Melanie Lynskey’s Appearance On Matlock Was A Fabulous Surprise, But I’m Bummed About Her Character For Two Reasons

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Be warned: this article contains spoilers for the second season of Matlock, specifically the fourth episode, “Piece of My Heart.” You can currently stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription.

The most recent episode of Matlock was deeply moving, showing Matty remembering a happy time with her daughter before her struggles with addiction worsened and she tragically passed away. The episode featured a delightful performance by Kathy Bates singing Janis Joplin’s “Another Piece of My Heart” during two karaoke scenes, and some great reactions to Matty’s new look. However, the biggest surprise was the unexpected appearance of Melanie Lynskey, which was made even better by the fact that her cameo was kept secret. Despite the strong episode, there are a couple of things that left me feeling disappointed.

But let’s start with the good!

Melanie Lynskey Joins Matlock

Melanie Lynskey is a well-established actress, and many viewers now recognize her from the show Yellowjackets. However, she’s also a longtime fan of the classic series Matlock, and her husband, Jason Ritter, even plays a role on it. She’s joked about him revealing plot twists and has said she always dreamed of being on the show, and in Season 2, Episode 4, that dream came true.

The first time I saw her was when Matty set up a meeting with Debra Palmer, a makeup artist who’d worked with Senior in Sydney and might know something damaging about him. I was genuinely surprised when the scene began and an actress who strongly resembled Melanie Lynskey started talking to Kathy Bates. It seemed unlikely that Matlock would cast her and not reveal it beforehand, so I assumed it must be an incredibly accurate lookalike.

Actually, Lynskey’s character, Debra, was a highlight of the episode! She provided some of the biggest laughs, especially with Matty’s hilarious makeover that reminded people of Tammy Faye. Plus, the reveal that she also does makeup for funerals – specifically for open caskets – was a fantastic and funny moment to watch Matty’s reaction to.

Lynskey appeared in more than just that one scene! After Matty cleverly convinced someone they were close friends, the three of them went to karaoke. Debra surprised everyone by skillfully avoiding Matty and Olympia’s questions about her trip with Senior, which led the lawyers to believe she’d signed a non-disclosure agreement. This presented an obstacle, but it also suggested the women were making progress in their investigation.

By the episode’s end, Debra simply stopped responding to Matty, but her lack of communication actually gave both him and Olympia something to focus on. I thought Melanie Lynskey’s performance was a standout moment in the episode.

What I Wish Had Gone Differently With Melanie Lynskey On Matlock

My disappointment with how the show Matlock used Melanie Lynskey actually connects to another successful CBS series, Elsbeth. Before Matlock Season 2 cast Jason Ritter’s wife – a talented actress herself – Elsbeth perfectly cast Carrie Preston’s Emmy-winning husband, Michael Emerson, in a memorable role. Elsbeth, a spin-off of The Good Wife, succeeded in two key ways with its casting choices.

Carrie Preston described Emerson’s character as a frequent rival to hers, much like Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, as they appeared in many scenes together. Although his character’s storyline ended sooner than anticipated, he did reappear throughout several episodes in Season 2.

Unlike some other appearances, it’s unclear if Debra will return to Matlock after this episode, meaning Melanie Lynskey’s time on the show might be limited to just one appearance. While I enjoyed the dynamic between Matty and Debra, I was hoping to see Lynskey share a scene with Jason Ritter – a pairing that could have been as engaging as the chemistry between Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson on Elsbeth. I think Lynskey and Ritter would have had a similar spark.

Even though I had a couple of small wishes for how Melanie Lynskey’s character on Matlock could have been, her appearance as Debra was still a fantastic surprise. It’s even possible we’ll see her character return this season, despite any confidentiality agreements. Regardless of what happens, I’m thrilled that her appearance wasn’t leaked beforehand – surprises like that are rare these days with social media!

What’s Next?

Okay, so things are getting really interesting! I’m still waiting to see if Matty and Olympia will have to confront Debra and maybe even bring Melanie Lynskey back into the mix. But right now, the bigger drama is between Matty and Julian. Julian figured out Matty was using Mrs. Belvin to get info, but he jumped to the wrong conclusion and now thinks he and Olympia can team up against Matty. Honestly, Olympia deserves credit – she kept their plans under wraps. I’m predicting a seriously explosive episode when Matty and Julian finally go head-to-head, this could be great!

Here’s a preview of the fifth episode of the show, titled “Moustrap,” which will air on November 6th, according to the episode description from CBS.

Matty and Olympia rush to shield each other from Julian’s growing distrust while simultaneously fighting to get a fair resentencing for a teen who was tried as an adult and given a life sentence.

Okay, so I’m really starting to wonder just how much trouble Julian is in now that he’s digging deeper. It’s been so clear that Senior has always pulled the strings with his son, so I can totally see him running to Dad with anything he finds out. Honestly, Julian doesn’t have much leverage at Jacobson Moore right now. The preview for the next episode definitely hints at a tense conversation between father and son, and it looks like Matty and Olympia might not be as much of a team as we thought. Here’s a sneak peek:

Enjoyed the latest episode of Matlock? You can stream “Piece of My Heart” on Paramount+ whenever you like. As for Melanie Lynskey returning to the show, I’m optimistic! It would also be fun to see her guest star on Elsbeth alongside Carrie Preston – maybe even as a famous killer! New episodes of Matlock air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, right after Ghosts and before Elsbeth.

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2025-10-31 18:11