Madeline “Matty” Matlock might need some help setting up Wi-Fi.
But when it comes to navigating the legal jungle, she has decades of wisdom that puts her well ahead of her younger colleagues.
On CBS’s Matlock, Kathy Bates plays a seasoned attorney whose quirks and old-school style make her easy to underestimate.
But don’t be fooled by the “cute little old lady” behavior.
Marty possesses a lifetime of hard-earned skills and street smarts that her tech-obsessed coworkers can’t even replicate.
There was a clear divide within the company: Marty read people, while everyone else read screens.
Her younger colleagues were quick to adopt the latest technology or software solutions, but Marty’s approach was different.
She trusts her instincts, observes details, and asks questions that algorithms cannot.
When she uncovers a key clue or connects the dots in a way that leaves others speechless, it’s clear she’s playing a different game — one her colleagues don’t even know the rules for.
The generation gap is obvious.
Some in the company are dismissive, such as young co-worker Sarah, who treats Marty like a relic from the past.
But while they were busy second-guessing her, Marty was two steps ahead.
She uses their low expectations against them.
She clearly knows how to work a room.
Whether it’s handing out butterscotch candies that she doesn’t even like (a strategic move to get people to underestimate her), or throwing out some random folky lines to make her look harmless, it’s all part of the plan.
Anyone who fails to see this will fall into her trap.
Challenging age discrimination everywhere
Ageism still exists in Matlock, and the show isn’t shy about calling it out.
As Marty said, “At my age, they’re not looking for a reason to hire you. They’re looking for a reason to fire you.
This issue is not limited to the legal field; it is a recurring theme in different industries, and television has focused on it with increasing frequency in recent years.
Shows like Hacks tackle the issue of ageism head-on, with Jean Smart’s character struggling to maintain his place in a comedy world that often prioritizes new faces over seasoned veterans.
Both Matlock and Harkes explore the generational divide, showing that older professionals are often dismissed despite their wealth of knowledge and experience.
However, both Marty and Deborah Vance (played by Gene Smart) use their age to their advantage, using prejudice against them to outwit others and prove that experience is priceless.
But Marty’s age is no disadvantage; it’s her greatest strength.
Her decades of experience, intuition and people skills give her an advantage that no technology can replace.
While younger colleagues may be able to pull case files faster, Marty knows how to actually win cases by digging deeper, thinking outside the box, and leveraging her unique perspective.
Let’s be clear: Marty isn’t just trying to prove himself to a bunch of know-it-all millennials.
She also has a personal mission – to pursue justice beyond the cases she’s assigned.
There’s more to her than meets the eye, and if Sarah and others can get over their own biases, they might learn a thing or two from her.
Until then, Marty will continue to play the “cute little old lady” card, as underestimating her is the biggest mistake her opponent can make.
Matlock airs Thursday nights at 9/8c only on CBS.
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