Matlock

If you are thinking you are going to watch a retread of the old Matlock series, you are in for a big surprise. My The writing is on point and you will not see the twist that happens at the end of the first episode coming; as always, it is hard to take your eyes off Kathy Bates- she commands the screen as few actresses have ever been able. Give it an hour, just one hour. I have to imagine that the second episode takes a hard right in have a very different direction. I was skeptical when I first heard about the show. I was so glad I was bored on a Saturday night and decided to watch the the premier of the show. And come on now, it's got Beau Bridges. We can go home when he's part of the cast.

It's pure entertainment. Finally. Good stories Good dialogue. Great to see Kathy bates and Beau bridges in better than Ever form I hope the series continue for sometime. It might bring back network watching.

The cleverness of Matlock perceiving personalities and possibilities really drives the story forward and keeps the viewer engaged. I'm looking forward to next episodes.

Beau Bridges, as head of the law family firm is a good guy, but tough as nails when it comes to winning every case. The new "kids" in the firm add just the right touch of the present generation trying to show their stuff while getting into the big time.

I really want to like this show but it really needs more meat to it. I would say first problem is the writing. The weekly episode is glossed over and not very deep just so they can spend the final moments reminding the audience the reason for the whole deception to begin with. Second is the direction of the other two females. Their characters come off as cartoonish. Always loud and high strung and lacking any real emotion. This isn't against the actress themselves but I am assuming this is the direction they are given. Some of the sets seem exactly that ..sets. The lighting is flat. Overall not a very rich feel to it. I tune in each week for one reason and one reason only but I don't know if I can keep it up. I think Kathy Bates deserves better than this.

As soon as I saw Kathy Bates was going to star in a reboot of Matlock, I texted my mother asking her if this was something we would be watching together. We live in different states, but occasionally watch shows together. And I thought this would be an excellent choice. I love the idea of an older woman returning to the world of work. Especially a woman in her 70s!

Let me be clear. I am not a fan of legal shows, and while I'm sure at 54 years old before DVRS when we were at times captive audiences of shows we'd rather not watch, I've unintentionally, accidentally watched an episode or two of the original Matlock. But I definitely was not a fan of the show. That being said, I jumped right in--because everything I've watched with Kathy Bates, *Misery*, *Primary Colors*, *Dolores Claiborne*, etc., etc., etc., has been excellent. So I trusted that *Matlock* would be stellar as well-or Kathy Bates would not be involved.

I watched the pilot and loved the whole thing. Since I did not watch the original *Matlock*, I had nothing to compare it to. I have watched law shows and police procedurals that went so fast and were so complicated I got lost. But *Matlock* is easy breezy, and I was right with all of the twists and turns. Thankfully, none of the characters are annoying or extremely unlikable. As other reviewers said, there is a surprise at the end that we can't talk about, but clues were dropped all along.

If I had to compare the show to another show, I'd say it's like *Columbo*. There are times when "Mattie" struggles with the changing times, she has not practiced law in many years, and then there are times when she seems to be bumbling-so the person can walk right into a trap. It's like Mattie said, "Nobody sees us coming..." YASS the super power of the older woman!

New "Matlock" (2024) attempts to revive the classic legal drama formula but stumbles in execution. While maintaining some entertainment value, the show suffers from significant shortcomings that prevent it from reaching its potential.

The most glaring issue is the uneven acting performances, with many cast members delivering stilted, unconvincing portrayals that break immersion. Also, the inclusion of a 12-year-old hacker character stretches credibility beyond reasonable limits. Despite the flaws, the show manages to provide some engaging courtroom drama moments. However, logical inconsistencies and bad acting by supporting cast will likely distract viewers.

The show's saving grace lies in its occasional moments of charm and Kathy Bates performance. Yet, these bright spots aren't enough to overcome the fundamental issues with overall performance quality and script believability. It is best suited for casual viewing with tempered expectations.

Raring: 6+/10.