How to Get Away with Murder

How to Get Away with Murder

 

How to Get Away with Murder (abbreviated as HTGAWM) is an American drama television series that premiered on ABC on September 25, 2014. The series was created by Peter Nowalk, and produced by Shonda Rhimes and ABC Studios. The series airs on ABC as part of a night of programming all under Rhimes's ShondaLand production company.

 

Viola Davis stars as Annalise Keating, a law professor at a prestigious Philadelphia university who, with five of her students, becomes entwined in a murder plot.The show features an ensemble cast with Alfred Enoch, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry, and Karla Souza as Keating's students, Charlie Weber and Liza Weil as her employees and Billy Brown as a detective with the Philadelphia Police Department, and Annalise's lover. From season three onward, Conrad Ricamora was added to the main cast after recurring heavily in the previous two seasons.

 

For her portrayal, Davis has received universal acclaim; she became the first black woman to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, also winning two SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance in a Drama Series, and the Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Davis has received nominations from the Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series, the Critics' Choice Awards for Best Actress in a Drama Series, and the Television Critics Association at the TCA Awards for Individual Achievement in Drama. Other cast members have also received recognition for their performances, with Enoch and Naomi King being nominated by the NAACP as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the GLAAD Awards. On February 10, 2017, ABC renewed the series for a fourth season.

 

 

Season 1
Main article: How to Get Away with Murder (season 1)
Annalise Keating is a prominent criminal defense attorney and law professor at Middleton University in Philadelphia. She selects five of her first year students to intern at her firm: Wes Gibbins, Connor Walsh, Michaela Pratt, Asher Millstone, and Laurel Castillo (The Keating 5). They work with Annalise's employees, Frank Delfino and Bonnie Winterbottom, an associate lawyer. As Season 1 introduces occasional clients for Keating, it explores two related murders through both flashback and flashforward sequences: Lila Stangard, mistress of Annalise's husband's and a student at Middleton, and then Sam Keating, Annalise's husband, who was killed by Annalise's interns.

 

The first nine episodes alternate between the present-day timeline in medias res, depicting Wes, Connor, Michaela, and Laurel covering up Sam's murder by disposing of his body, and flashbacks detailing the course of events leading up to Sam's death, including Annalise's becoming involved in the Lila Stangard investigation, at Wes' urging, leading her to discover Sam's affair and creating suspicion that he killed Lila. The final six episodes explore Annalise's attempt to help her interns cover up Sam's murder and legally implicate Sam in Lila's death, and flashbacks to Lila's final moments before her murder.

 

 

Season 2
Main article: How to Get Away with Murder (season 2)
The first nine episodes focus on Annalise's defense of Caleb and Catherine Hapstall, who were accused of torturing and murdering their adoptive parents. Wes, in the meantime, teams up with Rebecca's foster brother to try and find Rebecca. Connor struggles with his relationship with Oliver, while Asher works with A.D.A. Emily Sinclair, in order to protect his secrets. In the mid-season finale, Sinclair is murdered, and Annalise helps cover it up, at the expense of her being shot in the stomach by Wes.

 

The second part of the season focuses on Wes' investigation of his mother's suicide 10 years ago; flashbacks reveal Annalise's involvement with Wes' mother's suicide. The season ends with Annalise's finding out that Frank was responsible for the car crash that killed her baby, and Annalise sends him away. Michaela and Asher hook up, and Wes meets with his biological father right before the latter is shot dead by an unknown shooter.

 

 

Season 3
Main article: How to Get Away with Murder (season 3)
In the aftermath of Wallace Mahoney's death, all five of the students attempt to move on. A new mystery arises around Annalise's house burning down and who was found dead inside. The events leading up to it involve Annalise's starting a free legal clinic and struggling with alcoholism. Oliver starts working for Annalise, and he leaves Connor when becoming disgusted with himself for rejecting Connor's Stanford acceptance. Michaela and Asher's relationship starts to progress, as does Wes and Laurel's, and Frank starts working to atone for the death of Annalise's child. Ultimately, it is revealed that Wes was the one who died, but was killed before the fire. Annalise is arrested for Wes' death. Frank attempts to help Annalise by confessing to killing Wes. It is further revealed that Wes' death was commissioned by Laurel's father, who disapproved of their relationship.

 

 

Season 4
Main article: How to Get Away with Murder (season 4)
After Annalise is acquitted of all charges relating to Wes' death, she and the Keating 4 try to move on with their lives. Laurel is still coping with Wes' death and is persistent to solve the mystery of his murder. Annalise and Frank begin repairing their relationship. Bonnie's past is revealed.