Perry Mason Chapter Five Review

For our review of the last episode of Perry Mason, click here.

Synopsis: While Mason and Della run a solemn errand up north, Strickland (Shea Whigham) tracks down the sergeant originally assigned to the Dodson case. Before returning to L.A., Mason drops in on his ex-wife Linda and son Teddy, hoping to make amends for his recent shortcomings. Disturbed by Emily’s blind faith in Sister Alice and her new lawyer, Frank Dillon, Della sets out to find Mrs. Dodson more capable legal representation. (HBO)

What was originally intended to be a limited series will continue with today’s news that Perry Mason has been renewed for a second season. While this season was produced before this announcement, it is definitely interesting to think where the series could go in the future (featuring a clip found in the original promotion of the series). Perhaps intentionally or not, this episode essentially paves the way for where it could go in a second season, bringing it back to its roots. This was mostly the purpose of this episode as the developments in the case positioned the series to that inevitable outcome.

Chapter Five started right where the previous chapter left off with Della’s emotional discovery of E.B’s body following his tragic suicide. Mason consoled her as the two worked to cover up the suicide. However, E.B.’s son could not care any less about his father. Strickland found the sergeant originally assigned to the Dodson case. Detective Ennis paid his way to the front of the line and when confronted, he pointed the finger at Detective Holcomb (though the mounting coincidences were getting harder to ignore). Meanwhile, Sister Alice took charge of the situation and her congregation (despite mounting opposition), requesting the church pay Emily Dodson’s bail. Once she arrived, Alice made sure she was comfortable before putting her front and center (Emily believed that Alice could bring Charlie back).

The Della and Mason scenes in this episode were stellar as the tragedy brought them closer together (she came from money but wanted to make her own way). Later, Mason visited his ex-wife Linda (Gretchen Mol) and his son Teddy (Cooper Friedman). E.B’s death granted him some sympathy on her part but their relationship was still tenuous at best (it’s hard to imagine why they were ever together in the first place). Meanwhile, an incident saw Drake reflecting on his career path.

Della struggled to find a new lawyer to represent Emily Dodson. Meanwhile. she received a public defender named Frank Dillon (Matt Malloy) who was an obvious plant by Barnes. Mason and Della knew this while the former tore him a new one for it. Nevertheless, they had a plan which included Della’s idea that Mason represent Emily Dodson. It wasn’t a crazy one as Mason had been serving as an apprentice under E.B. for years. This was where he told Emily and Sister Alice that he was the only man for the job.

The episode ended with Della enlisting the aid of Hamilton Burger (Justin Kirk), the deputy district attorney of Los Angeles and also a man vying for Barnes’ job.

It was pretty clear that Mason would eventually swoop in to save the day but many may not have guessed this or at least this this soon. There isn’t too much mystery left to the proceedings so the only thing left to do is to put all the pieces together. While the middle part of the season has been lagging, let’s hope that the remainder of the season can finish strong. The acting is there and the production value is definitely there.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, follow us on Instagram, and also like us on Facebook. Also subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.