Ben Matlock. The seersucker suit. The hot dogs. The folksy charm that masks a mind sharper than a surgeon’s scalpel. If you grew up in the late eighties or early nineties, Andy Griffith wasn't just Sheriff Andy Taylor anymore; he was the greatest defense attorney to ever set foot in a Georgia courtroom. But even for a show that ran for nine seasons, some episodes just hit different. Matlock The Hunting Party Part 2 is one of those rare moments where the show shifted from a cozy mystery into something far more intense, atmospheric, and technically brilliant.
It's the conclusion to a two-part powerhouse that originally aired in February 1989. You remember the setup, right? Matlock heads out to a remote, high-end hunting lodge to defend a man accused of murdering a wealthy businessman. But this isn't a standard "whodunit" in a city alleyway. This is a locked-room mystery set against the backdrop of the rugged wilderness. It’s gritty. It’s claustrophobic. Honestly, it’s some of the best television Griffith ever produced.
The Stakes in Matlock The Hunting Party Part 2
The second half of this saga is where the wheels really start to turn. In Part 1, we got the setup: a group of "friends" (and I use that term loosely) go on a hunting trip, and one of them ends up dead. The police think it’s an open-and-shut case of accidental shooting or a calculated grudge. Ben Matlock thinks otherwise.
What makes Matlock The Hunting Party Part 2 so compelling isn't just the legal maneuvering; it's the environment. Most Matlock episodes rely on the comfort of the Atlanta courtroom or Ben's porch. Here, he’s a fish out of water. He’s dealing with a group of elite, arrogant hunters who think they’re above the law. They look down on Ben’s "simple" country ways, which is always their first—and final—mistake.
The tension in Part 2 is palpable. We watch Ben, along with Michelle Thomas (played by the wonderful Nancy Stafford) and the ever-reliable Conrad McMasters (Clarence Gilyard Jr.), try to piece together a forensic puzzle with limited resources. They have to prove that the trajectory of the fatal bullet couldn't have come from their client's rifle. It sounds dry on paper. On screen? It’s riveting.
Why the Manteo Connection Matters
Did you know that "The Hunting Party" wasn't actually filmed in some random forest near Hollywood? A big reason why the atmosphere feels so authentic is that they filmed on location in Manteo, North Carolina. This was a homecoming for Andy Griffith.
He lived there. He loved it there.
💡 You might also like: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
Because the production moved to his home turf, the scenery feels lived-in. The mist on the water isn't a Hollywood smoke machine; it's the actual North Carolina dampness. When Ben Matlock is walking through those woods, he’s not just acting like a man who knows the terrain—Andy Griffith actually did know that terrain. That layer of reality is why Matlock The Hunting Party Part 2 feels so much more substantial than your average episodic procedural.
Breaking Down the "Aha!" Moment
If you’re a fan of the show, you know the formula. Ben gets the witness on the stand, he starts off rambling about something irrelevant, maybe mentions a sandwich he had, and then—boom. He pivots. He catches them in a lie so small they didn't even realize they told it.
In this episode, the climax revolves around the technicalities of the hunt. It’s about timing. It’s about the distance between the blinds. Ben uses a map and a demonstration to show that the "accident" was a precision strike. It’s a classic Matlock move, but it feels earned here because the suspects are so well-insulated by their wealth and social status.
The Dynamic of the Cast
We have to talk about Clarence Gilyard Jr. for a second. This was his first season as Conrad McMasters, and "The Hunting Party" really cemented his role as the muscle and the boots-on-the-ground investigator Ben needed. While Ben is doing the intellectual heavy lifting, Conrad is out there doing the dirty work. Their chemistry is effortless.
Then there’s the guest cast. This episode featured some heavy hitters like Jeff Conaway (of Grease and Taxi fame). Having high-caliber guest stars meant that the "villains" weren't just caricatures. They were believable threats. You actually believe these guys are capable of a cover-up.
Technical Mastery: Lighting and Pacing
Most TV in 1989 looked... well, like 1989. Bright, flat lighting. Static cameras.
📖 Related: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
But Part 2 of this story feels like a movie. The night scenes are actually dark. The shadows in the lodge are used to heighten the sense that someone is always watching. The pacing is deliberate. It doesn't rush to the courtroom until it has milked every ounce of dread from the lodge itself.
Even the music is different. Gone is the bouncy, jaunty theme-style underscore. Instead, we get something a bit more somber. It fits the theme of betrayal among friends.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Episode
People often lump this in with the "standard" Matlock episodes where he defends a flashy celebrity or a local eccentric. That's a mistake. This is actually a psychological thriller disguised as a legal drama.
A common misconception is that Ben Matlock wins just because he’s "folksy." Nope. If you watch the cross-examination in Part 2 closely, he wins because he understands the physics of the crime better than the people who committed it. He’s a secret genius playing a character, and this episode showcases that duality perfectly.
Why It Still Holds Up Today
We live in an era of "Prestige TV." We have Better Call Saul and Lincoln Lawyer. But Matlock The Hunting Party Part 2 laid the groundwork for the modern legal thriller. It showed that you could take a beloved, comfortable character and put them in a dangerous, high-stakes situation without losing the soul of the show.
It’s also surprisingly honest about class. Ben is a wealthy man—he charges $100,000 for a case, after all—but he identifies with the "everyman." The antagonists in this episode are the 1%, and the satisfaction of seeing Ben dismantle their ego is timeless.
👉 See also: Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus Explained (Simply)
Key Elements That Made Part 2 Work
- The Forensic Evidence: The focus on the "impossible" shot.
- The Location: Manteo, NC, providing a gritty, realistic backdrop.
- The Stakes: A sense of genuine physical danger for Ben and his team.
- The Payoff: A courtroom confession that feels earned, not forced.
Honestly, if you’re doing a Matlock marathon, you can’t skip this one. It’s the peak of the NBC years before the show eventually moved to ABC. It’s where the character of Ben Matlock felt most "real."
Actionable Insights for Matlock Fans
If you're looking to revisit this classic or dive into the world of legal dramas, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
Watch for the subtle clues.
In Part 2, pay attention to the background characters in the lodge scenes before they ever get to court. The way they interact (or avoid each other) mirrors the testimony Ben eventually teases out of them. It's a masterclass in "show, don't tell" filmmaking.
Compare the filming style.
Watch a standard Season 1 episode and then watch "The Hunting Party." Notice the difference in camera movement and location shooting. It’s a great example of how a change in setting can reinvigorate a long-running series.
Check the guest credits.
Many of the actors in this two-parter went on to have massive careers in character acting. Identifying these "before they were famous" faces is half the fun of watching classic TV.
Explore the Manteo history.
If you're a fan of Andy Griffith, look into his history with Manteo and the "Lost Colony" production. It gives you a much deeper appreciation for why he fought to have this episode filmed there. It wasn't just about convenience; it was about bringing work and prestige to his home community.
Analyze the legal logic.
While some TV law is "magic," Matlock usually relied on real-world logic regarding ballistics and sightlines. Researching the basics of forensic ballistics makes Ben’s courtroom "traps" even more impressive because they are based on actual physical constraints.