Reboots and spinoffs are a rite of passage in Hollywood.
Recently, “Suits LA” debuted on Showmax and M-Net (DStv channel 101) with Stephen Amell as Ted Black, channelling the swag of Harvey Specter (played by Gabriel Macht) from the original series.
What truly got me excited, though, was seeing “Matlock” debut on M-Net.
The enduring appeal of this franchise, with protagonists who cleverly use their age to their advantage, is reminiscent of the beloved '80s series starring Andy Griffith, which captivated audiences for nine seasons.
These protagonists disarm those around them with their apparent innocence, then expertly employ their legal acumen to secure victories in the courtroom.
Flipping the gender by casting Kathy Bates as Madeline "Matty" Matlock/ Madeline Kingston, who secures employment at Jacobson Moore law firm. The reboot is a cross between “Suits” and “The Good Wife”.
There’s representation of black excellence with the casting of Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence, who is Matlock’s new boss, and Eme Ikwuakor as Elijah, an attorney who has a romantic entanglement with Olympia.
Nepotism runs deep in the firm as it is owned by managing partner Howard "Senior" (Beau Bridges). His son Julian (Jason Ritter) is a senior partner and soon-to-be ex-husband of Olympia. They have twin girls.
Talk about complicated.
Olympia is a boss bitch. Her first-year associates, Billy Martinez (David Del Rio) and Sarah Yang (Leah Lewis), aren’t delighted to be working with Matlock as they are both ambitious and clamouring for Olympia’s attention.
In swoops Matlock, who disarms them with her nurturing demeanour and sage advice.
However, Matlock has an ulterior motive for joining the firm.
She needs to get to the bottom of who in the company was responsible for handling an opioid case that could have gotten the drug off the market long before her drug addict daughter died from an overdose.
She is a mother seeking retribution.
Unbeknownst to everyone, she pretends to be a grandmother, taking care of her grandson. She concealed her true identity from those around her, assuming the role of a grandmother caring for her grandson. Of course, it’s not a stretch.
She does take care of Alfie, her tech-savvy grandson. But she does so with her husband Edwin (Sam Anderson), who, to maintain her ruse, she killed off.
Also, despite being wealthy, she pretends to be struggling.
Matlock’s ability to empathise and spot clues that others might have missed helps her cement her cover story.
Bates pulls off the role with aplomb. She’s engaging, empathetic and commendably artful - for the right reasons.
Her heart is always in the right place, which is why it wasn’t a hard sell with TV buffs and fans of the original.
Overall, the layered storytelling, compelling cases, and carefully crafted character etches ensure a victorious reception.
Rating: 3/5 *** Solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.
∎ “Matlock” airs on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on Monday at 7pm.
“High Potential” is another show worth watching. Here’s why:
If you are a fan of crime dramas, especially one with a female lead, this ticks the box.
It plays on that yin and yang theory of unlikely partners akin to “Castle”, “Amost Paradise”, or “Rosewood”, which is the template that this Disney+ series uses.
Of course, there has to be a hook, and that’s where Kaitlin Olson, as Morgan Gillory, shines. A single mother of three, she works as a cleaner at the Los Angeles Police Department.
Did I mention she has an IQ of 160?
It’s a crucial part of the narrative as her ability to spot things that stand out sees her inadvertently helping solve a crime case.
While detective Adam Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) isn’t keen on her help, Selena Soto (Judy Heyes), who is the head of the Major Crimes Division, feels differently.
As such, Morgan finds herself promoted and, in a deal with Selena to uncover what happened to her partner who went missing several years ago, starts working with Adam.
If you are a fan of whodunits, this one ticks the box - and then some.