The iconic legal drama Matlock has made a triumphant return to television, not as a direct reboot, but as a clever reimagining starring the formidable Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates. Premiering on CBS with a sneak peek on September 22, 2024, before its regular timeslot debut on October 17, the new series has quickly captivated audiences and critics alike, earning a swift renewal for a second season in October 2024. Source
Developed by Jennie Snyder Urman, the 2024 iteration of Matlock introduces a significant twist to the familiar premise. Kathy Bates stars as Madeline Kingston, a wealthy, retired lawyer who assumes the alias of Madeline “Matty” Matlock. Her motivation is deeply personal: she seeks justice for the death of her daughter, Ellie, who succumbed to the opioid epidemic. Madeline believes a prestigious law firm, Jacobson Moore, concealed crucial evidence that could have saved her daughter’s life. To infiltrate the firm and uncover the truth, she adopts an unassuming demeanor, leveraging her sharp intellect to assist her colleagues with challenging cases while secretly pursuing her own agenda. Interestingly, the original 1986 Matlock series, which starred Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock, exists within the universe of this new show, with Ellie’s fondness for it inspiring Madeline’s chosen alias. Source
The series boasts a talented ensemble cast alongside Bates. Skye P. Marshall plays Olympia Lawrence, a junior partner at Jacobson Moore who becomes Matty’s boss. Jason Ritter portrays Julian Markston, a senior partner at the firm and Olympia’s estranged husband. David Del Rio and Leah Lewis round out the main cast as first-year associates Billy Martinez and Sarah Franklin, respectively. Recurring roles include Beau Bridges as Howard “Senior” Markston, the managing partner and Julian’s father, and Yael Grobglas as jury consultant Shae Banfield. Source, Source
Produced by Sutton Street Productions, Cloud Nine Productions, and CBS Studios, the show’s pilot was filmed in Toronto, with subsequent episodes primarily shot at Paramount Studios in California. Source
Matlock has been met with widespread critical acclaim. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports a perfect 100% approval rating with an average score of 7.7/10, with critics praising Kathy Bates’ performance and the show’s “intriguing wrinkle” on the original concept. Metacritic, using a weighted average, assigned a score of 73 out of 100, indicating “generally favorable” reviews. Source
The series has also performed strongly in viewership. The sneak peek premiere garnered 7.74 million viewers, and while subsequent timeslot premieres saw a slight dip, the show consistently maintained robust numbers, often exceeding 10 million total viewers when factoring in DVR playback. The two-part season finale, which aired on April 17, 2025, achieved a series high in the Adults 18-49 demographic. Source
Kathy Bates’ exceptional performance has not gone unnoticed, earning her several prestigious accolades. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and won both the Satellite Award and Critics Choice Award in the same category. The series itself received nominations for Best Television Series – Drama at the Satellite Awards and Breakthrough Drama Series at the Gotham TV Awards. Source
Initially, Bates had suggested that Matlock might be her final role before retirement, but she later clarified these comments, expressing her desire for the show to continue. With its compelling narrative, strong performances, and critical success, Matlock has firmly established itself as a standout new drama, promising more intriguing legal battles and personal revelations in its upcoming second season. Source
