HOW TO GET AWAY … Review: Eve Returns to Make Googly Eyes at Annalise in “I Want You to Die”

Ding Dong, Sinclair is Dead

While Bonnie (and apparently everyone else come next week) is wishing death on Annalise, it’s Sinclair Bonnie flings off the roof of the Hapstall mansion. There’s no telling why she does this. Perhaps because she wants to protect Annalise? Because Sinclair continues to taunt Asher with Trotter Lake? Because Sinclair figures learns Bonnie “confessed” to killing Sam? Who cares about the reasoning, really? The only reason to care that Sinclair was dead was that we didn’t know who did it, but now that we do, Sinclair’s just back to being plain old annoying.

Sinclair’s a pretty apt example of someone who can’t stand up to Annalise. It’s fair to say she’s this season’s foil, an ever present thorn in everyone’s side, but why? Sometimes it seems she genuinely believes she’s getting justice for someone in her attacks on Annalise, but other times it reeks of a vendetta. But if it’s personal, why is that? Is there no explanation for Sinclair being a nuisance other than that she just wants to be one? She’s that fly that won’t leave your glazed donuts alone, but she’s nothing a flyswatter won’t fix. Sinclair’s appearances are lacking at best, and only arrive as opportunities for Annalise to read her for filth. This week Annalise lets her know that she’s “messing with the wrong bitch,” a smaller though still effective moment of Annalise tearing Sinclair down and putting her in her place. Meanwhile Sinclair barely puts up a fight.

But you know who does?

Laurel.

She’s easily the most capable of the Keating Five. She’s levelheaded where the others are positively stupid, rolling with punches the others try in vain to avoid, and her cool acceptance of the morally grey makes her more of an asset than her classmates. She doesn’t stray away from conflict with Annalise, and Annalise’s admission that she doesn’t need to worry about Laurel adds an interesting layer to their relationship going forward. If Annalise is so certain of Laurel, then what role might she ask her to play going forward? Laurel’s capabilities only come into question when Annalise finds her and Frank making out at work and assumes Laurel’s lost her focus. She’s hard on her until Laurel gets her head on straight and wins their case for them. While Annalise is trying to form a relationship with Wes (him), she may do better with Laurel. Wes is doing nothing, as usual, but Laurel has the good sense to tell Annalise when Frank and the others have the dumb idea to set up Jessup and get his DNA. Unfortunately Laurel didn’t come in sooner or maybe she could have figured that Jessup was going to go after Oliver.

I know this show loves its murder, but please don’t take Oliver. He’s too adorable to die.

How to Get Away With Murder continues Thursdays on ABC.