by Kate Matthews

Matlock Police went to air two years after the release of US counter-culture hit Easy Rider (1969) and this sequence is a strong reminder of that film. Here, these counter-cultural characters are not the protagonists, but are seen as a potentially dangerous outside influence.

These scenes provide a fluid introduction to many of the story’s key elements. An open road, a road sign and motorcycle cop Gary first introduce us to the town of Matlock and its police force. We also get to know both the soon-to-be victim of crime, Miss Falconer, and a number of soon-to-be suspects.

The motorcycles passing on the road in the distance while Miss Falconer talks to Les provide a nice through line from the opening scene to the moment where the hippies and Miss Falconer clash. The dialogue provides multiple characters with motives for robbing Miss Falconer. The sequence also neatly introduces a number of conflicts to the episode: youth versus age, outsiders versus community, working class versus upper class, city versus country, new ideas versus conservatism.