How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Series Discussion Thread
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Series Discussion Thread
SERIES PREMIERE
JUST HOW FAR WILL ANNALISE'S STUDENTS GO TO IMPRESS HER? ON THE SERIES PREMIERE OF ABC'S "HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER"
"Pilot" - Annalise Keating is a tough as nails Criminal Law Professor and when Wes Gibbins starts his first day at Middleton University, he has no clue what he's walking into. In her class, "How to Get Away with Murder," Annalise challenges her students to solve some of the most difficult criminal cases that her law firm takes on, and in the end, she selects a group of the smartest, most promising students to come work for her. The competition is on and the students will stop at nothing to make sure they get to the head of her class. While Annalise seems to have it all together, we soon learn that her clients' secrets aren't the only ones she's keeping. Meanwhile, in flash-forwards, we learn that the price of impressing Annalise might just be too much for some, when a group of four students, Wes, Connor Walsh, Michaela Pratt and Laurel Castillo get involved in their own murder mystery cover up, on the Series Premiere of "How to Get Away with Murder," THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
"How to Get Away with Murder" stars Academy-Award Nominee Viola Davis as Professor Annalise Keating, Billy Brown as Detective Nate Lahey, Alfred Enoch as Wes Gibbins, Jack Falahee as Connor Walsh, Katie Findlay as Rebecca Dixon, Aja Naomi King as Michaela Pratt, Matt McGorry as Asher Millstone, Karla Souza as Laurel Castillo, Charlie Weber as Frank Delfino and Liza Weil as Bonnie Winterbottom.
Guest Starring Tom Verica as Sam Keating, Lenny Platt as Griffin O'reilly, Micahel Gaston as Prosecuter Henry Williams, Conrad Ricamora as Oliver, Suzanne Savoy as Judge Kathy Powell, Andrea Syglowski as Gina Sadowski and Megan West as Lila Stangard.
"The Pilot" was written by Pete Nowalk and directed by Michael Offer.
"How to Get Away with Murder" is created and executive-produced by Pete Nowalk ("Scandal," "Grey's Anatomy"). Shonda Rhimes ("Scandal," "Grey's Anatomy"), Betsy Beers ("Scandal," "Grey's Anatomy") and Bill D'Elia ("The Crazy Ones," "Boston Legal") also serve as executive producers. "How to Get Away with Murder" is produced by ABC Studios.
13 episode order as of right now.
Trailer:
<iframe-disabled-disabled width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dbSl-SPyHtg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe-disabled-disabled>
Last edited by DJariya; 03-03-16 at 12:06 PM.
#4
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
#5
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
Yikes.. I gave it 30 minutes and couldn't take anymore (I feel like an idiot for even giving it that long). I thought it was awful - the writing, the dialogue, the acting (or should I say overacting?), and the story. I though Viola Davis was terrible - not sure if it was just a miscast or if it was the writing but everything just seemed over-acted.
I try to be patient with a new show, but when the opening scene is them flipping a coin to decide what to do with a dead body and then it somehow goes further downhill... not good. And to make this about the law and then do that ridiculous crap with the email, that's when I turned it off. It seemed like a bad soap opera that should be on during the day.
I try to be patient with a new show, but when the opening scene is them flipping a coin to decide what to do with a dead body and then it somehow goes further downhill... not good. And to make this about the law and then do that ridiculous crap with the email, that's when I turned it off. It seemed like a bad soap opera that should be on during the day.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
I really loved this. Thought this was the best pilot of the fall season so far. I've loved Viola Davis since she had a small role in "Out of Sight" and I'm excited I get to watch her on TV every week. As the episode unfolded, I was worried that she would be revealed as the murder victim because I love her character so much already. I was glad to see it wasn't her.
#7
DVD Talk Hero
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Hail to the Redskins!
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 0
Received 49 Likes
on
38 Posts
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
. I was being facetious. They have promoed the hell out of this thing on ABC, ESPN, probably Disney for all I know. In fact, that's one of the reasons I didn't even watch, if they have to promo something that much there's little chance its any good.
#8
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
I love Viola Davis so this show would have to suck hard for me not to watch this every week. This did not suck at all, I loved it. I love complicated female characters and Keating is certainly on that list.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
Really enjoyed it. Surprised by the lack of comments since I thought that this was one of the new shows with the most buzz.
#10
DVD Talk Hero
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
I would probably check it out if I had more time, but I'm fairly positive the target demo for this series doesn't overlap very much with this forum's demographics.
#11
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
#12
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
#13
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
I thought this was great. Really different take on the law procedural.
Viola Davis was great and her character is quite complicated and intimidating. I would have been scared to have her as a professor.
One thing that really stood out and sold me on this was the fact that the 4 lead characters/students, who are now hired and working for Annalise are actually killers. That's pretty cool IMO. I'm guessing in addition to the cases of the week, that will be the underlying mystery about them.
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...umbers/307278/
This was the 2nd most watched show last Thursday behind football. 14.3M viewers and 3.9. Shonda managed to get all the Scandal fans to stick around.
Viola Davis was great and her character is quite complicated and intimidating. I would have been scared to have her as a professor.
One thing that really stood out and sold me on this was the fact that the 4 lead characters/students, who are now hired and working for Annalise are actually killers. That's pretty cool IMO. I'm guessing in addition to the cases of the week, that will be the underlying mystery about them.
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...umbers/307278/
This was the 2nd most watched show last Thursday behind football. 14.3M viewers and 3.9. Shonda managed to get all the Scandal fans to stick around.
#14
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,284
Received 1,802 Likes
on
1,125 Posts
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
Wife and I enjoyed it. Viola's character was a bit more ruthless than I expected which was a nice treat.
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
#17
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
We got around to watching this on the DVR and really enjoyed it. I think its trying a little too hard to be slick and it seems like too many of the characters are going to be conveniently tied together, but it's got both me and the fiancee interested for the mystery alone. She usually likes those shows like Grey's which I hate myself, but this one was entertaining.
#18
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
I watched the pilot last night and I liked it for the most part. It has some primetime soap vibes to it. I'm not surprised that the Scandal audience stuck around to watch it. Viola Davis will carry the show well. This show will probably a back 9 order. I think a 22 episode format might hurt this show later on.
#19
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
If I read the Deadline article right, it shattered the record held by The Blacklist when it comes to live + 3 total viewer ratings, so the show performed like a superstar. I can just hope that it gets better fast, but I clearly will not be missed if they lose me as a viewer.
#20
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
Everyone doesn't have to like everything. I enjoy hearing about why someone doesn't like a show as much as why someone does.
I had no expectations of liking this one, but was surprised to find I did. I already watch Grey's. Maybe I should try Scandal too. Anyway, Viola really sells the show for me.
It took me awhile, but then I remembered the 2nd assistant (Liza Weil aka "Bonnie") as being Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls.
Calling it soapy is probably fair. It's about the law the way Grey's is about medicine. But I'm OK with watching a show about reasonably interesting characters in reasonably interesting situations.
I had no expectations of liking this one, but was surprised to find I did. I already watch Grey's. Maybe I should try Scandal too. Anyway, Viola really sells the show for me.
It took me awhile, but then I remembered the 2nd assistant (Liza Weil aka "Bonnie") as being Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls.
Calling it soapy is probably fair. It's about the law the way Grey's is about medicine. But I'm OK with watching a show about reasonably interesting characters in reasonably interesting situations.
#21
DVD Talk Godfather
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Home of 2013 NFL champion Seahawks
Posts: 52,625
Received 1,016 Likes
on
840 Posts
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
I liked the pilot and will keep watching. I'm a sucker for a courtroom drama, though.
FTR, I've never seen Grey's Anatomy.
FTR, I've never seen Grey's Anatomy.
Last edited by davidh777; 10-04-14 at 09:01 AM.
#22
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
I caught up with the second episode yesterday and still enjoying it. The plot is moving a long nicely and the case was pretty interesting.
#23
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
http://deadline.com/2014/10/how-to-g...rs-abc-848758/
ABC picked up 2 extra episodes. Season 1 will finish at 15 episodes. Apparently, Viola Davis only committed to 15 episodes tops.
ABC picked up 2 extra episodes. Season 1 will finish at 15 episodes. Apparently, Viola Davis only committed to 15 episodes tops.
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Seattle and sometimes hell
Posts: 6,270
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes
on
14 Posts
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
Just watched the first episode. Hated the first half but loved the second half. This is usually not the type of show I watch. The main actress is solid. I wasn't moved by any of the other actors.
#25
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Seattle and sometimes hell
Posts: 6,270
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes
on
14 Posts
Re: How To Get Away With Murder (ABC) -- S: Viola Davis -- Season 1 Thread -- 9/25/14
Watched the second episode. I liked the entire episode but was a little confused on some of the scenes. I wasn't sure if they were in the past or present. Also I wasn't sure why some scene were shown at all like the part with black kid buying stuff. We already knew he bought the stuff why did we need to see him doing it.
I think the murder/death of the husband is going to be a season long thing with Arrow like flashbacks.
I think the murder/death of the husband is going to be a season long thing with Arrow like flashbacks.