It’s ironic that a show about a woman trying to avenge her daughter’s death from an opioid overdose is so addictive, but here we are.
Kathy Bates’s Matlock is one of the most popular new shows of the 2024 season, and for good reason. People loved her undercover assignments, raw talent, and the twists and turns in each episode.
If you like this show, there are many other legal dramas worth watching, dating back to the late 1980s.
The original Matlock (1986 – 1995)
The original Matlock was very different from Kathy Bates’ version, but if you haven’t seen the ’80s version in a while, you might like it better now because you can compare it to our Matlock.
Andy Griffith’s Matlock is arguably a reboot of Perry Mason, or at least based on it. Like the legendary Raymond Burr, Ben Matlock was a defense attorney who dedicated his life to defending innocent clients and often getting the guilty party to plead guilty on the witness stand.
It was part of the golden age of cozy suspense novels, when light-hearted shows featuring non-professional detectives were popular. Every week someone is falsely accused of murder, and Matlock steps in to save them.
Of course, Kathy Bates’ Madeleine Kingston is a fan, which is why she goes by the alias Matlock. Watching the original gives you more insight into why she chose Ben Matlock as her alter ego.
Like Madeline, Ben Matlock is a soft-spoken old man from the Deep South. In his case, it was specifically stated that he practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia.
For both of them, that gentle Southern charm was just a facade that led people to think they were too ignorant to understand lies and manipulation.
Gaining a deeper understanding of Southern stereotypes helps them gain the suspect’s trust and gather the information they need to prove their case against the real villain.
Watch the original Matlock online
Los Angeles Law (1986 – 1994)
L.A. Law was the most authoritative lawyer show of the 1980s, and without it, the genre might not have thrived.
This classic legal drama has a much faster pace and a younger cast. There was even a young Jimmy Smits. If his existence now seems destined to be a one-season wonder, he was once a TV star worthy of validation.
L.A. Law offers plenty of courtroom drama similar to the cases Olympia hears in Matlock each week, some of which are heartbreaking cases on controversial topics, such as a gay man with AIDS who died out of mercy The case that killed his lover.
If you enjoyed the courtroom aspect of Matlock, you’ll love the cases in L.A. Law.
There’s also a lot of personal drama that calls to mind Madeline learning about the lives of her colleagues as she investigates Jacobson and Moore’s cover-up.
Watch LA Law online
Practice (1997 – 2004)
The Practice is one of the most character-centric legal dramas in television history.
This classic lawyer drama focuses on the professional and personal lives of attorneys at Downer Law Firm. The company is led by Bobby Downer (Dylan McDermott), who often changes the rules to help clients out of trouble.
This is the kind of law firm that could easily do what Jacobson and Moore did, unless Bobby’s colleagues talk him out of his worst impulses.
Courtroom battles are usually secondary, but this show has its fair share of eccentric judges, making the legal story very interesting.
After “The Internship” ended, it was spun off as “Boston Legal,” which also captivated Matlock fans for its strong characters, bizarre cases and courtroom battles.
Watch practice online
Boston Legal (2004-2008)
“Boston Legal” is the sequel to “The Practice,” starring James Spader and William Shatner.
Shatner plays Danny Crane, a self-described bohemian who exploits his advanced age and early signs of cognitive decline to get away with saying and doing strange things.
This gives him something in common with Madeleine, as he also uses people’s perceptions of his age against them.
Spader’s Alan Shore also uses morally questionable methods to win cases, as he did in Season 8 of The Exercises.
“Boston Legal” is one of the most acclaimed legal dramas in television history. While these characters are morally questionable, their work behind the bench is some of the best.
Madeleine might be happy to expose such a firm, but while she would be horrified by the partners’ antics, she would also be fascinated by their dedication to the law.
Watch Boston Legal online
The Good Wife (2009 – 2016)
If you haven’t seen The Good Wife, you need to.
It’s sad to think that this show from the early 2000s is now old enough to be considered a classic lawyer drama.
Still, it’s worth watching if you haven’t seen it yet. When I think of Matlock, this show is the first thing that comes to mind.
Like Kathy Bates’s show, “The Good Wife” is about more than just the case of the week.
There are ethical dilemmas, political manipulation, and some lawyers who only care about how much money they make.
The Good Wife’s Alicia Flores tries to balance work and family issues, another thing she has in common with Madeline. The company’s huge personality ensures that she uses a lot of trickery in maintaining her lofty ideals.
The series was so popular that it spawned two spin-offs. “The Good Fight” is similar to “The Good Wife” and “Matlock,” and “Elsbeth” is a light-hearted mystery like the original “Matlock.”
Watch The Good Wife online
Suit(2011-2019)
From the perspective of the people at Jacobson and Moore who covered up the documents, the lawsuit is like Matlock.
The premise is that Mike Ross is not actually a lawyer. He was a college dropout, but his photographic memory allowed him to Behavior Like the lawyer, the secret drives the series’ narrative.
At times, it seemed like the company might die due to the level of corruption, so his license was the least of their concerns. Although Mike and his partners won the case, it was because Mike didn’t actually have a license, something that had never been seen on television before.
While there’s plenty of courtroom drama in Suits , the real tension comes from the realization that sooner or later, Mike will be caught. Every critical moment makes the audience nervous.
(Yes, he is so good we hope he continues to practice law without a license!)
Watch Suits online
Harry’s Law (2011-2012)
If you’re looking for a classic lawyer drama similar to the one starring Kathy Bates, why not give one of her other shows a try?
“Harry’s Law” stars Baez as a patent attorney who loses his job after being fired.
Baez teamed up with several other people she met and decided to open a law practice in a used shoe store.
Sadly, the show only lasted two seasons, but it would be fun to rewatch and compare the performances of Bates’s Harry and hers as Matlock.
While it’s not currently available on streaming or printed on DVD, you can easily find it in a boxed set on eBay.
Over to you, Matlock fanatics.
Which classic lawyer drama would you recommend to fans of Matlock? Have you seen any of the ones on this list?
Hit the comments and let us know!
Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS and Fridays on Paramount+.
Watch Matlock online
