We’ve seen 2 episodes of How to Get Away with Murder now. How are we feeling about it? I’ll share my reactions and I hope you’ll leave a comment to share what you think.
First, I want Viola Davis as Annalise Keating to carry this show to the top. I want another show with an African American lead actress to make it! Big time. Viola Davis is completely awesome – talented, brilliant, and way overdue to become a household favorite.
Second, I got attached to Aja Naomi King on Emily Owens, M.D. I loved seeing her again in Black Box and I’m still delighted by her in How to Get Away with Murder. She has the potential to be the lead on her own show one of these days, and I’m happily watching her progress until then.
Third, Matt McGorry managed to make his character on Orange is the New Black moderately likeable in a show where most of the men are assholes. I’m delighted to be watching him in something else as a different character.
Those are my fangirl reasons for liking How to Get Away with Murder. I do like other things about it.
I like the classroom scenes where Annalise Keating is a leader, in charge. I also like that we’ve seen her vulnerable and crying. I loved the vulnerability in episode 1. She was having a sexy extra-marital affair with a handsome hunk, so she’s not perfect.
On the other hand, in episode 2 I thought her vulnerability made her seem weak. She was jealous of her husband, then laid claim to him as a sexual conquest. At the same time she was clingy and whiny with the boyfriend. Her character seems wobbly and all over the place.
I like the diverse cast, both among the students and the other characters. There is gender balance and racial diversity. I like that one of the characters is gay – Conner (Jack Falahee). The way Annalise’s assistant Bonnie (Liza Wein) looks at her is a bit of mystery right now. She might be in love with Annalise or she might be in love with Annalise’s husband (Tom Verica). Either way, it’s interesting.
Unfortunately, there are some things I’m having trouble with.
I’m having trouble with the non-linear storytelling. The flash forward to the favorite 4 law students disposing of a body that seems to be Annalise’s husband. What the students are doing with the body is so illogical it seems like a game. The flash backs seem out of order themselves. When was Annalise whining outside the boyfriend’s house? When was Wes’ upstairs neighbor arrested? Where did the murdered girl found in the water tank fit in? I hope it all starts to make sense because right now I’m confused.
There’s confused in a good way. Why do all these women on Orphan Black look alike? I’m dying to know. Then there’s confused in a bad way. Under the Dome makes to sci-fi or religious sense. Why am I still watching?
I don’t want this show to lose me because I can’t follow the story line and get disgusted and quit. I really want this show to make it. I’m rooting for it. I’ll be there for episode 3 with my fingers crossed in hopes it begins to make more sense and I can begin to understand Annalise more clearly.
What have you thought of How to Get Away with Murder?
All photos: © 2014 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.