Girl, we wore wigs during the show! CBS and the team behind Matlock pulled not one but two quick movies for viewers, and they did it very cleverly.
Kathy Bates is a liar, which makes us love her even more! To be honest, the twist at the end of the premiere blew my mind. But now the series has another possible problem to address.
Now that the pilot has been taped, everyone should know about the big twist in the Matlock reboot. In short, this isn’t really a reboot or remake.
The question now is, how did the network, actors, and writers pull off such an elaborate production? More importantly, how will audiences feel about this turn?
The culprit is none other than the Creator Himself
If we’re going to play the “blame game,” then we need to start with the woman who wrote the pilot and developed the series, Jennie Snyder Urman.
The creator and showrunner told Deadline, “That was part of the original pitch. When I thought about what I would do if I were to adapt this title, I thought, what would be different?
“Of course, I originally planned to start with a female protagonist, but I didn’t want to just do a boring gender-swapped version.
“So, I started thinking she might go by the name Matlock. I gave myself a challenge. I could keep telling the audience that they underestimated her, but in the end they were fooled.
So while this episode ends with a twist, it’s the beginning of the entire series. This certainly explains why this setting is so perfect.
This Gemini gem has been rooted in the entertainment industry for more than two decades. Suffice it to say, she’s put in a lot of time to create some incredible shows.
For example, if you’ve seen “Jane the Virgin,” “Reigns,” or “The Possession,” you’re already familiar with Ullman’s work. This talented woman is a fan of female-led shows.
These twists serve more than just shock value
While this quote gives us some insight into how the big twist came about, what about the twist at the beginning of the pilot? It’s disappointing, of course, but would the final twist have worked without it?
I understand why the series chose to go in the direction it did. It allows for a completely new story without having to worry about the continuity of the original story.
As for how Ullman hopes to solve the mystery, I’d say the story needs as much focus as possible, “I hope the mystery we’re working on is 100 percent solved by the end of the season. That will give us new ones.” question.
Kathy Bates’ Madeline will be a central focus rather than a plot device connecting two very different shows. In fact, all the reboot does is treat the original series like we do in the real world.
Andy Griffith’s Matlock is a classic, but the series has been dormant for quite some time. Kathy Bates’ Matlock is pursuing optics that are accessible to a younger generation.
At the same time, it completely removes the stigma of gender-swapping the beloved classic series. Honestly, if the haters were coming for Kathy Bates, we would be riding at dawn!
The big twist comes from real events
The big twist at the end of the first episode of Matlock season 1 didn’t just sever any connection between the original and the reboot. It gives Madeleine Matlock/Kingston the push her character needs to sell a well-conceived story.
With such a specific motivation for this character, we can’t help but wonder where Jenny Snyder Ullman came up with such a unique approach and angle.
Luckily, the creator of the series has been very vocal about her inspiration, “I read an article about a law firm that was sanctioned for hiding documents during the opioid crisis, and it really stuck with me. .
“I had read all these books before Dopesick, and I remember trying to get the rights early on, so it was all in the back of my mind.
“You never know what the story is going to be like, how the synapses are going to connect in your brain.
“Why would a woman like this want to go back to a law firm? What would be deep and meaningful? And then, the story unfolded. So, I was selling it from beginning to end.
The Matlock reboot is clearly close to the producer’s heart, and it shows in the way she’s crafted this incredible story.
Reboot or not, Kathy Bates’ ‘Matlock’ is a great show
Ultimately, the twists and departures from the original may make this new Matlock memorable. First, we’ll get to know the many sides to the character of Kathy Bates.
We’ll get to see her character Matlock at work, but the fun part may be when she’s at home as Madeleine Kingston plotting against Jacobson and Moore.
However, fans of the new show shouldn’t feel too comfortable. If the network and producers have already given us two quick movies, they’ll probably do it again.
So while the reboot won’t give fans of the original the shot of nostalgia they were hoping for, Matlock is still an incredible series with a story worth telling.
Considering the hype generated by the pilot episode, there’s a good chance Kathy Bates will stay on for a while.
The producer spoke highly of the actress, “Being able to witness her creative process and her deep knowledge of the script was a dream come true.
“It was a real honor to work with her and have her bring rigor to the words that the writers and I wrote. It was inspiring.
“For such a complex character, you need a skilled director because a lot of times she’s telling the audience one thing, but I needed her eyes to tell the audience something else.”
It sounds like we have a lot of good hands behind the wheel, and I’ll still be keeping an eye out for clues and Easter eggs. Regardless of whether the CBS series is a reboot or a remake, it’s still a very good show.
How do you feel about Matlock now, knowing that twists and turns were always part of the plan?
Which Madeleine do you like better? Matlock or Kingston?
Let me know in the comments below, and please join me again as I share more insights into your favorite shows!
Watch Matlock online
