I'm enjoying Matlock, except for one thing. The writers, for some reason, seem to have a real axe to grind when it comes to female characters.
It seems to be, so far at least, that the majority of cases end up revolving around adulterous women. This happened again here. It's an easy plot driver, but when it's virtually every episode it makes you wonder about the writers' mentality. It's as if they think women are incapable of being faithful or resisting advances from other men.
Then there's Charlene. She's supposed to be Ben's associate, but her main role appears to be dating suspects, whether they be clients, other men involved in the cases - even Mafia dons. In this particular episode, she almost sinks the whole defence because she's started dating a potential suspect she was supposed to get information from and she doesn't want to "betray his confidence." She's such an oversexed liability that, realistically, even her own father wouldn't work with her. Hell, she'd probably have been disbarred by now for breach of professional ethics.
Matlock is certainly not the only 80s TV show to portray women as being only good for one type of storyline but it is particularly egregious. I understand that Linda Purl quit pretty early on because she was dissatisfied with the writing for the character, and I honestly can't say I blame her. Let's hope that things improve as the series goes on.
It seems to be, so far at least, that the majority of cases end up revolving around adulterous women. This happened again here. It's an easy plot driver, but when it's virtually every episode it makes you wonder about the writers' mentality. It's as if they think women are incapable of being faithful or resisting advances from other men.
Then there's Charlene. She's supposed to be Ben's associate, but her main role appears to be dating suspects, whether they be clients, other men involved in the cases - even Mafia dons. In this particular episode, she almost sinks the whole defence because she's started dating a potential suspect she was supposed to get information from and she doesn't want to "betray his confidence." She's such an oversexed liability that, realistically, even her own father wouldn't work with her. Hell, she'd probably have been disbarred by now for breach of professional ethics.
Matlock is certainly not the only 80s TV show to portray women as being only good for one type of storyline but it is particularly egregious. I understand that Linda Purl quit pretty early on because she was dissatisfied with the writing for the character, and I honestly can't say I blame her. Let's hope that things improve as the series goes on.
