This article originally appeared on Complex.com
In the first half of HBO’s Perry Mason, the gritty, True Detective-esque vibes felt tired and perfunctory, stunning Matthew Rhys performance and incredible visuals notwithstanding. That may have just been bait to hook early viewers, though. The show kicked into a whole new gear once this reboot started to more closely resemble the OG, lawyer version of the titular character that men 50+ all know and love. Rhys-Perry’s transition from P.I. to Public Defender clicks the series into place in a fun way—insofar as an often dour show like this allows itself to be fun.