It looks like Shonda Rime's latest ABC primetime TV show, How to Get Away with Murder, is going to be a somewhat starling departure from her usual fair. According to the latest gossip news updates, cast lead, Viola Davis, isn't going to be following the lovable heroine archetype as are Meredith Grey and Olivia Pope. Rumor has it the main character in the dark new drama is going to be complex, twisted and at times, completely unlikable. Prepare yourself as you tune into the premiere on the series pilot tonight; executive producer Peter Nowalk is looking forward to shocking you.
By all accounts, Shonda Rimes' latest primetime proffering, How to Get Away with Murder, is going to be every bit the hit of her more successful series, because her new leading lady isn't playing be anyone's rules.
The way People puts it, Viola Davis isn't going to be reminding anyone of the ladies of the other series, unless it is by stark contrast:
"Already married and successful, HTGAWM's Annalise Keating is seemingly devoid of the insecurities that plague Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) on Grey's and Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) on Scandal.
"As a powerful and demanding lawyer and professor, Annalise commands every room she's in and elevates the talents of anyone close enough to bask in the glow of her regality--including the young, overachieving students she selects to intern at her firm."
Executive producer, Perter Norwalk, of How to Murder told E! News that he was shooting for something far more disturbing than just an Olivia Pope with supreme self-confidence--he's painting the portrait of a beautiful monster:
"I wanted to create someone who was enigmatic and controversial and dark.
"I think people are much darker than we give them credit for on TV.
"I think when people are put in extreme situations, they are much darker and do shocking things and it doesn't make them bad people."
Being that the characters of Shonda's other shows don't exactly all have moral compasses that point to true north...one can only guess what stomach turning transgressions Annalise Keating is going to be capable of committing.
