MATLOCK

[samhexum]

Never watched a minute of the original, but love Kathy Bates, so I gave it a shot, and I'm in!

It'll pair well with ELSBETH.

 

[Manhattan]

Kind of dumb, but Kathy Bates is better that she has been in a while. 
The younger attorney played by David Del Rio is cute and talented, but Skye Marshall and Leah Lewis show us the downside of DEI casting. 
We've got white, black, hispanic, and asian. Who cares that some of the actors are bad? You're the problem if you expect professionals to be good at their jobs. 

[Ali Gator]

23 hours ago, Manhattan said:

The younger attorney played by David Del Rio is cute and talented, but Skye Marshall and Leah Lewis show us the downside of DEI casting. 
We've got white, black, hispanic, and asian. Who cares that some of the actors are bad? You're the problem if you expect professionals to be good at their jobs. 

I agree with this 100% - and this is what's ruining so many TV shows these days. Marshall and Lewis are horribly miscast in this show. This is the best who auditioned for the roles?

However, I liked the premiere episode very much. Nice twist at the end that has me hooked. For those expecting a 'Matlock' reboot of the 80s show, you will be very disappointed and pleasantly surprised. 

[BuffaloKyle]

For those who missed it Kathy Bates announced her retirement from acting so guessing this is just a one season show so don't get too hooked on it.

[+ Cash4Trash]

Penty of great actors of all ethnicities. Don't blame DEI casting, blame the casting director - the real culprit.

 

 

[Manhattan]

NBC has one of the largest DEI initiatives in the industry. If you've spent any time working in television, you know that the diverse casting pool is vey small. You can spend a lot of time looking for an actor. If the studio says they have to be beautiful, slim, and speak fluent english, the search gets harder. If they also have to represent a particular demographic, the chances of finding a talented actor (who's not already booked on a different project) are pretty small. 

Commercials can successfully push a DEI agenda, since those actors don't need talent or beauty. A television series, however, usually needs good actors to sustain viewership. 

We'll see how it goes for Matlock. 

[samhexum]

I enjoyed episode two.  It's not the greatest series I've ever watched but it's got me interested enough.

[Ali Gator]

Really enjoyed episode two - I'm predicting (already) Bates will pick up an Emmy for her work on this show next year. 

[samhexum]

On 10/1/2024 at 9:02 PM, BuffaloKyle said:

Kathy Bates announced her retirement from acting so guessing this is just a one season show so don't get too hooked on it.

It's the first new show of the season to be renewed for season two.

[+ ApexNomad]

It’s enjoyable. I’ll see anything with Kathy Bates. (They should also renew High Potential. Great show!)

[Ali Gator]

Best show of the season. I DVR this every week (along with 'Elsbeth') and save them for Sunday night. Nice way to end the weekend and start a new work week. 

[samhexum]

Any guesses on how the season will end?

[samhexum]

Terrific episode last night but as Olympia kept going up and down the stairs I was thinking 'if that was me they'd be finding me on the floor of one of those landings.'

[samhexum]

On 9/28/2024 at 12:37 AM, Ali Gator said:

Marshall and Lewis are horribly miscast in this show. This is the best who auditioned for the roles?

I'm curious how you're feeling about them now that the season is ending.

[samhexum]

I'm preparing emotionally for the TWO HOUR Matlock finale AND Stabler's return on the same night.

I hope I won't have to call someone for support.

[jeezifonly]

Love Bates, always.

Sadly, the budget for the show didn’t allow for a supporting cast worth watching in a show that’s not exactly fresh - a 20th C format that’s gotten a little stale. Recorded the season, but haven’t gotten past Ep6. 

[samhexum]

On 10/1/2024 at 9:02 PM, BuffaloKyle said:

For those who missed it Kathy Bates announced her retirement from acting so guessing this is just a one season show so don't get too hooked on it.

THE SHOW RUNNERS ARE INTERVIEWED ABOUT SEASON TWO:

TVLINE | But you figured it out? 
Yes. [Laughs] We have figured it out. We know what the second season is like, “soup to nuts.” We just did a big pitch that took like an hour, taking the studio and network through every episode of the second season. We know where it ends, and we know what it launches for the third season. There are big problems, there are big challenges, and if you can find creative ways that are truthful and grounded to solve them, then we’re in good dramatic space.

my thoughts: After the great episode last week the finale felt a bit flat in comparison but I am still very happy with the season overall.

[samhexum]

That last post is from this interview, which has a HUGE amount of information about next year:

Matlock Boss Breaks Down Finale’s Big Reveal, That Surprise Arrival, and If [Spoiler] Will Be Back for Season 2

TVLINE.COM

---

Matlock's season-long whodunnit was (sorta?) solved in Thursday's 2-hour finale. Showrunner Jennie...

 

[Nightowl]

Enjoyed the finale and am glad there will be another season.  I hope Matty loses that fake southern accent and little-old-lady shtick now that she’s been outed though. 

[+ purplekow]

I think it is clear that Matlock will be more lawyer and less crime solver for next year.  They set up the marriage tension, in both married couples, the new villain who is trying to mess with the associates and the overriding story of will the firm overcome the fallout from reveal of the legal malpractice.  

[Ali Gator]

On 4/11/2025 at 2:50 PM, samhexum said:

I'm curious how you're feeling about them now that the season is ending.

The same as when it started. The writers took chances with these supporting characters and it just didn't pan out. 

Skye Marshall plays a caricature - not a character - of the over-ambitious legal eagle trying to find the work / life balance of professional and caring mommy. She brings no depth or sentiment to the character because more often than not, she resorts to yelling her lines while she's bug-eyed. WTF directed her to try and pull that off ? And for the series finale she spent most of her time yelling at Kathy Bates (because that shows she's 'powerful' I guess ?) and doing bug-eyes at Jason Ritter (awfully miscast in his role, too).

Who came up with the idea to make the talentless Leah Lewis the 'comic actor' in the series? Someone actually thought a 'funny'  character was what this show needed, and thought Lewis was the right choice ? Seriously ?  She has no sense of comic timing, doesn't know how to land a 'joke' (or 'funny line' to keep things light) and her character is just not that interesting. She has NO chemistry with any of the other cast members.  The whole 'tooth story' was such a misfire on the series finale - they should have eliminated this completely and cut the show to an hour (and her 'first time in the courtroom' story showed she is dramatically challenged, as well). She should be demoted to a background player next season, instead. 

David Del Rio is sexy Latino eye candy, but has absolutely nothing to do on this show other than bark out his lines and carry a briefcase (men still carry briefcases?). The 'Oops! I'm going to be a daddy!' finale surprise was another misfire - totally out of left field.  He plays his character as more of an incel - not as some Romeo having actual sex with another person. Another major fail for the series finale. 

Season One was great due to the storyline, and the superb acting by Kathy Bates who will - no doubt - win an Emmy.  But Bates deserves so much better in supporting players, and by the dud of a series finale - so much better going into season 2. 

[samhexum]

Well, I asked...

 

[samhexum]

Any early Matlock scoop?

Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman is on a mission to guest-cast the real-life loves of at least two cast members.

“Obviously I want Melanie Lynskey (Jason Ritter’s wife and a Yellowjackets star) to come on and play a fun character, and I want Edwin Hodge (Skye P. Marshall’s husband and very recently of FBI: Most Wanted) to come on and play a fun character…,” she shared with me. “I’ve got a lot of plans!”