As I delve deeper into the captivating world of Matty and her relentless pursuit of justice, I am struck by the profound depth of emotions she carries within. Her love for her child, tinged with sorrow and fueled by rage, is a testament to the primal bond between a mother and her offspring. It’s a love that transcends the ordinary, a love that is raw and savage in its intensity.
Instead of referring to it as a “reboot,” it’s important to note that the fresh CBS drama titled Matlock, featuring Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates, bears little resemblance to its original counterpart.
It’s no longer a hidden fact that Jennie Snyder Urman, the creator of “Jane the Virgin,” has once again impressed us with her creative prowess. In the revival of “Matlock,” Urman doesn’t merely replace Bates for Andy Griffith’s original Ben Matlock. Instead, she flips the script on its head, using a surprising opening twist to maintain the familiar while delivering the completely unexpected. The character of Bates’ Madeline “Matty” Matlock presents as folksy, not because it reflects her true nature, but due to societal pressures that prefer women of a certain age to be that way.
For Matty, the invitation serves as a means to leverage society’s underestimation of older women for a noble purpose: infiltrating the influential law firm Jacobson Moore to uncover crucial documents that could have removed opioids from their client’s market a decade ago, potentially sparing her addicted daughter’s life. To accomplish this, Matty metamorphoses herself into an older lawyer who, after her deceased husband’s gambling habits squandered their fortune, was compelled to resurrect her law degree to provide for herself and her teenage grandson.
At the start of the program, Matty secretly entered a meeting at Jacobson Moore to try and secure a job with them by presenting valuable information about one of their ongoing cases. When Julian, the founder’s son, questioned her source, she revealed her key evidence, although it seemed nobody was fully engaged in listening.
She notes a peculiar occurrence as women grow older: they tend to become remarkably less noticeable,” she begins, “followed by an insightful observation, ‘This can be advantageous because we often go unnoticed.’
To others, she appears as the humble, elderly lawyer Madeline Matlock. However, in reality, she is the affluent Madeline Kingston who is lovingly raising her grandson Alfie, played by Aaron D. Harris, with her vibrant and supportive husband Edwin, portrayed by Sam Anderson.
In her workplace, Matty gradually earns the admiration and confidence from her more youthful coworkers – the meticulous, ambitious Sarah (Leah Lewis) and the friendlier, working-class Billy (David Del Rio). They all work under and collaborate with legal prodigy Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), who Matty is investigating as a potential suspect. The other two key figures are Julian, Olympia’s ex and father of her twins, and his senior, one of the firm’s founders, portrayed by Emmy and Golden Globe winner Beau Bridges.
At the location, everyone falls for the trap, agreeing that Matty is indeed who she claims to be. As she moves steadily towards her objective, both Alfie and Edwin provide significant aid. Matty begins to feel more connected with her peers, particularly her superior Olympia. However, she continually runs the risk of exposing herself under the guise of maintaining her disguise. Meanwhile, the series presents engaging mysteries that frequently provoke thought-provoking moral and ethical dilemmas reflective of contemporary society.
Bates opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about her captivating new series, discussing why she accepted what could possibly be her last acting job and most crucially, how she managed to take on this role despite various constraints. Furthermore, she touched upon the multi-generational bond that is drawing viewers from different age groups.
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What made you want to do Matlock?
The main thing was the script, as always, and the twist of the end. When I read it, I realized that it wasn’t just an episodic — it had a serious story to tell, but also a mission that would run throughout the whole arc of the season. And so that very much attracted me. When I’m acting, I like to have something that has substance, that has meaning, something that I can really dig into. And then I met Jennie Urman, and I liked her tremendously, and I felt that we would have a good collaboration.
I assume you had no intentions of taking on a regular series.
It hadn’t crossed my mind before, but I was actually contemplating a semi-retirement and waiting to see what interesting opportunities might present themselves. So, I wasn’t actively seeking anything for a while. However, this recent development took me completely by surprise, and it still does given the impressive viewership numbers we’ve received recently. [Editor’s note: The show garnered the network’s best series premiere audience in five years]]. We’re all thrilled about everything, and CBS is equally excited. There have been some fantastic articles praising the network for their smart programming and marketing strategies. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a solid foundation supporting our show. It’s almost unbelievable; we can’t help but pinch ourselves. The crew and actors are overjoyed. Everyone says it when promoting a show, but this experience is truly unique compared to anything I’ve encountered before. I find myself in disbelief, especially at my age.
One of the things Matlock shows is that people can still be vibrant in their 70s.
For some time now, I’ve been open about my weight loss journey that spans over six years. In more recent times, I’ve made it a priority and almost reached my college weight. The coincidence of my improved health and the show happening was quite fortunate. I’m in great condition now, able to walk and breathe comfortably, unlike before on other shows where I needed to rest every few minutes. Regrettably, I allowed myself to gain weight over the years, which led to diabetes. This health issue served as a catalyst for me to focus on my well-being.
Your health is important, because Matty is quite active.
It’s unlikely that she could manage this task without being fit, as she’s returning to work after a decade, a challenge she hasn’t faced in years. Moreover, the journey she embarks on with her grandson seems healing for them both. They’ve been grieving over the loss of their daughter for so long, and this mission appears to be providing them with renewed energy and purpose.
The multi-generational element of the series is truly remarkable. In the show, Matty is portrayed with her grandson, as well as with her younger supervisor in Olympia and colleagues Billy and Sarah who are even more youthful. Unfortunately, we don’t witness much of this dynamic on screen due to targeted marketing strategies aimed at specific demographics.
She perceives these young individuals as reflecting what her deceased daughter might have achieved, given her passion for the Matlock show and aspiration to become a lawyer like her mom. Initially, she finds their distinct differences intriguing, even questioning if she can connect with them. Working in a law firm filled with lawyers of diverse ages, she is confronted by a world that has evolved significantly since her time. Some of the newer generation’s slang eludes her, and she’s uncertain about their generational label. Honestly, I’m not even certain if I’ve labeled it accurately.
In Olympia, she likely doesn’t anticipate encountering such a formidable opponent. I adore the diversity that this story offers. I appreciate that Senior, Beau’s character, is an older individual who has established his firm. Undoubtedly, she’s highly wary of him and Julian, but she assumes she will meet a charismatic lawyer like Julian. Thus, it’s a rich tapestry of characters from varying ages, which I believe is one reason why the story resonates with so many people. They are all from different backgrounds, and this diversity has ignited our enthusiasm. All of us have received calls and messages from friends or acquaintances, and they are all distinct individuals from diverse walks of life, much like the characters in the firm. Each person has found something within the show that resonates with them. That’s incredibly impactful to be able to connect with such a wide range of people.
As a devoted fan, I find myself immersed in the fascinating duality of a character. Madeline Matlock and Madeline Kingston aren’t just two names; they represent two distinct personas within the same individual.
Absolutely! The idea of portraying such a character that offers duality, a blend of mystery and allure, truly appeals to me as an actor. Matty has crafted this role in such a way that it allows for both incognito and charismatic expressions. This intriguing duality, where one woman embodies two distinct personalities, is thrilling and presents a unique challenge. It’s this aspect of the character that initially captivated me about the role.
One recurring theme throughout the show with Matty is the question of whether the results are worth the methods used. Pursuing the truth about who within the firm shielded Big Pharma, potentially leading to her daughter’s demise, is her main objective. However, in her pursuit, she develops genuine emotional bonds and finds herself engaging in deception at various stages.
I think that’s a real problem for her, and it’s something unexpected for her to have feelings. Certainly, her feelings for Olympia are growing tremendously, and she has to keep her own feelings in check since she doesn’t know whether Olympia is the person behind this. She also works with the kids, but I think she really is focusing on Senior and on Julian. It really eats at her. One of the episodes, she slams [Olympia’s] computer and says, “We’re not friends, we’re not friends, we’re not friends, we’re not friends.” But, on the other hand, she has to become close to Olympia and appears to be her friend. It’s very difficult just to manage her real feelings for Olympia against her deep, deep feelings for her daughter.
Indeed, I don’t have any children of my own and never have. I’ve never felt the desire to be a parent. Once, while conversing with a friend who is a mother, I asked her about the intense love she feels as a parent, to which she replied, “It’s raw.” Another woman I spoke with mentioned that anyone causing harm to her child would face severe consequences. This, combined with the fact that her daughter passed away due to an issue that could have been avoided if people hadn’t been so relentlessly selfish, and the research I conducted on pharmaceutical companies, particularly their underhanded tactics to promote and strengthen their products, was simply appalling. I believe this revelation stirred my friend’s determination to fight for what she believed was right in her daughter’s memory.
It’s heartening to observe Matty’s bond with her spouse, despite the fact that she deceives her colleagues by claiming she doesn’t have one. While we frequently witness older couples, we don’t usually come across a pairing like Matty and Edwin’s, which seems to be built on a strong long-term foundation.
Absolutely, I’m thrilled about our upcoming project. I adore Sam deeply, and it’s fascinating to discover we were classmates years ago, a fact I hadn’t recalled. I was overjoyed when he became my partner. His face radiates light, and his demeanor as a person is exceptional. He’s tender and considerate towards everyone. In our show, Edwin, he’s married to a woman with a dominant personality, and he provides her the comfort she needs. I believe it’s crucial to portray such relationships on screen. Many couples have long-lasting unions, some of whom I know personally. Their bonds have endured through trials and tribulations over the years. It makes me ponder about their experiences, as we don’t often see them depicted. Most people cherish their partners deeply, and our feelings for them keep our hearts vibrant until our last breath. As Anne Tyler once said in The Accidental Tourist, “It’s not if you love someone, it’s who you become when you’re with them; you love the person you become.” I can’t fathom what it’s like to be in a relationship as enduring as those I’ve witnessed, but I appreciate the opportunity to showcase such connections on television. It truly is enlightening.
It’s a pleasure to have you on our screens today! Having won an Oscar at 40, I’m eagerly hoping that you’ll take home the Leading Actress Emmy when you’re in your 70s.
Indeed, may that wish find its way to the heavens. It would be splendid if it were to happen. Skye Marshall, whom I’ve thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with, who portrays Olympia, made our last Emmys experience truly memorable. We attended and had a fantastic time. Here’s hoping we can do it again next year, with the entire show in tow. I must express my gratitude to Jennie as well. Her vision is what brought us here, and I marvel at how such a rich tapestry sprang from her mind. Watching it unfold and seeing audiences respond so positively gives me goosebumps.
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Initially, Matlock made its debut with a special preview on September 22, and later showed its pilot again on October 10. Now, the show has shifted to its usual time slot, which is every Thursday at 9 PM, on CBS.
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2024-10-18 05:27