If you’re anything like this TV fanatic, you were blown away by the first half of Matlock’s premiere season. To be fair, we had high expectations – and this show exceeded them.
It’s no wonder Kathy Bates is an Oscar and Emmy Award-winning actress. Can you imagine how excited CBS executives were when they found a star as talented and prestigious as Miss Bates?
Since its inception, Matlock has kept viewers on their toes with twists and turns in every episode. The show is a buffet of quality writing and impressive acting.
This report card gives me a lot of competition because it’s hard to pick the “best” and the “worst”. However, upon reflection, I think we can all agree on this outcome.
You can’t go wrong with the first episode of Matlock. The writers poured everything into the pilot, filling it with extraordinary plot points.
If anyone wasn’t fooled by the final twist, please shout out your investigative knowledge in the comments.
Viewers were shocked when it was revealed that Madeleine Matlock was actually Madeleine Kingston. The setup is sensational.
As viewers, we should have noticed that something wasn’t right when the series chose to cast Andy Griffith Matlock as an in-universe series.
It’s jaw-dropping to see Madeleine transform from the “sweet old lady” character into a woman on a mission. I still can’t get over the look on Kathy Bates’ face at the end of the episode as she stared at everyone’s pictures.
Now let me clarify, by “worst” I actually mean “hardest to watch.” This episode was like a knife to the heart, twisting until the very end.
Considering this was the most recent episode before the show went on hiatus, it’s probably still fresh in your mind. However, for those of you who need a refresher, I’ve got you covered.
The firm took on cases that it had lost several years earlier. The case involved the death of an infant from contaminated formula.
Through flashbacks, we learn where Olympia and Julian’s (Jason Ritter) divorce began, and when Marty came up with the idea of overthrowing Jacobson Moore.
There was so much going on in this episode that sent Marty over the edge. From being accidentally recognized on a dating app to thinking she was having a heart attack, Miss Madeleine has pretty much given up on it all.
Her mission was indeed coming to an end when she saw her parents winning the case but looking defeated.
Luckily, the universe, or Matlock’s author, had other ideas. The episode ends with Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) telling Marty that she will be moved to the medicine cabinet.
When the series returns, we’ll see Madeline Matlock get into the belly of the beast, while Madeline Kingston continues to use her tricks to go unnoticed.
I know you might think the best twist would be in the first episode, but the pilot was so great that we had to make it the best episode. However, A Man Named Greg has a twist that I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t see coming.
I’m completely fascinated by laptop switches. Don’t get me wrong – I knew Marty (Kathy Bates) was up to something nefarious, but I didn’t expect this turn of events. If you see it from a mile away, please use your detective skills in the comments.
There were a lot of incredible things that happened in this episode, but the laptop switch remains the only twist that shocked me as much as the pilot.
That being said, some viewers pointed out some plot holes in the laptop switch. For example, is it a company-owned laptop? It will have an assigned sequence number.
One viewer pointed out that Olympia could connect devices to her laptop that might alert her of usage or even give her location.
We’re probably past the possibility of laptops being useful again, but you never know with a show like Matlock.
As Olympia once said: “This place is a den of vipers.”
This is something that still drives me crazy. If you’re like this TV fanatic, you were outraged after Senior made a despicable move called the “Texas Two-Step.”
It’s bad enough that the firm represented both sides in the case, but what Senior (Beau Bridges) did was downright despicable and completely legal. How messy is this?
Olympia just wants justice for her client’s late wife. and making sure the equipment that caused the wife’s illness was up to code.
Sure, Jacobson & Moore is an elite law firm looking to make a lot of money, but how do they sleep after doing something so shady? No wonder Olympia lost her temper when all was said and done.
However, one good thing inevitably came out of this case. Madeleine is getting closer to finding the person behind the hidden files, and she may be eyeing Senior.
I would do the same after watching senior law clerks shred documents before enacting the Texas Two-Step Act.
Speaking of help around the office, we have to give a shout out to Sarah. The character has really come a long way since Matlock started. Well, there’s still a long way to go for Sarah.
When we first meet Sarah, her ponytail is so tight that her entire scalp can be ripped off with just a tug. There must be a stick stuck in her back.
However, thanks to the disturbingly forced involvement of Billy (David Del Rio) and Marty, Sarah finally truly puts her mind at ease. Sarah has kept things loose ever since Kira came into the young lawyer’s life.
Again, I mean loose for Sarah. She’s still the same obsessive-compulsive hypertensive mess as ever, but at least she’s branching out and using her high-strung skills to craft flirtatious emails. Babies, babies.
Hopefully we’ll see more character growth for Sarah (Leah Lewis) and more exploration of her and Kira’s budding romance. I could see a heart-to-heart between Marty and Sarah in Matlock’s near future.
One thing’s for sure, Matlock is a certified hit that people of all ages can’t put down. Who can blame them when Kathy Bates delivers a tearful monologue in almost every episode?
Thankfully, we only have a little more time left to wait for CBS’s Matlock to return with more incredible episodes. Personally, I’d be happy if Shae made another cameo. That lady was just crazy.
Which guest character would you like to see return for the next episode?
What’s your favorite twist in Matlock Season 1 so far?
Let me know in the comments below, and join me again when I review the next episode of Matlock!
Be on the lookout for Matlock spoilers ahead of each new episode!
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