Ep 15. Anna Mae

Annalise Keating is a brilliant, charismatic and seductive professor of defense law, who teaches a class called 'How to Get Away With Murder'. Her students, who range from first year law students to fourth year interns, are both fascinated and terrified by the prospect of working with her. In the second season's climactic fifteenth episode named 'Anna Mae', we see the return of Annalise's estranged mother, Ophelia Harkness, to shake things up in Annalise's already tumultuous life.

The episode begins with Annalise leaving the hospital after a devastating miscarriage. She is visibly shattered and is trying to hold herself together. Upon arriving home, she finds her mother, Ophelia, there waiting for her. Ophelia is a force to be reckoned with and her arrival brings back memories of Annalise's painful past. She has always had a difficult relationship with her mother, and the tension is palpable from the moment they are reunited.

The episode then takes us back to the time when Annalise was a young girl. We see her and her mother at a diner, where Ophelia tells Annalise that she is getting a divorce from her father. Annalise is inconsolable and the experience shapes her idea of what love is. This flashback provides vital information about Annalise's formative years and helps explain why she has always been so guarded when it comes to matters of the heart.

Annalise is also dealing with the aftermath of her husband Sam's murder and the investigation that has followed. Her students have been implicated in the crime, and Annalise is doing all she can to protect them. She enlists the help of Bonnie, her trusted associate, to look into a possible suspect. Meanwhile, Annalise's department chair, Dr. Roa, is worried about her mental state and keeps a close eye on her.

As the episode progresses, we see Annalise and her mother try to navigate their relationship and reconcile their differences. Ophelia is a fierce and opinionated woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. She encourages Annalise to let go of her pain and live her life to the fullest. However, Annalise is more skeptical and guarded. She doesn't believe that her mother truly understands her pain, and is wary of her mothers seemingly sudden interest in reconnecting with her.

Despite their differences, Annalise attempts to bond with her mother and even takes her to her law firm. Here, we see Annalise's mother interact with her students, and her insights prove to be valuable. However, their budding relationship hits a snag when Annalise learns that her mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The news devastates Annalise, and she feels shunned by her mother's revelation. She struggles to cope with the fact that her mother's illness may make it impossible for them to truly reconcile.

The episode ends with a shocking revelation that sets the stage for the final episode of the season. It becomes clear that Annalise's mother has a hidden agenda – one that threatens to tear the Keating family apart. It's a suspenseful end that leaves you on the edge of your seat, wondering what's next for Annalise and her loved ones.

In 'Anna Mae', we see Annalise Keating at her most vulnerable. The episode delves deep into her past, revealing her insecurities, fears and hopes. With the return of her mother, Annalise is forced to confront her past and reconcile it with her present. The episode is a nuanced exploration of family, love and loss, and ends with a cliffhanger that leaves you yearning for more.