Yet another overly dramatized TV show? Perhaps. Murder mystery? Not quite.

A revolutionary legal thriller with dark and twisted storylines, “How to Get Away with Murder”, or HTGAWM, captivated the attention of tens of millions of Americans with its premiere in 2014. HTGAWM achieved overnight success as one of the most addicting (and radical) broadcasted shows.

What is HTGAWM’s secret to success?

There is not just one ingredient that makes HTGAWM special. And it certainly does not include accurate depictions of how the world of lawyers, or aspiring lawyers, operates. However, it does challenge our perceptions of the status quo in a refreshingly bold approach.

Ethics

A definite point of differentiation: morally ambiguous characters. It makes them relatable. It’s not difficult to put yourself in their shoes. And sometimes it hits too close to home. You may have chosen to keep around a best friend that had thrown you under the bus or a significant other that had betrayed your trust in the past. But what do you do when they have killed someone? Particularly, what if they did it in your defense or for your protection? Unfortunately, ethical conflicts arise because justice and morality don’t always seem to align. Especially when those with power (or money, or connections, or all of the above) can easily rig the system.

Diversity

HTGAWM challenges the public’s cognitive inertia of what they expect to be the norm on TV. Overly abundant “gay scenes” caused some twitter drama, which was quickly squandered by Shonda Rhimes, writer and a major proponent of LGBT equality. Though, even she wasn’t able to escape some criticism for including a seemingly old-fashioned HIV twist. But, how are different types of scenes supposed to be portioned on screen? Is it supposed to be representative of the population? If so, with approximately 9 million self-identified LGBT Americans and the growing trend of millennial that are twice as likely to self-identify as LGBT, HTGAWM is simply embracing the new norm.

Immigrants

Opinions on immigrants vary, especially for those that are illegal. Typical issues surrounding immigration are mostly centered on the economic and cultural impacts. On the contrary, HTGAWM shows the struggle of those living in the shadows. Rose Edmund was not only the key to Wes’s childhood mystery and Annalise Keating’s Mahoney case, but also represented those silent victims of abuse. As an illegal immigrant from Haiti, her biggest fear was deportation. Specifically, being separated from her young son. Additionally, her low-income job as a cleaning lady restricted her ability to walk away from the situation. Resulting in those with power easily exploiting these two vulnerabilities to coerce her into obedience. This just gives us a glimpse into their world. Sometimes, we oversimplify complex issues with statistics and forget that those numbers actually represent real people.

HTGAWM may not completely alter your views in a one-hour episode, but it certainly makes you ponder. After all, HTGAWM’s main purpose is to provide the much needed entertainment for #TGIT!