As a seasoned viewer of legal dramas, I must say that the proposed Matlock reboot has certainly piqued my interest with its intriguing premise and unexpected twists. The character of Madeline Matlock, portrayed as a sharp-witted, manipulative, and enigmatic figure, is a far cry from the original Ben Matlock’s grizzled charm.
In a TV world primarily catering to the 18-49 age group for pricing ads, the fresh CBS legal drama series Matlock, featuring actress Kathy Bates who’s nearly 76, is bucking the trend, at least if we go by how its debut episode drew the biggest series premiere audience for CBS in over half a decade. In Matlock, Bates portrays Madeline Matlock, a character who was once an attorney but is now supposedly inexperienced and widowed, yet shares a surname with the famous fictional defense lawyer Ben Matlock, played by Andy Griffith in the original Matlock series that aired on NBC from 1986 to 1992, and then on ABC from 1992 to 1995.
In the fresh start of the revived “Matlock” series, now highly acclaimed with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, the character Madeline lands a position at a big law firm. Her coworkers soon grow to trust her, oblivious to Madeline’s hidden background and intentions – a mystery that unfolds gradually until the climax of the pilot episode. For Andy Griffith’s successor, Julie Bates, who had contemplated retirement before signing on for this reboot, the show offers a platform to display her versatile acting talents. As Madeline, she skillfully portrays an innocent old lady, later revealing that this seemingly harmless facade is actually part of a clever plan – one in which Madeline’s true intentions remain hidden until it’s too late for anyone to anticipate them.
Kathy Bates’ Matlock Has a Spiritual Connection with the Iconic Television Character
In the remake of Matlock, Madeline Matlock isn’t Ben Matlock’s real daughter or a resurrection of Andy Griffith’s character from the original series. Instead, she exists in a universe where Ben Matlock was a made-up lawyer on the original Matlock show that ran from 1986 to 1995. Even though they aren’t connected to the fictional attorney, Madeline adopts the quirky charisma of the fictional Matlock, along with her work in corporate espionage.
To secure a position at a well-known law firm specializing in corporate law, Madeline presents herself as a somewhat clumsy but insightful attorney. She explains that she was compelled to come out of retirement and rejoin the workforce due to her ex-spouse squandering her retirement funds through gambling. During her introductions to her new coworkers, Madeline mentions that her surname often brings comparisons to the fictional character Ben Matlock from the 1980s and 1990s TV series. However, Madeline’s connection to the original show extends beyond this casual comparison, as she has used the series as a foundation for crafting her own fictitious persona.
From my perspective as a movie enthusiast, I’ve come to learn that everything about who I thought was Madeline Matlock – the attorney, the grieving mother – was nothing but a façade. Even her last name, supposedly honoring the legendary Ben Matlock, turned out to be false. As it turns out, my deceitful persona, with its questionable moral compass reminiscent of Ben’s sometimes ambiguous legal methods, has led me to unknowingly embody the character I was trying to imitate more than I ever could have imagined.
The Matlock Reboot Isn’t Your Parents’ Matlock
Originally, the Matlock series showcased Ben Matlock, a highly influential southern lawyer with an impressive courtroom reputation, who specialized in murder cases. His homespun demeanor masked a brilliant legal intellect, and he consistently won every case. Conversely, the Matlock reboot is centered around Madeline, a struggling ex-lawyer working at a corporate firm. She’s a widow, debt-ridden, and inexperienced, but her profound understanding of human behavior often surpasses her legal knowledge. Through her straightforward approach, charm, and keen observation skills, Madeline swiftly becomes indispensable to her colleagues.
Instead of gruff courtroom attorney Ben Matlock, Madeline presents herself as a trusted advisor, maternal figure, and mind reader who subtly influences others while seeming to decipher their thoughts. In a conversation between Madeline and her superior, Olympia, the brief touching of hands between Olympia and another lawyer hints at an affair to Madeline.
In a more straightforward manner: Madeline exhibits similar characteristics to Annie Wilkes, the character played by Kathy Bates who won an Academy Award for her role in the 1990 thriller film Misery. This is because Madeline shares Annie’s secretive deceit and excessive obsession, just as Annie was fixated on fictional author Paul Sheldon, much like how Madeline is fixated on Ben Matlock.
Madeline Matlock Isn’t Who She Appears to Be
Initially, the reboot pilot of the show “Matlock” follows a conventional path for a legal TV drama. However, it stands out slightly due to the unique dynamic between the senior character Madeline Matlock and her younger counterparts, some of whom weren’t even born during the initial run of the original “Matlock” series.
In an unexpected turn of events, the pilot episode unveils a jaw-dropping plot twist: Madeline Matlock, as it turns out, is none other than Madeline Kingston – a wealthy woman who dons a diamond ring and travels in luxury limousines to her grand mansion shared with her accomplice grandson and husband. They had orchestrated the creation of a fictitious online work history and profile for Madeline Matlock to facilitate her infiltration into the law firm, Jacobson & Moore.
The significance of this disclosure is amplified by the clues that Madeline scatters throughout the first episode, notably when she mentions having had a daughter who passed away due to a drug overdose. Interestingly, Madeline’s daughter was an admirer of Ben Matlock and the original Matlock show, which sparked her desire to pursue a career as a lawyer before her untimely demise.
In this storyline, Madeline secretly investigates Jacobson & Moore to uncover the partner who withheld crucial documents that could have stopped the opioid crisis, which tragically claimed her daughter’s life. This intrigue lays the groundwork for a suspenseful first season, as Madeline skillfully deceives her coworkers, managing to earn their trust without them realizing that she aims to bring them down.
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2024-10-01 02:01