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Madeline “Matty” Matlock might need a little help setting up the Wi-Fi.
But when it comes to navigating the legal jungle, she’s got decades of wisdom that put her light-years ahead of her younger colleagues.
On CBS’s Matlock, Kathy Bates brings to life a seasoned attorney whose quirks and old-school style make her easy to underestimate.
But don’t be fooled by the “sweet little old lady” act.
Matty’s packing a lifetime of hard-earned skills and street smarts that her tech-obsessed co-workers can’t even begin to replicate.
There’s a clear divide at the firm: Matty reads people while everyone else reads screens.
Her younger colleagues quickly jump on the latest tech or software solutions, but Matty’s approach differs.
She trusts her instincts, observes the details, and asks questions no algorithm can.
When she uncovers a crucial clue or connects the dots in a way that leaves everyone else speechless, it’s clear that she’s playing a different game — one that her colleagues don’t even know the rules to.
The generational gap is palpable.
Some at the firm are dismissive, like Sarah, the young associate who treats Matty like she’s a relic from the past.
But while they’re busy second-guessing her, Matty is two steps ahead.
She uses their low expectations against them.
She knows exactly how to work the room.
Whether it’s handing out butterscotch candies she doesn’t even like — a strategic move to lull people into underestimating her — or casually dropping folksy lines that make her seem harmless, it’s all part of the plan.
Anyone who doesn’t see it is just falling right into her trap.
Challenging Ageism at Every Turn
Ageism is alive and well in Matlock, and the show doesn’t shy away from calling it out.
As Matty puts it, “At my age, they aren’t looking for reasons to hire you. They’re looking for reasons to fire you.”
This problem isn’t limited to the legal field; it’s a recurring theme across different industries, and TV has been spotlighting it more frequently in recent years.
Shows like Hacks have tackled ageism head-on, with Jean Smart’s character struggling to maintain her place in a comedy world that often prioritizes fresh faces over seasoned veterans.
Both Matlock and Hacks explore the generational divide, showing how older professionals are often dismissed despite their wealth of knowledge and experience.
Yet, both Matty and Deborah Vance (Jean Smart’s character) leverage their age to their advantage, using the very biases against them to outsmart others and prove that experience is invaluable.
But Matty’s age isn’t a liability; it’s her greatest strength.
Her decades of experience, intuition, and people skills give her an edge that no amount of technology can replace.
While the younger associates might be able to pull up a case file faster, Matty knows how to actually win it by digging deeper, thinking outside the box, and using her unique perspective.
Let’s be clear: Matty isn’t just trying to prove herself to a bunch of know-it-all millennials.
She has a personal mission, too — a quest for justice that goes beyond the cases she’s assigned.
There’s more to her than meets the eye, and if Sarah and the others could see past their own biases, they might just learn a thing or two from her.
Until then, Matty will keep playing the “sweet little old lady” card because underestimating her is the best mistake her opponents could ever make.
Matlock airs on Thursday nights at 9/8c only on CBS.
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