Matthew Rhys plays Perry Mason as a man living check-to-check, not a legend. That is the gamble of Perry Mason, the HBO series that premiered June 21, 2020, and ran for two seasons through April 24, 2023. The show sets its origin story in 1932 Los Angeles, a city booming while the rest of the country suffers the Great Depression. Rhys sells the early years of the lawyer, before he became the name he later carried.
The premise is simple: a kidnapping goes wrong, and Mason’s investigation exposes a fractured city. The execution leans on atmosphere over action. The series is built to feel like a period piece, with a production design that puts Los Angeles in 1932 front and center.
Trailer, via HBO.
Rhys and the Lead
Rhys carries the show. His Mason is a man still hurting from the war in France and a broken marriage. The performance grounds the series in something close to tragedy rather than spectacle.
Juliet Rylance plays Della Street, Chris Chalk plays Paul Drake, Justin Kirk plays Hamilton Burger, and Diarra Kilpatrick plays Clara Drake. Eric Lange plays Detective Gene Holcomb, and Katherine Waterston joins as Ginny Aimes for the second season.
The Cast Changes
Robert Downey Jr. was initially attached to play Mason. He dropped out in July 2018 due to his feature film schedule. Matthew Rhys took over the role in January 2019.
Tatiana Maslany joined in April. John Lithgow was added in May. Chris Chalk and Shea Whigham were cast in lead roles in June. Juliet Rylance, Andrew Howard, Eric Lange, Robert Patrick and Stephen Root joined in July. Justin Kirk was added in October.
For the second season, Lange and Kirk were promoted to series regulars. Diarra Kilpatrick, who recurred in season 1 as Clara Drake, was upgraded to series regular in October 2021. Katherine Waterston joined as a new series regular, and Hope Davis appeared in recurring roles.
The Story Structure
The series follows Mason’s investigation of a sensational child kidnapping trial. The show builds toward consequences for Mason, those around him, and local leaders. The structure keeps the focus on the case rather than on Mason’s later career.
The Production Design
The cinematography and production design receive particular praise. The show’s visual sense of 1932 Los Angeles is strong, giving the story a distinct setting.
The Critical Reception
The show received mostly positive reviews. The cinematography, production design, and performances drew attention, with Rhys singled out for his work.
Where It Falls Short
The series can lean too heavily on mood over plot. Some viewers find the pacing slow compared to the later films that made Mason famous. The second season, with new showrunners Jack Amiel and Michael Begler replacing Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald, brings changes, but the show never fully shakes off its early identity.
- Rhys’ performance anchors the show.
- The production design sells the period setting.
- The story stays focused on the case.
- The show can drift on mood.
- Reviews have been mostly positive.
The show’s strength is also its weakness. By staying close to the ground, it never quite reaches the heights of its own ambition. The series is worth watching for Rhys’ performance and the production design, even if the mystery itself sometimes feels like a backdrop for the mood.
Perry Mason is a show about a man before he became a legend. That is a smaller idea than the series could have reached for, but Rhys makes it work. The final verdict: 6.8 out of 10.
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