SERIES SPOTLIGHT: How To Get Away With Murder (2014 – Present)

HTGAWM Cast 2

How To Get Away With Murder – 8.3/10 IMDb

I have been fairly caught up with Academy Awards coverage and film posts this month; as a result, I have unfairly neglected all of the CCC television-loving readers. Therefore, I’ve chosen to spotlight the How To Get Away With Murder (HTGAWM) TV series because it is full of thrilling twists, and is an easy 15-episode season that can be binge-watched in a week.

HTGAWM follows the life of criminal defence lawyer & professor Annalise Keating as she serves clients of her firm while murderous plots develop around her. In the pilot episode, Annalise selects five students from her university class to work at her firm alongside her two colleagues Bonnie and Frank. The “Keating Five” consists of curious Wes Gibbons, ruthless Connor Walsh, ambitious Michaela Pratt, idealistic Laurel Castillo, and ridiculous Asher Millstone.

The pilot episode sets the stage for the season, as it provides a ton of information within two different overlapped timelines. For instance, we learn that Annalise is having an affair with Detective Nate Lahey, and the body of missing student Lila Stangard has been found. Also, the body that Wes, Connor, Michaela, and Laurel are attempting to dispose of at the beginning of the episode is Annalise’s husband Sam Keating. The HTGAWM episodes are unique and exciting as they seamlessly jump around in the timeline to strategically show the cover up of Sam’s death, as well as the events surrounding Lila’s death.

Annalise Keating

Viola Davis is exceptional in her portrayal of Annalise Keating and she is one of the main reasons I watch the show. Annalise is a multi-dimensional character that is strong, confident, and sexy, yet equally fragile, vulnerable, and unhinged. In her professional life, Annalise is a ruthless lawyer in open court and is just as tough and direct with her students. However, in her personal life Annalise is manipulative, emotional, confrontational, and depressed.

Now if that has not convinced you yet, I will now inform you that both the Winter Finale and Season Finale are extra special as each preceding episode builds to these two climaxes. The first eight episodes slowly release pieces of information to make you think you can figure it out, and then you are hit with the Winter Finale. Who killed Sam … Answered! The next six episodes have you questioning everything surrounding the deaths of Sam and Lila, but then the Season Finale hits and all doubt is erased. However, you are still sitting there yelling at the TV because you have to wait until Season 2 for your next round of questions to be answered. Therefore, if you have not already, go set about 14 hours aside and watch HTGAWM it is 100% worth it.

Lila Stangard
TOM VERICA

Bonus: For her work in the first season of HTGAWM, Viola was nominated for several awards including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama. Viola won both a Screen Actors Guild Award and a People’s Choice Award in the category of Favourite Actress in a New TV Series. Check out the links below for a couple of her brilliant acceptance speeches.

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