Matlock Episode Ratings Heatmap
1986 · 9 Seasons · 194 Episodes · Overall Score: 7.6/10 (22 rated)
Season 7 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 7 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.33), maintaining an average of 9.1.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6 | Season 7 | Season 8 | Season 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | – | 9.0 | – |
| Ep 2 | 8.0 | 10.0 | – | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Ep 3 | 1.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Ep 4 | – | – | – | 1.0 | – | – | – | 9.0 | – |
| Ep 5 | – | – | 2.0 | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | – |
| Ep 6 | – | 7.0 | – | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | – |
| Ep 7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10.0 | 10.0 | – |
| Ep 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | – |
| Ep 9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | – |
| Ep 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 12 | 1.0 | – | – | – | – | 9.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 13 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 14 | – | – | 7.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 16 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 17 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 20 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 21 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 22 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 23 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Season Avg | 3.3 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | – | 9.0 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 10.0 |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 9 seasons and 194 episodes, Matlock has earned an overall series rating of 7.6 out of 10. The series demonstrates an upward quality trajectory, with later seasons sustaining higher viewer acclaim than its debut.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 2, Episode 2 ("The Billionaire (2)"), rated at an extraordinary 10.0/10 with 1 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 1, Episode 12 ("Santa Claus"), landing at 1.0/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 1 between Episode 2 ("The Judge", 8) and Episode 3 ("The Stripper", 1), a swing of 7 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of Matlock
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 2, Ep 2 | The Billionaire (2) | 10.0 | 1 | Sep 22, 1987 |
| #2 | Season 7, Ep 7 | The Singer | 10.0 | 1 | Jan 28, 1993 |
| #3 | Season 8, Ep 7 | The Capital Offense | 10.0 | 1 | Nov 11, 1993 |
| #4 | Season 9, Ep 2 | The Accused (2) | 10.0 | 1 | Oct 13, 1994 |
| #5 | Season 9, Ep 3 | The Scandal | 10.0 | 1 | Oct 20, 1994 |
| #6 | Season 6, Ep 1 | The Witness Killings (1) | 9.0 | 1 | Oct 18, 1991 |
| #7 | Season 6, Ep 12 | The Picture (1) | 9.0 | 1 | Jan 17, 1992 |
| #8 | Season 8, Ep 1 | The Play | 9.0 | 1 | Sep 23, 1993 |
| #9 | Season 8, Ep 2 | The Fatal Seduction (1) | 9.0 | 1 | Sep 30, 1993 |
| #10 | Season 8, Ep 3 | The Fatal Seduction (2) | 9.0 | 1 | Oct 7, 1993 |