Matlock – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Matlock

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1986

42%

WISE Score

7.1

IMDb

Andy Griffith in a seersucker suit solves murders with folksy charm—if you can stay awake through the 1980s pacing.

7.1/10

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Matlock

show

TV-PG, 1986

42%

WISE Score

7.1

IMDb

Andy Griffith in a seersucker suit solves murders with folksy charm—if you can stay awake through the 1980s pacing.

7.1

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the truth: the original Matlock is borderline unwatchable in 2025. Yes, Andy Griffith is charming. Yes, the mysteries are competently constructed. But the pacing is absolutely glacial, the production screams 1980s network TV in the worst way, and the rigid formula gets old by episode three.

The show has educational value around logical reasoning and legal process, and it's genuinely safe for tweens. But unless your kid is specifically into retro TV or you're looking for something to play in the background during a family gathering, there are dozens of better mystery shows that won't feel like homework.

The 2024 Kathy Bates reboot exists for a reason—it's the same concept but actually watchable. If you want courtroom drama with intelligence and heart, watch that instead. This original is a nostalgia piece for Gen X parents, not appointment viewing for modern kids.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 12+ due to crime themes, which is reasonable. Realistically, though, very few modern kids under 14 will voluntarily sit through this—the pacing and style are simply too dated. Best for nostalgic adults or tweens with a specific interest in classic legal procedurals.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic courtroom drama with a gentlemanly protagonist who solves cases through intelligence and persistence. Models professional ethics and justice-seeking behavior. Tone is measured and non-chaotic, with clear moral lines between right and wrong. Some crime content but handled in a procedural, non-graphic manner typical of 1980s network TV.

Imaginative

Follows a rigid procedural formula: case introduced, investigation, courtroom revelation, repeat. While the mystery-solving aspect requires some deductive thinking, the show doesn't invite creative expression or exploration. It's competent puzzle-solving within very predictable boundaries. No visual innovation or narrative experimentation.

Safe

Network TV from the 1980s means sanitized crime content—no gore, graphic violence, or sexual content. Criminal cases involve murder but handled tastefully off-screen. Common Sense Media rates it 12+, which aligns with mild thematic elements around crime. Predictable structure means no shocking surprises. Main safety consideration is mature themes around death and criminal justice.

Enriching

Demonstrates logical reasoning, legal process, and the importance of thorough investigation. Shows that truth matters and justice is worth pursuing. However, entertainment value is dated—the pacing is glacial by 2025 standards, the courtroom theatrics are melodramatic, and the formula becomes monotonous. IMDb 7.1 and Metacritic 36 reflect this split: nostalgic viewers appreciate it, but it hasn't aged well critically.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Models logical thinking and the importance of thorough investigation over assumptions
Clear moral framework where justice prevails and truth matters
Non-graphic crime content suitable for tweens interested in mystery-solving
Andy Griffith brings genuine warmth and intelligence to the lead role
Demonstrates legal process and courtroom procedure in accessible (if dramatized) ways

⚠

What to Watch For

Glacially slow pacing by modern standards—episodes are 47 minutes but feel like 90
Every episode follows the exact same formula: crime happens, Matlock investigates, dramatic courtroom confession
Production values and acting styles are peak 1980s network TV (not in a good way)
The 2024 Kathy Bates reboot is available and significantly more engaging for contemporary viewers
Themes around murder and criminal justice mean this isn't light viewing for younger kids

Conversation Starters

"How does Matlock figure out who really committed the crime? What clues does he notice that others miss?"
"Do you think real courtrooms work like this, with surprise witnesses and dramatic confessions?"
"Why do you think people in the show always confess at the end instead of staying quiet?"
"If you were a detective, what would you look for first at a crime scene?"

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