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How To Get Away With Murder

Posted on March 1, 2015 by annamatefy

If anyone has seen the most recent season finale, I’m sure they are shocked. I myself, have not seen it but I heard all about it and I am definitely very surprised. I won’t spoil or reveal what happened but I will reveal that if you do not watch HTGAWM you are missing out. This show is similar to Scandal in the sense that there is a strong black female lead…a new trend Shonda Rhimes has began with her shows. It is so refreshing to not see the same old same old every time I turn on the tv because honestly the plot is so easy to predict. She really knows how to throw a completely new idea into a viewers face and catch them off guard, at least certainly for me.

Main character: Annalise Keating. Absolutely phenomenal acting by Viola Davis. She is so committed and so raw with her character you forget its just acting. Davis plays a woman whose husband has been accused of murdering a college student: Lila Stangard. And as all had believed, he DID murder her.

Then we have Connor Walsh played by the ever sexy Jack Falahee, Asher Millstone played by Orange is the New Black’s Matt McGorry, Michaela Pratt played by the beautiful Aja Naomi King, Rebecca Sutter played by the hilarious Katie Findlay (ever seen the Carrie Diaries?), and finally Wes Gibbins played by the BRITISH(!!!!) Alfred Enoch as if he wasn’t already sexy enough. Then we have Annalise’s real co-workers Bonnie played by Liza Weil and Frank who is played by Charlie Weber, a new face for me.

Each of these characters bring a special piece of the puzzle to the table. Connor is a very sarcastic and smart gay dude (the gayness is important if you’ve seen the finale). Asher is an entitled rich boy who has a thing for Bonnie. Michaela is a pretentious know-it-all. Rebecca is a witty emo chick who begins a romance with Wes. And finally, Wes is just an adorable, really tall, really cute nice guy…who’s the only one that really worked hard amongst his fellow students to get where he did.

I’ll have to say, I was thinking I had it all figured out and that the season finale wouldn’t bring much of a surprise to what already seemed to have been known, but it completely blew me away. HTGAWM is also similar to Scandal in the same sense that missing even 10 seconds of an episode will have you lightyears behind on any developments. This season finale was info-packed. Twists and turns around every five minutes and an extremely intriguing way to end the season. WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW, SERIOUSLY SHONDA. How are we, the poor common people, supposed to wait until season two with the shocking ending you have bestowed upon us?! But see, this is the way it should be. Because otherwise if a show is as predictable as I had originally thought it makes a viewer lose interest. Grey’s Anatomy, for me, is no longer anything I look forward to watching so I don’t. It can only be hoped that Rhimes doesn’t let this show run longer than it needs to. End it where its right, so it isn’t ever talked about negatively. Of course, it still has a couple seasons to run its course, just don’t tire it out.

And Rebecca who had brought us many memorable moments throughout the show said one thing that cannot be more relatable: “You people are so boring. I’m hungry. Food?”

Scandal

Posted on February 22, 2015 by annamatefy

Shonda Rhimes has done it once again. From Grey’s Anatomy to How to Get Away With Murder to Scandal, she has brought us drama-packed, romance-filled shows full of unexpected twists and turns. Understandably, Grey’s Anatomy has definitely slowed down (I recommend watching up to season 9 then stopping) because it becomes too full circle…no offense though as Grey’s definitely used to be a favorite of mine. Anyway, Scandal. I was absolutely blown away when I sat down to watch it to see what all the talk was about. Some people are turned off by Harrison’s “Gladiator Speech” to Quinn in the first episode but you’ve just gotta keep going. The actors must put in incredible amounts of rehearsal to speak as fast and elegantly as they do. One thing for sure in this show, if you get distracted for even just 10 seconds while watching -thats about 27 scandals you missed!

This show has been around since about 2010, but it was only this year that I really payed attention to it. I watched three seasons on Netflix within a week. Still not completely caught up though although I’ve caught a few episodes in season four. In Scandal, every episode offers new scandals (as you likely assumed). Kerry Washington plays the main character, a beautiful seemingly put together young woman named Olivia Pope. She’s got her team at Pope and Associates consisting of Harrison, Quinn, Abby, Huck and briefly Stephen who leaves after season one. Then we move on to the White House where we have brilliant Mellie the First Lady. Fitzgerald Grant III, the President of the United States. And we’ve got Cyrus who is a very stressed hilariously exasperated Chief of Staff. Jake, who I won’t reveal anything about, eventually becomes a re-occurring character as does James, Cyrus’s husband.

Scandal is not only full of scandals but also brilliantly complicated plot lines and absolutely essential characters. Everyone has a role to play and without them it would definitely NOT be “handled”.

I must admit however, I am most definitely not a fan of the Republican side of this show; however the characters are not as conservative as I assumed they would be. The only REPUBLICAN republican on this show is Sally- the ridiculously Christian vice president. She’s awful, mostly because she’s anti-gay and an unpleasant person. Hey Sally, the 1500s called and they want they’re mindset back! The scandals involving her are based off QUITE the irony. So, if you like irony (I love it), Scandal is most definitely for you.

One of my favorite things in all of Shonda Rhimes’ shows is the consistency of the actors and actresses she uses. Sally is played by the lovely Kate Burton who plays just as unlikeable of a woman on Grey’s Anatomy: Ellis Grey, Meredith’s mom. Rhimes has Scott Foley playing Jake who played Teddy’s love interest in Grey’s. Jeff Perry, who plays Cyrus was also on Grey’s as Meredith’s dad. And then we’ve got Liza Weil who played Amanda on Scandal (quite a problematic person but aren’t they all) and Bonnie on How to Get Away With Murder. These are just the ones that come to mind at the moment but its always reassuring to see a familiar face. Also its always interesting seeing actors put themselves in different roles and appreciate the talent and commitment which is always clearly apparent.

Overall, this show has very smart, brilliant content that can at times be too quick to keep up with. If you’re looking for tips, it’s been recommended to put your subtitles on. I personally do not like to do that because I like to watch and interpret things through the way the characters interact, and reading can distract you from the action going on on the screen. If I miss something I just rewind.

And if you’re ever looking to quote Scandal, when someone asks you to do something or if you’ve done it already just two words are all it takes, as Olivia Pope is known to say: “It’s handled!”