The Passions (and Pitfalls) of Michaela Pratt

Michaela Pratt (Aja Naomi King) in season one of How to Get Away With Murder. 

How to Get Away With Murder’s twelfth episode, Let’s Hurt Him, was somewhat refreshing— none of that privileged white boy mess. Unfortunately, Michaela remains beholden to the dead, murderous informant, verbally assaulting her ex Gabriel. She has forgotten how Asher slut shamed her in one breath and cried, “you’re the one” in the next. Yet she claims that he is tens times better than Gabriel could ever be??? Righhhhhhhhtttt. The entitled Asher Millstone lived up to Frank’s “doucheface” nickname. Somehow Bonnie and Michaela both fell for an impulsive man-child who used colloquialisms, danced terribly, threw tantrums, ran over Emily Sinclair (blaming Annalise for it), and long ago covered a rape happening in his own home. Asher’s unlimited access to Michaela (coming into her room at any time) did not help. And to have him actually propose marriage hours before dying— a big WTF. It was no surprise that he ratted out the Keating circle and died for those sins. 

Still, Asher is a troubling part of Michaela’s strange character descent. Now there is nothing wrong with sexual fluidity and owning that agency (which is partly what makes the multifaceted Annalise so superb). Yet it is problematic that every “good looking” story arc guy winds up sleeping with Michaela. And no one else. 

Annalise (Viola Davis) had seen a little of herself in Michaela (Aja Naomi King). 

For six seasons, this writing team has failed Michaela Pratt— a formerly engaged Yale grad who snatched her fabulousness crown away from her ex-fiancé’s meddling mother (played by the brilliant Lynn Whitfield) and stood her own at Middleton. The adoptee from the projects showed bite and independence. Her fall started with Eggs 911 (Rebecca’s blue-eyed foster brother) and the quest to finally obtain an orgasm. Wes— who knew all about the guy— did not warn her, failed to protect her. Then she fell for the murderous Caleb. Later, she cheated on Caleb with Asher, cheated on Asher with Marcus (from Scandal), tried to get with Marcus after Asher dumped her, and cheated on new boyfriend Gabriel, another murderer, with Asher. For a fabstintent girl quite eager to align herself with Tegan and best Annalise, her hypocritical behavior proved that she could not last a season without sex, especially with men who intentionally kill people. Well, not to say that she is Miss Innocent. After all, she pushed Sam down the stairs, helped dispose his mutilated corpse, and got Simon Drake, a gay man deported to his home country. 

Laurel (Karla Souza) and Michaela (Aja Naomi King) had sweet, young lawyer bonding moments. However, it is interesting to note that whereas Wes failed to protect Michaela from Eggs 911, Laurel does this same behavior— keeping Gabriel’s paternity a secret. This definitely presented a minor bump on Michaela’s friendship with Laurel.

Despite the murder cleanups, mean girl behavior, and a sexual appetite, Michaela worked hard and managed to graduate. She vouched for huge issues like racism and classicism— the same values as her old mentor Annalise, joined the team for the civil lawsuit case, and met her idol, Olivia Pope. For all her intelligence, the young woman has poor judgement and does not see obvious red flags. Like right now, her father is not the man she believes him to be. 

Michaela (Aja Naomi King) and Tegan (Amirah Vann) were hitting it off until Michaela’s huge fourth season betrayal. Although Tegan has slowly turned back to befriending her (even volunteering to be her lawyer), the relationship is not as close. No more expensive shoes for Michaela. Plus, Tegan is surely Team Annalise and not Team Informants.

Still, the writers struck out, missing the opportunity of not having Michaela bond further with Tegan or Annalise whom she once admired. In fact, last night’s episode had Connor saying, “we’re sorry” to Annalise, but Michaela could not bring herself to apologize once. She was wrong and still blaming Annalise. After everything that woman did to protect these kids, according to them (that blasted Oliver included) it is Annalise that deserves to take the fall for their crimes. Michaela’s hatred of Annalise has certainly been stewing, but it goes back and forth like a pendulum. One minute, the hate comes and the next, pure fascination and respect. Yet Michaela needs a strong woman figure. Her endearing camaraderie with Connor is always a treasure, a constant anchor, considering it is her strongest, asexual tie to a man. A Black woman scolding another Black woman, throwing her under the bus, puts the viewer in a tough, heartbreaking spot. There is desire and hope for them both to succeed. Michaela should thrive and pursue her career, but not at the expense of Annalise. So when Annalise impressively turned the tables on Connor and Michaela, it was laudable payback. 

Let’s just state the obvious— Aja Naomi King did a commendable job with the material given. Seeing a woman of her complexion on primetime television alongside Viola Davis was a double treasure. 

While Tegan and Annalise are beautifully opening up to each other, exposing parts of their vulnerable sides piece by piece, one cannot help wonder what would have happened if Michaela had embarked on the road of simply choosing herself. She may have rejected Asher’s proposal high on mushrooms, but the way she goes on and on about him does not speak independence. It suggests regret. That if he had not died, informant or not, she likely would have accepted his proposal.

With only three episodes left, Michaela and her fickle ways may either lead her down a jailhouse or perhaps she will join Asher in the afterlife. Maybe she can still win this thing— get away with murder.