I liked that first season of this rebooted "Perry Mason" that arrived way back in 2020, though I remember wishing it focused a little more on the case and a little less on Mason's life before he became a lawyer. After a covid delay, the show returns for a second season which retains the undoubted quality of the first, but does indeed focus more on the case, and the effect it has on Mason, than on the man himself.
Though primarily operating in commercial law, Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys) and his partner Della Street (Juliet Rylance) are convinced to take on the defence of two Hispanic men, Mateo Gallardo (Peter Mendoza) and his younger brother Rafael (Fabrizio Guido), who are accused of killing rich, white businessman Brooks McCutchen (Tommy Dewey). The case seems like an easy win for the prosecution and the media are baying for the death penalty, but Mason's investigation undercovers several other people with motivation to see the end of McCutchen, whose business dealings are not as transparent, or benevolent, as they appear to be.
Again, there's a proper HBO seal of quality on this production. The historical recreation is wonderfully done, and the performances are great. Katherine Waterston, Sean Astin and Hope Davis are amongst the names added to the cast for this run and the central three of Rhys, Rylance and Chris Chalk are again brilliant. That the case is more central to the story is the improvement for me. We do still see aspects of all three's private lives. The toll it takes on Drake's marriage, the guilt that Mason is carrying from the last case and the possible relationship that offers him a tantalising look back at relative normality. It's Della's relationship that is the most interesting though, as she begins a new romance with a screenwriter, played by Jen Tullock. The scandalous nature of a homosexual relationship at this point in history is a key plot point.
Nothing is confirmed either way at the moment, but I'm really hoping that this isn't the end of Rhys' version of the famous detective.
Though primarily operating in commercial law, Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys) and his partner Della Street (Juliet Rylance) are convinced to take on the defence of two Hispanic men, Mateo Gallardo (Peter Mendoza) and his younger brother Rafael (Fabrizio Guido), who are accused of killing rich, white businessman Brooks McCutchen (Tommy Dewey). The case seems like an easy win for the prosecution and the media are baying for the death penalty, but Mason's investigation undercovers several other people with motivation to see the end of McCutchen, whose business dealings are not as transparent, or benevolent, as they appear to be.
Again, there's a proper HBO seal of quality on this production. The historical recreation is wonderfully done, and the performances are great. Katherine Waterston, Sean Astin and Hope Davis are amongst the names added to the cast for this run and the central three of Rhys, Rylance and Chris Chalk are again brilliant. That the case is more central to the story is the improvement for me. We do still see aspects of all three's private lives. The toll it takes on Drake's marriage, the guilt that Mason is carrying from the last case and the possible relationship that offers him a tantalising look back at relative normality. It's Della's relationship that is the most interesting though, as she begins a new romance with a screenwriter, played by Jen Tullock. The scandalous nature of a homosexual relationship at this point in history is a key plot point.
Nothing is confirmed either way at the moment, but I'm really hoping that this isn't the end of Rhys' version of the famous detective.