Michael Offer

How to Get Away With Murder, the new ABC drama from writer Peter Norwalk and executive producer Shonda Rimes, has the potential to drive off the rails at any moment. The premise it sets up for itself (spoiler alert: it’s a murder) cannot sustain itself for more than a season. Its characters, a group of ambitious law students, are pitched at tones ranging between frantic and rabid. Its procedural elements are nothing that would be out of place on a Dick Wolf show. But the one element that gives me utter confidence that this show is worth watching, besides Shondaland’s unquestionable track record, is the central performance of Viola Davis, one of the great American actresses of our time. Her role as Annalise Keating, criminal law professor at Philadelphia’s fictional Middleton University, shows herself to be charismatic, intelligent, and supremely manipulative in just a handful of scenes. She’s a predator with flashes of humanity. If the writing holds up, Davis will be able to create an antihero in the league of Tony Soprano and Walter White.

Following last week’s focus on Tate, this week’s episode shines a light on Channing’s backstory, in an engaging episode that effectively balances character and plot progression.

Last Resort, Season 1, Episode 13: “Controlled Flight into Terrain” Written by Karl Gajdusek and David Wiener Directed by Michael Offer Airs Thursdays at 8pm (ET) on ABC It’s never easy to say goodbye to a show, especially one that has run for a long time, allowing the audience to build an emotional attachment with …

Last Resort, Season 1, Episode 7: “Nuke It Out” Written by Nick Antosca and Ned Vizzini Directed by Michael Offer Airs Thursdays at 8pm (ET) on ABC Despite essentially amounting to Last Resort’s version of a standalone, last week’s episode did a lot to advance a few plots, the most important of which was the …

Last Resort, Season 1, Episode 5: “Skeleton Crew” Written by David Wiener Directed by Michael Offer Airs Thursdays at 8pm (ET) on ABC The tensions between the US Government and the USS Colorado have been steadily increasing since the series premiere. With the perimeter around the island firmly set, and Chaplin seemingly ready to fire …

Last Resort, Season 1, Episode 3: “Eight Bells” Written by Eileen Myers Directed by Michael Offer Airs Thursdays at 8pm (ET) on ABC In the midst of the USS Colorado’s conflict with both American and foreign forces, as well as Chaplin and Kendal’s own attempts to maintain order among the crew of the submarine, they can …