How To Get Away With Murder – S1E2 – It’s All Her Fault
This was a great follow up to the pilot episode. Our moral lesson this week: “The quiet ones are usually the most dangerous.”
For the murder of the week this episode, our team is defending Max, who has been accused of murdering his second wife. I can say with certainty that I did not suspect daughter Eloise as the true killer at all. I did like that through this story Laurel finally got her props with her discernment that, as a hunter, essentially, Max would have known how to kill his wife more efficiently. Disturbing? Yes. Still, it was a good catch, and now Laurel can avoid the nickname “Frank’s girl,” because nobody wants that. While all of this is going on, Annaliese is also dealing with the possibility that her husband may have killed Lila, forcing her to confide in Nate, and once again ask him to do her a favor, by finding out if Sam’s alibi holds true. After her courtroom performance last week, he’s understandably reluctant to help. However, he also proves himself to be almost as manipulative as Annaliese, with his threats to tell Sam about their relationship. I’m not quite sure what to make of him now.
On the subject of Lila’s murder, I have a small problem. Despite Rebecca’s arrest, I’m not so sure I’m convinced that she is the real killer. She may have somehow been involved, but I just don’t have enough evidence to buy her as a killer. Her interactions with Wes, while sometimes outwardly callous, also have this kind of innocent undercurrent. Maybe my view of her innocence is the result of me wanting to see the two of them as a couple at some point in the future, but either way, I think she’s a red herring in the murder investigation.
Looking at character development thus far, in this episode, I think it becomes increasingly apparent that each of the members of the intern team were chosen for reasons beyond their ability to act as good defense lawyers. They each possess qualities which in some way reflect qualities that Annaliese herself possesses, or that maybe she wishes to possess. Michaela is the strong willed, fierce side. Connor is the side of her which isn’t above doing something illegal to get the information she wants or needs. Wes and Laurel possess a keen sense of social conscience, and perhaps reflect the kind of person Annaliese was when she first decided to practice law. Laurel also, in a certain respect, represents a quieter, softer side of Annaliese. Annaliese’s inability, or unwillingness to recognize Laurel by name in this episode parallels well with her constant need to put on a strong façade and not allow herself to be perceived as weak. After everything that happens with Sam, and her breakdown in front of Nate, Annaliese has no choice but to accept her own perceived weaknesses, and therefore accepts Laurel by name as well. The only intern whom I haven’t figured out quite how he connects to Annaliese is Asher. In due time, I’m sure there will be something which points to his mirrored quality.
I guess the last topic to address would be what was discovered in the present day murder scenes. I still need to know, where is Asher? Aside from that, Wes’ phone call in the gas station lends itself to my original theory that the four interns are not our real killers. They are covering up for someone, be it Annaliese, Rebecca, or some other person. Honestly, the only person I can really see all of them agreeing to cover up for is Annaliese. At this point, we have no way of knowing how much of a connection, if any, Connor, Michaela, and Laurel have with Rebecca, making it seem unlikely that those three would agree to put themselves at risk for her sake. Who knows, maybe they’re much more connected than we can see at this point.
As I stated before, this episode really was a worthy follow up to the pilot. While I enjoyed the pilot, I wasn’t quite sure that I felt totally invested in the story. This is the episode that made me think, “okay, I’m on board.” The richness and complexity of the characters is really starting to show itself, and I’m really beginning to care about them, and about the various sub-stories within the show. I look forward to what episode three has to bring.
New Theories:
-Annaliese killed Sam out of self defense.
-Bonnie killed Lila because Lila and Sam had a thing.
This was a great follow up to the pilot episode. Our moral lesson this week: “The quiet ones are usually the most dangerous.”
For the murder of the week this episode, our team is defending Max, who has been accused of murdering his second wife. I can say with certainty that I did not suspect daughter Eloise as the true killer at all. I did like that through this story Laurel finally got her props with her discernment that, as a hunter, essentially, Max would have known how to kill his wife more efficiently. Disturbing? Yes. Still, it was a good catch, and now Laurel can avoid the nickname “Frank’s girl,” because nobody wants that. While all of this is going on, Annaliese is also dealing with the possibility that her husband may have killed Lila, forcing her to confide in Nate, and once again ask him to do her a favor, by finding out if Sam’s alibi holds true. After her courtroom performance last week, he’s understandably reluctant to help. However, he also proves himself to be almost as manipulative as Annaliese, with his threats to tell Sam about their relationship. I’m not quite sure what to make of him now.
On the subject of Lila’s murder, I have a small problem. Despite Rebecca’s arrest, I’m not so sure I’m convinced that she is the real killer. She may have somehow been involved, but I just don’t have enough evidence to buy her as a killer. Her interactions with Wes, while sometimes outwardly callous, also have this kind of innocent undercurrent. Maybe my view of her innocence is the result of me wanting to see the two of them as a couple at some point in the future, but either way, I think she’s a red herring in the murder investigation.
Looking at character development thus far, in this episode, I think it becomes increasingly apparent that each of the members of the intern team were chosen for reasons beyond their ability to act as good defense lawyers. They each possess qualities which in some way reflect qualities that Annaliese herself possesses, or that maybe she wishes to possess. Michaela is the strong willed, fierce side. Connor is the side of her which isn’t above doing something illegal to get the information she wants or needs. Wes and Laurel possess a keen sense of social conscience, and perhaps reflect the kind of person Annaliese was when she first decided to practice law. Laurel also, in a certain respect, represents a quieter, softer side of Annaliese. Annaliese’s inability, or unwillingness to recognize Laurel by name in this episode parallels well with her constant need to put on a strong façade and not allow herself to be perceived as weak. After everything that happens with Sam, and her breakdown in front of Nate, Annaliese has no choice but to accept her own perceived weaknesses, and therefore accepts Laurel by name as well. The only intern whom I haven’t figured out quite how he connects to Annaliese is Asher. In due time, I’m sure there will be something which points to his mirrored quality.
I guess the last topic to address would be what was discovered in the present day murder scenes. I still need to know, where is Asher? Aside from that, Wes’ phone call in the gas station lends itself to my original theory that the four interns are not our real killers. They are covering up for someone, be it Annaliese, Rebecca, or some other person. Honestly, the only person I can really see all of them agreeing to cover up for is Annaliese. At this point, we have no way of knowing how much of a connection, if any, Connor, Michaela, and Laurel have with Rebecca, making it seem unlikely that those three would agree to put themselves at risk for her sake. Who knows, maybe they’re much more connected than we can see at this point.
As I stated before, this episode really was a worthy follow up to the pilot. While I enjoyed the pilot, I wasn’t quite sure that I felt totally invested in the story. This is the episode that made me think, “okay, I’m on board.” The richness and complexity of the characters is really starting to show itself, and I’m really beginning to care about them, and about the various sub-stories within the show. I look forward to what episode three has to bring.
New Theories:
-Annaliese killed Sam out of self defense.
-Bonnie killed Lila because Lila and Sam had a thing.