ABC/Mitchell Haaseth(NEW YORK) — ABC’s How to Get Away With Murder dropped a shocking bombshell in Thursday’s two-hour season finale: One of the show’s main characters was killed off.
During the episode, Rebecca Sutter was found murdered, and viewers learned that Frank, played by Charlie Weber, killed Lila by choking her to death before dumping her body.
In addition, Connor Walsh, another main character in the smash-hit series, learns that his on-again, off-again boyfriend, Oliver Hampton, is HIV positive.
Before the finale aired, ABC’s Nightline sat down with Jack Falahee, who plays Connor, and Aja Naomi King, who stars as Michaela Pratt, both members of the “Keating 5.”
Falahee spoke about what it meant to have a major character like Connor portrayed as someone grappling with such a serious issue.
“This happens to people every day and I think that we’re just trying to explore interesting storylines that are rooted in reality and told honestly,” Falahee told Nightline. “I think that any opportunity to discuss it and open a dialogue about it is good. Information is power so for people to know how to get tested safely and effectively.”
The “Keating 5” are five, ridiculously attractive law students who, along with the powerful and ruthless defense attorney, Annalise Keating, played by Viola Davis, get caught up in the murder of her husband.
“Viola Davis is so amazing,” King, 30, said. “Not only is she just the kindest person, she is so open to sharing what she has been through and what her life has been like, which for me, like that is so valuable.
When I look at this dark-skinned woman who is playing this sexy powerful character on TV, for me, I’m just like, ‘Yes,’” King, who is African-American like Davis, added.
King said the explosive scripts are “super top secret,” and she is always shocked by the jaw-dropping twists that come from the mind of show creator Peter Nowalk.
In talking about one particular episode, “Don’t Be,” King said she was reading “the part where Michaela pushes Sam over the stairs. I screamed and I literally flung my body against the wall. I was just like, ‘No, It couldn’t have been me. I couldn’t be the one! And then I was like, ‘No, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, no. There is no trophy. I can’t be the killer, I’m not the killer.’ And so that really threw me off. I didn’t want to be the killer.”
With a show called How to Get Away With Murder, violence is expected, but there is also plenty of sexual impropriety. Connor became known for using sex to get what he wanted.
“The writers did a wonderful job over the course of the season showing how Connor continues to utilize sex as a tool, but then he feels a little slimy about it,” Falahee, 26, said. “He has a lot of regret and I think that he sort of falls for Oliver unexpectedly.”
A year ago, Falahee was a driver for a car service. Now he plays one of the main characters.
“[Connor] is multifaceted. He has some really positive attributes but then he also has a lot of flaws,” Falahee said. “I think that being a co-conspirator on a murder has forced him to make some very morally ambiguous decisions.”
Now with the show’s first season wrapped, King said she is anxious to find out what will come next if the show is renewed for a second season.
“I am so curious about so many things,” she said. “But I know for sure if the show continues next year I think the murder and intrigue won’t stop there.”
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