How to Get Away With Murder Introduces Its New Big Bad: What You Need to Know and Why You Should Be Nervous

Viola Davis previews what's next for Annalise on the ABC hit series, including a potential betrayal by someone close to her

By Tierney Bricker Jan 30, 2015 4:00 AMTags
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with MurderABC/Mitch Haaseth

Huzzah, How to Get Away With Murder is finally back. And. So. Much. Happened.

In Thursday's midseason premiere of ABC's breakout drama, Annalise's (Viola Davis) plan to help Wes (Alfred Enoch) and the rest of her students cover up her husband Sam's (Tom Verica) murder, actually worked. (Warning, spoilers ahead!)

Not only was Rebecca (Katie Findlay) cleared of all charges, but Sam bcame the main suspect after a DNA test proved he was the father of Lila's baby. Too bad this'll kick off a major manhunt for the "missing" Sam.

And while it seemed like Annalise and the murder night gang may have been out of the clear, the episode's last scene threw a major wrench into their cover-up: the debut of guest star Marcia Gay Harden in her top-secret role as Hannah, Sam's sister!

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Anyone else see the look of dread that fell upon Annalise's face when she heard of her sister-in-law's arrival? Yeah, she should be worried, based on what Viola Davis told E! Online and a small group of reporters on the How to Get Away With Murder set. 

"It's a woman who just never really embraced her in the family. You'll see that relationship be very contentious because it's a woman who just never accepted me. She never saw me," Davis, who recently took home the SAG Award, says. "She loved Sam's ex-wife much more than she loved me. She was more of an acceptable mate for Sam. But it was never spoken, of course, so you'll see a lot of butting heads because there's a hesitance on Hannah's part to admit she never accepted me."

READ: Viola Davis Teases "Scenes You've Never Seen Before on Network TV"

ABC/Mitch Haaseth

But why hasn't Hannah ever accepted Annalise?

"I know so many relationships like that, especially interracial relationships," Davis explains. "It's that generation. It's not so much like that anymore. The new generation is much better with it, but me, Marcia Gay Harden's generation, it's just unsettling."

And Hannah will definitely be "a wrench" in the cover-up plans, as Davis teases, "She suspects that I killed Sam." Which, come on, isn't too surprising given that Annalise's plan to pin Lila's murder on Sam, as well as protect her students, will be "fervent," Davis previews. "It gets more complicated as the episodes go along. I know that she's willing to do anything."

ABC/Mitch Haaseth

But Hannah may end up with some help in her crusade against Annalise, finding an ally in Bonnie (Liza Weil), especially after she finds out Annalise chose to bring Frank, and not her, into the cover-up, and feels "betrayed," Weil says.

"There's going to be a fallout when she finds out what happened," she continues. "Marcia Gay Harden's character is going to be searching for answers as well and I think part of that search may be compelling to Bonnie."

Sounds like Annalise better watch her back.

How to Get Away With Murder airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.