The mastermind behind Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Scandal has returned with a brand new sexy, twisty, crime thriller that is bound to become everyone’s new guilty pleasure. And that’s all thanks to Viola Davis.
Her presence as a law professor, defense attorney, strong woman and cheating wife makes you want to stand up and clap whenever she’s on screen. The woman is simply a godsend, and one of the main reasons the show will most definitely be a success. Because let’s face it: it’s pretty obvious after just this one episode that HTGAWM (yes, that’s what I’m calling it) is going to be a major success.
The pilot has all the elements of an addictive show. The shocking twists and turns are entertaining as hell, and the show moves at an insanely fast pace that you seriously can’t move your eyes away for even a split second. And that’s the beauty of it.
Perhaps the rest of the characters aren’t as well-developed or so far as interesting as Professor Annalise Keating in the present, but the flash-forwards we get to see in the pilot reveal that these people are about to get interesting, real quick. It’s no surprise that the show decided to use flash-forwards to tell an exciting event that happens three months from now; it’s worked for so many shows before (Revenge pops into my mind and even How I Met Your Mother sometimes). And the fact that these law students commit murder (and have learned how to get away with it) in the future is complex and groundbreaking.
And that may be the best way to describe HTGAWM up until this point: complex. My favorite scene of the episode had to be Keating interrogating her boyfriend (as a witness) in court, and how she used her relationship with him to win a case we all know should’ve been won by the other side. It’s complex and messy, and it makes you want to judge and yet love this person all at the same time. She is unstoppable.
Throughout the episode, I kept wondering if we were going to find out who the murdered body was by the end as the possibilities were endless. Therefore the reveal that it’s Keating’s husband was a truly remarkable cliffhanger — and that’s reason enough to want to see the next episode.
Sneaky Courtroom Bits
– I can’t get enough of Viola Davis’ opening statement as she walks into the class. Gives me chills every time.
– So what’s the deal with that Connor dude? Is he gay, bi or very passionate about getting ahead in class?
– Fantastic moment: after previously-skeptical Michaela sneakily gets rid of the police-officer and Connor turns around and barks at her: “Where the hell has that girl been all night?”
– That trophy that Connor wins is a bit lame and childish. I don’t see why our four “murderers” would want to steal that in the flash-forward.
– It’s clear that Wes is a major part of the show considering how much screen-time he had in the pilot, but I’m just not feeling his character so much yet. Clearly, something went terribly wrong in the apartment he now lives in (I’m guessing the missing student used to live there?). It also wasn’t the brightest idea for him to walk in on his professor cheating on her husband.
– Apart from a case-of-the-week, the show also seems to mention a missing girl who is somehow connected to the Keating’s husband, Wes’s neighbor and probably every other character on the show.
Amusing Keating One-Liners
Annalise: I’m Professor Annalise Keating, and this is Law 100. Or as I prefer to call it “How To Get Away With Murder”.
Annalise: Never take a learning opportunity away from another student. No matter how smart you need everyone to think you are.
Michaela: I wanna be her.
Connor: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun to kill someone, and end up in jail.
Michaela: How’d you get that email?
Asher: Yeah, bro. For reals.
Connor: I don’t kiss and tell.
Conclusion
One of the most entertaining pilots I’ve come across in a while. With an outstanding lead like Viola Davis and a complex, fast-paced story, it’s easy to admit this can become my new guilty pleasure of the week.
Chris Rating
A
The trophy was used as a murder weapon. They didn't try to steal, they cleaned it up and placed it in its original place (in plain sight) so no one would suspect anything.
I like your enthusiasm Chris. I didn't love this pilot as you know, but I'll stick with the show for a while. Viola Davis is definitely the reason for that!