Matlock Series Premiere Review: Kathy Bates Wows

Critic’s Rating: 5 / 5.0

5

After over fifty years in the entertainment industry, Kathy Bates is finally hanging up her hat. Still, she’s doing it in style by giving audiences one last iconic role in the revival of Matlock!

If you read my previous article about the differences between the original and the reboot, you know there wasn’t a lot of cross-over in the pilot. Not even one cameo.

That being said, there was a nice little reference to Perry Mason. Dean Hargrove created both shows and followed a similar format of identifying the perpetrator in the most dramatic fashion during a courtroom scene. We’ll have to settle for the original Matlock being just a show to reference in the new Matlock.

If you’ve watched Matlock Season 1 Episode 1, you know Kathy Bates won’t be delivering the criminals to justice in the court of law. Not yet, anyway.

Unlike Ben Matlock, Madeline Matlock Has To Earn Her Keep And Climb That Corporate Ladder

Unlike the original Matlock, Kathy Bates’ Madeline “Matty” doesn’t have her own successful practice. Nope, she’s rejoining the workforce after thirty years of retirement.

From the jump, the show makes it clear during the coffee shop scene that Matty is living her best “invisible old lady” life. Yet, even with all that confidence, she still falters quite a bit.

She messed up interviewing the sex worker Olympia needed for her case, and despite it being a possible solid ruse, those who watched the episode to its end knew that reaction was legitimate.

With so many glaring differences between the settings and characters, I wonder why they even use the name Matlock at all. Was it to capitalize on the franchise?

Still, watching Matty quickly recover and pull a fast one at the last minute is why we watch shows like this. If Matty isn’t an active courtroom lawyer, that may be what the series pivots to.

Unlike Ben Matlock (Andy Griffith), Madeline Matlock has to earn her keep and climb that corporate ladder. Especially since the stakes are much higher than the case-of-the-week format of the original.

The Bees Are Buzzing Around Queen Olympia, Who Is Ready To Sting At Any Moment

Within the first few minutes of the episode, we met the hive and the worker bees buzzing around their queen, Olympia. The show immediately laid the groundwork for plenty of interpersonal work-related drama. We love a prestigious law firm riddled with people who bring their baggage to work. Suits, anyone?

Lawyers are meant to argue for a living, but is a conference room company meeting the place to air your issues? How are we going to take these lawyers seriously when they can’t handle their own petty problems?

Oddly enough, at the center of everything is Olympia. She’s taken Matty involuntarily under her wing. She used her to manipulate her ex-husband, who they both work with. On top of that, she’s having an affair with everyone’s boss. That girl is mess, mess, messy!

Weirdly, the ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), doesn’t seem like a bad guy. Sure, that move he pulled putting Matty and Olympia together was a bit underhanded, but Olympia had just requested more assistance.

However, during every other interaction between the soon-to-be-divorced couple, Julian was soft-spoken and level-headed. I’m glad the series isn’t going with the cliched evil ex trying to ruin the other’s life. Save that for Tell Me Lies.

Madeline Matlock Should Be Allowed To Work But Not At Everyone Else’s Expense

With all the workplace shenanigans, it’ll be a miracle if Madeline gets any screen time at all. At least she won’t be alone since the show seems determined to keep her glued to the two tiny attorneys.

As Olympia’s little lawyer lackeys, Billy and Sarah will probably garner a fair amount of screen time. It’s a good thing they are likable. I wasn’t sure about Sarah, but she showed genuine compassion on the designated crying balcony despite her ambitious nature.

Although, aren’t all balconies really for crying? What other reason would you need to look out over what is essentially a fancy porch? I digress.

Madeline is far more emotional than Ben Matlock and isn’t afraid to show her vulnerability. Sure, Ben had a soft spot, but Matty seemed to wear her heart on her sleeves.

I’m not sure how effective a lawyer she will be if she can’t focus when the situation calls for it. Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) was right when she read Madeline for filth about why particular protocols are in place when it comes to working at a law firm.

It’s a catch-22 because Matty should be allowed to work, but not if she is a liability to everyone else.

It’s a hard decision to juggle with. Then again, maybe Matty is a little sharper than she seems and likes to play her cards close to her chest.

She’s a clever one, that Madeline Matlock. Or, should we say, Madeline Kingston!

Why Even Call The Show Matlock If There Is No Real Connection To The Original?

You didn’t think we’d get through this whole review and not go over that reality-bending twist at the end, did you? TV Fanatic has your back because we were just as flabbergasted!

So, not only is Madeline clever like a fox, but she probably owns a few furs as well. How crazy were those last few minutes?

Madeline catches a bus, gets off at the first stop, and then turns the corner to her chauffeur. Finally, Miss Money-Bags rolls up in a town car to her mansion, where her loving husband and grandchild await her.

As incredible as that was, there are so many possible continuity errors. Since Madeline was a lawyer for many years, there will be records of her everywhere, including her face.

That means, while Kathy Bates is on the hunt for the lawyer she blames for her daughter’s death, she’ll have to keep covering her tracks. That’s a lot to take on for someone who doesn’t move as fast anymore.

Regarding pilots, Matlock delivered a full-force first step in the right direction. However, I have to wonder again why they called this series Matlock. Was it to distract from the real story?

We have an elderly woman returning to her career as a lawyer to hunt down the attorney responsible for keeping the opioids on the market that killed her daughter. What about that says OG Matlock?

Regardless, I’m buckled in and ready for this ride. To prove it, let me go ahead and cast my vote for Beau Bridges’ character. It’s always the sweet and wholesome characters who you don’t want to believe could ever do anything immoral.

Then again, this series is all about superseding expectations. That Madeline Matlock/Kingston is one wily woman. She doesn’t just have a card up her sleeve. She has the whole damn deck.

What do you think about the reboot not having any connections to the original?

Who could the lawyer Madeline is looking for be?

Please drop a comment below to let me know what you liked about this or any other show, and join me again when I review the next episode of Matlock!