"I am not a lawyer - nor do I play one on TV - but I do have the following legal bona fides. I took a class on landmark media cases while in journalism school. I spent six months after college working as a copy editor at a legal publishing firm. I'm a huge fan of legal thrillers, in print and on screen. And I've seen a lot of TV commercials for law firms."
"I bring this up only to note that my ears perk up whenever some of the more arcane legal terms I've encountered in my life pop up in a television show. Terms like "collateral estoppel." Such a marvelous collection of syllables. Meaningless gobbledygook to an outsider, yet powerful to those who know how to wield those sounds properly. Terms like that make me understand why so many lawyers love the law. They get to cast words about, like spells."
Madeline Kingston delights in wielding arcane legal terminology, relishing phrases like 'collateral estoppel' and enjoying the performative power of legal language. The character's showy courtroom presence drives Matlock's appeal and anchors the series' primetime formula. The show's producers and advertisers depend on Matlock remaining in the courtroom to sustain ratings and identity. Concerns exist about the long-term plausibility of repeating the same courtroom formula for another season without stretching credulity. Despite those concerns, the episode delivers an engaging, unpredictable, and more nerve-wracking courtroom drama than many contemporary network shows. Backstage drama elements provide minor issues but do not undermine the episode's success.
Read at Vulture
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