Perry Mason Chapter Eight Review

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

Synopsis: After the team receives some unvarnished critique from Hamilton Burger, Della presents an increasingly stubborn Mason with her case for putting Emily on the stand. As the sensational trial winds to a close, Mason, Strickland, Della, and Drake attempt to tie up loose ends – and set the stage for their futures. (HBO)

The season one finale (it was originally supposed to be a miniseries) of Perry Mason was a tale of two episodes. Despite all the events that have led up to this point, it is difficult to produce an end that could satisfy everyone and this episode will surely be no different for many viewers. Essentially wrapping up the Dodson case in the previous episode, one can’t help but wonder where this could eventually go. In the end, instead of giving viewers a satisfying conclusion, it seemed more interested in positioning our characters for what we now know to be a season two. Though that didn’t mean that it didn’t have its moments, it all just felt rushed while trying to fit everything within 8 episodes.

Chapter Eight began with the aftermath of Sister Alice’s disappearance. However, the bulk of the episode was devoted to the conclusion of the Dodson trial. Emily Dodson was still shaken up after her experience at the cemetery (where’s Charlie Dodson’s body?). Della talked her down of course. Mason then cross-examined Ennis on the witness stand and was grilling him with the evidence until it was revealed that he was just practicing as Burger was adamant that he would not confess on the stand. They butted heads on what to do next but Della suggested they put Emily on the stand, however, she and Mason had an argument over her motivation in doing so. Feeling defeated with a case he couldn’t prove, he turned to Strickland (for whom he had another argument prior).

Back in court, Mason had Emily on the stand to question her about the night that Charlie went missing, reflecting on her marriage and her relationship with George Gannon (realizing the truth about each). Defeated, she seemed sympathetic until Barnes continued to beat her up for her infidelity and the damning words she wrote in her letters to Gannon. As she exited, Emily received a note from a mysterious man. Meanwhile, Mason wanted to challenge Lupe’s purchase of his property in court. He took that weakened state back home where he practiced some closing statements, finally settling on a powerful one. It seemed to have worked as the jury was still deliberating until the judge declared a mistrial which was pretty much a cop out (Strickland learned that 3 jurors were bribed including the one he tried to bribe).

Now the positioning begins. Strickland left Mason to work with Burger as he pursued a case against the church (continuing what Mason started). Emily confirmed that the child Birdy found wasn’t Charlie but she kept them nonetheless as the two were part of her new travelling attraction. Drake quit the police and moved into a new house with his wife. Mason gave up his fight with Lupe while he set up his new office with Dela and Drake. Dela made it clear that she was to be treated better than before, ultimately becoming a lawyer and one of the associates at this new firm all the while their first client came in. Holcomb had Ennis drowned.

However, the best of those scenes was when Mason happened to find Alice working as a waitress in a local dinner. The two then went outside to talk. She had clearly moved on but he still had some unanswered questions. Alice still believed in God and that it was his plan, however, Mason was not convinced. She came to the stark realization that they would end up alone. The season would end with Alice telling Mason that she brought Charlie back as he blew the stitch he kept away (letting Charlie Dodson go).

The first 3/4 and the last 1/4 should have been two episodes as the rushed nature of each didn’t allow them to connect as well as they could have. Sure, maybe those responsible for Charlie Dodson’s death will face some sort of judgement in the next season but it seems unlikely. The last 1/4 of the episode was inevitable but that could also have been given some more time to breathe. Nevertheless, Matthew Rhys is sensational as was Juliette Rylance and Tatiana Maslany. Hopefully, they and more can all come back in an even stronger second season.

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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.