--- title: "Perry Mason: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/perry-mason/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/perry-mason" critics_score: 57 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Perry Mason (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 57 from 13 reviews: 6 positive, 3 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews split almost evenly, with the positives just ahead, and nearly everyone agrees on where the credit lies. Matthew Rhys is praised across the board for a rumpled, regretful Perry, a man carrying the war around with him, and the recreation of 1930s Los Angeles under director Tim Van Patten is admired even by critics who dislike the show. Several also single out the supporting cast, Chalk and Maslany among them. The complaints are about the writing. Most critics find the script short on wit and sharpness, the subplots slow to go anywhere, and the violence heavier than the story can carry. Several ask whether this grim origin story needed the Perry Mason name at all. The spread is wide, from warm to hostile: Consequence finds it immersive and entertaining, while The Telegraph tells fans of the original to steer clear and The i Paper calls it aimless, more interested in style than substance. ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 June 2020. The critic finds it a fine and absorbing season overall, despite some overloaded storylines that could have been trimmed. Standout performances, particularly Matthew Rhys as a messy and regretful Perry, and the gorgeous gritty noir atmosphere are highlighted. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/perry-mason-hbo-series-review.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2020. The critic finds the origin story promising enough to stick with, praising Matthew Rhys's performance as the down-on-his-luck PI and the show's striking visuals, but notes it can be gruesome and does not yet feel fully comfortable in its tone. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/22/perry-mason-review-sleuth-reboot-hbo-drama) ## The Times — James Jackson Rating ★★★★☆. 23 June 2020. The critic finds the seedy reinterpretation a terrific pleasure as a character study of the rumpled, despondent PI, carried by Matthew Rhys's watchable performance, though it diverges sharply from the classic courtroom hero. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/perry-mason-review-this-new-rumpled-gumshoe-is-a-seedy-delight-qwj9kxjmr) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2020. Tremendous production values and cast make a solid case for the show, but it fails to justify reviving the Perry Mason name or brand with this gritty origin story. Highlights excellent work by Rhys and the ensemble along with period details while noting the premise feels unnecessary. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/perry-mason-review-1298230/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2020. The critic praises the impeccable recreation of 1930s Los Angeles and strong cast but finds the script lacks sharpness and brio, with the noir tone weighed down by gruesome details and missing witty one-liners. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/perry-mason-sky-atlantic-review-a4476181.html) ## The Telegraph Rating 2/5. 22 June 2020. The critic warns fans of the original to steer clear of this grim, downbeat origin story reboot featuring a seedy, war-scarred gumshoe version of Mason, calling it a good-looking but bleak piece of television. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2020/06/22/perry-mason-review-fan-original-steer-clear-reboot/) ## Variety — Daniel D'Addario Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 2020. The series feels like yet another iteration of prestige-TV antihero stories, beautiful to look at but unoriginal and wheel-spinning with subplots. Praises strong performances by Rhys, Chalk, Maslany and others but gives little reason to engage deeply with the revival. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/perry-mason-matthew-rhys-1234641974/) ## The i Paper — Sarah Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2020. The critic finds the big-budget reimagining aimless and more interested in style than substance, likely to alienate original fans with its convoluted plot and lack of standout elements for newcomers. Praises Matthew Rhys's subtle performance conveying trauma but concludes it treads aimlessly in another's shoes. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/perry-mason-sky-atlantic-review-big-budget-reimagining-alienate-viewers-matthew-rhys-452983) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2020. Finds the reimagining immersive and entertaining, with strong production design, performances like Matthew Rhys's, and expansions on the original that add beneficial layers. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/06/tv-review-perry-mason-hbo/) ## Den of Geek — Tony Sokol Rating 3.5/5. 17 June 2020. The critic sees the series as a gritty origin story that improves as it progresses into worthwhile and occasionally timely entertainment. The turnaround scene and Perry's first witness breakdown on the stand stand out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/perry-mason-review/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2020. Praises the great acting, pulpy hard-boiled style, and stunning visuals from Tim Van Patten, but notes the messy story, graphic violence, and rushed later developments. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/574759/perry-mason-review/) ## Collider — Dave Trumbore Rating C+. 18 June 2020. Critiques the violent, horny origin story as bleak and hard to recommend, despite the strong setting and cast, as it feels overwrought and disconnected from the classic character. [Read the review](https://collider.com/perry-mason-review-hbo/) ## NME — Dan Seddon Rating 2/5. 22 June 2020. The series beautifully realizes 1920s LA but opts for style over substance, with a leisurely pace that fails to thrill despite strong production values and atmosphere from director Tim Van Patten. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/perry-mason-review-hbo-2692420) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/perry-mason.md