Chapter Six

I loved the Perry Mason show (1957-1966), watched it every week. I bought and read some of the books, and loved every one. I would love to own them all. Then I bought copies of it on DVDs when they came out and watched them, and loved seeing all of the characters again.

This series is not *that* Perry Mason, and I am just fine with the changes. In my mind, it is taking place on an alternate Earth, so it doesn't have to follow any previous stories. Since it is taking place years before the TV show with Raymond Burr, this Perry has years to grow into *that* man. And I will love every episode. After all, I signed up for HBO Max just to be able to see it.

It's a shame that the pace of the series cannot keep up with the speed Perry Mason passed his bar exams.

Now a fully fledged lawyer with zero experience. I mean would you have experimental brain surgery done by a guy who passed his medical exams yesterday?

So Perry not having paid his dues by taking on some crummy trials to build litigation experience. He is in court defending Emily Dodson. Lose and she fries.

Maynard Barnes the District Attorney gives an opening speech that is two hours long. Thankfully the viewers got the edited version. The judge should had charged him for contempt of court and boring the jury to death. The audience should had cited him for overacting.

Predictably Perry has a nervous start with a coughing fit and it's downhill from there. Of course the script must dictate Perry has to hit rock bottom, because the writers saw Paul Newman in The Verdict. At every turn everything goes against Perry in court.

Outside the court there are flickers of hope as Della and Strickland follow important leads.

Well at least the first series is on the home straight. Other suspects are on the horizon.

Every episode just gets better than the one before.

This is the first one with Perry as attorney, and he fumbles around just like you'd expect somebody to do who became an attorney the way that he did and experienced such an abrupt transition. He feels like he doesn't belong and he shows lots of righteous anger at the way the D.A. is just putting obstacles in his path. There is a great scene with him driving the back roads talking to himself that is Emmy worthy.

Della gets a chance to do more than answer phones, and she is really up to the challenge, much more assured of herself than Perry.

The mystery is quite convoluted, and I liked the scene on the back porch between Perry and his former partner P.I. who both calms him down and lays out the evidence he's found and says "I don't know what it all means either." It made me feel a little less stupid.

As for Paul Drake, he's discovering he has agency. Can founding one be far behind?

As for Sister Alice, my feelings for her have changed the most. In the beginning I just thought she was some bleached blonde embezzler of the megachurch crowd, but she shows such kindness towards Emily that I think is genuine and plus she is having odd memories that make me think her story could be headed into Delores Claiborne territory. Just a guess by me, nothing more.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger. Perry's hands are up just as they were at the end of Episode Five, but for completely different reasons. I can't wait to see what happens in the next episode. And I think "potty mouthed lady" just may be my favorite cameo appearance of season one.

Della , mason , pete , drake and mvp gloves girl maybe new team avengers think this feige

I will be the first to admit that after the first episode I was a little dumbstruck. Not that I was expecting Raymond Burr's resurrection, but how is a PI named Perry who loves on a "dairy farm" with a runway through the middle going to get the job done?? Besides, that's Paul Drake's job!! If there hadn't been a Della, I may have quit watching believing this was going to be a radical departure from what i was expecting. Well, getting through episode 1 is essential...think of it as waiting in line for the ride, you wouldn't do it without the expectation of better things to come. From episode 2 to 6, there is rising action, growing tension...sure there are some fun dips, twists and turns, but this roller coaster climbs ever higher. By episode 6, we have met Paul Drake, a very well cast Hamilton Burger, and perry May finally append esquire to his name, but we know there is more and we know the ride is going to be great and memorable.

This shoe has great casting, the blend of personalities is going to make this a series that run several seasons - hopefully. I will say that i wish I never heard of the show until I could binge watch it, but the flip side this anticipation of episodes is special. Only a few shows have made me tune in - early seasons of walking dead, mad men just to name a couple. The golden age of television extends with Perry Mason.