‘How To Get Away With Murder’ Season 6 Episode 12 Preview: Will Vivian’s return impact Annalise’s case?
When the hit ABC show returned from its midseason break, only to air its final few episodes, we knew that there’s going to be a lot of surprises in store. But we didn’t expect shocks like the ones we have been dished out since the comeback.
For starters, it was learning that Asher Millstone (Matt McGorry) was killed by an FBI agent. Then we also figured out that the Castillos could also have the feds on their side, doing the dirty jobs and no one knows how far their reach could be. And now, as Episode 12 is about to air, we learn that Vivian Maddoxx (Marsha Stephanie Blake) is coming back to help her son, Gabriel Maddox (Rome Flynn).
How much of “help” or “damage” will she do to Gabriel and the other kids, is something for a later discussion, but for now, it’s important to understand why she is back and what could be the possibilities stemming from her presence in the current chaos.
Take a look at the promo of Episode 12 ‘Let’s Hurt Him’-
In a recent interview, Marsha Stephanie Blake, the actor portraying Vivian, shared that she will be back to the show for the next couple of episodes. We had seen her in the earlier episodes of Season 6 when she confronted Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) and tried to spy on her son.
Blake also said that as Gabriel is Vivian’s only child, she takes the “responsibility very seriously."
In Episode 11 ‘Reckoning’, we see Gabriel calling someone on his phone after he witnesses Asher’s murder secretly from his apartment. All we hear him say on the call is “I need you." Now after finding out that Vivian is back, it’s not difficult to add the two.
But, what is the agenda or purpose of Vivian’s return, and how will her presence affect Annalise or the kids?
For starters, it is clear that Gabriel has no other support system in his life other than his mother. It makes more sense now that he and Michaela Pratt (Aja Naomi King) have broken up. So, from his side, reaching out to his mother in such a dire situation is logical. But Vivian being back will not do any good for Annalise for sure.
It’s no news that Vivian and Annalise have been enemies, more like anti each other and it’s logical considering Sam Keating (Tom Verica) cheated on Vivian with Annalise, leaving her with their only child, Gabriel. Now, if Vivian has found out that Annalise is being charged with Sam’s murder (among a lot of other allegations), she will not leave any chance to put the “other woman” on stake. She had managed to drive this well into Gabriel’s psyche quite well over the years, which was clear when Gabriel enrolled at Middleton Law School and started spying on Annalise.
Now, let’s look at each piece of the current puzzle. As we see in the trailer of ‘Let’s Hurt Him’, Gabriel comes to Michaela, Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee) and Oliver Hampton (Conrad Ricamora) to share his theory of Sam's murder. Vivian comes back to help her stressed son and learns about the entire case. She probably has her own theory of how Annalise could be guilty.
From here, things could go either way. Gabriel could convince Michaela, Connor and Oliver to admit that it was Annalise’s idea to kill Sam and cover up his murder. Or, he could also learn more about Sam from his mother and try to help clear Annalise. So, could Vivian’s presence help or damage Annalise’s case?
Also, this whole situation that Annalise and her students have found themselves in is Gabriel’s doing. He was the first one to open his mouth to the FBI and spill his theory of Sam’s murder, which eventually got the feds scouting for truth. At the end of the promo clip, we also see Frank (Charlie Weber) preparing to torture someone. Could it be Gabriel? And why not? The episode is titled ‘Let’s Hurt Him’, so someone’s definitely getting hurt and someone’s taking the fall for every crime that happened across the years.
‘How To Get Away With Murder’ Season 6 airs on Thursdays, 10 pm/9c, only on ABC.