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Season guide

Matlock: Season 4

24 episodes Premiered Sep 19, 1989
Previously on Matlock

Season 4 Lore Primer

Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.

  • ⚡ Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Matlock Season 3.
  • ⚡ Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
  • ⚡ Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
  • ⚡ Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
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Season 4 Episodes

Episode Guide

🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD

Season 4 Progress Shield

Future titles & synopses blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any card to peek.
Binge Efficiency Engine

Season 4: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

25%
75%
Mytharc (6): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (18): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S4·E1 Mytharc

The Hunting Party (1)

Sep 19, 1989

Spencer Hamilton came to Manteo, North Carolina, as soon as he could to locate the man who killed his brother, Frank, in a supposed duck-hunting accident. When Ryan Bartell (the sh

S4·E2 Core

The Hunting Party (2)

Sep 19, 1989

Spencer Hamilton came to Manteo, North Carolina, as soon as he could to locate the man who killed his brother, Frank, in a supposed duck-hunting accident. When Ryan Bartell (the sh

S4·E3 Core

The Good Boy

Sep 26, 1989

After her husband's death she never thought she'd love again, but it Bonnie soon found her future with Cal Ritter. The only problem is that her son, Tony Morgen, hates Cal. When To

S4·E4 Core

The Best Seller

Oct 10, 1989

When Elizabeth, a friend of famous novelist Cynthia Slayton, is found dead after taking Cynthia's prescribed allergy medication, suspicion falls on Cynthia's long-suffering husband

S4·E5 Core

The Ex

Oct 17, 1989

Julie heads to Baltimore to defend a man accused of killing the newspaper editor who dragged his name through the mud. Matlock comes to town to help her because Conrad is busy on a

S4·E6 Core

The Clown

Oct 24, 1989

Matlock agrees to defend aging clown Homer Fleming after he's charged with the murder of his long-time partner, Simon. After asking Conrad to go undercover as a roustabout at the c

S4·E7 Core

The Star

Oct 31, 1989

Catherine McKay is an aging prima donna who only had one hit movie in her career. When she's found dead, stabbed in the chest with the knife that made her famous, suspicion lands o

S4·E8 Core

The Con Man

Nov 7, 1989

After he's conned by a group of con men, Brian Davis is accused of murdering one of them. Matlock agrees to take on the case, and while Michelle tries to get close to one of the re

S4·E9 Core

The Prisoner (1)

Nov 14, 1989

When a prison guard is accused of murder, Matlock actually goes into the prison itself to defend the man.

S4·E10 Core

The Prisoner (2)

Nov 21, 1989

While Matlock finds the weapon inside the prison, Conrad works on the outside to clear the guard and keep Matlock safe.

S4·E11 Core

The Fugitive

Nov 28, 1989

Matlock takes the case of Drew Carey, a young man he has known since childhood, who is accused of murdering his uncle in a fit of drunken rage. Unfortunately, Drew has grown up int

S4·E12 Mytharc

The Buddies

Dec 12, 1989

After an old friend from college dies, Matlock has to investigate three college chums on the charge of murdering a hitchhiker thirty years earlier.

S4·E13 Core

The Scrooge

Dec 19, 1989

When a scrooge of a store owner is accused of murdering his partner for being 'good' at Christmas, Matlock agrees to take the case, but Steven Abbott is furious when part of Matloc

S4·E14 Core

The Witness

Jan 2, 1990

Sandra Townsend is senior counsel with Drexel, Harris and Townsend. But when she's off work she likes to let her hair down and go to the bars. When her lover threatens to expose he

S4·E15 Core

The Student

Jan 9, 1990

Matlock goes back to school for a little more education, and while there, one of his students is accused of murdering the professor she was having an affair with. Matlock soon lear

S4·E16 Mytharc

The Talk Show

Jan 16, 1990

When talk show host Dan Galloway is murdered after publicly humiliating three woman on the air and firing his executive producer, there is no shortage of suspects. Nearly everyone

S4·E17 Core

The Victim

Jan 23, 1990

Matlock tries to prove that someone other than his client had a motive to murder his lover. His best bet? The victim's paraplegic husband.

S4·E18 Core

The Kidnapper

Feb 6, 1990

When Matlock is kidnapped, Michelle and Conrad go through Ben's old cases to try to figure out who is holding him hostage.

S4·E19 Core

The Pro

Feb 13, 1990

Matlock has to defend an arrogant young tennis professional (Dave Travis) against a charge of murdering his rival on and off the court (Victor Tomassio).

S4·E20 Mytharc

The Informer (1)

Feb 20, 1990

When Sam Chandler is found murdered, his lawyer David O'Malley is the prime suspect...in part because John was sleeping with David's wife.

S4·E21 Core

The Informer (2)

Feb 27, 1990

With Angela's help, Conrad tries to track down an informer they believe holds the key to Sam Chandler's murder.

S4·E22 Core

The D.A.

Mar 20, 1990

Julie becomes the target of a witness with psychological problems, leaving Matlock and Conrad to learn who is threatening her, and why.

S4·E23 Mytharc

The Blackmailer

May 1, 1990

Cartoonist Ron Winfield has kept Atlanta enthralled with his recent storyline in "The Peach Pit" involving an affair by Senator Peter Dolan. Just before the woman in the affair ca

S4·E24 Mytharc

The Cookie Monster

May 8, 1990

When cookie maker Katie White announces her plans to take over a number of smaller baking companies, any one of them could be the killer. After she dies from an allergic reaction t

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