“Matlock” season-finale: A once-great show revives

It’s easy to grumble about the upcoming “Matlock” season-finale (shown here).
We could gripe that the two-hour episode (9 p.m. Thursday, April 23, on CBS) starts with that shabby cliche: a long dream scene. Or we could point out that this story is arriving a year late.
But belated or not, this is worth watching. A once-delightful show is finally getting back on track.
When “Matlock” started last season, it was a marvel: Madeline Kingston (Oscar-winner Kathy Bates), a brilliant lawyer, had figured that someone at a New York law firm had buried a key study; the study could have led to the banning of a drug that later killed her daughter.
With the help of her husband and their grandson (a computer whiz), she got a new identity. As “Maddy” Matlock — a folksy oldster, oft-overlooked — she moved cross-country, infiltrated the law firm and worked with its top people: “Senior” (Beau Bridges), his son Julian (Jason Ritter) and Julian’s ex-wife Olympia (Skye Marshall).
(Bates is shown here with Ritter and Marshall.)
Early episodes were gems. Bates drew best-actress nominations from all the top places — Emmy, Golden Globe, Actor (formerly Screen Actors Guild), Critics Choice (which she won) and Television Critics Association , which also nominated” Matlock” for best drama and best new show.
But then the main story was prolonged. It continued, plus a case-of-the-week, for two seasons and 36 episodes. It was simply too much of a good thing.
Now that part is wrapping up. There are flaws, but the season-finale is smartly written and well-played (including a guest role for Gina Rodriguez). And, after many tangles, it delivers key plot shifts.
Afterward, “Matlock” will get a long break. It’s ending this season early (2-3 weeks sooner than other CBS shows) and starting the next one late.
This fall, the 9 p.m. Thursday slot will go to “Elsbeth” (a more-logical show to follow comedies), with 10 p.m. going to a new lawyer show from the producers of “Elsbeth” and “The Good Wife.”
“Matlock” will return at mid-season, having had extra time to insert great characters into a new situation. It should have done that a year ago.