Perry Mason

I can't believe the hate I'm reading. I heard of Perry Mason from my parents. Its an origin story and it won't always match up with the original and THATS OK. The cinematography is great, the writing is top notch, the story is awesome. This is the Noir that we need. If you want a good show to distract you from the current world, watch this show.

This is a completely different story, in a different time and place than the 1950s TV series. It's darker, messier, less predictable. That's not a bad thing. Maybe this is a Perry Mason origin story that will eventually lead to the polished courtroom wizard we all know and love; maybe it won't. I don't really care. It's a ride worth taking no matter what. It feels like Chinatown; it's got some things in common with Showtime's Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. The acting and production values are first-rate. Like many series first episodes, it takes time to set up characters and situations - the pace should pick up. I'm intrigued enough to see where it goes from here.

So far I like this series. It is different from the original series, but that's okay with me. If there is a Season 2, etc., I think the show will evolve Perry Mason's career into the type of attorney people remember from the original series. John Lithgow's character is a defense attorney and described as his mentor.

Otherwise, the story is compelling and the acting is amazing. It is a bit dark, perhaps too dark. But the hardboiled detective genre works for me, and the cast wears it well.

This series was a weird mish mash of 21st century culture clashing with 1930's reality. Alternative lifestyles, racism, politics, corruption, religious zealots, chauvanism, and uncertain economics all interwoven into a crime of the century murder trial. It all ends up sort of like Chinatown, with Perry Mason instead of the PI Jake utterly confused by what has just transpired. And that was my real question, is why Perry Mason. Why take something that most are familiar with and turn it upside down? There comes a point where your just using the name Perry Mason, and not much else. Its like taking Superman, taking away all his super powers, his cape, and making him a cop on the beat, but still calling him Superman. It doesn't make much sense. So its watchable at a time when a lot isn't and that's why it gets 6 stars. If you want Perry Mason, better invest in some old VHS or DVD's

If you are hoping this series will be like Raymond Burr's 1957 PERRY MASON, then release that expectation. This is an HBO production, so you can expect nudity, crude language, politically corrected characters and violence. What you will also find is some very talented actors giving convincing performances. Matthew Rhys portrays an evolving character, slowly breaking free from PTSD. I cringed when I heard that Tatiana Maslany's character was going to be an Aimee Semple McPherson copy, but I have to give credit to Tatiana, she didn't settle for disparaging stereotype but, unsurprisingly, gave a nuanced performance of a young woman caught in extraordinary circumstances. BRAVO. In essence this first season is an origin story for the character of PERRY MASON. It begins in one place and ends with Perry Mason, lawyer. I enjoyed it and will look forward to the second season. I give it an 8 (great) out of 10. {Crime Drama}