Television in the mid-eighties was a weird, transitionary landscape. You had high-gloss soaps like Dallas on one side and gritty procedurals on the other. Then, Ben Matlock walked onto the screen in 1986 wearing a light gray suit that cost more than it looked, clutching a hot dog. Most people today think they know the show because of the memes or the 2024 Kathy Bates reboot. Honestly? The actual Matlock episodes season 1 carry a specific, sharp energy that often gets lost in the "folksy old man" stereotype.
Andy Griffith wasn't playing Sheriff Andy Taylor anymore. He was playing a Harvard-educated shark who charged $100,000 per case. If you weren't paying attention, his Southern drawl and banjo-playing would make you think he was a pushover. That was the point. He used that perceived "simplicity" to dismantle witnesses until they basically confessed on the stand. It was a formula, sure, but in that first year, it felt dangerous and fresh.
The Pilot That Set the Bar
Everything started with "Diary of a Perfect Murder." It wasn't even a regular episode; it was a TV movie that premiered in March 1986. Ben Matlock takes on the case of a TV journalist, Steve Emerson, who is framed for killing his ex-wife. This is where we see the original team. We had Linda Purl as his daughter, Charlene, and Kene Holliday as Tyler Hudson.
Tyler was the secret weapon. He wasn't just a sidekick; he was a stock market whiz and a private investigator who did the heavy lifting Matlock’s knees couldn't handle. In this pilot, we see the blueprint: Matlock visits the crime scene, finds a detail everyone else missed (like a specific diary entry), and flips the courtroom on its head. It’s worth noting that Lori Lethin played Charlene in the pilot, but by the time the series officially kicked off in September, Linda Purl had stepped in.
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Best Matlock Episodes Season 1: The Standouts
If you’re going back to watch, don't just hit "play" on everything. Some episodes carry way more weight than others.
"The Judge" is arguably the strongest "official" first episode. It’s a classic setup. A young man is accused of killing his lover, and the judge presiding over the case is actually the one who did it. Watching Matlock realize his old friend is a murderer creates a tension that the later, "cozier" seasons sometimes lacked.
Then there’s "The Don." This was a two-parter. Matlock defends a mob boss, Nicholas Baron, played by José Ferrer. It was a gutsy move for a show that was supposed to be "wholesome." It actually served as a backdoor pilot for Jake and the Fatman. You’ve got Charlene falling for the mobster's son, which added a layer of personal drama that the show eventually moved away from once Linda Purl left the series after the first season.
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Surprising Guest Stars and Character Shifts
You’d be shocked at who popped up in these early episodes.
- Dick Van Dyke played a villainous judge in "The Judge." Seeing him and Griffith face off was a massive moment for TV fans.
- Nancy Stafford actually appeared in season 1 as a different character ("The Seduction") before she eventually became a series regular as Michelle Thomas later on.
- Billy Zane appeared in "The Nurse."
- Kathy Bates (funny enough, given the reboot) didn't show up here, but the 1986 cast was a revolving door of Hollywood elite and character actors.
Why the First Season Feels Different
Season 1 was grittier. Ben Matlock was a bit meaner, or maybe just more "cantankerous," as Griffith himself described the character. He was cheap. He was vain. He’d complain about the price of everything while sitting on a mountain of cash.
The relationship with Charlene gave the show a family anchor. When she moved to Philadelphia at the end of the season, the show lost a bit of that "father-daughter" friction. By the time we get to the later episodes of the first season, like "The Doctors" and "The People vs. Matlock," the show was shifting. It was becoming the comfort food we remember today. But those early hours? They were legitimate legal thrillers.
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What Most People Miss
People forget that Matlock was a direct descendant of Perry Mason. Both were created by Dean Hargrove. The structure of the Matlock episodes season 1 mirrors Mason’s—the investigation, the buildup, and the "gotcha" moment in the final ten minutes. But Matlock added the "Atlanta" factor. It used the setting to contrast old-school Southern values with the booming, modern 1980s business world.
Matlock lived in a modest house and drove a Ford Crown Victoria. He ate at cheap diners. This wasn't just a character quirk; it was a strategy. He wanted the prosecutors and the high-society villains to underestimate him. In "The Professor," he defends his old college mentor. It’s a sentimental episode, but it reveals Matlock’s loyalty. He wasn't just in it for the $100,000; he was in it for the truth, even if he made you pay through the nose for it.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to experience the best of this era, here is how to dive in:
- Watch the Pilot First: "Diary of a Perfect Murder" is essential for understanding why Matlock is so wealthy and respected.
- Look for the "Andy Griffith Show" Easter Eggs: Griffith loved his Mayberry roots. Keep an eye out for familiar faces like Don Knotts, who eventually becomes a recurring neighbor, though his big entrance happens a bit later.
- Track the Wardrobe: In the first season, Matlock’s suits are slightly different shades before they settled on the iconic "Matlock Gray."
- Compare to the Reboot: If you’re a fan of the 2024 version, watching "The Judge" (S1E1) will show you exactly where the "underestimated lawyer" trope originated.
The first season ended in May 1987 with "The Doctors." It left the audience wanting more, cementing Matlock as a staple of NBC’s lineup for years to come. It wasn't just about the mystery; it was about watching a master at work. And honestly, watching Ben Matlock dismantle a corrupt system while eating a hot dog is still some of the best television ever made.