Ah, the old Matlock who isn’t really Matlock trick. Who could have possibly seen that coming? After all, the series is called “Matlock.” There’s nothing like drawing in a crowd with a distinguished name only to reveal that no such name exists.
Fortunately, the new Matlock isn’t half bad if you can mentally finagle your way around and through a few plot twists here and there. Gone are the days of simplicity, with intriguing, week-by-week courtroom dramas.
But, despite the new look, vibe, and Kathy Bates (one of the greatest actresses of all time, in my oh-so-humble opinion), there are some legitimate questions worth asking. This is especially true of the entire premise of that show.
Complexity for the sake of complexity isn’t always as complex as it seems. Does that make sense? Or, maybe it’s not such a big deal after all. For those not in the know (spoiler alert!), “Madeline Matlock” is not really Matlock, nor is she related to the original Matlock in any way.
While that sets the series up for a twist-heavy undertaking, it does present some intriguing questions.
No One Recognizes the Powerhouse, Wealthy Lawyer?
On its face, the question is easy enough to dismiss. After all, how many uber-millionaire lawyers would you recognize?
One of the most renowned lawyers on the planet is Gloria Allred. Does the name ring a bell? Face? Probably not. However, we’re talking about lawyer circles here.
Now, Kathy Bates isn’t playing a fictional version of Gloria Allred. There are differing degrees of fame. The thing is, even a moderately successful attorney is a lot more recognizable amongst her colleagues.
What are the odds that none of the lawyers, judges, paralegals, politicians, etc., recognize the fact that ‘Matty’ Matlock is a fraud?
There are certainly a few characters sprinkled throughout that are more capable of picking up on a familiar face.
Jacobson Moore is not a hole-in-the-wall legal firm either. It’s a powerful law firm — powerful enough to hide documented evidence behind an arm of the opioid epidemic. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman does offer an answer to the plot hole allegations:
“She was a lawyer, and she’s in a totally different area of the law. She was sort of at the end of her career, so she’s coming in under the radar. She has a totally different name. She is counting on the fact that she won’t be recognized. And who knows if that holds true.”
Jennie has a decent point, and her answer alludes to the possibility that Matty (whose real name is Madeline Kingston, by the way) will eventually dissolve as an effective cover.
Kathy Bates is Good at Selling Matlock
Within the framework of Matlock, Matty is selling the role of a down-on-her-luck lawyer with a depressing back story. Of course, the believability derives largely from the performance of Kathy Bates, who has lost nothing at the age of 76.
It diminishes the show’s problematic premise. If Kathy Bates can’t sell acting like a lawyer who is acting like an undistinguished lawyer, the entire assertion falls apart.
Kingston infiltrates Jacobson Moore and opens a series of sad, pathetic windows into her life, all of which are carefully constructed lies. She does so in a relatively innocuous way.
She’s a grandmother, and most people, while saddened to hear these little tidbits of Kingston history, will dismiss these stories as the orchestrations of life. People get old and die, while some of their closest relatives go before them.
It’s nothing out of the ordinary or wildly improbable. It effectively works on the characters within the story and, thus, on the audience as well.
While none of this eliminates the more cunning characters from picking up on Matty’s deception, it’s enough to sell the story. This is why Matlock is a relatively popular series, with season 2 already green-lit.
Shae Banfield and Olympia are the Audience (For Now)
Shae and Olympia are the two characters most likely to pick up on the fact that not everything is what it seems with the new hire.
If newcomers to 2024’s Matlock are worried about the show’s premise, they will comfortably live vicariously through Shae and/or Olympia.
Again, it places Matty in a difficult position while making it easier for the audience to take the bait of a potentially poorly-written story. It may not seem like such a shoddy script if either Olympia or Shae eventually catches on.
Plus, there’s the added benefit of good acting within moral dilemmas. Matty is friends with Olympia, so lying to her has its own internal consequence, adding a layer of realism and relatability to the story.
Add the fact that Matty’s family is involved in the deception, and you now have a group of people walking a moral tightrope. The relationships in Matlock feel real and deserved, upping the consequence of failure.
In a sense, the story’s biggest Achilles heel may just take care of itself.
The Real Issue Matlock Faces
It’s honestly a two-fold contention. For starters, outside of Matty’s deception, the courtroom drama is meh — certainly not on par with the original. It’s pretty standard stuff here.
However, with the show taking a different tack with the whole ‘Matlock is not a Matlock’ twist, courtroom procedurals may not be the defining aspects of this new approach. So, what does Matlock want to be?
With a second season already in the pre-planning stages, here’s to hoping someone can answer effectively.
The second problem is a tiny little corner filled with showrunners and the remainder of the room covered in wet paint. Despite the twists, complex relationships, moral conundrums, and pretenses, the story is about as linear as it comes.
Matty is out for revenge, with her eyes set on three individuals within the Jacobson Moore empire. When vengeance is served, what next? Back to the regular, weekly court dramas? A whole new tale of infiltration and subterfuge?
How often can a show rinse and repeat? Can it successfully reiterate what came before? Doubtful. The original Matlock is Matlock. Kathy Bates may be smart as a whip and one hell of an actress, but Matlock she is not.
From the looks of it, she’s not looking to become Matlock outside of her immediate goal, which must end at some point. Matlock is more of an inspiration to her that precedes her current antagonistic adventure.
This is the show’s real problem, and it needs to be solved soon.
Matlock is popular enough to deserve a second outing, but only if the showrunners can develop something worthy of it.
What do you think? Does the premise of a high-powered lawyer masquerading as a mediocre has-been ring true, or is this all a little too silly a premise?
Let us know in the comments!
