These 9 episodes from Matlock are a must watch for legal drama lovers

The 2024 revival of Matlock isn't simply a revival; it's a reimagining that finds the ideal blend of crisp legal drama and richly emotional storytelling. Starring the inimitable Kathy Bates as Madeline "Matty" Matlock, the series offers electrifying courtroom battles, complex characters, and moral conundrums that lift the show above standard legal drama.

What makes this iteration so interesting is its need to defy conventions. With each episode, the audience is pulled deeper into Matty's dual existence as a top lawyer and bereaved mother, probing the law firm's link to her daughter's murder.

For fans of legal drama, this isn't about justice; it's about how far one will go to pursue the truth within an apparatus designed to hide it. From high-stakes custody wars to whistleblower trials and morally complex pharmaceutical cases, Matlock (2024) presents the genre's most compelling themes with complexity and contemporary resonance. Every episode flows into the next, delivering standalone courtroom stories while fueling a larger conspiracy story.

These nine episodes are the best of what the reboot has delivered: tense, intelligent, and impossible to avoid for anyone who adores an effective legal drama.

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These 9 episodes from Matlock 2024 are a must-watch for legal drama lovers

1) Pilot (S1E1 – Sept 22, 2024)

The revival starts with a twist. Kathy Bates' Madeline Kingston, a retired judge, is hiding in plain sight as Matty Matlock, an attorney advisor, covertly exploring the firm's connection to her daughter's opioid overdose death. The combination of warmth and retribution immediately shifts the tone from the original series. Matty's manipulation of trial strategy, secret agendas, and veiled communication with co-conspirators within the firm sets the stage for more conspiracy.

What really holds viewers is the emotional vulnerability underlying her calculated actions. The quiet setup of the show bursts into a breathtaking final scene, locking the show into an unforgettable pilot.

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2) I Was That, Too (S1E17 – Apr 10, 2025)

This intense episode is one of the season's most powerful. Olympia confronts Matty after discovering the complete truth regarding her true identity and the extent of her deception. Their brutal conversation in a closed conference room cuts through all politeness to reveal vulnerability, betrayal, and long-seething guilt. The writing is razor-sharp, and the performances linger.

Olympia's character development comes to a new level as she struggles with her allegiance to Matty and her responsibility to the truth. This episode resets their relationship and acts as a catalyst for the entire WellBrexa conspiracy storyline.

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3) A Guy Named Greg (S1E3 – Oct 24, 2024)

When a popular barista is charged with insider trading at a financial company, the company's corporate allegiance and class schisms are brought into play. Matty's choice to defend Greg, a "nobody" to the company, results in outright defiance from her peers. The highlight? A moment when Matty employs coffee beans and spoons as an impromptu demonstration of algorithmic deceit in court is dazzlingly clever and theatrical.

The episode also discreetly establishes Matty's hacking informant, who assists her in gaining access to the firm's servers, preparing for long-term storylines. It's offbeat, sentimental, and a scarce combination of humor and tension.

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4) The Johnson Case (S1E16 – Apr 3, 2025)

This episode provides one of the most emotionally charged trials of the season. Matty defends a wrongly accused teacher murder suspect, but the real drama comes in the subtext. Olympia starts figuring out discrepancies in Matty's narrative, paving the way for upcoming showdowns. The courtroom scenes are slow-burning, but it is the tension in the background that makes the episode work. Julian is caught between loyalty and professional ethics and starts to switch allegiance.

The Johnson case is not so much about the verdict as it is about the breakdown in personal trust in the firm and thus a low-key but intense episode that propels the impending climax.

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5) Claws (S1E5 – Nov 7, 2024)

"Claws" is among the series' most emotionally charged episodes, with Matty advocating for a whistleblower vet who reveals illegal animal testing that is connected to a big client. The courtroom drama is compelling, but it's the silent personal moments that are the most affecting. Matty admits to Olympia that the case reminds her of her inability to save her daughter. The legal case is built on the grounds of contractual ethics and environmental law, demonstrating the show's intellectual scope.

The conclusion is a gut punch when the lead partner of the firm sabotages Matty's client behind the scenes. This episode reinforces the show's moral shades of gray and poses real ethical issues.

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6) Game Face (S1E15 – Mar 13, 2025)

In this episode, strategy and betrayal take center stage. A popular energy drink comes under legal investigation when consumers complain of severe side effects. As Matty gets to the bottom of things, she discovers ties to the same pharmaceutical network responsible for her daughter's death. The tension, however, comes from within the firm. Olympia's drive collides with Matty's secret agenda, and Julian must take sides.

The courtroom maneuvering is smooth and intricate, with closing arguments that recall actual litigation strategy. "Game Face" is not only about the courtroom; it's a tutorial in stratified tension and subtle realignments of allegiance.

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7) Belly of the Beast (S1E7 – Dec 5, 2024)

The company is protecting a drug giant from a class-action suit by trial patients who weren't made aware of long-term side effects. Matty, covertly assisting the plaintiffs, has to undermine the firm's defense from the inside out. Her dual life comes crashing into her work one when she suppresses evidence to safeguard a whistleblower. Suspense reaches a fever pitch in a deposition scene in which Matty stage-falls, feigning illness to stall.

The title of the episode makes reference to her fall into the heart of corruption in the firm and her increasing willingness to abandon legal standards. A dark, intense hour that draws Matty into morally questionable territory with serious consequences and no going back.

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8) Tricks of the Trade (2) (S1E19 – Apr 17, 2025)

The season finale has it all that fans expected: dramatic courtroom moments, finally confessed secrets, and a shocking power shift. Matty's dual quest reaches its climax as her proof against WellBrexa finds its way into the press. Meanwhile, Julian's raw breakdown in court is a favorite among fans, showcasing the price of living in secrets. The verdict is only half the payoff; what truly counts is the aftermath.

Relationships break, reputations shatter, and Matty's mask finally cracks. The episode wraps up with a quiet, open-ended scene that has viewers arguing about what justice actually looks like. It's a near-perfect finale.

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9) Friends (S1E9 – Jan 30, 2025)

In "Friends," Matty defends two college professors accused of stealing scientific information from their university, setting off an intense debate on intellectual property vs. open-source knowledge. What is a typical corporate suit becomes personal when Matty finds that the information leads back to the opioid compound that killed her daughter. Kathy Bates is compelling in a courtroom monologue about trust, betrayal, and institutional failure.

This episode also features a major development. Olympia confronts Senior over his involvement in the opioid trial cover-up and gets a tearful admission. "Friends" mixes courtroom drama with character development and gives a major emotional return.

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Matlock (2024) isn't a revival yet a legal drama that pushes the system it depicts. Hosted by Kathy Bates, every episode comes with rich cases, high stakes, and a greater conspiracy that blurs the line of courtroom narrative. The nine best episodes provide an electrifying combination of legal wizardry and personal redemption, and as such, are must-watch for fans of the genre.

No matter whether you're attracted to the emotional depth or the clever courtroom tactics, this remake shows that justice on television can still surprise, challenge, and uplift. Matlock has made its strong argument, and audiences are listening.