TV

Perry Mason

A peak TV noir with plenty of fedoras, palm trees, and shallow graves

Photo: Vulture; Photo: Warner Brothers

The second season of Perry Mason is a testament to how satisfying it is when a second season successfully reshapes the raw materials of a promising but imperfect first season. Perry Mason’s season two, does this in some minor ways (Shea Whigham’s investigator character, Paul Strickland, has a better-defined emotional arc) and in some much more significant ones (a noir-style mystery that’s a better fit for the show’s “dark side of L.A.” vibe.) The clearest and most obvious improvement on the first season, though, is also the simplest. Perry Mason — the HBO show, but also the original TV series and the radio serial before it — is a story about a defense attorney. Wouldn’t you know it: Perry Mason gets a lot better when the man spends a lot of time in a courtroom! — Kathryn VanArendonk, “Perry Mason Has Solved the Case of Perry Mason”

  1. Episode 3 Chapter Eleven
    Perry Mason Recap: We’ve Always Been From Here As the case heats up, Mason finds a literal smoking gun.
  2. Episode 2 Chapter Ten
    Perry Mason Recap: The Illusion of Vengeance Now that Mason’s a full-fledged lawyer, it’s a real treat when he gets back in his seedy PI bag.
  3. Episode 1 Chapter Nine
    Perry Mason Season-Premiere Recap: The Illusion of Justice Perry Mason gets his Saul Goodman on and finds himself on the “right” side of the law and the wrong side of justice.

The Latest on HBO

  1. party report
    The Succession Cast Breaks Down the Art of the Insult“It’s an insult, but it’s also a power play.”
    By Jason P. Frank
  2. blabbermouths
    Is Brian Cox Allowed to Be Saying All This?L-to-the-O-G off, Brian.
    By Rebecca Alter
  3. tv ratings
    A Good Night for the Oscars and The Last of UsBoth programs went head to head Sunday night — and both networks had reason to be happy about their ratings performances.
    By Josef Adalian
  4. exit interview
    ‘We Have to Interrogate How We Feel About Our Heroes’The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin questions the inherent positivity of love.
    By Roxana Hadadi
  5. sxsw 2023
    The Last of Us Star Gabriel Luna on the Miller Family’s Bonding“I know I’m the Ghost Rider and he’s the Mandalorian, but we could’ve used a little help…”
    By Savannah Salazar
  6. fire deal
    House of the Dragon Is Throwing in 5 More Dragons With Season TwoFire-breathing pets are so hot.
    By Jason P. Frank
  7. coming soon
    Barry to Meet Its End in Season 4The “arresting final act” comes April 16.
    By Justin Curto
  8. perry mason
    The Real Los Angeles History Behind Perry Mason, Season TwoFrom scandalous murders to wild parties, these are the events that inspired the sophomore season of HBO’s legal drama.
    By Whitney Friedlander
  9. tv review
    Perry Mason Has Solved the Case of Perry MasonSeason two of the HBO revival moves beyond its protagonist’s origin story and into the courtroom, and becomes the show it was meant to be.
    By Kathryn VanArendonk
  10. gojo plus
    Who’s on Whose Team in Succession Season 4?All long knives raised against Logan Roy shall falter.
    By Rebecca Alter
Load More

More Shows You May Like

  1. Ballers
  2. Big Little Lies
  3. Camping
  4. Divorce
  5. Game of Thrones