Conspiracy, manipulation, deception, murder and mayhem, what didn’t the six eye-watering seasons of How to Get Away with Murder have? With the lead character in a pivotal role, Annalise Keating with the demons of her past and present stirs up drama or rather drama follows her and she with her almost flawless law knowledge manages to find a loophole for everything. So a little fun article to reimagine some pivotal characters in the legal-murder-suspense series as special sweets.
The hot-blooded lawyer who carries the whole show on her shoulders, bringing every foe and ally to their knees in reverence and awe, she is one of the best cakes known in the world over – the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. Otherwise known as the Black Forest Cake, this suits her character given how complex the cake is, just like her. It has the lightness of whipped cream grounded by chocolate sponge cake that is doused in a sour cherry brandy called Kirsch. More whipped cream and chocolate shavings go on top of the cake, that screams main character energy, with its richness and delicious taste.
Annalise’s right hand till the bitter end, Bonnie shares a complicated relationship with her savior, and despite the turmoils, she has her back. She’s the unassuming Italian panna cotta that is deceptively simple but at the dining table, she is the one dessert that is pure comfort. Despite her dark past, and some of the questionable things she had done, her presence somehow uplifted the people around her and she was the sane and rational voice when things went for a toss. The Keating 5 under different circumstances might have agreed.
Perhaps the best character development of the whole show was seen in Connor who with his devilish streak was eventually tamed by Oliver. He was burdened with a heavy conscience ever since you-know-what on the day of the Middleton University Bonfire. He had wanted to come clean, right after the said incident, instead of wanting to cover anything up, but in the end, he ended up lying, but after Laurel came clean, he stood firm on wanting to repent by taking the FBI deal of 5 years in jail. So, a smooth and rich chocolate cake, Sachertorte represents this character, with the surprise element of apricot jam in it for the quick-witted, anxiety-ridden and smart young lawyer.
After a few seasons, one starts wondering what was the point of Nate, in the series, after Sam Keating’d murder was supposedly covered by Annalise, her close aides and the K5. But Nate turns the tide eventually from being Annalise’s lover-turned-nemesis and back to an ally. Vasilopita holds a similar sentiment, in the way that the saint associated with this cake had hidden coins to donate to the poor without seeming like he was doing charity. You couldn't guess what Nate would do after a certain point but he took Annalise’s side and forgave her as the last act of kindness by letting go of his hate and vengeance.
She is no doubt the most hated character who wasn't an antagonist in the least, but when you see her through the same lens as you would see Annalise, it's hard to hate her for choosing herself in the end and running to her long lost father to rescue her. She's the dense and chewy Turkish ice cream called Dondurma that doesn't melt easily. Her choices isolated her in the end but she ended up having her own family and fulfilling her dream despite losing a lot of people that were like her chosen family.
Portrayed as the Keating henchman from day 1, Frank is undyingly loyal to Annalise and Sam, and as the series draws to a close, it becomes clear why he was always around this family. With a murky past that he grapples to come to terms with, he is unhinged and has done heinous acts under the Keatings’ orders. A crustless tart made with tarty fruits and a thick batter suits this loyal man who eventually took justice in his own hands and ended up dying, trying to make things right, which he succeeded in doing.
She was the only person from the K5, to not incriminate Annalise after the FBI’s manipulation, in the last season. Her speaking the truth set the ball rolling for the jury to eventually clear Annalise’s name. She was portrayed as this mean character towards the beginning who came across as even more selfish than Michaela but as the top of the caramelised creme Brulee is cracked and reveals the soft custard inside. Laurel also caves and chooses the right path and the series ends with her son, who was precious to Annalise and who she ends up mentoring, taking the Criminal Law 100 classes, after she passes away.