How to Get Away with Murder (season 1)

Plot

Annalise Keating, law professor and criminal defense attorney at Middleton University, selects five students to intern at her firm: Wes Gibbins, Connor Walsh, Michaela Pratt, Asher Millstone, and Laurel Castillo—along with Annalise's employees Frank Delfino and Bonnie Winterbottom, an associate lawyer. Season one explores two murders through flashbacks: Lila Stangard, mistress of Annalise's husband Sam Keating and a student at Middleton; and then Sam Keating at the hands of Annalise's interns.

The first nine episodes alternate through flashbacks and the present day to show the progression of events leading to Sam's murder who Annalise believes murdered Lila, and disposal of his body at the hands of the Keating Four: Wes, Connor, Michaela, and Laurel. The final six episodes explore Annalise's attempt to help her interns cover-up Sam's murder and legally show Sam's responsibility for Lila's death; and the events leading to Lila's death.

Development

On August 19, 2013, ABC bought the original concept from Shondaland Productions, produced by Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. The script for the pilot episode was written by Grey's Anatomy supervising producer Peter Nowalk. ABC ordered the pilot on December 19, 2013. The pilot episode was filmed in Los Angeles, California, at the University of Southern California, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, at Bryn Mawr College; and in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, at Ursinus College. It was directed by Michael Offer. On May 8, 2014, ABC picked up the pilot to series for the 2014–15 television season. At the Television Critics Association Press Tour in July 2014, it was announced that How to Get Away with Murder will be a limited series with only 15 or 16 episodes per season. The smaller size of episode count stems from the deal for the series star Davis. On October 9, 2014, ABC picked up the series for a full season of 15 episodes.

Filming

The pilot episode was filmed in Los Angeles, California, at the University of Southern California, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, at Bryn Mawr College; and in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, at Ursinus College.

Casting

The first season had ten roles receiving star billing. Viola Davis plays the protagonist of the series, Professor Annalise Keating, a high-profile defense attorney, teaching a class at Middleton University. Billy Brown as Detective Nate Lahey plays Annalise's lover, who tries to prove Sam's involvement in the Lila Stangard murder and becomes the main suspect in Sam's murder. There are five students who works at Annalise's law firm: Wes Gibbins, portrayed by Alfred Enoch, a student recently accepted off the wait list who later has a relationship with Rebecca; Connor Walsh, portrayed by Jack Falahee, one of Annalise's students who is ruthless and viewed as somewhat narcissistic by his peers; Michaela Pratt, portrayed by Aja Naomi King, the ambitious student who wants to become as successful as Annalise; Asher Millstone, portrayed by Matt McGorry, who comes from a privileged background and becomes affectionate towards Bonnie in the latter half of the season; and Laurel Castillo, portrayed by Karla Souza, an idealistic student who later has a relationship with Frank. Katie Findlay portrays Rebecca Sutter, who is Wes' mysterious neighbor and later girlfriend who becomes a suspect in the murder of Lila Stangard. Charlie Weber plays Frank Delfino, an employee of Annalise's firm who is not a lawyer but handles special duties requiring discretion. Liza Weil plays Bonnie Winterbottom, who is an associate attorney in Annalise's firm.

Other recurring roles in the first season was Tom Verica who plays Professor Sam Keating, Annalise's husband who had an affair with Lila Stangard and was later murdered by Wes. Megan West portrays a sorority girl named Lila Stangard who was murdered by Frank on Sam's orders after he found out she was pregnant. Conrad Ricamora plays Oliver Hampton, the I.T. specialist with whom Connor forms a romantic relationship. Alysia Reiner plays Wendy Parks, a prosecutor who goes up against Annalise. Lenny Platt portrayed Griffin O'Reilly, a star quarterback and boyfriend of the murdered Lila Stangard. Elliot Knight played Michaela's fiancé, Aiden Walker, and Lynn Whitfield who played his mother and Michaela's future mother-in-law, Mary Walker. Marcia Gay Harden played Dr. Hannah Keating, a psychologist and Sam's sister, who becomes suspicious of Annalise after Sam goes missing. Cicely Tyson portrayed Ophelia Harkness, Annalise's mother.

On January 21, 2014, Matt McGorry was the first to be announced as a regular cast member, playing a law student. On February 25, 2014, it was announced that Shonda Rhimes had cast Viola Davis in the show's leading role of Professor Annalise Keating. Throughout February and March, 2014, other roles were announced as cast: Aja Naomi King, Jack Falahee, Alfred Enoch and Karla Souza as law students; Katie Findlay as a drug-dealing student; Charlie Weber as a law associate to Professor Keating; Billy Brown as Professor Keating's extra-marital love interest; veteran actor and producer Tom Verica as Professor Keating's husband; and Liza Weil as one of the professor’s two associates.

On August 11, 2014, it was announced that Orange is the New Black alum Alysia Reiner was cast as a prosecutor who would be going up against Annalise. On November 4, 2014, it was announced that Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden was cast in the second half of the first season for a secret recurring role. On December 15, 2014, it was announced that Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Cicely Tyson will appear in an episode in the second half of the season.

Critical reception

The first season of How to Get Away with Murder received positive reviews, with most praising Viola Davis' performance. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a rating of 85%, based on 57 reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "How to Get Away with Murder isn't conceptually original, but it delivers thrills with melodramatic twists and a captivating lead." Metacritic gave season one of the show a score of 68 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Mary McNamara from Los Angeles Times wrote about Viola Davis' performance: "...all eyes are on Davis, Tony winner and Oscar nominee. Magnetic and intimidating, Davis creates an implacable surface beneath which shimmers all manner of fleet and startled emotions. Desire and fear, certainty, self-doubt and resolve are conjured in an instant with the angle of a glance, the lowering of an eyelid and then released as if they were never there." Entertainment Weekly's Melissa Maerz described Davis' performance as "powerfully layered." David Hinckle, from New York Daily News, said that the series does not serve up enough fun unlike Rhimes' other shows, Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. Frazier Moore, Associated Press, wrote that the show "promises to be twisty, wicked, dark and fun. And it stars Viola Davis, who brings life to a character of endless calculations and mystery."

Live + SD ratings

The series premiere had more than 14 million viewers on live broadcast, and over 20 million with DVR.

Live + 7 Day (DVR) ratings

The first episode set a record for DVR playback viewers with 6 million, surpassing the January 27, 2014 record of 5.6 million set by the pilot of The Blacklist.

Accolades

DVD release

The DVD released was first released in Region 1 on August 4, 2015.