How to Get Away With Murder

:

Season 1
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 25, 2014
Season #: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 386 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 302 out of 386
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 386
  3. Negative: 54 out of 386
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User Reviews

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  1. HutznMutts
    Nov 11, 2014
    6
    I hope they revamp it while on hiatus because it needs serious help. Watching Viola Davis be emotional as a powerful business woman is bothersome. it is too much. And all the sexual maneuvers by all is unnecessary in this show. Get a grip please!!! Hopefully it will get a much needed enema and bring some substance to the show, because it is not promising at this time.I hope they revamp it while on hiatus because it needs serious help. Watching Viola Davis be emotional as a powerful business woman is bothersome. it is too much. And all the sexual maneuvers by all is unnecessary in this show. Get a grip please!!! Hopefully it will get a much needed enema and bring some substance to the show, because it is not promising at this time. Viola is much better than this.… Expand
  2. jeepz
    Dec 14, 2014
    5
    I was skeptical about this show because, as a lawyer, i find legal dramas so frustrating to watch cos they're ridden with so many inaccuracies and fallacies, it makes it too hard to just enjoy the show. However, to my surprise, the legal storylines on this show, although somewhat jumbled and a bit outlandish for drama's sake are still ok. however, what lets it down mostly is that thereI was skeptical about this show because, as a lawyer, i find legal dramas so frustrating to watch cos they're ridden with so many inaccuracies and fallacies, it makes it too hard to just enjoy the show. However, to my surprise, the legal storylines on this show, although somewhat jumbled and a bit outlandish for drama's sake are still ok. however, what lets it down mostly is that there seems to be almost no focus on building the characters' chemistry with each other. it is almost formulaic and robotic. 2 characters meet and with little screen time to explain what attracts them to each other, suddenly they are besties, study partners or lovers. little explanation of what drew them together and made them so close, what details do they share with each other that even common work colleagues would at least know about each other. The bonding moments that form the basis of every relationship, even the most simple friendships, and inform their decisions to work together to cover up something as serious as a murder, giving the storyline more credibility. I mean i wouldn't help 'just anyone' cover up a murder if i didn't have a vested interest in or a sufficient basis for an allegiance to the person involved. people aren't stupid so the strength of dramatic storytelling hinges on credibility. that's what cultivates empathy which makes the audience not only buy the story, but also put themselves in the shoes of the characters and invest in their success or demise. You want your audience to care for your characters because your characters are like real people in real relationships.… Expand
  3. moothemagiccow
    Jan 8, 2017
    5
    This show has a compelling frame story, but it goes a bit off the rails once the corpses start stacking up. They really didn't know what to do for season 2.

    There are way too many sex scenes. I'm sure it's supposed to be steamy and erotic, but I'm just bored. You're young, you're having sex with everyone, good for you.I wonder how often the foley artist had to record a belt being    This show has a compelling frame story, but it goes a bit off the rails once the corpses start stacking up. They really didn't know what to do for season 2.

    There are way too many sex scenes. I'm sure it's supposed to be steamy and erotic, but I'm just bored. You're young, you're having sex with everyone, good for you.I wonder how often the foley artist had to record a belt being unbuckled. Somehow they never show the students going to the gym, where they must be, constantly.
    Also this show could use one fat person. A fat judge, at least. They sit all day.    … Expand
  4. LamontRaymond
    Oct 5, 2014
    4
    I hate to say it, because the show had promise, but the I feel that it jumped the shark half way through episode 2! Viola Davis is a great actress, but the blows it here. She gets way too emotional, breaks down, and loses that powerful, icy veneer that has paid off for so many powerful women playing lawyers, such as Glenn Close. And the show is simply a little boring. Not what I expected.
  5. analogkid280
    Sep 29, 2014
    4
    A jumbled mess of subplots and introductions that it does nothing with. Also, it succeeds in making everyone in the whole show as unlikeable as possible. I believe a more linear storytelling would of been more effective in its 44 minute run time as that is more suited to the 2 hour movie market than TV. This show does one thing good though I am not sure it is right for a returning series.A jumbled mess of subplots and introductions that it does nothing with. Also, it succeeds in making everyone in the whole show as unlikeable as possible. I believe a more linear storytelling would of been more effective in its 44 minute run time as that is more suited to the 2 hour movie market than TV. This show does one thing good though I am not sure it is right for a returning series. See, the professor starts out as a strong intelligent lead that you could really get behind and her character dissolves into a typical boring list of tropes all in one episode. Also, she has time to teach in law school and defend cases? This show can be summed up in one word. Absurd!!!… Expand
  6. BogKid
    Sep 25, 2014
    5
    One of the most improbably new shows I have seen. The plot was borderline looney. The courtroom scenes were ridiculous. I could go on and on but I don't see much point. If you love "The Good Wife", you will not like this show. If you love "Grey's Anatomy", you'll probably like it.

    Two good things. Viola Davis and the show is shot in and around Philadelphia. Not much else.
  7. Macdealer
    Jan 17, 2015
    4
    This show lacks depth. The characters don't have connection and harmony with each other, I didn't like any of them. 100% of all relationship in this series are filled up with infidelity or some low quality polemic.
    Too stereotyped characters, and everything was super predictable. I just voted 4 score, because it can "entertain" a bit. Just that.
  8. Rgw
    Oct 3, 2014
    4
    I was very excited about this show. I watched the first episode and although I felt the "politically-correctedness was pushed to the limits and in my face, I decided to give it another episode. To my disappointment it was shoved in my face yet again and multiple times. This show had me wanting to find out what happened next, but has it really gotten to this point in today's world? I am allI was very excited about this show. I watched the first episode and although I felt the "politically-correctedness was pushed to the limits and in my face, I decided to give it another episode. To my disappointment it was shoved in my face yet again and multiple times. This show had me wanting to find out what happened next, but has it really gotten to this point in today's world? I am all about equality, but do we really need to go over the top and completely take focus off of the plot of the episode for that purpose? I had set this show to record every week, but unfortunately I will not be continuing.… Expand
  9. jeneboe
    Nov 30, 2014
    5
    I have to credit the show for its progressive approach, but the writing is far too melodramatic than real life. Viola Davis' character has cried in every single episode (8) thus far, and the law students have already been morphed into caricatures. There has been little attempt to delve further into character development.
  10. hierax
    Jun 14, 2017
    4
    The story is ok, nothing special, but all the forced PC/SJW/LGBT stuff is just insane. Every second person in this series is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Im half into season two and im waiting for a disabled midget to appear in the cast, because this is the only minority missing so far. I got no problem with gay people in series or in general, but its just unrealistic whatThe story is ok, nothing special, but all the forced PC/SJW/LGBT stuff is just insane. Every second person in this series is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Im half into season two and im waiting for a disabled midget to appear in the cast, because this is the only minority missing so far. I got no problem with gay people in series or in general, but its just unrealistic what amounts of people are homo- or bisexual in this series. I cant recommend this, its just mediocre with forced political correctness far over the top. And they are having sex in EVERY episode, just to show some people naked. Bland and boring.… Expand
  11. lexxlander
    Dec 18, 2015
    4
    I watched the whole season after Viola Davis won, so I had high hopes. After only a few episodes I began to question the judgment of those who gave a positive review of this show, and the much-hyped admiration for Ms Davis's performance. Well, the show's plot and subplots have so many twists and turns that it was difficult to follow with logic. I discovered early on that it's a soapI watched the whole season after Viola Davis won, so I had high hopes. After only a few episodes I began to question the judgment of those who gave a positive review of this show, and the much-hyped admiration for Ms Davis's performance. Well, the show's plot and subplots have so many twists and turns that it was difficult to follow with logic. I discovered early on that it's a soap opera, so never mind how unrealistic the story gets. What's also difficult to understand was why Ms Davis performance was admired. She was so good in the movie "Doubt," but here whatever acting talent she has was negated by bad writing. All I did was wonder when is she going to cry (she cries "ghetto" tears, OBVIOUSLY acting! nothing understated). There were episodes she cried at least three times, even when it was not necessary. What a letdown!… Expand
  12. Felindie
    Jul 15, 2019
    6
    I was not impressed, but I hope this could be better with the upcoming seasons.

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Best TV Season of 2014
20
#20 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
22
#22 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Sep 25, 2014
    40
    Davis is riveting throughout.... Unfortunately, Murder has a number of flaws.
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  2. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Patrick Gomez
    Sep 25, 2014
    75
    It actually improves upon the successful formula by downplaying any romantic entanglements, which, at times, have weighed down the leads of Rhimes's other shows.
    Read full review
  3. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Brennan
    Sep 25, 2014
    75
    How to Get Away with Murder screams "Shondaland" through and through, a sudsy primetime potboiler rooted in a belief that the experience of adulthood can be just as sexy as the bloom of youth.
    Read full review
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