There are so many things wrong with this show. Are we supposed to believe that this sleazy private detective evolves in the the highly conscientious Perry Mason we saw in the classic TV Show ?
Aside from the Perry Mason character, the acting is terrible. The villain, who they've already revealed is an over the top caricature. Then there is the technical end. For some reason this Perry Mason lives on an airfield where we are treated to some of the worst CGI I've ever seen of that era's aircraft flying by, which has nothing to do with the story. Then we see private eye Perry Mason taking pictures indoors with an old 35mm camera. Did the idiots who produce this show think that a 1930's camera works like an iPhone ? Without flash at best you'd see a grainy out of focus black and white picture, not crisp 8x10's.
There was much more wrong with this show, but these were the lowlights
Literally everything is different other than the character names. I didn't think it was a bad show, but it would like making a Philip Marlowe series where Marlowe is a lawyer. Just odd.
The early Perry Mason books tend to be grittier and more noir. Still, this new show is far from the spirit of what the character (and stories) are about. So far it seems very standard HBO playbook, if you know what I mean -- high production values, but edgy and dark for the sake of being edgy and dark, like they came up with a generic "True Detective in the 30s" show and slapped the Perry Mason brand on it for name recognition.
Supposedly Mason and his crew will be in their accustomed roles by the end of the season, and I just can't see them doing that in a convincing way, given how their characters have been established. And since they've made Della a lesbian, it undercuts all the romantic tension between her and Perry that gave the books a lot of their kick.
enjoying watching it, but we've also never seen the original or have prior knowledge besides the name itself. I agree it's not perfect and it does try to have "dark and edgy" aesthetics for their own sake, but I think a lot of it captures the noir feel and general atmospheric unease of what it's going for. I'm intrigued enough to keep watching.
I don't mind the reinvention of the character, since I have no particular affection for the "original" version. (The books? Raymond Burr? What's "original"?)
I love the production values, I think it looks fantastic, your mileage may vary.
I think they want this to be an ongoing series; we'll see where it winds up.
besides writing the Perry Mason books, also wrote about a detective agency, Cool and Lam. This show takes after those books, with a sleazier, grittier look at life.
RE: I like noir, I like 20s and 30s settings, and I really like Rhys
I just don't understand why they made it a Perry Mason show and not just an original series.
This. Still a fan of the originals, which are great and which I watch once or twice a week on MeTV. I can't see that this prequel relates to Perry the classic character at all. That, with (like Greg) liking noir, Rhys etc.
Aside from the Perry Mason character, the acting is terrible. The villain, who they've already revealed is an over the top caricature. Then there is the technical end. For some reason this Perry Mason lives on an airfield where we are treated to some of the worst CGI I've ever seen of that era's aircraft flying by, which has nothing to do with the story. Then we see private eye Perry Mason taking pictures indoors with an old 35mm camera. Did the idiots who produce this show think that a 1930's camera works like an iPhone ? Without flash at best you'd see a grainy out of focus black and white picture, not crisp 8x10's.
There was much more wrong with this show, but these were the lowlights
This is nothing like it. Kinda reminds me of Chinatown in atmosphere.
Enjoyed episode 1
It's a totally different kind of show.
Supposedly Mason and his crew will be in their accustomed roles by the end of the season, and I just can't see them doing that in a convincing way, given how their characters have been established. And since they've made Della a lesbian, it undercuts all the romantic tension between her and Perry that gave the books a lot of their kick.
I love the production values, I think it looks fantastic, your mileage may vary.
I think they want this to be an ongoing series; we'll see where it winds up.
This. Still a fan of the originals, which are great and which I watch once or twice a week on MeTV. I can't see that this prequel relates to Perry the classic character at all. That, with (like Greg) liking noir, Rhys etc.
I Know This Much Is True is super dark and dreary, but they filmed it in the Husdon Valley where I grew up and going to give it a chance.
I Know This Much Is True is super dark and dreary, but they filmed it in the Husdon Valley where I grew up and going to give it a chance.
The Wally Lamb is very compelling TV
Good one, Marty. But Hamilton Burger would never misspell incompetent.