I’m actually watching How to Get Away with Murder right now, and it’s interesting to me to see the same basic patterns of sensationalism emerge. There’s a frivolity Rimes seems to experience in exploiting the worst kinds of trauma in extremely abrupt ways. Suicide, rape, bipolar disorder, all emerge in an episode or two then are rarely heard from again.
I don’t understand why the decision was made to turn Grey’s into a “nighttime soap” rather than the award-winning show it had been previously. Clearly that’s been effective for longevity. Yet Rimes has not been able to stay on the effective side of the line with any of her shows. Over time, their basic structures dissolve into carnivale.
I won’t argue that it’s not entertaining.
I also won’t agree that it’s either cathartic or particularly healthy.