How to Get Away with Murder series finale recap: How does it all end?

Closing Arguments

In the How to Get Away with Murder series finale, the trial concludes with the prosecution painting Annalise as a monster who coerces and kills. She isn’t a victim; all these dead people are. It’s hard to argue with that, but Annalise pulls out all the stops in her closing statement. Just like in her opening argument, Annalise unleashes exactly who she is and what she’s done.

With her ‘mask’ off, Annalise details how she has tried to mold herself to society’s vision of what a black woman should be. She recounts all her bad deeds – from coercing witnesses to making her clients lie on the stand – but Annalise reminds the jury that she is also a victim. Viola Davis is outstanding in this scene.

The way her face lights up at the memory of happier experiences and her lips tremble as Annalise recounts all the horrible things she’s faced, Davis is an arresting presence. She will have you at the edge of your seat and emotional throughout. What a star!

Having exposed her true self for all to see, Annalise is soon doubting herself. She believes Teagan will think that it was a dumb move. But Teagan has the opposite reaction – she finally confesses to being in love with Annalise.

We’ve seen the chemistry between these two, and several characters have pointed out Teagan’s feelings for Annalise. Nothing Annalise does seem to sway Teagan; she keeps looking at Annalise like she’s her entire world. But Annalise is certain that the love Teagan is searching for isn’t with her.

Bonnie interrupts to inform them that the jury has reached a verdict. After several tense moments, Annalise is found not guilty on all counts. Yes! She deserved that win.

As Annalise stands triumphant in front of the press, Laurel gets ready to leave with her son. Connor is arrested, with Oliver crying all over him. Connor hands Oliver his wedding ring as a final goodbye. When Michaela tries to console Oliver, he turns on her – she’s the reason Connor is in this mess.

Bonnie spots Frank among the reporters and tries to intercept him. But she’s too late. Frank shoots the governor and he gets shot in the bargain. As Bonnie holds his dying body, Annalise runs to her friends. As Frank dies, Bonnie realizes that she’s been shot too. Annalise is disconsolate as she begs Bonnie to live. If only. At least Bonnie and Frank died together, though it’s sad that they couldn’t enjoy the happiness that they’d only recently found.

Goodbye

So how does the How to Get Away with Murder series finale end? Well, we return to a scene from the midseason finale. It’s Annalise’s funeral and a young man who looks like Wes Gibbins comes to the front of the gathering.

He speaks in Spanish to a woman, none other than Laurel, who is now much older. Speaking at Annalise’s funeral is Eve Rothlo (Famke Janssen), also older, and delivering a eulogy full of the love that she and Annalise had lost.

This is the future – a future where Connor and Oliver got back together and are still together at the funeral; Michaela has taken office as Supreme Court justice, Laurel and Christopher have enjoyed a loving mother-son relationship, and Annalise lived a long life with the new love of her life. We’re assuming it was Teagan because we see the two of them dancing together. They all found happiness eventually.

If that montage in the How to Get Away with Murder series finale doesn’t make your heart soar, the closing scene echoes the series premiere. Alfred Enoch bikes to Middleton and enters a classroom.

But this time, it isn’t Wes Gibbins attending Annalise’s class; it’s Christopher Castillo entering the room and introducing himself in a thick accent as the professor of the class called How to Get Away with Murder, inspired by his mentor. Now that’s what we call an ending!

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