Judged by Matt Walsh

The ruffles have begun to smooth by episode 2 and Judged by Matt Walsh shows real promise.
70/10063833
Starring
Matt Walsh
Rating
Not Yet Rated
Genre
Comedy, Reality TV
Where to watch
DailyWire+
Release date
April 9, 2024
Overall Score
Rating Overview
Entertainment Factor
Originality
Production Quality
Non-Wokeness
Rating Summary
Here come da judge. Matt Walsh lends his trademarked sleepy-eyed loathing for all things obtuse to Judged by Matt Walsh. While the first episode was a bit disappointing, the show's creator(s) 's vision for it is made much clearer and seems far more attainable after the second. It's worth giving it a try, but only time will tell if it will continue to improve.
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Courtroom reality shows have a decades-long history. These shows bring real-life disputes into the television world, providing viewers with a unique blend of small claims cases and legal education. The pioneer of the genre is “The People’s Court,” which first premiered in 1981 with original judge Joseph Wapner. Over the years, other notable courtroom shows like “Judge Judy” and “Judge Mathis” have captivated audiences with their no-nonsense rulings and entertaining drama. Judged by Matt Walsh, endeavors to add its own little twist with Walsh’s signature deadpan delivery and unsparing sensibilities.

Judged by Matt Walsh (season 1: episode 1)

Judged by Matt Walsh episode 1 rating breakdown

Matt Walsh is known for his Sahara-dry wit and utter contempt for willful stupidity. Fans of his long-running program, The Matt Walsh Show, appreciate his ability to reduce political propositions to their wick while dropping sardonic bombs of irony-laden contempt on those who propagate them.

With his pedigree of disdain, it would seem as though pitting Matt against litigants of moral rectitude and intellectual potency to rival prostitute slugs is a Michelin recipe for wagyu wackiness, and it just might be… eventually. As it stands, this first episode suffers from some fairly normal growing pains.

The set design borrows heavily from the original People’s Court. However, it feels cheap and hollow, lending to a justifiable air of contempt felt by the entirety of the cast and crew for those who have bafflingly agreed to have their potentially costly problems mediated by a man whose credentials peaked at the zenith of a high school diploma.

Equally inadequate is the program’s narrator. The performer’s willowy voice lacks the tonal gravitas to either command or condemn and lends to the overall slightly slapdash atmosphere.

Adding to the show’s inconsistent quality, Matt’s every entrance is accompanied by a cringy gag that falls flatter than a week-old rootbeer float. Unfortunately, all of these are hubcaps on a tractor, i.e., unneeded distractions. The premise, ridiculous petitioners, and Matt are enough alone, or at least they could be. Matt is still finding his groove in this first episode of Judged by Matt Walsh.

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It’s one thing to lay waste to policymakers and pundits who place themselves in the crosshairs or to level reality buckshot at an arrogant college student in an auditorium full of sympathetic audience members. It’s completely another to eviscerate someone while looking into their eyes from 8 feet away, knowing that one of your goals is to compound their self-served stupidity with truth and barely restrained scorn.

Unlike in his magnum opus, What is A Woman, where his stony silence drew ideological poison from the insane and inane like a witch’s poultice, for Judged to work, Matt will have to channel some of his internal fire and ratchet the energy up to at least a five if he hopes to illicit the needed drama to entertain and engage on a consistent and meaningful level.

That said, properly focused, Matt’s effortless on-the-spectrum-like demeanor has the potential to rival Judge Judy’s soulless and uncaring black heart when dealing with those he adjudicates. Once he gets more comfortable in the role and loses his distaste for hurting feelings as well as the Gallagher Two prop humor, I have no doubt that Judged by Matt Walsh will be Worth it.

One final thought: if there was ever a Courtroom reality show that would benefit from a post-trial interview with the participants, it’s this one. It would provide the chance for additional humor as offended plaintiffs, and defendants whine about the insulting injustice that just befell them while breaking up the show’s otherwise unavoidable monotony.

 

WOKE ELEMENTS

Are You Kidding?
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Judged by Matt Walsh (S1:E2)

Judged by Matt Walsh episode 2 rating breakdown

Well, it didn’t take long for some of the most serious issues to get smoothed out. In episode 2, a simple lighting adjustment to a slightly warmer and less harsh tone enriches the entire set and considerably elevates the show’s overall appearance.

Unarguably, Matt himself is the best and most important improvement. Far more comfortable with the proceedings and having largely dumped the gags, Walsh’s natural repugnance for the twits before him and their foolishness shines through.

In the last installment, it seemed as though Matt was a skosh hesitant to lay into the degenerates and tear apart their unprincipled arguments with the barely concealed acid that they deserve. That’s gone the way of the dodo. In episode 2, he’s sharpened his wit and wields it against the dolts in his courtroom to (maybe not hilarious but) chuckle-worthy effect.

There’s still room for improvement. The narrator hasn’t been changed but should soon, and Walsh has room to grow, but if this episode is any indication, the show’s trajectory is up and far and aimed at excellent.

Based on this installment’s improvement and a general belief in Matt’s abilities, I’m marking Judged by Matt Walsh as cautiously Worth it.

 

WOKE ELEMENTS

Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens
  • None

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James Carrick

James Carrick is a passionate film enthusiast with a degree in theater and philosophy. James approaches dramatic criticism from a philosophic foundation grounded in aesthetics and ethics, offering insight and analysis that reveals layers of cinematic narrative with a touch of irreverence and a dash of snark.

6 comments

  • Bunny With A Keyboard

    April 9, 2024 at 11:55 am

    I have a very easy time seeing Matt Walsh as a judge, just working as a common sense arbiter slicing through nonsense and lies the way a chainsaw prunes a hedge.

    3
    2

    Reply

    • James Carrick

      April 9, 2024 at 12:25 pm

      Same. They’re trying a little too hard in the pilot but if they just let him go, the comedy will find itself.

      Reply

  • Lissa

    April 10, 2024 at 5:09 am

    I agree with you 100% regarding the show’s narrator. She didn’t really add anything to the show. I think Matt’s ego demands he should have a coquettish female in his presence. That seems to always be the case with him.
    Court shows are well trodden ground. A new court show should be exciting and different to set it apart from the other shows. This one didn’t do it for me. We already have a Judge Judy. Matt is naturally Matt on his podcast show. We see it everyday.
    I really don’t know to what new level he can take a show like this to make it feel fresh and interesting or funny. He comes across as trying too hard to become a famous ‘entertainer.’

    Reply

  • drbng

    April 24, 2024 at 9:56 pm

    maybe it gets better but even as a regular walsh listener the pilot was unwatchable.

    Reply

    • James Carrick

      April 24, 2024 at 10:05 pm

      There’s definitely improvement by the second episode. Once let the comedy happen organically instead of forcing awkward gags in, it’ll find a good rhythm.

      Reply

  • Bushblocker

    November 2, 2024 at 2:44 pm

    Hilarious as always Matt Walsh. He has the greatest deadpan of any entertainer working today. His comedic timing and ad-libbing are perfect.

    Reply

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