How to Get Away with Murder: The Complete First Season

Executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, ABC's How to Get Away with Murder had buzz to burn, but as the first season progresses and secrets are exposed, this ensemble potboiler appears to have little “there” there. Oscar-nominee Viola Davis, however, is triumphant here in her historic Emmy-winning role as ethically-challenged college law professor and defense attorney Annalise Keating, who holds in thrall the “Keating Five,” a select group of students whom she deems worthy of special attention. How they have time for any of their other classes is a question the series ignores. When the group isn't helping Keating with her case-of-the-week, they are frantically covering up the murder and body disposal of Keating's husband, who is a prime suspect in the killing of a co-ed. “Why is your penis on a dead girl's phone?” Annalise asks, aiming for OMG on network TV. The fractured narrative structure—episodes jump forward and backward in time, dribbling out information about what led to Mr. Keating's demise—along with its hothouse plotting, and push-the-envelope sex scenes are supposed to be addictive TV. If only there were one—just one—character who was sympathetic or even likeable; who didn't have an agenda; cheated on a loved one; used others to get what they want; or simply wasn't a jerk. Presenting all 15 episodes from the 2014-15 debut season, extras include a “making-of” featurette, deleted scenes, a music video, and a blooper reel. Optional. (D. Liebenson)