey Scott) hurriedly trying to leave before she must testify in the Mahoney case. A knock on the door stops this from happening and as the door opens we find Immigration there to take her away. As she waits in the holding her cell phone, her lawyer enters and with a slow, suspenseful reveal it is none other than Eve (Famke Janssen). Back to present day where Frank (Charlie Weber) jumps on an opportunity to pull Laurel aside to inevitably talk about his confession the week earlier (anyone notice the inconspicuous Bonnie behind the door). After her confrontation with Annalise, Laurel has no time for Frank’s apology and includes her own snarky sarcasm to either protect herself or to avoid the situation altogether. The vulnerable side of Frank is great, but somehow (like Laurel) I find myself questioning whether it’s genuine or is he just playing the game. Later he attempts to clear the air again, trying he darnedest to be as honest and as transparent as possible, but Laurel cannot get past what she now knows about him. The delivery of the line “I don’t love you back” is cutting with Laurel leaving no room for misunderstanding. And with a sweeping shot to end the scene we come across a recording device; sneaky ol’ Bonnie (Liza Weil) is sitting upstairs listening in. Now, what could she be up to?

The Keating Team spend the episode attempting to diffuse the blackmail situation after the video of Nate (Billy Brown) and Annalise was uncovered last week. Throughout the conversation, in which the Keating Five continue to freak out, Annalise silently keeps to herself. After planning in her own head demands, they hand the laptop over. What happens next makes the audience hold their breath; going to the ADA and handing over the laptop is her play. We are all asking, really? Could this be the best thing to do? She is there to make a deal; the laptop evidence containing everything needed to convict Philip Jessup in exchange for immunity for all her team. The confidence this woman has, blind or not, is infectious and we watch always wishing we had the balls to do what she does.

Flashback to ten years earlier and we learn as Eve shows up at Annalise’ hotel room that the immigration arrest of Rose was all a scare tactic – these women have no boundaries, eh? Welcoming back Eve always adds another layer to Annalise; the chemistry these two have is undeniable and the straight talking nature of Eve easily has the ability to render Annalise somewhat defenseless. This defenselessness is evident when Annalise starts to show genuine concern and fear when discussing the soon to be birth of her son – “I’m not ready” – and also, when she is honest with Eve about why she left.

Throughout the episode we revisit Wes as he continues to try and make sense of all the ongoing information regarding his mother and the connection between him and Annalise. With Wes MIA and Philip out and about wherever he is, the Keating Five take the opportunity to have a sleepover; safety in numbers right? Elsewhere, Bonnie and Frank share shots upon shots at a bar, reminiscing about how good they were before their significant relationships with Asher (Matt McGorry) and Laurel. They are kidding themselves if they think they are over them as we all know how in love they both are. As the Keating house is empty (Annalise is snuggled in bed with Nate), Wes takes the opportunity to search the premises. As he sits down at her desk, he finds the police document in which it states that he was a suspect in his mother’s death. Really Annalise? You would leave a document like that out for everyone to see? This information could either make or break Wes; so what does he do with it?

The closing moments of the episode cut between present day and ten years earlier; Eve and Annalise agree to disagree about all things sexuality and baby. Annalise and, inadvertently, Christophe (Issac Ryan Brown) are threatened by the Mahoneys. She visits Rose’ apartment to find an upset Rose and no Christophe. He ran away. Rose is smarter than Annalise gives her credit and picks up on the fact that the Mahoneys are not going to stop until she testifies and that now she has put her son in danger. What follows is incredibly heartbreaking; Rose tells Annalise to take care of Christophe before she stabs herself in the neck with a knife.

In present day, Annalise is at Wes’ apartment and after several attempts to get his attention, she slides a note underneath the door. There is movement inside and, being Annalise, she opens the door and lets herself in. There is no sign of Wes; however, his bathroom door is shut – maybe he is inside? Cut back to ten years earlier and after deciding not to call 911 Annalise leaves Rose bleeding out on the floor, moments before Christophe arrives home. Back in Wes’ apartment, Annalise receives a call from who else but Eve, shocked to have found Wes sitting in the lobby of her building – he wants answers. But who is in his apartment then? Call 911. And snap, Annalise is tripped to the ground by who you ask… PHILIP! And so ends the episode but with two episodes to go the questions we have are sure to be answered, that or we’ll be sent even more insane with the twists and turns. Either way, the television created by Pete Nowalk is oh so addictive.

Other Key Notes:

• My predictions for next week’s “crazy” hook up = Frank and Bonnie. Or could it be Oliver/Connor/Asher?
• The entire Keating Team successfully foils the ADA’s attempt to search her house. Gosh, they have skills.
• Makayla lets slip about her recent sexual activity with Caleb and Connor’s magical penis line was stellar