It’s been over a decade since attorney Ben Matlock captivated audiences with his street-smart wit and down-home charm on the courtroom drama that bore his name.
Now, Matlock is back—but with more than a few surprises in store. Kathy Bates steps into the lead role as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, reprising the character for a new generation in this reimagining from showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman.
While the setting and premise may feel familiar for fans of the original series, this Matlock quickly reveals itself as a modern legal drama with compelling characters at its heart. Matty is a septuagenarian grandmother who finds herself returning to law practice after many years away, relying on her experience and perceptiveness to prove herself at a prestigious New York firm. Bates brings warmth and humor to the role, along with an observant quality that allows Matty to connect with those around her in insightful ways.
With its cast of diverse associates and cases tackling relevant issues, Matlock updates the formula just enough while still honoring what made the original a hit. Now streaming on CBS, it offers an entertaining glimpse at how one character’s fortitude and folksy charm can cut through in any era.
Reuniting with an Old Friend
Way back in the mid-80s, TV viewers were introduced to attorney Ben Matlock and his tricky brand of lawyering down in Atlanta. Played masterfully by Andy Griffith, Matlock won over audiences with his folksy charm and habit of catching witnesses in their own traps. The show focused on solving a new case each week while offering glimpses into Ben’s personal life. It became a real hit for over a decade.
Now the world is getting reacquainted with the Matlock name, though this time with a twist. Stepping into the role is none other than the incredible Kathy Bates. She plays Madeline “Matty” Matlock, who finds herself back in the courtroom after many years on the sidelines. See, following the tragic loss of her daughter, Matty was left raising her grandson Alfie alone. Facing financial struggles, the now 75-year-old Matty realizes her legal skills may be the solution.
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Her big break comes at the esteemed Jacobson Moore law firm in New York. Using some fast-talking, Matty manages to land a temporary spot on Olympia’s team. Played with passion by Skye P. Marshall, Olympia is a powerful attorney who prefers tricky cases the others dismiss. She’s skeptical of Matty at first due to her age but comes to appreciate her talents.
Rounding out the cast are Sarah and Billy, two junior associates who assist Olympia and Matty in the field. Sarah, portrayed by a scene-stealing Leah Lewis, can be overly ambitious at times. Billy, brought to life vividly by David Del Rio, provides some much-needed levity. Together, this group tackles an array of complex legal challenges each week while their own lives evolve. Through it all, Matty acts as the heart, teaching her coworkers a thing or two along the winding path.
Stepping into the Courtroom Once More
At the center of Matlock is the legendary Kathy Bates and her truly captivating performance as the show’s lead, Madeline “Matty” Matlock. This widow in her 70s seems an unlikely candidate to return to law practice after so many years.
But as Bates brings her to life, Matty’s charm, wit, and deep well of experience shine through. She maneuvers around the courtroom with delight, tapping into an invisible power as the usually unnoticed woman.
Bates ensures we feel every emotion of this complex character. We see Matty’s joy in outwitting opponents, her sympathy for clients, and her flashes of hurt when facing ageist dismissal. Yet her perceptiveness also lets her connect with anyone. In Matty, Bates has crafted one of the most vibrant and heartfelt roles of her storied career.
Stepping alongside Matty is Skye P. Marshall’s Olympia Lawrence. As a Black female attorney, Olympia faces pressures Matty can’t imagine. But Marshall plays her as exuding quiet dignity and passion. She respects Matty’s skills while not afraid to challenge the veteran. Their debates entertain as much as their teamwork.
Rounding out the cast are Leah Lewis’ Sarah and David Del Rio’s Billy. Where Sarah pushes ambition to a fault, Lewis’ comedic timing ensures she entertains. And Del Rio uses Billy’s easy grin to offer their crew balance. and cases, this gritty cast brings humor, humanity, and hope to even the most complex of modern issues.
From its leads to guest stars, Matlock assembles a dream team of performers to breathe life into captivating legal drama. In the talented hands of Bates, Marshall, and company, this reimagined courtroom finds as much fun as justice.
Stepping Into Another Case
For longtime fans of legal dramas, the format embraced by Matlock will feel quite familiar. Following a now-standard procedure, each episode introduces a new criminal case for our team at Jacobson Moor law firm to tackle.
We usually kick things off by discovering the situation at hand. Then it’s time for Matty, Olympia, and the others to get investigating. Cue the interrogations of witnesses, research into suspects’ motives, and plenty of debate over strategy sessions. Piece by piece, they work to unravel the mysteries.
Of course, things rarely go entirely smoothly. There are always a few surprises or dead ends along the way. But by the closing moments, you can trust Matty’s folksy charm and sharp mind to piece the clues together and crack the case. Satisfying resolutions keep viewers engaged week to week.
Beyond solving crimes, characters’ personal lives also unfold episode by episode. We watch Olympia balance high-profile work with parenting. And Matty finds herself teaching new tricks to her savvier but less experienced colleagues.
This blend of interweaving plots ensures substories can progress independently. Yet the fun is in how they occasionally collide, like when past disputes resurface in the middle of depositions.
Matlock understands the pleasure of this formula while evolving it with depth and heart. The cases may change, but tuning in to watch another be solved never gets old—especially with such a brilliant cast leading the way.
Finding Humor in Humanity
Despite plunging into heavy themes, Matlock never loses its wit. Perhaps that’s what makes difficult topics more bearable. Through it all, this reboot maintains a pleasant lightness of touch.
Kathy Bates deserves much credit here. As Matty, her warmth and humor feel effortless. Whether laughing at generational mixups or distracting tense clients with homespun stories, her charm lifts any scene. And co-stars like Leah Lewis and Skye P. Marshall add perfectly timed quips.
But don’t mistake fun for frivolity. Matlock acknowledges society’s roughest patches, from drug crises to workplace prejudice, with empathy. It spotlights such issues not to scold but spark thought. And by peeking behind cases to characters’ humanity, the show nudges us to understand rather than judge.
We witness Mattie lifting downtrodden spirits with candies and kind words and Marshall bringing fiery defense to unjust causes. Their passion feels all the more moving played for laughs. Even addictions and microaggressions, painted sensitively, not sensationalized, become tragedies yet treated without tragedy.
So while humor remains the constant, its warmth guards room for reflection. Through relatable folks in a familiar format, Matlock spreads compassion disarmingly as smiles. And perhaps that’s the real art—translating life’s difficulties and triumphs into stories where all find belonging. The heart swelling through simple humanism is what makes this reboot dramatically rich and invites us all to keep each other company a while longer.
Seeing Fresh Faces in Familiar Places
In updating Matlock for modern times, the show invites new issues through its doors. The opioid crisis gripping communities nationwide finds representation, handled wisely with empathy over sensationalism. And the prejudices still faced by the elderly and people of color open discussions, placing valued characters in positions viewers don’t often see.
Of course, for fans familiar with the original 80s drama, sprinkles of nostalgia scatter throughout. Matty herself remains a superfan of Ben Matlock’s old cases. She even borrows his trick of letting others underestimate her perceptive legal mind.
But this is no mere copy riding coattails. While Matty shares her precursor’s surname, her identity evolves immensely. As a widow raising her grandson alone, she brings challenges the original never touched. And the law firm setting replaces gritty Atlanta with bustling New York, bringing new cultural flavors.
It’s this seamless balance allowing old and new to enhance one another that makes Matlock refreshing, not relying. Nostalgia acts as a warm blanket, not shackles, helping the reboot feel both classic yet progressive. Focus stays on characters rather than nostalgia for its own sake.
In Matty especially, the reimagining finds its soul. Kathy Bates brings a spry senior whose charm opens eyes as she spots injustice others miss. Through it all shines rare television led by a septuagenarian, letting her years empower rather than hinder.
Some may come for old memories. But all leave with new ones and insight into lives too often ignored on screen. By meeting expectations Matlock established while surpassing them, this revised version proves itself a true successor—and one worth introducing to audiences new and old.
Matlock’s Invitation Back to the Courtoom
Over the past few pages, I’ve gone into detail, covering the complex characters, skilled cast, and time-tested format bringing Matlock to life each week. But more than any separate piece, what resonates is the heart at the core of this reimagined legal drama.
Crafted with care by showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman and anchored by a tour-de-force performance from Kathy Bates, Matlock shines brightest in its ability to blend humor and humanity. It illuminates modern issues while also bringing warmth through the bond between its vivid ensemble. And at the center stands the indomitable figure of Madeline Matlock, a character so full-bodied she welcomes you like family.
For those reminiscing fondly of Andy Griffith’s original portrayal or simply hungering for a new compelling series, Matlock makes good on its promise. Cleverly honoring what came before while evolving in interesting directions, this rebooted courtroom offers an entertaining glimpse worth your time. And like its predecessor, its folksy charms may keep you returning to see justice served week after week.
Though the first installments alone prove quite the compelling start, I suspect this is only the beginning of Matlock’s gripping legal saga. Fans, both fresh and familiar, seem invited back for the long run.
The Review
Matlock
In reviving the esteemed Matlock name for a modern audience, CBS' reimagined legal drama proves itself a thoughtful and entertaining successor to its predecessor. Anchored by a tour de force lead performance from Kathy Bates and bolstered by her dynamic co-stars, Matlock balances nostalgia with timely social commentary through its complex characters. While paying homage to its 1980s roots, the revamped series crafts its own identity with wit, heart, and just the right measure of suspenseful fun. For diverse and compelling storytelling that honors the past while inviting both new fans and old back to the courtroom each week, Matlock deserves high praise.
PROS
- Captivating performance from Kathy Bates in a leading role perfect for her talents
- Fascinating character-driven storylines that explore social issues with nuance
- Witty and heartwarming writing that balances legal drama with humor
- Strong ensemble cast, bringing new dimension to the familiar case -of-the-week format
- Pays homage while updating nostalgia of original series for modern audiences.
CONS
- Character development could potentially become stale relying too heavily on tropes.
- The long-term plot arc remains to be seen if it can sustain viewers beyond casework.
- Weekly format may not be for binge-watching and risk losing some storyline impact.
