2nd was better than the first. 3rd was excellent. There's lots of branches to this plot and it's just starting to get really interesting. Perry Mason is the hidden gem of summer 2020
10 Reviews
Better by the episode...
cfuoco4169 July 2020
Not your Father's Perry Mason!
rsh-226008 July 2020
This is a well done, dark and gritty effort by HBO, once you get over the fact it's nothing like the 50's show, it's quite entertaining, three episodes and already several neat plot twists. Acting and sets are all outstanding, strangely similar plot lines to the latest Penny Dreadful though I like this better.
What's Legal and What's Right
sbgardne26 July 2020
By the beginning of Episode 5, we've seen the good and bad in every major player and learned nearly everyone's back story. Paul Drake is a conscientious, by-the-book beat cop struggling with his wife's admonitions to get along with his white superiors, including the creepy and corrupt Detective Ennis; Perry's sidekick Pete Strickland has a foul mouth and an appetite for indiscretions, but has delivered promising leads and background on George Gannon, Emily's lover and would-be patsy among the trio of kidnappers responsible for Baby Charlie's demise. All the while, Della Street has been heroically holding together E.B. Jonathan's law firm, returning home frustrated and angry, finding quiet comfort at night.
To this point, down-on-his-luck Perry has done little to convince Della that he's aiding Emily Dotson's case or cause as Emily is vilified by Barnes and a scandal-hungry press for love letters with George Gannon. E.B. is desperate and without financial means to bail out Emily, and D.A. Maynard Barnes is poised to discredit and isolate him further with revelations of financial misappropriation and the threat of disbarment. And while Della answers phones, picks up dry cleaning, writes and files motions, saves Emily from being brutalized in jail, and keeps E.B. Jonathan & Associates otherwise afloat, Perry is never far from a flask, estranged from his ex-wife, and is seen by Della as a guy who peeks in windows, sells salacious photos, and turned over the love letters that hang Emily in the press before she's even tried.
To this point, Della Street has been the conscience and moral compass in the dirty, depressed Los Angeles of newly 1932. Echoing Perry's explanation of his ethics, "There's what's legal, and what's right," Della sets in motion the events (and a surprise tutorial) that transition E.B. Jonathan's lead investigator into Perry Mason, Attorney for the Defense.
To this point, down-on-his-luck Perry has done little to convince Della that he's aiding Emily Dotson's case or cause as Emily is vilified by Barnes and a scandal-hungry press for love letters with George Gannon. E.B. is desperate and without financial means to bail out Emily, and D.A. Maynard Barnes is poised to discredit and isolate him further with revelations of financial misappropriation and the threat of disbarment. And while Della answers phones, picks up dry cleaning, writes and files motions, saves Emily from being brutalized in jail, and keeps E.B. Jonathan & Associates otherwise afloat, Perry is never far from a flask, estranged from his ex-wife, and is seen by Della as a guy who peeks in windows, sells salacious photos, and turned over the love letters that hang Emily in the press before she's even tried.
To this point, Della Street has been the conscience and moral compass in the dirty, depressed Los Angeles of newly 1932. Echoing Perry's explanation of his ethics, "There's what's legal, and what's right," Della sets in motion the events (and a surprise tutorial) that transition E.B. Jonathan's lead investigator into Perry Mason, Attorney for the Defense.
Better and better each week.
agnabeya6 July 2020
Another emotionally exhausting episode- in the very best sense of that expression. This is a marvellous series- and hats off to everyone involved in making it. This episode deepened the intrigue- and I look forwards to next week already.
Boring and slow ?
faruktopak19986 July 2020
All comments boring and slow and this is not perry mason . First this show origin story and
Not slow this is mysterious story
Expect those music cast costume designer art designer and especially matthew rhys and tatiana maslanay amazing
Well Chapter 3 was another disappointment!
cdeanroane12 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
As the old saying goes I bet Earl Stanley Gardner is rolling over in his grave as this new rewrite of Perry Mason is nothing like the man/lawyer Gardner wrote about. I guess from remarks made again about Perry being gay then seeing him out Lupe, this Perry is bi-sexual. This whole show has been a big disappointment from Chapter 1 to Chapter 3.
It is not that the time period is moved from the TV's shows that covered the years 1957-1966. The from the 1980's to 1990's as movies with some of the cast as the TV show.
This whole show is more like the old radio version of Perry Mason that was more soap opera then lawyer courtroom drama. In fact when CBS ask Gardner for permission to move the radio show to TV Gardner refused as he did not like the way the radio show was nothing like his books! However CBS was undaunted, in fact CBS moved the radio show to TV! CBS just renamed it The Edge Of Night and changed Perry Mason into the lawyer Mike Carr this was in 1956. It was in 1957 that Gardner allowed Perry Mason to be made into the iconic TV show/movies most will remember.
The little courtroom action we have seen is rather lame and while I like John Lithgow his performance in Perry Mason is more akin to his appearance in the mockumentary or docucomedy which ever term you prefer for Trial and Error. There are some good actors in this version of Perry Mason it just a shame that the writing is a waste of their talents!
1x03
formotog21 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Good episode. There's a lot happening right now and it all feels a bit jumbled as they cram a lot of plot points together but nonetheless it's certainly intriguing. The whole conspiracy element is great and I feel like the show has fully taken the stance that Emily and Matthew, while not perfect, are both innocent, which is what I was hoping for. Now we have the rest of the season to unfold what is actually going on here. Yes it's a slow burner but that means we have more time spent on character which I'm of course not opposed to at all. Great acting and visuals once again, and really amazing to see Matthew Rhys and Tatiana Maslany interact (I've been wanting to see this for years). The only thing I think is lacking is the wow factor, and I'm hoping we will eventually see that as we're currently in the setting-up phase still
High 7
High 7
Excellent cast, good costumes, tired of grit.
GalPalVal505015 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This show seems to be following in the footsteps of other TV shows where they take the title and there the similarity ends. I have learned to recognize the red flags of shock value when an episode leads with the killing of a child or baby, along with an explicit sex scene sometime during the episode, and for good measure a liberal sprinkling of profanity, moral decay and cold blooded pragmatism.
Usually I would turn it off in the first 10 minutes but I really really like Matthew Rhys. Unfortunately I was tired of his character before the end of the episode. Still...morbid curiosity and playing games while it ran in the background had me continue on until episode 4, and now at this point. I am severely uninterested and could care less.
Casting really lucked out, nothing to complain about in anyone's performance. Era is immersive and I really did feel set design and clothing was well represented. Now I just want the politics to end, oily men to get their due, and the murderers to actually get to a courtroom. Bleh.
Usually I would turn it off in the first 10 minutes but I really really like Matthew Rhys. Unfortunately I was tired of his character before the end of the episode. Still...morbid curiosity and playing games while it ran in the background had me continue on until episode 4, and now at this point. I am severely uninterested and could care less.
Casting really lucked out, nothing to complain about in anyone's performance. Era is immersive and I really did feel set design and clothing was well represented. Now I just want the politics to end, oily men to get their due, and the murderers to actually get to a courtroom. Bleh.
Chapter Three
Prismark1010 July 2020
Watching episode 3, I realised how much the visuals have been influenced by Brian De Palma's The Untouchables.
There is even a scene where the defence lawyer Elias Birchard talks to journalists while he is having a razor shave.
It struck me then. At the moment the character of E.B. is holding back Perry from appearing as a lawyer. Something must happen to E.B. for Perry to step into his shoes.
The seeds for this are laid in this episode. E.B. has health issues and money issues. The elders of the church pull the plug for defending Emily Dodson. They were only interested in Matthew's fate.
Perry finally meets Paul Drake, the beat cop who is being pressurised by his superiors. The first meeting between these two iconic characters does not go well.
The pace is still leisurely but there are certainly clues left behind that hint on something more complex and the church may well be involved.
There is even a scene where the defence lawyer Elias Birchard talks to journalists while he is having a razor shave.
It struck me then. At the moment the character of E.B. is holding back Perry from appearing as a lawyer. Something must happen to E.B. for Perry to step into his shoes.
The seeds for this are laid in this episode. E.B. has health issues and money issues. The elders of the church pull the plug for defending Emily Dodson. They were only interested in Matthew's fate.
Perry finally meets Paul Drake, the beat cop who is being pressurised by his superiors. The first meeting between these two iconic characters does not go well.
The pace is still leisurely but there are certainly clues left behind that hint on something more complex and the church may well be involved.
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