I was wondering how this season was going to end. I really like this version of Perry Mason. I like the different story lines that are all with in the main story. This season murder case story was closer to what we see when watching the TV show. But it has a edger side to it. It shows how Perry and Della work together and Perry knows that without her he wouldn't be as good as he is. She's the one that knows he's a better lawyer than he thinks he is. An he knows it. I also like that they showed a more human side of him. It shows that he is very happy in the way his life is going and he's good with it. I'm hoping for another season and would love to see Della become a lawyer and her and Perry being partners.
4 Reviews
Season Two Review
southdavid10 June 2023
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.
Perry Mason, Della Street and Paul Drake together as a team to resolve another intriguing case.
fciocca3 September 2023
Three years after the ending of the first season, HBO finally released eight new intriguing episodes of one of the best detective stories in recent years. The show has everything in the right place: a slow paced story filled with details, captivating characters and intense scenes. I think that the script was better, as the story feels more realistic. In the previous season there were a few plot elements that felt a bit too stretched. I am glad that they fixed this issue. I loved the development of Perry Mason: he is still irreverent, but here at least we see him a bit more composed and he looks like a proper lawyer, not just an irascible drunk. I truly enjoyed seeing Juliet Rylance and Chris Chalk taking a more central role; together with Rhys they form a wonderful team, creating a more dynamic narration. The creators also deepened these characters quite interestingly, showing a bit of their personal lives. The show keeps the structure that was set in the first season: it focuses on the court trial of one single case.
The costumes, the locations and the ambience looks faithful to the 30s. The photography is amazing: I loved the soft lightning and the incredibly well done shots. "Perry Mason" confirms once again to be one of the few detective stories still told in an old school style, which is amazing in this modern day of fast paced series. Considering all the improvements that were made, this season deserves a mark of 7.6. It is truly a pity that the network did not renew the show for a third season, considering that one of the executive producers is Robert Downey Jr. Unfortunately this is a pretty niche genre and it does not have much appeal to a larger audience. I am glad that we managed to get two seasons.
The costumes, the locations and the ambience looks faithful to the 30s. The photography is amazing: I loved the soft lightning and the incredibly well done shots. "Perry Mason" confirms once again to be one of the few detective stories still told in an old school style, which is amazing in this modern day of fast paced series. Considering all the improvements that were made, this season deserves a mark of 7.6. It is truly a pity that the network did not renew the show for a third season, considering that one of the executive producers is Robert Downey Jr. Unfortunately this is a pretty niche genre and it does not have much appeal to a larger audience. I am glad that we managed to get two seasons.
Chapter Sixteen
Prismark1012 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The final episode was really all about tying up loose ends. Perry Mason is facing jail time for having that gun in his safe. The judge never once asked just how did the DA's office know about this?
With Camilla Nygaard's hand in everything. It was a case of manipulating her lawyer Phippsy to hand in the evidence she had accumulated.
The Gallardo brothers always hated the McCutcheon family. They lost their land and their sister to them. So one of them was prepared to take payment to kill Brooks McCutcheon.
When it came to the courtroom, once again there were no fireworks. It was simply a case of one of the brother's pleaded guilty the other got off. It was all arranged with Hamilton Burger who got his own monkey off his back.
It all ended with the Perry Mason theme concluding the series, it just never felt like a Perry Mason series. This was a two hour movie masquerading as a glossy eight part series.
If streamers in America are in trouble. Perry Mason is Exhibit A.
With Camilla Nygaard's hand in everything. It was a case of manipulating her lawyer Phippsy to hand in the evidence she had accumulated.
The Gallardo brothers always hated the McCutcheon family. They lost their land and their sister to them. So one of them was prepared to take payment to kill Brooks McCutcheon.
When it came to the courtroom, once again there were no fireworks. It was simply a case of one of the brother's pleaded guilty the other got off. It was all arranged with Hamilton Burger who got his own monkey off his back.
It all ended with the Perry Mason theme concluding the series, it just never felt like a Perry Mason series. This was a two hour movie masquerading as a glossy eight part series.
If streamers in America are in trouble. Perry Mason is Exhibit A.
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