Warning! This article contains spoilers for the first episode of CBS’ Matlock.
CBS’ Matlock Reboot starring Kathy Bates has a plot twist that perfectly connects to the original Andy Griffith show. Matlock is a long-awaited reboot with a majorly successful premiere night on Sunday, September 22, 2024. The Matlock Reboot broke CBS’ premiere record with almost 8 million viewers, the most CBS has had for a TV show premiere in five years (other than the Super Bowl). Matlock It also received a rare feat of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, proving it was successful with audiences and critics.
leading up to Matlocks premiere, it was unknown how the reboot would relate to the original and what kind of reboot the show would be. Despite Matlocks diverse cast of characters and the riveting premise, the reboot was still under a lot of pressure to succeed, especially considering the history of reboots that missed the point of the original. however, Matlocks first episode introduced an unexpected but clever Twist that pays a special tribute to Andy Griffith’s Matlock While ensuring the new show remains fresh and entertaining.
How Kathy Bates’ Matlock connects to Andy Griffith’s original series explained
Madeline uses the original Matlock show as a cover story
MatlockThe “Pilot” episode reveals that Madeline Matlock’s real name is Madeline Kingston. She used Andy Griffith’s Matlock To go undercover in a law firm to avenge her daughter’s death. One of the partners in Madeline’s law firm hid documents that could have stopped the opioid epidemic that killed her daughter. Madeline Matlock stars as a bumbling ex-lawyer who needs to improve her skills to keep up with the firm. However, the facade pays homage to Ben Matlock’s questionable but impressive skills as a lawyer, proving that Madeline is secretly much more like him than her new co-workers believe.
2024 Matlock technically not being a reboot is so much better
Matlock pays homage to The Andy Griffith Show while establishing his own trajectory
CBS’ Matlock is an infinitely better way to reboot classic shows and films. Instead of trying to repeat a classic show or film with subtle changes, Matlock reveals a twist that is the perfect tribute to the original: Madeline Matlock is secretly much more like Ben Matlock than the story initially suggested. When Hollywood pursues reboots and remakes of classic stories, there is often a lot of pressure to execute them flawlessly without harming the original. Sometimes, it’s a live-action adaptation of an animated classic, or a modernized version of an older film or TV show.
MatlockThe second episode will air Thursday, October 17 on CBS, establishing a regular Thursday evening schedule. Each new episode will be on Paramount Plus the next day.
Matlock Chose a completely different route when going about the reboot, which is paying off based on the widespread critical acclaim and viewership. The writers did not try to recreate the magic of Andy Griffith’s Matlock– They simply included it in a new story. The Matlock Reboot perfectly pays tribute to the original show while establishing its own creative path. It differentiates itself from Andy Griffith’s show, standing on its own with several Easter eggs that honor the original. If more reboots chose to follow in Matlocks steps, then many more reboots and remakes of classic stories would be more creative and less sloppy.
- Release date
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September 22, 2024
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Kathy Bates, Jason Ritter, Skye P. Marshall, David Del Rio, Leah Lewis, Aaron Harris, Eme Ikwuakor, Beau Bridges, Sam Anderson, Jordyn Weitz, Henry Allen, Colleen Camp
- character(s)
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Madeline Matlock, Julian, Olympia, Billy, Sarah, Alfie Kingston, Elijah Walker, Senior Partner, Kathryn Lawrence-Marxton, Courtney (Court) Lawrence-Marxton
Matlock (1986) stars Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock, a skilled but cantankerous lawyer who solves criminal cases. The show blends courtroom drama with detective procedurals, as each episode follows Matlock’s efforts to exonerate his clients.
- Figure
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Andy Griffith, Linda Purl, Ken Holliday, Nancy Stafford, Julie Sommars, Clarence Gilliard Jr., David Froman, Daniel Roebuck
- character(s)
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Ben Matlock, Charlene Matlock, Taylor Hudson, Michelle Thomas, Julie March, Conrad McMasters, Lt. Bob Brooks, Cliff Lewis
- creator(s)
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Dean Hargrove