I’m not sure if you’re aware of it or not but it’s HBO. It’s very good. Especially if you’re an alcoholic outsider type.
New Perry Mason.
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
Saw the first episode, but gave up in frustration after about 20 minutes. It’s one of those that seems to need to film everything in near darkness and have
a soundtrack where everyone speaks in a fast, mumbled whisper that is barely audible, let alone comprehensible.
I love film noir as much as anyone, but that ain’t it, schweetheart.
You don’t know what yooz is missing.
Personally I love the atmosphere — it’s obviously more Ellroy noir than M Cain (so, neo-noir?) — and I think the performances are brilliant: Matthew Rhys as Perry = ace; Orphan Black lady as the mad preacher woman = also ace. John Lithgow, of course. The woman who plays Della.
So far, however (I’m up to ep 4), all that great stuff has amounted to nothing. There’s not much story, and there’s not much hook to the story that’s there. I find myself dying to care about something that happens. Perhaps ep 5 will deliver.
Not much of a story? How Perry becomes a lawyer? Who killed George? Della is a lesbian? Preacher woman? Paul Drake is a black Cop?
This is my new ‘Boardwalk Empire’.
The sets are incredible and I love the music storytelling.
What more do you want?
Has anybody shouted out, “It’s no good, you’ve got me bang to rights, Mason, I’m the real killer” yet?
I made a commitment and stuck with the series through thick and thin to the point where they found the dead baby with its eyes sewn open, and then I bailed.
Short Attention span?
I always find it strange when a media concern (HBO in this case) buys the rights to a well-known character, then proceeds to leave out everything recognisable about them – in Perry Mason’s case, that he’s a lawyer, and *that* theme music. That said, I’m 3 episodes in, and this is clearly quality television – great cast (always good to see John Lithgow), it looks like a million bucks (back when a million bucks was a lot of money), and Terence Blanchard’s score is tremendous. It remains to be seen how the story develops and momentum is maintained over the whole series (8 episodes I think), but for now I’m all-in.
That said, even though I’m happy to sit through an “origin” story, if the series doesn’t end with Mason signing up for law school, and *that* music playing over the end credits, I might ask for my metaphorical money back…
I’m on episode six. I have to wait a full week between episodes which just adds to the tension. I love it. I am also alarmed to hear that I only have two episodes left. That’s not nearly enough!
Only one more episode to go now. I hope they’ve got the second series in the can. 🙏