How I Got Hooked On "How To Get Away With Murder"

By Taylor Hurles on November 23, 2015

Binge watching should honestly come with warnings just like binge drinking. I did not discover this until after watching ABC’S How to Get Away with Murder.

After finishing Breaking Bad, I was despondent, desperately seeking a show to watch that could be used to escape the stress of reality that college is hard, and I should just watch Netflix.

With no guidance, I scrolled through Netflix and saw Viola Davis on the thumbnail. I mean I had heard about the show, but I don’t usually like watching regular network shows unless they are sitcom reruns from the 1970s-1990s. However, I gave it a chance. There I was clicking to play Season 1, episode 1.

Davis’s character immediately drew me in. She is powerful, and strong. But as the season progresses, I learned that despite her strength she comes from an impoverished upbringing that contributes to the reason why she is a workaholic. This past presents the flawed American Dream in that anyone can overcome obstacles they face and gain social progress if they work diligently and consistently.

In addition, the ensemble cast members helped me find someone to identify with during each episode. All of the cast members come from diverse backgrounds. Their personalities and circumstances drive the storyline, and because of this writers can tell the same story but from different points of view.

Also, an ensemble cast promotes fandom. People become attached to the different characters and either love or hate them at different moments. Even I found myself Google searching the cast members’ bios, learning their backgrounds, colleges attended, and career starting points. Through a quick search I discovered the exciting fact that Aja Naomi King, the actress that plays Michaela’s character, is a UCSB Bachelor of Fine Arts alumnus! A program I too was a part of for a short time (excuse my excitement).

Along with the diverse ensemble cast, the episodes are organized with present events and flashback. The flashbacks create suspense. Because the flashbacks refer to murder scenes, I found myself trying to put the pieces together with each episode. That was the “hooked” part. Like most mystery shows, each episode has to present a new piece of the puzzle, and ask or answer a new question. How to Get Away with Murder does this well. The flashbacks are included in each episode and a new part of the same flashback is introduced through each episode.

There is also a lot of dramatic irony; this keeps the audience in the loop, but the cast members questioning. By creating this relationship with the audience, it makes you want — and need – to watch the next episode.

I have not gone in detail with episodes because you MUST watch! If you are looking for a good show to hold you over until the new House of Cards season is released, this show does the trick.

But I must warn you now your eyes will be glued to the screen; don’t go to class looking near dead like I did.

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