This is a reboot of the Perry Mason series that is nothing like the original which was based on a series of books written by Erle Stanley Gardner.
In this much darker reboot there was some phenomenal cinematography. It was filmed in an almost film noir kind of light...with slower moments and they didn't shy away from social commentary(which may be one of my few complaints about season one, which overall I enjoyed).
I think you have to scrub your mind of the other iterations of Perry Mason and give this series a clean slate in order to enjoy it...otherwise you might get caught up in all of the new back story like: Della Street is a lesbian and lives with her handmodel roommate, Paul Drake is an African American police officer with a very pregnant wife, and at least at the beginning of the series Perry Mason is a down on his luck barely making ends meet private investigator who is divorced from his wife who is raising their son, living on his deceased family's dairy farm that a Hispanic female pilot and some times lover is trying to purchase for a song to expand her airport while Perry drowns his sorrows in alcohol. It is implied that he received a dishonorable discharge from WWII for shooting fellow allied soldiers to put them out of their misery and hasn't been the same since.
As mentioned, a lot of social issues are introduced to the story as well as new backstories for these well-known and beloved characters...but if you can get past it, The Who-done-it mystery of season one and the cinematography are fantastic! Additionally, there is another wonderful performance by Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslaney, who plays an evangelical minister in Hollywood where she claims she is going to bring the dead baby back to life.
It was a bit of a chess game putting all of the players on the board where we know they are in position to play and I for one am looking forward to what is instort for season two. Hopefully there will be another great mystery...and maybe a little less social justice.
Final note: Johnathan Lithgow was phenomenal as E. B.. I always enjoy his acting, but he played this heart wrenching character flawlessly. I loved the still moments with just him the best...like filling the bird feeder.
