Written by Pete Nowalk
Directed by Stephen Cragg
Annalise (to Frank): "Why do you look like someone just died?"
Probably because we're into a fifth season where on this show we open up with a death or a near one and spend eight or nine episodes ruling out people before the actual victim is revealed? I would say "same old, same old" but as usual, it's fun trying to figure out who the unfortunate so and so will be this year.
Looking at the flashforwards first - we've got Connor and Oliver who might be missing from their own wedding reception, Annalise grooving to the beat before a dour looking Frank somewhat spoils her moment to kick back and dance and of course, the perspective of the victim (which is a new tactic I approve of) who looks like they're about to be suffocated by Bonnie (right Angel of Death, isn't she?) and baby Christopher crying in the bloody freezing snow.
The fact that the baby isn't a year old and is already witnessing murders probably won't end well for Laurel in a few decades time but who exactly is the victim. We've got three new regulars but I don't think it's any of them, maybe not this early into the game, so the only person I can think of is potentially Bonnie's interim boss whom she's playing but even that seems to be a stretch for now.
Speaking of the new regulars - I'm really hoping they're not going to dangle the mystery of Gabriel Maddox too long. At this point, I do think Nate's snooping might have confirmed that he's Bonnie's son but given that this show does like to pull a fast one, he could be someone else's kid too. More than likely though, he's Bonnie's for the time being.
Of course when Gabriel wasn't possibly being investigated by Nate, he absolutely was by Frank, who went out of his way to play basketball with him at the end of the episode. I can't remember what set Frank off about looking into Gabe but I do think it's somewhat reckless of Annalise not to be a bit curious about him.
Speaking of Annalise - I did like her new beginning mantra and the fact that she's now working for Caplan & Gold is an interesting development. It might be a good idea for her not to underestimate new boss Emmett but more importantly, I can't wait to see how Annalise and Tegan are going to fare now that they will be working together.
As for the rest of the episode - having Asher not in Annalise's this season is another interesting move. I'm glad Annalise is calling him out for taking on an immigration cause because he was trying to spite Michaela (who also got rejected by Marcus off screen) while Laurel put the brakes on anything else with Frank by moving into a frat house with the rest of the gang. I'm sure by the end of the season, Laurel will probably end up accepting Frank's proposal though.
- Laurel didn't kill her mother as the latter sent a christening gown for Christopher off screen. I cringed at Roland's nicknames for Bonnie and Nate. A big no to both of them.
- New regulars this season are Amirah Vann (Tegan), Rome Flynn (Gabriel) and Timothy Hutton (Emmett).
- Standout music: Dear God by Lawless and Sydney Wayser, effectively used during the final moments of this episode.
- Chronology: Three months from where most of the action of the premiere took place.
Your Funeral (the words said by Gabe to Frank) certainly kicks the new season off in a great style. It does feel like a little revamp of sorts (as did last season to an extent) while at the same maintaining the craziness we've come to love about this show. Overall, a great start to things.
Rating: 8 out of 10
No comments:
Post a Comment