Now that Sam’s remains have been found, it’s only a matter of time until cops put someone behind bars for his murder. It’s funny to me that everyone thinks Annalise did it because she’s not outwardly grieving, but since when has Annalise been one to share her emotions? Annalise moves forward, doing whatever she has to do to survive, and any cop or district attorney (or barista she’s interacted with at Starbucks) should know that she’ll keep whatever feelings she has to herself. Either way, Annalise didn’t do it. She didn’t murder Sam, but she did promise to protect her students— a promise she’s clearly intent on keeping.
Annalise C-
It seems like every week Annalise is sacrificing more and more of her soul. Last week, she was intent on telling the whole world Sam killed Lila Stangard, and now she’s sacrificing her chance at happiness with Nate to keep her students out of jail. I won’t be surprised if by the end of the season, Annalise is the complete wreck we saw Christmas through New Year’s, drinking and crying in bed all day. Part of me wonders, however, if she knows that Nate is somehow smart enough to get himself out of this mess, whereas her students are not. Of course, while dealing with all of this, she manages to take down a DA, fend off advances from a mob boss, and accuse her sister-in-law of incest, so at least she hasn’t lost her ability to multitask.
Wes B-
Wes is still obsessed with finding out what happened to the guy who lived in his apartment before him, and what do you know, his girlfriend Rebecca was somehow involved with him. Crazy that Rebecca has more secrets, right?? The drug dealer who was accused of murder? Unbelievable. If this whole missing guy thing somehow links back to Lila Stangard, I will be amazed but also somehow not surprised.
Conner A-
Out of the Core Four, Conner is always the one who wavers. He wanted to turn in Wes to the police, and he doesn’t trust Annalise’s promise to protect them. I really enjoyed Annalise and Conner finally sitting face-to-face and being honest with one another. Annalise tells Conner that they’re the same (true) and that they’re better off with her than they are without her (also true). Conner, like Annalise, might often do morally reprehensible things, but he makes for a far more interesting character than Wes, Michaela, or Laurel have proven themselves to be.
Michaela and Laurel B
The B here stands for boring. Wahh, I’m scared, wahh.
Both of these characters need more stuff to do. They’re both boring and defined mostly by their relationships with men. Michaela was previously only motivated by a perfect life with a rich fiance, and Laurel’s more interesting plot lines revolve around her relationship with Frank and her ex. I can’t say for sure that they deserve better, but I would like to think that they do.
“She’s a Murderer” B-
The end of the episode definitely has me looking forward to next week, but this Case of the Week (straight out of season 2 of The Wire, apparently) was not very exciting and the Core Four kind of felt like they were treading old ground. They vacillate between freaking out and then being rest assured. Would be nice if they had a little bit more to do.
Extra Credit:
- Does Annalise say to Hannah, “Like the saying goes, ‘Incest is best, put your brother to the test?’” Is that really a saying?
- When Annalise picked up the phone at the end of the episode, I was like who do you have left to call, Annalise? Her mom, duh.
- Poor Jose isn’t going to get a green card now :(
- The shot of the mob wife just sitting there, smiling and nodding.
- Annalise is GREAT at making friends.
Demerits:
- There’s another professor at this school?! I don’t believe it.
- Bonnie’s so smart! Good for you for figuring everything out, Bonnie, but I don’t get these relationships Annalise has with her employees. Bonnie lives in constant fear of her and Frank is willing to set someone up for murder? I hope at the very least they have good health insurance.
- Bonnie telling their client “We have our secrets” means that the writers couldn’t figure out a satisfying way to explain how Annalise tracked down Jose.
- NO ONE would be as cool as Hannah while testifying. I’ve never done it but it does not seem like the time to be snarky.