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The Best Episodes of Matlock Season 3

Every episode of Matlock Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Matlock Season 3!

Binge this in 5h 0m•Peaking at 7.8/10

Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of criminal defense attorney Ben Matlock. The show, produced by The Fred Silverman Company, Dean Hargrove Productions, Viacom Productions and Paramount

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Matlock Season 3 Episode 1 - The Lemon
    7.7/10(180 votes)

    #1 - The Lemon

    S3:E1

    When Matlock's new neighbor, Les 'Ace' Calhoun, is charged with murdering the used car salesman who sold him a lemon, Matlock takes the case to prove that more than one person had a motive, and that Les is not the guilty party.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Matlock Season 3 Episode 2 - The Ambassador (1)
    7.4/10(153 votes)

    #2 - The Ambassador (1)

    S3:E2

    Anthony Stewart is charged with murdering Michael Russell, the husband of the woman he was sleeping with. Although Stewart, a visiting British ambassador, has diplomatic immunity, he refuses to use it, and wants to clean his name. Matlcok agrees to defend the young ambassador, but his case is almost over when Stewart is nearly killed in a hit and run.

    Director:Christopher Hibler
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Matlock Season 3 Episode 3 - The Ambassador (2)
    7.6/10(142 votes)

    #3 - The Ambassador (2)

    S3:E3

    After Anthony Stewart is nearly killed in a hit and run, Matlock realises that the only way to clear him is to find Shelby Russell, the supposed witness whose claim put Stewart in the hot seat in the first place. He tracks her down via her mother, and tells her that if she doesn't take the stand, her lover will go down for Michael Russell's murder.

    Director:Christopher Hibler
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Matlock Season 3 Episode 4 - The Mistress
    7.1/10(131 votes)

    #4 - The Mistress

    S3:E4

    Matlock agrees to defend Laura McCord after she's charged with murdering her husband David in a jealous rage. He and Julie soon realise that David's lover is the key in all this, but she seems to have disappeared! Ben and Julie head to the mountains to find her, and realise that the young woman is connected to organized crime.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Matlock Season 3 Episode 5 - The D.J.
    6.9/10(156 votes)

    #5 - The D.J.

    S3:E5

    When radio disk jockey Arthur Saxon is accused of murdering rival D.J. Robby Moore, Michelle asks Ben to defend him. Ben agrees because Michelle swears he's the kindest, most gentlest man she's ever known, but Ben soon realises that Michelle's new boyfriend is anything but.

    Director:Tony Mordente
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Matlock Season 3 Episode 6 - The Captain
    7.8/10(155 votes)

    #6 - The Captain

    S3:E6

    Captain Edward Hanna was once a fine, fine cop. Unfortunately, his actions over the years have netted him with the nickname 'The Mad Hatter'. When police officer Jim Shanley is found dead after spouting off about Hanna, sergeant Jerry Reese is charged with the crime. Everyone thinks he's guilty, especially Shanley's partner, Donna Dawson. In defending Reese, Matlock begins to realise that his old friend Hanna isn't the cop he used to be.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Matlock Season 3 Episode 7 - The Vendetta
    6.6/10(155 votes)

    #7 - The Vendetta

    S3:E7

    Michelle is taken hostage by Ned Billings, who blames Matlock for his brother (James Billings, The Professor) committing suicide after being convicted of murder, thanks to Ben. Tyler and Julie also show up and end up as Ned's hostages, and they try to use the tactics they've seen Matlock use in courtrooms and interrogations to stay alive and convince Ned not to kill Ben.

    Director:David Solomon
    Writer:Robert Schlitt

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  8. Matlock Season 3 Episode 8 - The Mayor (1)
    7.2/10(134 votes)

    #8 - The Mayor (1)

    S3:E8

    When Chris Reardon, a man determined to bring the sixties back into the late eighties, is charged with murdering mayor Brian Barelli, reporter Paul O'Neill brings Matlock to Chicago to defend him, convinced of his innocence. Matlock reluctantly agrees to follow through with the case after realising O'Neill tricked him, because he knows that dropping the case will seriously hurt Reardon's chances.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Robert Schlitt

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  9. Matlock Season 3 Episode 9 - The Mayor (2)
    7.3/10(129 votes)

    #9 - The Mayor (2)

    S3:E9

    Paul O'Neill heads to Texas to get his hands on Eddie Lomax, whom he believes to be the real killer. Matlock realises that a land scam is behind everything, and enlists an unlikely ally...the dead man's wife.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Robert Schlitt

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  10. Matlock Season 3 Episode 10 - The Black Widow
    7.7/10(145 votes)

    #10 - The Black Widow

    S3:E10

    Seven years earlier Ken Wilson was sent to prison, convicted of murdering his wife, Ann. After he's released, he runs into his wife in Los Angeles, only now she's going by the name Kelly Manning. When she turns up dead, Ken Wilson is again arrested and charged with her murder. Ben is determined to prove that someone else killed the woman. Back in Atlanta, Les is thrilled about his new relationship with Bernice, a woman he met at Ray Templin's.

    Director:Christopher Hibler
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Matlock Season 3 Episode 11 - The Other Woman
    7.7/10(157 votes)

    #11 - The Other Woman

    S3:E11

    Matlock agrees to defend psychiatrist Lucas Forbes when he's arrested for killing Adam Whitley, the husband of one of his patients whom Lucas was reportedly having an affair with, according to the woman's diary. Matlock soon realises that Erin Whitley has a host of deep-rooted psychiatric problems. After a few chance meetings with a woman named Shannon, Matlock is shocked to realise the extent of the connection between Erin and Shannon.

    Director:Robert Scheerer
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Matlock Season 3 Episode 12 - The Starlet
    7.4/10(130 votes)

    #12 - The Starlet

    S3:E12

    An old friend comes to Matlock to beg him to prove that her daughter Lauren didn't murder her rival Morgan Girard after a beauty contest.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Matlock Season 3 Episode 13 - The Psychic
    7.2/10(143 votes)

    #13 - The Psychic

    S3:E13

    Matlock agrees to defend a psychic, Jennifer Holtz, who claims to have seen the murder before it ever took place.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Matlock Season 3 Episode 14 - The Thief (1)
    7.4/10(169 votes)

    #14 - The Thief (1)

    S3:E14

    When a rare coin dealer is charged with murdering a thieving employee, he hires Matlock to defend him. Tyler is less than thrilled when Matlock temporarily hires a female investigator, and has his own suspicions of her motives.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Matlock Season 3 Episode 15 - The Thief (2)
    7.5/10(130 votes)

    #15 - The Thief (2)

    S3:E15

    Matlock and Tyler realise that part of Linda's deception is routed in the recent kidnapping of her son. While Tyler helps her locate the child, Matlock finds the rare coin he needs to put the finish on the case.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Matlock Season 3 Episode 16 - The Thoroughbred
    7.7/10(157 votes)

    #16 - The Thoroughbred

    S3:E16

    When the manager of a thoroughbred farm is murdered, her father begs Matlock to represent the mentally handicapped man accused of the crime.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writers:Mary Ann Kasica, Michael Scheff

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  17. Matlock Season 3 Episode 17 - The Model
    7.4/10(136 votes)

    #17 - The Model

    S3:E17

    Matlock has finally had the breakthrough in the case he was struggling with, but after being hit by a car, he needs to put the case together from scratch. Unfortunately, his nurse isn't too pleased to see him trying to work, and does her best to make sure he gets the rest he needs.

    Director:Tony Mordente
    Writer:Robert Schlitt

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  18. Matlock Season 3 Episode 18 - The Cult
    7.4/10(135 votes)

    #18 - The Cult

    S3:E18

    When William Austin comes to Atlanta from Chicago and heads to the cult that has ensnared his son Dennis, Dennis tells him to leave him alone, the cult is his home now, and that he is no longer his father. The leader of the cult, Joshua Bradbury, tells Austin that he needs to accept Dennis' decision, and to leave him alone. Austin refuses to leave without his son, and Bradbury has the police escort Austin (who threatens to take off Bradbury's head) out of mansion. Dennis observes someone shooting Joshua, then tells police he sees his father fleeing the scene of the crime. William Austin heads to Ben Matlock for help in defending himself. After learning that Dennis has signed his trust fund and his life's savings over to the cult, Matlock confronts him, and is shocked to hear Dennis deny his father. Matlock goes to a reknowned expert in de-programming cult victims, who tells him that Dennis may believe he saw his father, but he is probably so brain-washed by the cult that he can't real

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Matlock Season 3 Episode 19 - The Blues Singer
    7.8/10(176 votes)

    #19 - The Blues Singer

    S3:E19

    When legendary blues singer Eddie Haynes is charged with murder, Matlock agrees to defend a man he once idolized. Haynes swears that the young rock star he's accused of killing was going to write him a hit song, and Matlock soon realises that there is no shortage of people who wanted the charismatic young musician dead.

    Director:Leo Penn
    Writer:Joel Steiger

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  20. Matlock Season 3 Episode 20 - The Priest
    7.5/10(129 votes)

    #20 - The Priest

    S3:E20

    After a local mobster is accused of murdering a priest, Alex Winthrop goes to Matlock for help with the case because he knows that he can't do it on his own. It doesn't take long before Matlock realises that the Church is covering something up.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"The Lemon" is the best rated episode of "Matlock" season 3. It scored 7.7/10 based on 180 votes. Directed by Leo Penn and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/29/1988. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Ambassador (1)".