As a seasoned gamer of legal dramas and suspenseful storylines, I must admit that the pilot episode of Matlock left me feeling rather indifferent – much like a game where you’ve reached level 10 but still haven’t unlocked any new abilities or boss battles. However, just as in those games when you stumble upon an unexpected secret room with a hidden treasure chest, the last five minutes of Matlock turned the entire experience on its head.
Spoilers are ahead for the series premiere of CBS’ Matlock reboot, starring Kathy Bates.
The much-anticipated revival of the classic show Matlock, initially slated for 2024, made its grand entrance on TV schedules. In fact, CBS decided to give it an early debut before settling into its regular time slot in October. With ample network promotion and keeping Kathy Bates from retiring, the series was expected to garner a massive audience for its premiere. True enough, many viewers, including myself, were eager to watch. However, I must admit that my initial reactions were underwhelmed… until the final five minutes delivered a surprising twist, leaving me excitedly looking up when Episode 2 would be aired.
Why I Initially Wasn’t Won Over By Matlock
From the get-go, Kathy Bates appeared to relish her character, Madeline “Matty” Matlock. The episode effectively depicted Matty’s hardships without resorting to explicit explanation. However, despite my initial impression, I soon realized that there might be more to discuss in the subsequent sections. Having watched numerous legal dramas throughout my life, even some with “Law” in their title, I struggled to find this particular case engaging, as it seemed like a routine, foreseeable mystery with an unremarkable ending. Intelligence alone doesn’t guarantee a successful series, as Matty undoubtedly possessed.
As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to be honest – the pilot of Matlock had me feeling like I was dealing with a carbon copy of Elsbeth, who I absolutely loved when her show premiered earlier this year. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t quite get hooked on Matlock, just staying at a lukewarm temperature. But here’s the kicker: once Matlock moves to its regular time slot next month, Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth will air right after it. Frankly, we don’t need two shows, do we? And let’s face it, Elsbeth is already fantastic on her own!
As a gamer putting down my controller, I’d say that Matlock’s pilot was decent enough to keep me entertained for an hour, but it didn’t exactly leave me eagerly waiting for the next episode. Since I haven’t seen the original series, the nostalgic winks were enjoyable, yet they didn’t significantly elevate my experience.
Initially, I thought I had Kathy Bates figured out in her latest series, but in the final moments, she surprised me – and probably the audience too. Kudos to Matlock for that unexpected twist! If you haven’t seen it yet, you can catch up on the series premiere by subscribing to Paramount+.
Those Last Five Minutes
Matty’s job security at Jacobson Moore law firm hinged on her ability to help Olympia win a case for an innocent man, despite Olympia not being too fond of her presence. Through the use of her expertise, straightforwardness, and networking with witnesses, Matty managed to secure her own office. She often discussed her financial struggles, strained relationship with her grandson, and less-than-ideal ex-husband in a down-to-earth manner, which made her more likable. Additionally, she quickly established rapport with Olympia’s other associates, Billy and Sarah, while avoiding creating hostility with Julian, who was soon to part ways with Olympia.
Although I’ve never watched the original Matlock, it still brought a smile to my face watching Billy and Sarah perform the theme song as Matty was about to board the bus, marking her departure from work for the day. Given her financial circumstances, it seemed plausible that she would be using public transportation instead of owning a car, didn’t it?
In just a short while on the bus, Matty stepped off unexpectedly after just one stop, leading her to a hidden alley where a luxurious car idled, ready to take her. The driver greeted her as “Mrs. Kingston” and presented a dazzling diamond ring, which she promptly wore. Upon reaching her mansion, she was warmly welcomed by her loving husband and adoring grandson. It turned out that the sweet old lady image she portrayed was nothing more than a clever disguise; even the pockets full of butterscotch candies were part of this deception.
However, the intricate deception – which extended to her grandson creating a phony LinkedIn profile for her – was just part of the larger disclosure. It’s important to note that she hadn’t been deceiving earlier in the episode when she mentioned her daughter had died due to drugs. Instead, she tricked her way into a job at this specific law firm because one of the lawyers had concealed documents that could have removed opioids from the market ten years ago, thus potentially preventing her daughter’s death.
She’d whittled her suspects down to three: Olympia, Julian, or Julian’s senior counterpart, who was a highly influential figure at the company. Matty is determined to uncover the truth! Admittedly, I should have anticipated it given that the teaser was synced with Britney Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again,” with the repeated line “I’m not that innocent.” Yet, I’m relieved I didn’t. The unexpected turn of events made for an enjoyable surprise, and I can’t wait to catch the next episode.
Unfortunately, the wait for the next episode is going to be more than just a week. Specifically, “Matlock” will air as scheduled on its usual time slot, with Episode 2 airing on Thursday, October 17 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on CBS. This will be sandwiched between “Ghosts” Season 4, which starts at 8:30 p.m. ET and “Elsbeth” at 10 p.m. ET.
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2024-09-23 04:37