It is a drama with a strong suspenseful color, which is called a "legal thriller". The drama is planned by Shonda Rhimes, the producer of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, and her production company Shondaland. This is the fourth new project sold by the company this year (and also the second drama with a black woman as the leading role). The story describes a group of aspiring law school students and the mysterious criminal defense professor Annalise DeWitt (Viola Davis) involved in a murder conspiracy, which completely changed the lives of all of them. DeWitt not only teaches, but is also a famous criminal case litigation lawyer. She is smart, enthusiastic, charming, creative, and ruthless in court and in the classroom. She is very good at manipulating others, especially her students. She personally selected several of the best students to work in her own firm. She is married to a psychology professor, but maintains an extramarital affair that must not be known to third parties.