MATLOCK: Episode 1.1: “Pilot”

Name: MATLOCK: Episode 1.1: “Pilot”
Item: MATLOCK: Episode 1.1: “Pilot”
Author: Review

"A New Spin on the Legal Drama"

Content: -2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

What You Need To Know:

Episode 1 of MATLOCK is a reboot of a classic legal drama on CBS-TV. It stars Kathy bates as Madeline Matlock, an aging female lawyer who returns from retirement. Matty finagles her way onto a major law firm and onto a case about a black man falsely accused of rape 26 years ago. The law firm is trying to get a multimillion settlement from the city, but it’s hit a snag just before the case goes to trial. Matty must help the young lawyers find a former prostitute who may have been attacked after the man was arrested.

The pilot episode of the new MATLOCK is fun and compelling, wth a clever performamce by Kathy Bates as the title character. The episode places strong emphasis on justice and family. For example, Matlock wants to hold those responsible for her daughter’s death. Also, the specific case reunites a father and a daughter. However, MATLOCK’s first epside has some foul language. Also, two eyewitnesses are former prostitutes. One doesn’t regret her lifestyle but the other one has reformed her life with help from God.

Content:

(BB, C, PC, Fe, L, S, MM):
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Strong moral worldview with some positive references to justice, family and faith where the title character is fueled by the desire to fight for her family and bring justice on those responsible for her daughter’s death, she’s been taking care of her daughter’s son since her daughter’s death, God is positively referenced when a woman explains how she was able to get away from a serial killer, woman mentions God is also references when the woman discusses reforming her life, but some politically correct moments where title character pushes a feminist viewpoint and multiple times says women are invisible after they reach a certain age, and a black lawyer scolds title character for the “white privilege” she and her ancestors have had over the lawyer and her ancestors;
Foul Language:
Five onscenities, one light profanity, and a lewd joke about sex, along with multiple instances of a prostitute being called a “ho”;
Violence:
No violence;
Sex:
No sex scenes, but there’s talk about rape, and two eyewitnesses are former prostitutes, one who doesn’t regret her former life, and one who’s turned her life around with the help of God;
Nudity:
No nudity
Alcohol Use:
None, though other lawyers ask Matlock to join them for drinks after they win a case;
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
No smoking or drug content; and,
Miscellaneous Immorality:
Title character tells numerous lies and misrepresents herself throughout the episode to infiltrate the law firm and bring justice for her daughter, title character lies about her husband’s character to gain sympathy, and a lawyer in charge of Matlock manipulates her to get her to do her dirty work.

More Detail:

MATLOCK is a reboot of the classic 1980s legal drama on CBS. The show follows the aging lawyer Madeline Matlock, who returns to practice law after 30 years. Despite being overlooked because of her age, Matlock impresses a cutthroat law firm through her unique approach and lands a spot on their team. However, she has an unforeseen motivation as she looks to uncover one of their lawyers who withheld information directly leading to her daughter’s death.

To get a shot at the law firm, Matlock crashes a partner meeting, which she infiltrates through the superpower she ascribes to older women, the power of being overlooked. She provides the law firm with crucial evidence concerning a competing practice and asks to be added to the staff, a request accepted because the practice has an opening. She has to undergo a two-week trial, though, to prove her worth.

Matlock is assigned to help a black female lawyer, Olympia, a junior partner having trouble with a case meant for settlement that’s going to trial instead. Matlock must find the key evidence to prove the client innocent and deliver the payment he deserves.

Through ingenious methods of collecting information, Matlock digs up relevant clue after clue, uncovering key data that bumps a $200,000 litigation offer up to a $20 million in-court settlement. Recognizing her work, the law firm hires Matlock full-time. However, she has a secret. She’s actually a wealthy woman lying about her credentials.

Episode One of MATLOCK is a strong reboot of a beloved show. The episode is entertaining, and Matlock is a fun character to follow. However, the short politically correct teachings in the episode on ageism and “white privilege” get annoying.

The episode places strong emphasis on justice and family. For example, Matlock wants to find the person responsible for her daughter’s death. Also, the specific case in Episode One reunites a father and a daughter. The pilot episode also has two positive but brief references to God.

However, Episode One of MATLOCK has some foul language. Also, two eyewitnesses are former prostitutes. One doesn’t regret her lifestyle but the other one has reformed her life with help from God.

Watch MATLOCK: Episode 1.1: “Pilot” →

Quality:

- Content: -2