Episode list

Matlock

The Billionaire

Mon, Sep 21, 1987
Disagreeable London-based American businessman Albert Gordon is shot dead. His son Eric is the prime suspect. Believing Eric's innocent, sister Laura plans a mock trial hoping to uncover new evidence. Ben travels to London to defend Eric.
7.4 /10
Blind Justice

Mon, Oct 05, 1987
A blind man kills the man who blinded him and frames the man's girlfriend.
7.6 /10
The Annihilator

Mon, Oct 12, 1987
Pro wrestler Victor "The Annihilator" Garrett publicly threatened to annihilate rival "Sailor" Jack Saunders. After their match, Victor is accused of bludgeoning Jack with a blunt instrument, possibly a broken wine bottle.
6.9 /10
The Husband

Mon, Oct 19, 1987
When a woman learns her husband has another wife, she confronts him even making threats. Later he is found dead. She is arrested and Ben defends her. He learns that the man has more secrets.
7.4 /10
The Power Brokers: Part 2
While trying to figure out how to recover from Melinda's surprise at the end of part one, Matlock slowly uncovers a conspiracy among politicians and businessmen over a secret involving oil reserves.
7.6 /10
The Gambler

Mon, Nov 09, 1987
Ben defends Atlanta police Lieutenant James Manning, who is accused of killing his girlfriend Victoria Rawlings in Las Vegas by strangling her with a bathrobe belt after learning that she was leading a double life.
7.1 /10
The Network

Mon, Nov 30, 1987
Matlock ventures to LA to defend TV producer Paul Bartel who is accused of murdering network programming chief Greg Titleman.
7 /10
The Best Friend

Mon, Dec 07, 1987
A writer is found shot to death while he was writing a tell-all book about Georgia's most prominent political family, the Douglases. James Douglas' ex-wife, Vanessa, is accused of the murder but Matlock agrees to defend her.
7.5 /10
The Country Boy
Country singer Jimmy LeGrand is a heavy drinker. When he makes a fool of himself performing drunk, his wife leaves him and her sister backs the decision. The sister is found victim of a hit and run. Jimmy is arrested and accused.
6.7 /10
The Gift

Mon, Dec 21, 1987
Ben defends Brian Emerson, who is accused of murdering his ex-wife Maggie Crowley after he sneaked into her house to give their daughter Wendy a Christmas gift.
7.5 /10
The Body

Mon, Jan 04, 1988
Ben and Michelle stay at an exclusive health spa and investigate its employees after their client is accused of killing aerobics instructor Christie Huntley, who had an affair with the client's husband.
7.3 /10
The Reunion

Mon, Jan 11, 1988
Ben reunites with law school friends who are now law partners. Senior partner Warren Coates is shot dead and partner George Dutton is accused. Ben learns that Coates was not only unliked by his partners but even blackmailed two of them.
7.3 /10
The Gigolo

Mon, Jan 18, 1988
Ben Matlock defends a handsome, young dance instructor who is accused of killing his married dance studio business partner after she catches him after hours with another woman.
7.2 /10
The Umpire

Mon, Jan 25, 1988
Matlock defends an insurance salesman who has been accused of killing his boss, who is also a softball umpire, following a bad call during a softball game.
7.2 /10
The Investigation: Part 1
Craig Gentry is the son of mobster Sam Gerard but has cut ties with his father and quietly changed his name. Congressman Pete McGuinness finds out and subpoenas Gentry. McGuinness gets killed and Gentry is arrested.
7.4 /10
The Investigation: Part 2
Matlock decides to continue with the case even though he was the victim of a violent assault. When Tyler returns to the same bar to enquire the whereabouts of Juanita Martinez (Maria O'Brien) on the night of the murders, he meets with physical resistance and ends up lying on the floor. The Gentry Family almost ended up in the middle of the mob war with the Hernandez family.
7.5 /10
The Hucksters

Mon, Feb 15, 1988
Unscrupulous Robert Ullman heads a pyramid scheme selling face cream and suddenly dies of monocaine poisoning during an interview. Hal Simpson, a salesman he bilked, is blamed. Swindling victim / salesman Hal Simpson gets the blame.
7 /10
The Lovelorn

Mon, Feb 22, 1988
Craig Moore confronts advice columnist Marjorie Manners, whom he thinks hurt his marriage with her advice to his wife Anna. Craig threatens Marjorie with a metal trophy. When Marjorie is killed with that trophy, Ben defends him.
7.3 /10
The Genius

Mon, Mar 14, 1988
When Ben's own genius nephew is accused of murder, he assists his uncle in the defense.
7.5 /10
The Magician

Mon, Mar 21, 1988
Matlock intends to enjoy an evening watching the Amazing Zeigler but the illusionist's contentious relation with his assistant erupts. Her subsequent murder has Matlock defending the magician.
7.3 /10
The Fisherman

Mon, Mar 28, 1988
A Vietnamese fisherman has been clashing with another fisherman who's a bigot. When the man is killed the Vietnamese is arrested and Ben defends him. And the D.A. is quite helpful to Ben.
7.5 /10
The Heiress

Mon, May 02, 1988
Ben and a friend defend a young heiress who is being tried for murdering the trustee of her trust.
7.2 /10

Edit Focus

Undue Influence

Undue Influence

Lawyer Paul Madriani becomes embroiled in his most baffling case at a most difficult time. His wife Nikki has died of cancer, and he's caring for his daughter Sarah while negotiating a custody settlement between his sister-in-law Laurel and her ex-husband, Senator Jack Vega, over 17-year-old Danny. When Vega's new wife Melanie is found murdered, suspicion points to Laurel who was filmed by a security camera arguing with her at her home just hours before the shooting. At the crime scene, Paul meets a long-time friend, U.S. Attorney Dana Colby, and grudge-bearing detective Lama, who claims an airtight case against Laurel. Paul tries unsuccessfully to arrange a plea bargain. Investigating, he finds the Vegas' neighbors, George and Kathy Merlow, have disappeared. His questioning of Kathy's postal co-worker is cut short by a package bomb meant for him. Before the blast that kills the co-worker and six patrons, but spares Paul, he learns the Merlows are hiding in Jamaica. A romance develops between Dana and Paul, as the search shifts to the island, with support of an FBI team. Paul locates Kathy Merlow, but gunfire from an unknown hit man sends them fleeing in different directions. Dana later reports the killer caught up with both Merlows and dumped their bodies in the ocean. Tipped by Dana that Senator Vega has made a deal for leniency in return for cooperation in a federal corruption probe, Paul exposes the senator on the witness stand at Laurel's trial In order to raise the possibility of other enemies and cast reasonable doubt on Laurel's guilt. When he discovers Kathy Merlow was an alias for a relocated witness reported killed in a car accident, he suspects her death was faked a second time. Peeling back layers of government cover-up, Paul wins Laurel's acquittal. A final attempt on Paul's life is thwarted when Laurel guns down the mystery hit man. Only then does he discover the identity of Melanie's murderer. It's a secret that strikes close to home-a secret Paul keeps to himself as he returns to his daughter.

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