TV Review: HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER: Season 2, Episode 15: Anna Mae [ABC]

ABC‘s How To Get Away With Murder Anna Mae TV Show Review. How To Get Away With Murder: Season 2, Episode 15: Anna Mae leaves viewers more shocked than satisfied with entwining subplots and an abrupt cliffhanger.

For all her pretense of being an indomitable, unbreakable woman, Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) seeks refuge in a place where many an overwhelmed person retreats to: a parent’s house. In this case, her irrepressible, equally-headstrong mother Ophelia’s (Cicely Tyson) house. In fairness, Annalise just narrowly escaped what appeared to be a surprise attack by Philip Jessup (Jefferson White), so one can understand why she’d run to her mother. It also gives the writers a reason to bring back Ophelia, who as she always does, entertains with her unflappable spirit and much needed dressing-downs of her stubborn daughter.

While the return of Ophelia might be a welcome surprise to viewers, the rest of the episode is uninspired and, dare I say it, rote. Perhaps the program, being as fast-paced and convoluted as it is, was doomed to eventually do so, but it seems like it’s already boxing itself in with it’s constant turns and sudden twists. These aspects of the show were enjoyable and certainly memorable first time around, but at this point, two seasons into the series, they almost hurt it because they’ve become predictable in their unpredictability. One could even go as far to say that the plot twist has been so worn out, so abused that viewers will be tempted to simply stop keeping track of the story being told and simply go along for the ride.

Such an assessment isn’t easily made, as the characters, as wrapped up in an increasingly-incomprehensible narrative as they are, remain likable and well worth-watching. Asher (Matt McGorry) and Michaela (Aja Naomi King), still reeling from the ramifications of their one night stand last episode, try -and fail – to fight off their mutual attraction, with the two swapping regretful platitudes that neither believe and oozing oodles of chemistry. Bonnie (Liza Weil) and Frank (Charlie Weber) have a heart-to-heart over the latter’s history with Annalise, setting up a major plot point for the episode and a huge reveal for Frank. As for Wes (Alfred Enoch), the much-ballyhooed “puppy” of the group, he finally gets to meet his father, the venal Wallace Mahoney (Adam Arkin), at the end of the episode. Needless to say, the reunion doesn’t last for very long. Here’s hoping they give that story the attention it deserves when season 3 of How To Get Away With Murder rolls around.

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