Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Likable reboot of folksy legal drama has language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Matlock (2024)
What's the Story?
In MATLOCK, a woman of a certain age is getting a coffee drink at a busy coffee shop in Manhattan, New York, when an impatient man having a phone conversation hurries up the line by paying for her drink. Smiling knowingly, this woman trundles into a shiny office building, fumbling her way past security, up the elevator, until she slips into a board room where attorneys are conversing about their clients. Surprising everyone in the conference room when she says she knows about negotiations that are underway, the mysterious woman introduces herself as Madeline Matlock (Kathy Bates), a lawyer who's desperate for a position because she's raising her grandson and needs the cash. Will Matty get a job? Or will the young guns of the legal world overlook her?
Is It Any Good?
Bates shines in a standard courtroom drama that's got some secrets tucked in reserve. Not all of the jokes land in Matlock, but the drama and mystery intrigue enough to keep viewers interested.
Parents and teens might cringe to hear casually spoken lines about sexual pleasure from an unexpected source, but this isn't a terribly graphic or gritty series. Most of the actors can't hold a candle to Bates, and the dialogue can be a tad corny, but this show has handy subplots, which might keep viewers coming back.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about integrity in Matlock. What happens if someone lies to get to a greater truth? Is lying ever OK?
The main character slides her way in to a team that has to work together in order to solve cases. What happens if a part of the team doesn't do their share of the work?
Lawyers rely on good communication in order to get their arguments across. What are some ways you can hone your ability to communicate?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 22, 2024
- Cast : Kathy Bates , Skye P. Marshall , Jason Ritter
- Network : CBS
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Integrity , Self-control , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Award : Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : January 14, 2025
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