How to Get Away with Murder Review: Was She Ever Good at Her Job? (Season 4 Episode 4)
On How to Get Away with Murder Season 4 Episode 4, Annalise makes power moves to start her class action lawsuit against the Justice Department, while Connor and Michaela are confronted with their daddy and mommy issues, respectively.
This episode closely resembles How to Get Away with Murder Season 4 Episode 1 and Season 4 Episode 2 in how well the stories are executed and connected with one another.
Even though Annalise has a slight hiccup with Isaac and Frank, most of this episode shows our girl getting her groove back. I’m truly enjoying the pacing of this season.
After getting off to a rocky start and questioning her abilities for a while, Annalise finally takes on a new case of the same caliber as her previous cases were before Wes’ death. She also receives a bit more closure in her relationship with Soraya Hargrove.
Can you guys believe that Soraya actually asks her to visit another AA meeting? Girl, like we forgot what happened the last time you guys got all buddy-buddy at AA meetings?
Look, I know she manipulated Annalise last season in order to keep her kids, and I am all for black women standing together to take on the world, but Annalise isn’t in the right place to be best friends with someone who took advantage of her at her weakest point right now.
Because of this, I’m glad that Annalise doesn’t take her up on her offer just yet.
On a positive note, while we’re on the topic of black women taking on the world, I am completely here for black women in a power meeting, using their wits and tenacity to win against a system that is trying to take advantage of their own.
It is awesome watching them take down Hargrove’s ex. I want more of this.
I also want more of Michaela’s supervisor, Teagan Price.
Her initial resistance to Annalise coming in on her case is understandable. However, instead of making Annalise her enemy, due to petty jealousy, she offers her a job at Caplan & Gold. With the same inclination to stick her neck out to support Michaela in the intern trivia wars, she wants to do the same for Annalise.
It’s about time we see a black woman competitor for Annalise who just wants to uplift other women instead of tear them down. How to Get Away with Murder has been lacking in that as of late.
I wouldn’t be against her and Annalise becoming closer friends. Since her character is very similar to Annalise, when she was younger, she acts as a wonderful contrast to where Annalise is now.
It doesn’t seem like that wish is too far-fetched, seeing as the flash-forward at the end of this episode shows Caplan & Gold staying in the forefront of this season. It has its own crime scene with lots of blood.
Is it wrong that I’m hoping whatever occurs at the law firm is more due to Michaela than because of Annalise? I’m tired of everyone being able to blame absolutely everything that goes wrong in their lives on Annalise Keating.
Speaking of unjust accusations, Michaela couldn’t help herself from attacking Annalise in the office. The scenes where Annalise puts her in her place are perfection. Annalise finally popped back.
Michaela: I think it’s best if we can both swallow our feelings for the good of the client. Do you think you can do that?
Annalise: I think you need to get off of my elevator.
That is Annalise telling her the black mother mantra: “I’m not one of your little friends. So you better watch who you are talking to.” And then she reads her on the elevator when Michaela forgets her place, again.
Annalise: Looking for a mommy every where you go — me…Teagan — and every woman you encounter next. You want us all to be the mother yours never was.
I detect no lies. And Michaela needs to hear this. She’s been walking around with all this anger and hatred built up, and it’s because she refuses to deal with the trauma her mother put on her.
I initially thought How to Get Away with Murder would approach her story and explore her healing last season when her mother did that pop-in visit, but the show never did. Maybe now that Annalise brings it up, savagely I might add, Michaela will start dealing with her pain.
Now, I need Annalise to keep that same energy and clapback at Laurel.
Over the last two seasons, Laurel has been running around doing whatever she wants to do and saying whatever she wants to say with no repercussions. She literally rapes Frank in this episode.
Laurel: Shut up and just take it.
Then she has the audacity to make her baby the victim. The only reason that I have even a shred of respect for Laurel now is because she is a very smart and resourceful young woman who is the key to taking down her father. Even though she’s a crappy character, at least she has that, right?
It’s actually perfect Laurel finds a way to connect the District Attorney to her father. Now all we need is one stone.
I don’t know how to process Connor’s story. I think we delve into Connor’s daddy issues because the season is trying to humanize his ridiculous behavior lately. You know, so the audience can better empathize with his behavior.
This episode does an amazing job making his battle with his father sit firmly in the gray area, so it’s truly hard to say who is right and who is wrong. I’m actually starting to empathize more with Connor.
Unlike How to Get Away with Murder Season 4 Episode 3, I actually care about his personal issues. I’m interested in where his story goes.
Suprise. Surprise. How to Get Away with Murder crafts Connor’s personal narrative this season to compliment Laurel’s and Michaela’s.
Although I didn’t understand why we cared about Connor in the previous episode, his rash decision turns out to kickstart an interesting addition to the season.
Stray Observations:
- Who else notices how hypocritical Nate sounds when he says that Bonnie is back on the crack that is Annalise? Every time Annalise is the court house, he breaks his neck to pop up on her and speak. Pot meet kettle.
- If they make Connor break Oliver’s heart one more time, I will lose it. Oliver deserves so much better than this!
- Asher’s character has been virtually non-existent this season.
- Seriously, are we not going to touch on how disgusting it is that Laurel rapes Frank? She’s hit a whole new low to me.
- Annalise looks like a content Mama Bear when Michaela immediately solves Hargrove’s worries about confidentiality. This is why it hurts so much to see Michaela attack her. Annalise still sees the Keating 4 as her children.
What did you guys think of this episode of How to Get Away with Murder? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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How to Get Away with Murder airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.
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Candice Horde
An English enthusiast that watches a couple of shows from time to time. Candice is an honors graduate of Texas Tech University with an English double major in Creative Writing and Technical Communication. She loves the colors turquoise and pearl pink, and binges all 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer at least once a year. She’s also a huge fan of anime, basketball, and Japanese and Chinese action movies.
One thought on “How to Get Away with Murder Review: Was She Ever Good at Her Job? (Season 4 Episode 4)”
Surfing reviews and enjoyed yours. I’ve got a lot of thoughts though so I’ll just dump them here.
Connor’s storyline is still weak to me but I did feel a bit of empathy for him for the first time in a long time. His daddy put something on his mind… and daddy may be right. Oliver is a good and talented guy in many ways but he’s repeatedly shown that he’s both manipulative and sneaky. Sadly he’s also shown this when Connor has made himself most vulnerable and I don’t like it one bit. Connor will have to decide if his “change” was ultimately a positive one or merely a surrender after what he’s experienced. This truth will come to him now or later, but it WILL come.
Michaela needed a good spanking and she got two, from Annalise. The idea that she would try and throw her “new mommy’s” words “swallow our feelings” at Annalise as if to chastise her was hilarious. Aja Naomi King’s delivery in both instances could not have been better. Wonderful acting!
Tegan is a wonderful add to the cast this season. I can’t even begin to guess how she will fit into the big picture but this helps to make the season even more intriguing.
My only hope for season 4 besides a strong one was the return of Lauren Velez as President Hargrove. I always thought she truly connected and cared about Annalise until ADA Atwood boxed her into a corner. She had no other choice and Annalise knew this the moment it was revealed. After all, Annalise has done worse to Nate (Framed him for murder) for the sake of a bunch of idiots that weren’t even kids, let alone her own actual children. The one thing that Annalise is missing in her life, friend or lover, is someone equally yoked with her for support and companionship. Frank and Bonnie are socio/psychopaths. Annalise is never going to solve their problems and needs to cut them loose for good. (What does Bonnie think she’s doing and why won’t she move on with her life? What the hell was Frank thinking bringing that ‘baby blood money’ over?) What impressed me about Soraya was her ability to manage and absorb Annalise last season. Annalise knows how to antagonize and push buttons on anyone, but other than the day Soraya told her to shut up then told her off, she never lets AK get under her skin. She just smiles, smirks or scoffs. This is where Nate always takes an “L”. The hunter continues to try to capture, cage and tame a wild lioness, then gets upset when she inevitably mauls him.
I want to scream every time I see Nate laying in wait for Annalise to insult or berate her one more time. As if this is really what she needs right now and is going to make her who HE wants her to be. I do believe he will always be there when it’s darkest or danger threatens. I just hope Annalise can continue to absorb his nonsense until he finally gets a clue and finds a comfortable place with her. Love Nate tho.
Finally Annalise… I love this most about S4. The direction her character is headed is a very positive and productive one. A good way to close out her character arc if this is the last season. She’s set aside pursuit of riches and acclaim for a higher purpose that she believes in and will use all of her hard earned skills to accomplish it. This is what is irking me about Isaac. I understand that failure can possibly bring a relapse however, an addict should look to not be idle. And yes, LIFE is taking risks. Addicts should find a purpose to direct their attention and energy. His attempts to constantly spin her efforts to the negative are a major concern for me, so I don’t trust him at the moment.
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