'How to Get Away with Murder' season 3 episode 1 spoilers: Make-ups, break-ups and a murder

Death, heartbreak and betrayal — three things that make up the compelling formula of ABC's legal mystery drama, "How to Get Away with Murder." The premiere episode of its third season made it clear that some things just never change.

The episode titled "We're Good People Now" opened with a body being wheeled into an ambulance in a scene that seemed to have picked up from last season's cliffhanger finale. By the end of the episode, however, viewers would have realized that the dead body on the gurney wasn't Wallace Mahoney (Adam Arkin) after all, but someone else who has yet to die two months from the present timeline.

This has always been how "How to Get Away with Murder" presented its intricate mysteries— by looking back and flashing forward until all loose threads finally tie up into one shocking, life-changing revelation. The highly acclaimed series wasted no time at all in jumping back to its old ways, except that this time, the stakes will be higher and the fallouts more personal.

Mahoney is dead, shot in front of his son before he could even confirm or deny Wes Gibbins' (Alfred Enoch) claim. Frank Delfino (Charlie Weber) is on the run and is being tailed by a man hired by Annalise Keating (Viola Davis). He is also allegedly responsible for Mahoney's death.

The Keating Five are back in school and have been chosen to join Annalise's pro bono clinic. Asher Millstone (Matt McGorry) and Michaela Pratt (Aja Naomi King) are still sort of together, Wes has a new girlfriend, Laurel Castillo (Karla Souza) is still apparently trying to contact Frank, and Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee) and Oliver Hampton (Conrad Ricamora) have just broken up.

Speaking of school, Soraya Hargrove (Lauren Vélez) has taken over as the new university president. Whether she is an ally or foe to Annalise is yet to be seen. There is also someone spreading "Killer" posters of Annalise all over the university.

"How to Get Away with Murder's" premiere episode set the narrative pieces for yet another shocking reveal. In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, series creator Pete Nowalk said that by episode nine, viewers will know which character is on that gurney. Nowalk made the decision only when the story reached that particular episode.

"It was the hardest decision I've had to make in the history of the show," Nowalk said.

ABC has posted a clip of the premiere episode's shocking twist.

The second episode titled, "There are Worse Things than Murder" will see Annalise going up against the university board while the Keating 5 take on the case of an abused woman accused of murdering her spouse.

"How to Get Away with Murder" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. EDT on ABC.