‘How To Get Away With Murder’ Season 6 Episode 8 uses Snow White's mock case to mask the future of the story
Typically, the case of the week in every episode is either about a pertinent social issue or about a client with a pressing case. But in episode 8 of season 6, we were surprised when Annalise presented an arbitrary case to her class for their final exam. For those who haven’t managed to watch the episode yet, watch out for the spoilers that might soon follow.
The case, in short, follows Snow White who is charged with conspiracy-to-murder the Evil Queen in alliance with the Seven Dwarfs. One of the Dwarfs turn an informant and gets Snow White arrested. Annalise presents the case to her class and wants to hear the best defense strategy for Snow White. At first, it seemed out of place and irrelevant, especially since it is an imaginary, fairytale character. Also that, with so much happening with every character, this didn’t quite seem like the right time to talk about a case. But then, as the discussion on the case moved forward, we realized that it is but a clear analogy to the entire story of Annalise Keating.
Let’s imagine Annalise to be Snow White, and Governor Birkhead being the Evil Queen. Her students are the Seven Dwarfs, who could or perhaps would, help Annalise get rid of the Governor, aka, kill her. As each one of them presented their strategy, it became clear, what they actually think of Annalise’s case and what’s their take on her defense, if ever they needed to defend her.
Gabriel wants Snow White to testify and lay down the facts in court, while Asher wants her to plead guilty and use the argument of self-defense against social toxicity and harassment. Michaela, on the other hand, has a very different viewpoint on this.
If we have to draw parallels between Snow White’s case and Annalise’s situation, it becomes evident that like Snow White, Annalise could have been subject to relentless harassment from the Governor and plots the latter’s murder. But the case turns as Annalise reveals an angle her students had failed to notice. There is no crime since the Evil Queen's body has not been found, which could mean that the Evil Queen faked her own death.
Throughout the discussion of the case, we wonder if Annalise is Snow White but when she reveals the angle of the Evil Queen faking her death, the tables just turn and we start revisiting our theory. If we are to consider Annalise to be the Evil Queen, who fakes her own death, then who would Snow White be among our characters? Will Annalise frame her own students or Bonnie or Tegan for her murder?