There is no doubt, the fall 2014 television season has introduced audiences to numerous break-through actors, actresses, and brand new shows. Of the new introductions, the American legal drama, How To Get Away with Murder, leads the charts. Staring Tony Award winning and Academy Award Nominee, Viola Davis, the show follows the life of a law professor at a prestigious University who, with select students, becomes intertwined in a murder plot. Created by Shonda Rhimes (who also happens to be the creator of Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy), has developed an amazing source of entertainment complete with diversity and an engaging plot line.
The impressive plot includes a group of ambitious law students and their intelligent criminal professor, Analise Keating (portrayed by Viola Davis). Professor Keating is an unpredictable and slightly frightening woman, who is equally as scary in the courtroom where she serves as a defense attorney and represents violent criminals, most of whom are alleged murderers. She is in no way a bad person, in fact, she is the person that everyone wants to be- strong and independent. To the outside world, she seems to have everything- a successful career and wonderful husband, but her relationship forces her to confront secrets. Each year, Keating selects a group of students from class and invites them to work in her law firm. The chosen students include three males and two females. Together, they work with Keating’s associates in efforts to assist the professor in her various legal cases. In other words, they help make sure Keating wins each case, which often includes murderers and violent criminals being acquitted (ABC.go).
The intricate storyline is only furthered by the diverse cast and characters portrayed through the show. Main character, Analiese Keating is portrayed by an African-American actress. Of Keating’s chosen law school students, two of them are of African-American decent: Wes Gibbons (portrayed by Alfred Enoch) and Michaela Pratt (portrayed by Aja Naomi King). It is great to see two students of color enrolled in a doctorate program. To further diversity, Professor Keating is married to a white man, thus portraying an interracial couple. In recent years, interracial couples have become prevalent. Shonda Rhimes has broken a barrier that many shows rarely attempt to break. How To Get Away with Murder is among very few shows that center around a mixed relationship, allowing the cast do display a sense of reality on television.
Seeing as though the show is still undergoing it’s first season, there isn’t enough information to determine if How to Get Away With Murder will shine a positive or negative light over the black community. Creator, Shonda Rhimes is known to portray race relations in her shows relatively late into seasons; however, in last week’s episode “Freaking Wack-A-Mole” Keating and her team had the opportunity to investigate and retry a case of an African-American man on death row (Deadline). It was later found out that the innocent man was falsely imprisoned due to harsh works of a racist judge. Situations like this are actually common among the legal atmosphere. The fact that the show is already dealing with issues of race is both enlightening and beneficial to all viewers. As sated before, the students do get involved in legal trouble of their own; however, the source and extent of the situation hasn’t yet been exposed. Aside from that, there are minor drama incidents, though not enough to change the success of the series. As of now, people of color may take pride in the fact that an African-American is portraying a highly educated law school graduate and defense attorney.
Nearly hours after airing the Pilot episode, How To Get Away with Murder was picked up for a full season by ABC, something relatively seen with new drama shows. As each week passes, the show seems to gain more viewers who are sure not to miss one single second of the drama, “It is so packed with story that one time I blinked while watching it and I was lost for the rest of the episode” (Tim Surette, TV.com).
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