[cheesesteak]

I hope it gets better.

I was a significant way into the premiere before I realized that Matthew Rhys was Perry Mason. The original Perry Mason show was something old people watched when I was a kid. I knew it was a courtroom drama and that he was a brilliant lawyer but that was about it since I had never watched an episode or if I had, can't remember doing so. Based on that knowledge, I was shocked that this Perry Mason is a down and out, shady private detective with little scruples. I know the series is based on books so maybe that's how he started out. Either way, Matthew Rhys doesn't strike me as suited for the character. But that's after one episode. Maybe he'll grow on me.

 

[gweempose]

I hope it gets better.

I was a significant way into the premiere before I realized that Matthew Rhys was Perry Mason. The original Perry Mason show was something old people watched when I was a kid. I knew it was a courtroom drama and that he was a brilliant lawyer but that was about it since I had never watched an episode or if I had, can't remember doing so. Based on that knowledge, I was shocked that this Perry Mason is a down and out, shady private detective with little scruples. I know the series is based on books so maybe that's how he started out. Either way, Matthew Rhys doesn't strike me as suited for the character. But that's after one episode. Maybe he'll grow on me.

So in this version Perry Mason isn't even a lawyer? That's so bizarre. Why even bother calling the series "Perry Mason"? It sounds like a total bait and switch to me. I was thinking about watching this because I really like both Rhys and Lithgow, but now you've given me pause.

 

[caslu]

I am old enough to have watched Raymond Burr's Perry Mason (in reruns) and this was definitely not that Perry Mason, not even remotely. I think the whole private eye angle was dreamed up for this series and is not from either the old series or Erle Stanley Gardner's books.

 

[Rob Helmerichs]

So in this version Perry Mason isn't even a lawyer? That's so bizarre. Why even bother calling the series "Perry Mason"? Seems like kind of a bait and switch to me. I was thinking about watching this because I really like both Rhys and Lithgow, but now I'm having second thoughts.

He's not a lawyer yet. This is an origin story/prequel. It's set decades before the other series, and neither the series nor the books apparently had anything to say about Mason's younger days.

 

[Flop]

The only thing Perry Mason about this is the title. I'll have to re-watch since I fell asleep during the first attempt (not a good sign).

 

[Rob Helmerichs]

By the way, this is labelled as a mini-series, so maybe it ends with him deciding to become a lawyer..?

 

[ADG]

The only thing Perry Mason about this is the title. I'll have to re-watch since I fell asleep during the first attempt (not a good sign).

Well, yes and no. It does introduce Della Street and Paul Drake (next episode, I guess). But it really does start of SLOW. Moody & atmospheric are fine, but they need to keep it interesting.

 

[Howie]

I noticed there is some very enthusiastic sex portrayed. Or workmanlike, I can't decide which.

 

[cheesesteak]

I noticed there is some very enthusiastic sex portrayed. Or workmanlike, I can't decide which.

With my girl Camila from Queen of the South! I'd recognize that voice anywhere.

 

[dianebrat]

It's a prequel in a time/setting that has not yet been explored in either the early movies, book, or TV series, so they can go in any direction they want as long as they hit the end where it then feeds into the story we know. Think of it as Star Trek Discovery for lawyers
We're getting to see the beginnings of what made him the lawyer we later learned to love and get to see proto-versions of Della and Paul.

I was impressed enough with the quality of it, the filming and early LA is beautifully and lovingly presented so that LA is actually a character in the story and I enjoy that.
Since it's a wildcard I'll be viewing and judging it on its own, but so far I'm good with it, and it makes a good pairing with Hollywood over on Netflix to see a similar time frame.

 

[cheesesteak]

I could have lived without the racial slurs but I assume that was part of that era.

 

[mooseAndSquirrel]

I was sort of expecting young Perry Mason to be more of a gentleman. Presumably at some point he’s going to go to law school, so he must have a lot of self-discipline.

Rhys was great on Masters of Sex, but I can’t say that I am bought into him in this role. Della Street sure is attractive, and reminds me of Lizzy Caplan from Masters.

Still, it’s great to have a new weekly show. That keeps me from binging. It was funny to see the predictable HBO touches - blue golem baby, a flapping penis, sex scenes and crazy cursing. And I liked the payoff of one of those touches - the sliding out of morgue trays to have him rooting around for a necktie.

 

[Steveknj]

It's a prequel in a time/setting that has not yet been explored in either the early movies, book, or TV series, so they can go in any direction they want as long as they hit the end where it then feeds into the story we know. Think of it as Star Trek Discovery for lawyers
We're getting to see the beginnings of what made him the lawyer we later learned to love and get to see proto-versions of Della and Paul.

I was impressed enough with the quality of it, the filming and early LA is beautifully and lovingly presented so that LA is actually a character in the story and I enjoy that.
Since it's a wildcard I'll be viewing and judging it on its own, but so far I'm good with it, and it makes a good pairing with Hollywood over on Netflix to see a similar time frame.

I liked it well enough. Very Film Noir. Felt sort of like the movie Chinatown, or one of those old 1940s detective stories and Rhys' Mason could have been portrayed by Bogart if they did this in the 1940s. It was slow, I agree, and still a lot to figure out and sort out the characters.

 

[dbranco]

Can someone please clarify this for me. Is the bad guy who killed all of the kidnappers (and presumably kept the ransom money for himself) one of the detectives on the case? We weren't sure if it was the same actor...

 

[mooseAndSquirrel]

Can someone please clarify this for me. Is the bad guy who killed all of the kidnappers (and presumably kept the ransom money for himself) one of the detectives on the case? We weren't sure if it was the same actor...

It *looked* that way to me, but can't be sure.

 

[Unbeliever]

Rhys was great on Masters of Sex,

ITYM "The Americans". "Masters of Sex" was Michael Sheen.

--Carlos V.

 

[mooseAndSquirrel]

ITYM "The Americans". "Masters of Sex" was Michael Sheen.

--Carlos V.

oops, right! I liked Phillip in Americans, so that's good.

 

[ej42137]

Can someone please clarify this for me. Is the bad guy who killed all of the kidnappers (and presumably kept the ransom money for himself) one of the detectives on the case? We weren't sure if it was the same actor...

Same guy.

 

[cwoody222]

I liked the atmosphere of it. I’ll keep going.

But what happened at the end? What big clue presumably did he see in the photo and did he mutter to himself? (“He likes her?”)

 

[john4200]

But what happened at the end? What big clue presumably did he see in the photo and did he mutter to himself? ("He likes her?")

He said, "So you like turtles". I'm not sure whether that was a clue or just thinking.