Clever, twisted and captivating. If I were to describe Shonda Rhimes’ “How to Get Away With Murder” in three words, those would be the ones I would choose.

“How to Get Away With Murder” is a suspenseful legal television series that was aired on ABC from 2014 to 2020.  The six season series stars Viola Davis (well known for her role as Aibileen Clark in “The Help”) as Annalise Keating, a well known criminal defense attorney and law professor at a high-end Philadelphia university.

Season one begins with Keating choosing five of her Middleton law students to come intern at her firm. Wes Gibbons (Alfred Lewis Enoch), Michaela Pratt (Aja Naomi King), Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee), Asher Millstone (Matt David McGorry), and Laurel Castillo (Karla Souza) are selected and become known as “The Keating 5.” Over the course of the show, Keating and “The Keating 5” become intertwined in a series of local murders.

There are a variety of great things about “How to Get Away With Murder,” but one of the best aspects of it is that it is FULL of plot twists. There were several episodes that had flashbacks and flash forwards sprinkled in that lead me to make false predictions about what was happening next. I promise that anyone who watches this show and thinks they know what is coming has no idea. This series literally had me on the edge of my seat constantly because of unexpected events.

Another great part of the series is how perfectly the cast members played their characters, especially Davis’ portrayal of Keating. Davis does a fantastic job of becoming Keating and embracing even the most dark and twisted parts of the character. I honestly could not picture any other actress being cast as Keating and doing as amazing of a job as Davis does. The same can be said about Charlie Weber’s impression of Frank Delfino, Keating’s assistant who has a troubled past. Weber’s depiction of Delfino had a way of making me grow to like the character and have sympathy for him despite his sociopathic tendencies.

I think one of the things that sets this show apart from other dramas is that it addresses difficult subjects that need to be talked about. Some of these include racism, homophobia, alcoholism, addiction and mental health issues like depression. “How to Get Away With Murder” brings light to these topics by showing various characters struggling with these, which is a brilliant way of letting any viewers who may be going through the same know that they are not alone.

In addition to addressing difficult topics, I also noticed that the series is more inclusive to the lgbtq+ community than some other shows. For example, the shows incorporates a romantic relationship between Connor Walsh and Oliver Hampton (Conrad Ricamora) as well as flashbacks of a romantic relationship between Keating and Eve Rothlo (Famke Janssen). I really enjoyed the fact that these relationships were included in the show because it helps to normalize bisexuality and homosexuality, something that is not always present in entertainment.

One of the biggest criticisms that I have heard about “How to Get Away With Murder” is that it is too unrealistic and overdramatic. However, I think most people realize that the majority of lawyers in real life do not get themselves involved in a giant scheme of murders. Let’s be real though, people would not watch it if it showcased the boring mediocre lives of an average lawyer. Drama is what keeps people hooked to shows, so in my opinion, “How to Get Away With Murder” is just as dramatic and entertaining as it should be.

Overall, I rate “How to Get Away With Murder” a five out of five stars. The show is truly brilliant and captivating from start to finish. As cliché as it sounds, I was genuinely on the edge of my seat the entire time that I watched it. I recommend this show to any crime lovers looking for addicting, thrilling watch.