Don’t Miss HBO’s ‘Perry Mason’ If You Love ‘1923’!

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After a two-year break, I was thrilled to jump back into the world of “1923” on February 23, 2025. As Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren) braved the bitter Montana winter, their descendants Spencer (Brandon Skelnar) and his wife Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer), who had spent time in Africa during World War I, were making their way to strengthen the family.

In the dawn of a fresh decade, the Duttons find themselves alongside the tumultuous era of prohibition, stock market collapse, and the Great Depression, making 1923 an apt counterpart to the TV series Perry Mason, which is set in the 1930s. Although one show revolves around Western frontier drama, and the other centers on a classic detective series, both masterfully recreate the atmosphere of the 1930s and portray the cultural and economic struggles that characterized one of the toughest periods in American history.

The ‘Perry Mason’ Reboot Is Another Great HBO Show

Ron Fitzgerald and Rolin Jones developed “Perry Mason” for HBO, a gripping detective mystery series that premiered in June 2020. This show delves into the darker side of sunny Los Angeles during 1932, yet the economic hardships experienced by Perry Mason (portrayed by Matthew Rhys) mirror the struggles faced by the Duttons during the same era. The series offers a character-rich account of how Los Angeles prospered, while much of America was left in ruins due to the aftermath of World War I and the Great Depression.

In the first season, Mason takes on a case to discover who abducted a newborn baby and left him with open eyes after death. Along the way, he crosses paths with various suspicious characters, demonstrating his exceptional detective abilities as he rises through the ranks to become a prominent defense attorney. The second season finds Mason trying to keep his burgeoning law practice running in 1933 while focusing on Mateo and Rafael Gallardo, two brothers from a minority background who are accused of murder.

For two seasons and 16 episodes, Perry Mason aired between 2020 and 2023. Although it has a unique narrative and a mysterious atmosphere unlike 1923, the meticulous attention to period detail, genuine 1930s costumes, vehicles, and set designs connect the two series beyond their socioeconomic themes. Despite an abundance of streaming options, numerous television shows, as well as unjust comparisons to the 1957 Perry Mason TV series, the 2020 adaptation often goes unnoticed.

Where to Stream ‘Perry Mason’ and Why It’s Underrated

Even though 1923 received high praise from both critics and viewers with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% (critics) and 58% (audiences), the popular TV series Perry Mason, which was discontinued after just two seasons, seems to have resonated more with viewers. This is evident in its critical score of 80% and an audience rating of 76%, suggesting that it appealed equally to both critics and audiences.

1923’s rich cinematography and performances by Ford and Mirren might be appreciated by critics, but ordinary TV viewers find it overwhelming due to the excessive number of subplots and characters. On the other hand, Perry Mason manages to blend high-quality production with amusing content, appealing to a wide range of viewers. With 1.7 million cross-platform viewers, Perry Mason marked HBO’s best premiere in two years, according to Deadline.

Although Perry Mason initially received high ratings and critical acclaim for its acting, production quality, set design, and accurate portrayal of 1930s Los Angeles, it surprisingly failed to secure any significant awards during its 16-episode run. Consequently, the series was eventually overshadowed by dwindling viewership, ultimately leading to its cancellation.

1923’s storyline could take a significant turn, but if you appreciate the atmospheric build-up of war, rebuilding, illicit alcohol sales, organized crime, underground activities, and economic hardships caused by the stock market crash and The Great Depression in 1923, then you might find Perry Mason more engaging as it skillfully tackles these heavy themes. You can stream Perry Mason on Max.

‘1923’ Is Still a Hit on Paramount+

Taylor Sheridan developed the series “1923” for Paramount+, which serves as a spin-off from “Yellowstone” that delves into the Dutton family’s historical background. The narrative follows Jacob and Cara Dutton in Montana during the 1920s and 1930s, an era marked by significant turmoil in America. With no children of their own, the Duttons take care of their nephew, Spencer Dutton, who returns from Africa after World War I having hunted big game. Spencer encounters and marries Alexandra, a wealthy British woman, whose progressive outlook clashes with Spencer’s traditional upbringing.

1923, as narrated by Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), aligns with the larger Yellowstone narrative by showcasing different generations of the Dutton family navigating significant societal transformations, such as industrialization. Each Dutton generation encounters distinct challenges from their era, including prairie madness, rival business enemies, coexistence with Native Americans, political turmoil surrounding Yellowstone National Park, and more. In Season 1 of 1923, the Montana homesteading life of Jacob and Cara contrasts sharply with Brendan and Alex’s globe-trotting adventures in Africa and Europe.

In the second season of 1923, which aired in 1923, Spencer and Alex revisit Montana to discover the Dutton family struggling with a multitude of issues: illicit liquor trade due to prohibition, economic hardship from the 1929 Stock Market crash, agricultural devastation brought about by the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression of 1933. Despite telling a different story, HBO’s Perry Mason also explores these profound themes as does 1923. You can catch 1923 on Paramount+.

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2025-03-30 17:02