Don't Miss: This New CBS Legal Drama With 100% on RT Is Kathy Bates' Last Role
And it's just a quality show about lawyers.
Every generation needs its own legal drama. After all, not only do the characters change over time, but so do the morals – television had its Matlock with Andy Griffith, which ran from 1986 to 1995.
The new Matlock is more like a free reboot, and the role of the lawyer with a sharp mind is now played by Kathy Bates – best known for her roles in Misery and Dolores Claiborne.
The rebooted series exists in a world where there is a once-popular show from the '90s, and a woman occasionally jokes about good old Matlock, which to some extent inspired her career exploits.
What Is Matlock About?
Madeline Matlock has long since retired and given up practicing law. But the woman finds a way to get back into the business and improve her financial situation by literally storming into the boardroom of a prominent law firm and refusing to leave until she is given a job.
The bold and observant woman charms the firm's staff and gets the job, albeit with some reservations. Olympia, one of the firm's leading attorneys, continues to keep an eye on her, and Matlock begins working with her on a variety of crimes. Little do they know that the charismatic retiree has motives of her own, hidden from her new colleagues.
Matlock Is Kathy Bates' Last Role
On the one hand, Kathy Bates is charming in the role of a good-natured and smiling woman, and on the other, as a smart and extraordinary specialist, who skillfully bends her line. It is even more striking that such an image was embodied by the actress who entered the annals of cinema as the sinister antagonist of the aforementioned Misery and American Horror Story.
The acting gesture of the 76-year-old Bates is somewhat reminiscent of the character's own arc: instead of a quiet retirement, for which the actress had been preparing for a long time, she decided to jump into a serious procedural drama. Only for Bates, Matlock will be her last job, as the actress herself announced.
The analysis of the inner workings of a lawyer, alternating with court proceedings, could quickly lull the viewer to sleep. After all, the show is essentially a series of recurring tropes, and each episode sees Madeline succeed in a different case.
But the depth of Bates' character, along with her daunting charisma, makes Matlock more than just another procedural. This is a real triumph for the actress who decided to end her career with a great performance.
Where to Watch Matlock?
The show is streaming on CBS.