This Week On 'How To Get Away With Murder,' A Guilty Man Is More Likable Than Our Protagonists

Spoilers obviously abound below for Season 2, Episode 11 of "How to Get Away with Murder," "She Hates Us."

So we were officially reminded this week that all of our favorite characters on this show are horrible people .

Seriously. The guy we liked best at the end of this episode was the defendant in the case of the week, who took life in prison over his guilt about killing someone. No one we know on this show would kill anyone and then spend time in jail. In fact, they're all off the hook from jail time, murders and all.

And yet -- we still love them.

Annalise (Viola Davis), ten years ago, refers to her unborn child as IT. And appears to have gotten Wes' mother killed.

She also leaves Wes (Alfred Enoch) in the psych ward.

He spends some time there, after asking for sleeping pills and then saying he was going to kill himself. Good call by his resident. 

Michaela (Aja Naomi King), Connor (Jack Falahee ) and Oliver (Conrad Ricamora) brush off Asher (Matt McGorry), who is so desperate for answers or love that he's freeloading off his non-existent murdering classmates.

As for Laurel (Karla Souza), she's trying to look out for Wes, but can't quite do it. And resents Frank (Charlie Weber) for hiding his real life from her. 

And yet -- we love them. They're our favorite murderers. Crazy how Shondaland can have you rooting for such abjectly flawed people.

So, as for the case of the week, a heartbroken mother wants a lighter sentence for Annalise's client. Due to some legal mumbo jumbo, they end up negotiating for another sentence. 

The client, against Annalise's strict advisement, professes his true guilt. The mother of his victim forgives him anyways (this woman should be sainted for her lessons in forgiveness). We clearly are supposed to gather that this woman is capable of more forgiveness for both herself and the murderer of her son than our protagonists. Which leads us to wonder what Annalise did to the murderer of her unborn son, since it would appear he did not make it 10 years ago.

Back to the case at hand, this was one of the more REAL cases we've dealt with on the show. From the question of guilt, to the concept of unfair justice based on color, to the cycle of violence, it touched on several real nerves about the legal system today. The image of a black woman holding up a photo of her murdered son is all too real in 2016. 

As for the episode at large, we get several flashbacks to 10 years ago, when Annalise is pregnant and several of our protagonists are in much better places. Bonnie (Liza Weil) is working through her issues with a non-dead Sam (Tom Verica), and Frank hasn't killed anyone yet. Annalise seems about the same, just unhappy about being heavily pregnant. 

Turns out she's been flying to Cleveland to stalk Wes' mom, who has some connection to the hedge fund manager accused of murder . From that, we gather she's somehow responsible for this woman's death -- maybe Wes' mom didn't kill herself after all.

Back in the present, Annalise's students stage a coup. They can't believe she would leave Wes in the psych ward -- that's leaving one of their own behind. And he could expose them all as murderers. Small things.

The band of brothers moment where the Keating Five are all driving home in the car shows just how far we've come with this group. They may be terrible people who have done terrible things, but in a twisted way they all care for each other.

And we love them for it.

The real kicker of the episode, though, comes when Annalise gives Wes the files on the case his mother was involved with, and then Connor calls to say there's a video of the kids at the DA's house. Looks like Phillip (Jefferson White) is back, and everyone might go to jail just yet.

Then again -- they haven't been pinned for anything yet, so we doubt it.

But, OH WAIT -- Laurel fights with Frank about how they don't tell each other their secrets. And while her chin adorably quivers as she threatens a breakup, ol' tough Frank cracks and spills that he killed Lila (Megan West).

Game changer.

Will we ever figure out why? Will Laurel ever forgive him? Why have we forgiven him for the unforgivable? And most importantly, why did Wes ever stop wearing plaid?

'Til next time ...

Odds and Ends

• Will the kids go back to work next week? At least to save their own hides from the video?

• Never mad about Sam reappearing. Great to see him undead.

• Annalise also called the baby IT. Again.

• Good for Michaela for calling B.S. on the whore line. Caleb is lashing out for no reason.

• Did Bonnie have a baby? What was her comment about lying on your side?

• These flashbacks are great. Ten years ago, everyone else's life was so much better.

• Confirm: Bonnie dumped Asher.

• Damn, Annalise looks good this episode. Her wig and makeup are beyond on point. Getting shot did wonders for her apparently.

• Have to admit -- forgot these kids weren't even through 1L. They are still in their first year of law school! Still! Murderers and all!

• Asher talking about how they don't talk was heartbreaking.

• How come Connor always drives?

• We want Annalise's pink coat. Now.

• Laurel's style is intriguing this half season. That was a red crop top. What?

• Anyone know the name of the final song in the episode? Because it was fantastic.

• Nate loves Annalise. He does. They're meant to be!

• My HuffPost recap will be returning March 3 after a one-week hiatus for a reporting trip! Miss y'all 'til then.

"How to Get Away with Murder" airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. 

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