Kathy Bates' hit CBS legal dramaMatlockhas become the network’s first show to receive a renewal for next season. The series, which is a gender-flipped re-imagining of the successful Andy Griffith show of the same name, debuted on September 22 on CBS and was watched by 7.74 million viewers. The series seesBates in the role of Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a brilliant but aging former lawyer who rejoins a prestigious law firm and uses her unconventional approach to win cases.
The positive reception of the show has not gone unnoticed - with its second episode attracting 6.38 million viewers - and, perDeadline, CBS has made the decision to greenlight a season 2 already.Matlockset a CBS record when itposted the biggest audience for a non-post-Super Bowl series premiere sinceThe Codein 2019, and hopes are high for the 18-episode first season. CBS President of Entertainment Amy Reisenbach praised the show and its clever plot twist, before stating her excitement at moving forward with season 2. Check out Reisenbach’s full comments below:
This reconceived Matlock was devised by Jennie Snyder Urman with a brilliant surprise plot twist, and we knew we had something very special the moment we saw the first episode brought to life by the incredibly talented Kathy Bates. The audience reception and critical acclaim for it has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to get started on a second season.
What Matlock’s Season 2 Renewal Means For The Show’s Long-Term Future
Early Signs Suggest CBS Has Another Hit On Its Hands
While only two episodes ofMatlockhave aired so far,the show has posted impressive numbers, and CBS clearly has enough faith in the audience interest across 18 episodesto believe it will be enough to see at leastMatlockseason 2perform well. The pieces are in place for the show to thrive, with a captivating storyline, and a strong, compelling lead actor in Kathy Bates, and it will depend a lot on the direction it chooses to take creatively, but there are a wealth of storylines that could be explored in future seasons.
When Matlock Episode 2 Is Airing? Kathy Bates' New Show’s Schedule Explained
Kathy Bates' Matlock is taking a hiatus after the pilot, meaning that fans will have to wait longer to learn what’s next after its big twist.
The pilot introduced perhaps the show’s biggest selling point, a shocking twist that changes everything.Matlock is not who she is pretending to be, and only took the job at the law firm because her daughter died from opioids that could have been removed from the market, but one of the firm’s partners hid the evidence that would have gotten them removed.Matlock’s strong twistmakes for a riveting plot, but it does present potential narrative issues that could become a problem in later seasons.
Our Take On Matlock Season 2 And Beyond
Is The Show Being Shackled By Its Own Plot Twist?
While signs look good for the future ofMatlock,I think the show could struggle if it gets beyond season 2due to the restrictive nature of its ingenious twist. Despite how well the series performs, the natural conclusion of the story comes when Matty discovers the identity of the person who hid the documents, and confronts them.
There is, of course, a possibility to take the show beyond this point. However, it’s unclear whether this would work creatively, and it might meanMatlockwould have to change tone and narrative style, which could result in viewers losing interest. Luckily,the show now has plenty of time to settle into a rhythmand work out what kind of future it wants, which will now last until at least the 2025-2026 TV season.
