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“How to Get Away With Murder” Returns With a Vengeance

No one was more hurt than I was when ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder decided to take a break from the end of November until the end of January. I have counted down the days until the mid-season premiere, and I am happy to report that it was worth the wait.

The last time viewers saw Professor Keating (Viola Davis) and her team of students (Alfred Enoch, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry and Karla Souza) was when it was finally revealed how Sam Keating (Tom Verica) was killed. While it was shocking to have finally found out that Wes Gibbons (Enoch) was the one who physically killed Mr. Keating, the real plot twist came when it was revealed that Professor Keating knew that the students were involved in her husband’s murder. The jaw dropping moment for me was when Professor Keating actually told Gibbons not to be sorry for killing her husband. With a mid-season ending like that, it was hard to imagine what was next for the mid-season premiere. 

The episode opens with Professor Keating speaking with detectives who are trying to help her locate her husband. She recites the events that happened the night her husband had disappeared. While some statements she is making are true, others are meant to cover up what actually happened that night. With each lie Professor Keating tells the detectives, a flashback occurs of what was really going on. With tears in her eyes, it is apparent that Professor Keating knows what she is doing to keep accusations of her killing her own husband out of the minds of everyone around her. 

The episode continues with each student being interrogated about the disappearance of Mr. Keating. In the midst of the interrogations, Professor Keating and her students are still involved in a trial that had been happening throughout the whole first half of the season. With the stress of exams, a murder trial, a murder investigation, and personal lives, it seems like the episode is just a race to whom will breakdown first. 

Each student presents their evening to the detectives the same way: they all met up at Wes’ apartment for a study group, then proceeded to go to the bon fire together. While each person involved may seem put together in front of the cops, the anxiety that comes along with committing a crime begins to get the best of students Connor Walsh (Falahee) and  Michaela Pratt (King). Both start talking about going to the cops to admit that they were part of the killing of Mr. Keating, but were not technically the ones who killed him. 

Throughout the whole mid-season premiere, it is clear that this show is not a one-hit wonder. The jaw-dropping moments are continuous, and just when you think you know what is going on, there is another twist right around the corner. While it is interesting to see just how hard law school can be, it is more interesting to watch each cast member struggle with personal dilemmas that are not allowed to affect their work ethic. 

There is the over-achiever Michaela, who is wondering if her fiancée will still want to marry her once he finds out she was part of a murder. Then there is Wes, who is still dealing with his girlfriend being on trial for a murder she did not commit. Next is Connor, who is trying to keep the one guy he has actually wanted more than a hook up with. 

Meanwhile, Laurel Castillo (Souza) is trying to deal with her previous fling with Professor Keating’s assistant, Frank (Charlie Weber), as well as her old boyfriend that she wants back. The most clueless student of them all is Asher Millstone (McGorry), who was not involved with the murder and has no clue what is going on, but wants to form a relationship with Professor Keating’s other assistant, Bonnie (Liza Weil), whom he slept with the night Mr. Keating was murdered. Finally there is Professor Keating, who is just trying to keep her reputation as one of the best lawyers around.

The only thing that I hate about this show is how I have to wait each week to find out more about what is going on. It is clear that anyone watching How To Get Away With Murder is unable to look away.

ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder airs every Thursday night at 10 pm on ABC

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