6 TV Shows Like Perry Mason You Must See

HBO’s ‘Perry Mason’ revives the story of the famous criminal defense lawyer who uses his exceptional skills as a detective to help his clients. The first season of the series follows the origin story of the character before he jumps into law and gains notoriety for turning a case on its heels at the last minute. Starring Matthew Rhys, it is a gritty drama that offers a horrific crime in the wrapping of jazz music, stylish fedoras, and beautiful backdrops. If you love the show, then here’s the list of the crime dramas that you should watch next. You can find many of these movies on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.

6. The Alienist (2018- present)

A lot of the allure of ‘Perry Mason’ comes from its setting. It takes us back to the 1930s, getting rid of all the modern technologies that have made it easier to catch criminals. The show relies entirely on the good old detective tricks, depending solely on the flair of the titular character. ‘The Alienist’ takes this further back in time and we find ourselves in 1896 New York. Based on the book of the same name by Caleb Carr, the show follows a case of ritualistic killings of boy prostitutes. Dr. Laszlo Kreizler has to crack the case by understanding the pattern and the psychology of the killer, all the while, keeping his own sanity intact.

5. The Killing (2011-2014)

If it’s the neo-noir touch to Perry Mason’s story that got you hooked to the HBO series, then ‘The Killing’ should be your next binge. Based on the Swedish TV show of the same name, it stars Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman as the homicide detectives, Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder, who investigate gruesome crimes in Seattle. The story begins with the murder of a teenager and focuses on the secrets of her family as well as the effect of her case on the politics of the city.

4. True Detective (2014- present)

If it is the slow burn of ‘Perry Mason’ that keeps you invested in the story, then here is another HBO hit that you should watch. Created by Nic Pizzolatto, ‘True Detective‘ is an anthology series that focuses on one crime per season. The first season stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as the police detectives who follow a serial killer in Louisiana over 17 years. The series adopts the aura of true-crime and keeps you invested in the story with complicated characters who explore their own darkness while catching the criminals.

3. Fargo (2014- present)

Inspired by the Coen Brothers movie of the same name, ‘Fargo’ dabbles in crime with a punch of black comedy. Every season presents a new story and explores diverse characters through the lenses that distort the idea of good and bad for the audience. If one type of crime throughout a series bores you, then the anthology format of this show will certainly prove refreshing. It has received critical acclaim over the years, bagging multiple Emmy nominations and boasting an all-star cast every season.

2. Broadchurch (2013-2017)

A detective show is nothing without its detective, and ‘Perry Mason’ gives us a likable character in the form of Matthew Rhys’s Mason. The portrayal of Shea Whigham as his right-hand man gives us a Sherlock-Watson sort of equation and it is interesting to follow their adventures while maintaining an interest in the central case. Another show that depends a lot on such an angle is ‘Broadchurch’. One of the best crime dramas of recent times, it benefits from the chemistry of its magnetic lead pair, among other things. David Tennant and Olivia Colman play the roles of DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller who have to catch the killer of an 11-year-old boy.

1. Twin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017)

Everything else is a meaningless ornament in a detective show if its central mystery doesn’t keep its hold on you. ‘Perry Mason’ pulls us in with the gruesome murder of 1-year-old Charlie Dodson. While the series creates a charming picture of the LA of a bygone era, it also keeps us invested in the movement of the case. The mystery lures us further into its depths. If you want to go to darker places, you should watch ‘Twin Peaks’. No one tells a mystery quite like David Lynch, who creates a surreal genre-bending story, set in a small town, that keeps you on the edge of your seat.