Review: How to Get Away with Murder (Season 2, Episode 1)

Just as one murderer was revealed, another mystery begins…

How to Get Away with Murder returns for its second season, following the jaw-dropping and thrilling ending of season one. The series follows Annalise Keating, portrayed by Primetime Emmy Award winner Viola Davies, an unethical and ruthless protagonist, teaching Criminal Law 100 to a class of students. It explores the complexities involved in both studying and practicing law in a courtroom.

In an ultimate plot-twist and resolution to a season long search, the season one finale revealed Frank as the killer of student Lila Stangard. This killer twist paved the way for a great degree of curiosity and intrigue entering into the second season. And the question on everyone’s mind was: ‘Who killed Rebecca?’

Starting this new season, each character had some sort of motive to kill Rebecca, with the recurring theme of last season being that ‘she knew too much.’ The season two premiere begins only ten days after Rebecca’s death – with the rest of the students still reeling over her disappearance and her exact whereabouts. However, the episode really takes off when a flashback reveals the identity of Rebecca’s murderer to be none other than Bonnie. In this sinister scene, we see Bonnie suffocating Rebecca, as she believed she would have continued to drag the rest of them down with her if she was still alive.

During the episode, we are also introduced to death row attorney, Eve, a fellow lawyer and old friend (or perhaps more) from Annalise’s past. Although initially thinking Annalise and Nate killed Sam together, Eve is eventually convinced to defend Nate in his trail, whilst Annalise takes on the Hapstall siblings as her new case. Using her new clients to take her mind of things, Annalise represents Caleb and Catherine, who are on trial for killing their parents. And, it will be interesting to see how these three new characters influence the course of the show in the forthcoming season.

The most shocking moment occurs in the final few minutes, when we see a two month time jump in which Annalise has been shot in the Hapstall mansion – and Wes running away from the scene. The image of Annalise gasping for air, surrounded by a puddle of her own blood, creates the most compelling twist of the show so far.

In spite of the show’s name, it is interesting to observe that Frank is the only one to have actually gotten away with murder thus far. The Bonnie revelation therefore creates an interesting dynamic on the show, and leaves the viewer wondering how the season will progress. Will Asher find out about his peer’s implications in Sam’s murder? Who is the infamous “EGGS911”? Will Frank ever be revealed as Lila’s killer? Along with many more questions that would make for gripping future storylines.

On the whole, the first episode set up an even more scandalous season than the last, with Rhimes and Nowalk keeping the sharp-witted, sexy and suspense-driven aspects of the show very much intact.

In the words of Annalise Keating, How to Get Away with Murder, continues to emphasise the line “Do you know who anyone really is?” And on this show, it is clear, no one is safe.

How to Get Away with Murder airs on Universal Channel on Wednesdays at 9pm.