As audiences continue to follow the career of Viola Davis with great interest, it is the perfect time to revisit one of her best roles--Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder. No matter how wild the show got with its plot twists, Viola Davis always grounded the show with her complex and captivating portrayal of Annalise.
The series has no shortage of memorable episodes, and ratings by IMDb users indicate which installments continue to be well-received by fans. Without exception, the highest-rated episode in each of the show's 6 seasons is either the midseason or season finale, featuring some of the series' most intense and emotional moments, many of which center around Annalise.
Season 1: "It's All My Fault" (9.3)
The season 1 finale finally answered the question that the show had been asking from the beginning--who killed Lila Stangard? Revealing that Frank did it at the behest of Sam was a shocking plot twist, made even worse by the disturbing sight of Frank choking a helpless Lila to death.
This was an effective way to conclude season 1 while also setting up season 2. The audience could be satisfied with knowing who killed Lila while still needing to figure out why Frank did this, specifically what Sam meant when he said that Frank owed him. The interrogation and death of Rebecca made the finale even more intense and tragic, especially once it became clear that Rebecca was not responsible for Lila's death.
Season 2: "What Did We Do?" (9.5)
From Asher killing Emily Sinclair to Annalise convincing Wes to shoot her and the Hapstall case becoming even more complicated, this midseason finale did not pull any punches. Asher was the one member of the Keating Five who wasn't involved in Sam's death, yet he was now the one who drove over Emily Sinclair and killed her.
As part of the cover-up, Annalise convinced Wes to shoot her by revealing that Rebecca was dead and that she'd been lying to Wes about it the whole time. This twisted, emotional moment showed how Annalise would do anything to protect Wes and the rest of the Keating Five, even manipulating them into hurting her. Annalise muttering "Christophe" to Wes as she bled onto the floor and the sudden flashback revealing that Annalise had been connected to Wes since his childhood made for a mind-blowing end to an already astonishing episode.
Season 3: "Who's Dead?" (9.4)
Through the flash-forwards sprinkled throughout the first half of season 3, the audience gradually learned more about the night of the fire at Annalise's house and which beloved character lay dead under the sheet. In the show's boldest move yet, the midseason finale confirmed that Wes was the one under the sheet and the one who died. The way that this revelation unfolded had audiences on the edge of their seats, with the ultimate reveal being equally shocking and devastating, especially after the earlier flash-forwards made it seem like Wes survived the night.
Other than Annalise, Wes was the main character of the show. Killing him upended the show's status quo and was the rare kind of death that had a deep impact on every single character. Similar to the season 1 finale showing who killed Lila while keeping the motive a mystery, this episode showed who died while keeping the truth of how and why Wes died a mystery to be explored when the show returned from its hiatus.
Season 4: "Live. Live. Live." (9.5)
While the highlight of How to Get Away with Murder's midseason and season finales usually had to do with death, the highlight of this midseason finale was Annalise saving the life of Laurel's baby. When Laurel gave birth and passed out in the stuck elevator in Annalise's building, it was Annalise who reached through the elevator grate to get the baby out, performed CPR, and breathed life into the child.
After losing her own child many years earlier and the death of Wes in season 3, it was incredibly emotional and important for Annalise to save the child of Laurel and Wes. Despite the many immoral things Annalise had done, this was a moment of pure vulnerability and heroism for her, easily making it one of the best things Annalise ever did.
Season 5: "I Want To Love You Until The Day I Die" (9.0)
Filled with beauty and tragedy, this episode captured the essence of How to Get Away with Murder. HTGAWM's best romantic relationship--Connor and Oliver--had a beautiful wedding, with Oliver even singing to Connor to express his love. However, the joyous and long-awaited wedding was secretly marred with tragedy as Nate murdered DA Ronald Miller and Bonnie helped cover it up.
Watching Nate beat Miller to death was brutal to watch. While Nate was convinced that his father was murdered because of Miller, the audience didn't yet know if Miller was really the one responsible for the death of Nate Lahey Sr., meaning Nate might have murdered an innocent man. The blend of wholesome love, bloody tragedy, and deepening mysteries made this an unforgettable episode.
Season 6: "Stay" (9.5)
HTGAWM's series finale provided closure in many respects. Elements like Nate's redemption, Mama's final lesson to Annalise, and Annalise's closing statement were rewarding ways to culminate a lot of the character development and themes of the series.
The entire series came full-circle with Wes and Laurel's child Christopher writing "How To Get Away With Murder" on the chalkboard on the first day of teaching Criminal Law 100, just as Annalise did at the beginning of the series. Knowing that Annalise lived a full life and that it included mentoring Christopher was heartwarming and a beautiful way to pay tribute to Wes, especially with Alfred Enoch returning to play the role of Wes's son.