As stated in my review of the series "Matlock", a characteristic of each episode was to have the main murder plot become an overly simplified story while the character moments mainly took the cake. Unlike "Perry Mason", the much more acclaimed crime series from a couple decades earlier, the show did not treat its audience with much intelligence - the formula for "Matlock" was always the exact same 'innocent client - lawyer defends - murderer uncovered' motif. Keeping this in mind, "The Outcast" is probably one of the best episodes I've seen of the series (though I've only seen three thus far) because it actually offers more action, more mystery, and enough plot to make it worthwhile.
"The Outcast" was split into two episodes (IMDb should technically have two pages, one for part one and one for part two) and in terms of story it offers up more excitement and less formulaic structure. I can't rate this episode very well at all seeing as it is really two episodes combined into one IMDb page, but I will criticize both of them individually, seeing as they certainly have ups and downs. In part one, a very unusual thing happens - Matlock decides it's time to retire after some issues with his client, and go on a vacation. After meeting a mechanic with his truck broken down on the road, he offers him a lift - and when the mechanic decides to go with the tow truck later, it doesn't take long for him to wind up dead in a farm 'accident'. An interesting progression of events follows, where it is revealed a whole bunch of folks on the farm in the town are in on the man's death, and when Matlock discovers somebody has been in his room, he decides to find out what's going on.
Overall, I was going to rate part one a 5/10 - the thing moved so slowly and was so dreadfully padded I just wanted something to happen. Literally all it did was establish the train of events leading up to the murder, and by the time it ended, I was left with pretty much no clues as to what was going on. Just that a bunch of people killed the mechanic for reasons unknown - and because the episode had so many boring filler scenes, I had to wonder what they were trying to do. The only thing it did do was set up an interesting premise for the second part, which thankfully proved to be actually very good - enough to make the whole thing worthwhile. Part two had all the action, as Conrad showed up to work as a farmhand and the sheriff (who was also in on it) tried to frame Matlock for his shooting. Some great action, a good payoff, and a nice conclusion made this episode probably one of the more plot-filled episodes (a couple filler scenes of course, but it didn't drag like the other one).
In the end, I'd say this one was pretty good because it gave us less character and more action and plot. (Maybe it was so refreshing since I'm used to "Perry Mason"). And I suppose one could cut the first part some slack - it wasn't really meant to be that exciting. Certainly worthwhile overall, and while I can't be a good judge of this, I'd say it is probably one of the best "Matlock" episodes since it had a more creative, involved and original story. Though what do I know? I've haven't seen enough of the show to really say this.
"The Outcast" was split into two episodes (IMDb should technically have two pages, one for part one and one for part two) and in terms of story it offers up more excitement and less formulaic structure. I can't rate this episode very well at all seeing as it is really two episodes combined into one IMDb page, but I will criticize both of them individually, seeing as they certainly have ups and downs. In part one, a very unusual thing happens - Matlock decides it's time to retire after some issues with his client, and go on a vacation. After meeting a mechanic with his truck broken down on the road, he offers him a lift - and when the mechanic decides to go with the tow truck later, it doesn't take long for him to wind up dead in a farm 'accident'. An interesting progression of events follows, where it is revealed a whole bunch of folks on the farm in the town are in on the man's death, and when Matlock discovers somebody has been in his room, he decides to find out what's going on.
Overall, I was going to rate part one a 5/10 - the thing moved so slowly and was so dreadfully padded I just wanted something to happen. Literally all it did was establish the train of events leading up to the murder, and by the time it ended, I was left with pretty much no clues as to what was going on. Just that a bunch of people killed the mechanic for reasons unknown - and because the episode had so many boring filler scenes, I had to wonder what they were trying to do. The only thing it did do was set up an interesting premise for the second part, which thankfully proved to be actually very good - enough to make the whole thing worthwhile. Part two had all the action, as Conrad showed up to work as a farmhand and the sheriff (who was also in on it) tried to frame Matlock for his shooting. Some great action, a good payoff, and a nice conclusion made this episode probably one of the more plot-filled episodes (a couple filler scenes of course, but it didn't drag like the other one).
In the end, I'd say this one was pretty good because it gave us less character and more action and plot. (Maybe it was so refreshing since I'm used to "Perry Mason"). And I suppose one could cut the first part some slack - it wasn't really meant to be that exciting. Certainly worthwhile overall, and while I can't be a good judge of this, I'd say it is probably one of the best "Matlock" episodes since it had a more creative, involved and original story. Though what do I know? I've haven't seen enough of the show to really say this.