There’s no denying that one of the reasons behind the success of ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder is Viola Davis‘ flawless interpretation of one of the most complicated characters on TV: Annalise Keating. Annalise is one of the most complicated, well-written characters on TV right now. So we thought that she deserved her own piece in our Character Analysis series.

Who Is Annalise Keating?

Next to Wes, Annalise Keating is the main character of the series. She is introduced as the professor of Criminal Law 100 and a defense attorney who represents all types of criminals. Her introduction in the series as that of a flawless person. She is someone who has everything in life: a successful career, a home, and a family. Not only that, but she is also regarded as incredibly intelligent and sexy. Annalise is seen as an inspiration, someone that all her students, especially the Keating 5, aspire to be.

How To Get Away With Murder, 2019, ABC.

The first impression any viewer could get from just watching the very first scenes is that Annalise is someone who has everything figured out in life. Not for nothing, she’s the “hero” of this story, right? These first impressions could not be further from the truth. In fact, Annalise Keating is one of the finest examples of how, very often, people who appear to be perfect on the outside are only putting up a facade to hide what’s really inside. Of course, many of the things that make Annalise take off her mask are due to the events that take place in the story.

Perfection Is Not Annalise Keating

But Annalise’s life has never been perfect. Starting from her childhood, her family was poor and she was sexually abused by her uncle. She does have, however, a loving mother. One that would do anything for her. This included burning down the house in which they lived with her abusive uncle inside. There’s really no wonder why Annalise is willing to do such terrible things just to protect those around her, as that’s exactly what her mother did.

How To Get Away With Murder, 2019, ABC.

Considering that at the time I was writing this we are in Black History Month. I couldn’t write this analysis without mentioning one of the most powerful scenes I have seen on television. This is the scene in which Annalise prepares to go to bed by taking her wig and makeup off. In an interview on The Ellen Show, Viola Davis said that she was the one who told the writers that she had to take off her wig because she wanted to

“be a real woman.”

The practice of putting on a “mask” (both literally and figuratively) to face society is common for women everywhere. But especially for black women. The reason why this scene is regarded as one of the best scenes in HTGAWM (and this show has A LOT of great scenes) is that it showed a woman of color in her natural un-made-up state.

A New Female Character For Television

We usually see black women wearing wigs and tons of makeup when occupying positions of power. While their natural state often has connotations of lower ranks of society or people with lower income. The natural look on Annalise’s face along with the raw emotion of the scene complemented perfectly and exemplified that Annalise is just a person and that any person can be Annalise. Annalise is a mess. As viewers, we are allowed to see her in her best moments and in her worst. And that isn’t something you can say just about any main character nowadays.

How To Get Away With Murder, 2019, ABC.

The main characters are often on moral high ground. They are good, they are righteous and they do the things that are perceived as “being a good person” in modern society. Just take a look at Western comic books. You will find many more superheroes as main characters than villains or anti-heroes (which is also one of the reasons why everyone is so hyped for Deadpool).

The thing is no one is perfect. Which is why many people struggle to see themselves in today’s fictional characters and instead choose to idolize them or look up to them. Annalise is not a role model. While I rarely agree with her decisions, I find it very easy to see myself in her struggles and her insecurities and to empathize with her in some way. Ironically, the fact that Annalise’s character can be unlikable is what makes her likable.

Annalise Is Versatile When It Comes To The Main Character

I don’t want to finish this essay without mentioning a new aspect of Annalise that has been introduced in this second season and that is her bisexuality. Little has been said about it as we only learned this fact after the re-appearance of Eve, a former classmate and girlfriend. And wasn’t that the biggest F you to heteronormativity? Annalise didn’t “choose” to go lesbian.

She was always bisexual, it’s just that everyone assumed she was straight just because she was married to a man. I also feel the need to mention her relationship with Wes/Christophe. Considering that the bomb has just been dropped and that we don’t have much information yet, I’ll wait it out. And so we keep peeling off layers of Annalise Keating! Don’t worry, though.

Considering how fascinating this character is and how she keeps growing and evolving, I will definitely be back with Part 2 of this analysis! In the meantime, I will let the amazing Viola Davis finish this: