I’m glad this season was only 15 episodes long (and I hope season 2 will be just as short) because while this 2-hour finale was thrilling and intriguing on every level, the show was starting to drag on a little.
That’s especially evident during the first hour of the season finale, an episode so boring and so forgetful that really started to get on my nerves. Forget the abrupt case-of-the-week that no one will ever talk about, the whole hour was just “talk”. Yes, it was setting up the events for hour 2, but it did so in a very weak and slow pace that bored me to death. If it wasn’t for that beautiful, final shot of Rebecca tied up as Annalise walks into the bathroom (god, I loved seeing that), I would’ve probably given up on the show (of course I wouldn’t).
With that particularly delightful scene, the second part of the finale elevated the episode. Did it achieve greatness? Well, I would say it certainly tried to. There were bits and pieces that I absolutely loved despite how ludicrous they may seem on any other show. The fact that none of them had even considered Sam being innocent of killing Lila is beyond me (but he’s not really innocent anyway right?) and Annalise ordering the Keating Five to study Rebecca’s case as if it were a real one, while the accused was just sitting there, was a bit of a stretch.
But even with all that, there’s no denying that the final 5 minutes (as with most shows that have Shonda Rhimes’ name on them) were downright fantastic. The bone-chilling music as we slowly go back a few seconds in time to witness Lila’s murder finally happen was a great scene. I even loved the show toying with our brains a little when Sam grabbed Lila by the neck, only to reveal the real murderer (thanks to Sam’s orders) is Frank. Now, as surprising as that reveal was, it wasn’t exactly the kind of OMG, I-can’t-believe-it-was-him moment that I was expecting. But truthfully, after making us doubt and hate every single character on this show, I don’t think I would have had that shocking reaction regardless of who the murderer was. Making Frank the killer actually makes so much sense (because Bonnie was the obvious answer running through my mind the entire episode) and it does add more intrigue to this character.
What I’m confused about is why this show is so easy to love even when it keeps adding mysteries that won’t be answered for another year. Rebecca’s death (yes, it finally happened!) was definitely the highlight of both episodes, and not just because she was a meaningless character that I loathed, but because it opened up the story arc for Season 2 (which already has a little promo). It’s clever to lure audiences in like that, but equally frustrating as well.
I still thoroughly enjoyed this finale—and the show—but after 15 episodes, I still don’t feel any kind of connection to the characters. I love character development more than Annalise loves vodka, but instead of focusing on character-driven plots and giving us some insight into the Keating Five’s backstories, we’ve been treated to twists and turns that are intriguing but not captivating enough. And yet, we’ll be back for Season 2.
Sneaky Courtroom Bits
– Wes is one example of a character I still hate. He was introduced as somewhat of a protagonist, only to be shoved to the side because of an unconvincing performance and a vague backstory. And his scene with a tied-up Rebecca in the basement should have been much more intense. Sadly, neither of them knows how to act.
– Nate gets beaten up because that’s the only way Annalise knows how to help.
– Oliver tested HIV-positive? So, is Connor gonna bail on him now?
– Let’s take a second to discuss how brilliant yet villainous it was of Laurel to reveal that she’s had Michaela’s ring this entire time! I gotta say, this shocked me more than anything else.
– Incredible dinner-scene with Michaela and Aiden’s mother as Michaela reveals her trashy ghetto side. Definitely a character I can start to love more.
– I even expected to see Asher end up being the killer, just because this show can be batshit crazy sometimes.
– Lila is difficult to like because she sounded like a whiny idiot here.
– When Rebecca was entering the frat-house in the flashback, you DEFINITELY noticed the 2 girls who were leaving and saying: “Like, what penis is ever pretty?”. Especially since we saw that scene twice! Hilarious.
– Annalise asks a question and someone OTHER than the Keating Five answers! Another LOL moment for me.
– We had another scene of awkward closeness between Wes and Annalise. Please, show, don’t ever reveal that they’re related. That will be too insane and just wrong.
– I kinda like Bonnie. Especially when she yells at the Keating Five (I hate that I call them that btw) for bringing her and Frank (HA!) down with them in their mess.
– I wonder what Annalise’s reaction will be when she finds out the only man she can blindly trust (Frank) was the real killer. Fantasy plot twist for season 2: she already knows! Dum-dum-ta-dum.
– Also wondering what Sam has on Frank. Or what Bonnie has on Frank! Did you catch that, when Bonnie tells Asher that Frank wouldn’t tell AK about them because she has stuff on him that’s much worse? Hmm.
– I loved the final scene with Frank and Annalise suspecting each other. So who do you think killed Rebecca? Maybe Wes is an option since he was the last one with her down there? Or Michaela? And who is Eggs 911?
– An overall good season with a solid ending. I want to see better characters next year and less weekly cases. And definitely more of Annalise’s mother.
Amusing Keating One-Liners
Michaela [to Rebecca]: You ruined our lives, don’t you get that? I was supposed to be getting married and I’m not anymore! Aiden called off the wedding because of you. You dragged us into the horror show that is your life and now we’re all screwed forever.
Rebecca: I did it, I killed Lila. Or maybe Sam did it. That’d be easier for you, right? So you could live with yourself for turning on your own husband?
Rebecca: I found the campus cop. His name is Roger Loftus. He was fired a couple days after Sam disappeared. Some sorority girls filed a report that he was stalking them. I’m guessing that was Annalise and Frank, right? They know we couldn’t have him around, or he might remember what he saw that night so they just made him go away.
Michaela: He doesn’t love me. But here’s the thing… I love me.
Annalise: Are you a man or not?!
Annalise: What matters now is that Sam killed Lila. He did. Sam killed her.
Wes: We don’t know that.
Annalise: No, but it’s what the two of us need to choose to believe.
Annalise: Was it you?
Frank: No, Annalise, you know I’m not that guy. Besides, I thought it was you.
Annalise: Because I’m that guy? Of course not.
Frank: Now what?
Conclusion
The Night Lila Died was a weak opener that barely kept my interest, but It’s All My Fault was definitely a solid and thrilling way to close out the season.
Chris Rating
B+
– I loved the second half of this hour with all the twists and turns
– I must say it never crossed my mind that Frank might be the killer, I definitely thought it was Bonnie
– I agree with your LOL moment about someone other than the Keating Five answering Annalise's questions in the classroom. This has always bugged me!
– Rebecca is finally dead! Wes can die too for all I care…
– They really need to come up with more interesting legal cases. As soon as the episode ends, I have no recollection what the case was about.
I know, the legal case was so forgettable! Something about a Father Andrew, I assume? LOL.
Second half was much better yep. I wouldn't mind Wes dying either haha