Matlock Recap: Kramer vs. Kramer

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Legal dramas inherently revolve around opposing parties, making it instinctive for viewers to take sides when watching shows about lawyers. The creators of Matlock understand this. Contrary to some complex, morally ambiguous prestige dramas, Matlock isn’t heavy on that front. However, throughout the first season, Matlock has surprised its audience by showing that those we were led to dislike might not be as villainous – and that our hero, Madeline “Matlock” Kingston, can also err, even repeatedly.

For this current case, it initially challenged my feelings, presenting a conclusion that felt disorganized and left me wanting more emotional resolution. However, this isn’t necessarily a criticism as the unexpected twist was purposeful – indeed, I believe it served the story well thematically.

Let’s begin with Paloma Deleon, a character you’ll find yourself cheering for. She is a Mexican immigrant who assists other immigrants in obtaining small business licenses. However, she’s currently embroiled in a contentious child support disagreement with Bruno Cortez, a stern global businessman who tends to look down on Paloma’s humble background. Paloma is fighting for financial justice from a wealthy individual. Bruno responds by attempting to gain custody of their son, Tenoch – a shy 7-year-old who shows signs of possibly being on the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum in this episode.

Instead of making things simpler, Julian decides to add fuel to the fire in his divorce with Olympia. To do this, he selects Bruno as a client. In court, Julian alleges that Paloma has been speaking ill of Tenoch’s father and winning their son’s favor through leniency and excessive screen time. However, Bruno seems more like a bully who doesn’t prioritize Tenoch’s well-being, and the principles of storytelling hint that Julian may later regret using this case as a means to retaliate against his soon-to-be ex-wife.

However, things don’t go as expected. Olympia’s team finds it challenging to gather solid proof against Bruno, focusing on his temper outburst during an altercation with Tenoch’s soccer coach as the key evidence. Moreover, Paloma, the client, turns out to be problematic. She confesses to disclosing Bruno’s womanizing habits to Tenoch and is found trying to take her son to Mexico against court orders to stay in the country. To add more complications, when a social worker is assigned to look after Tenoch during the custody hearing, Paloma locks herself and her son in a Jacobson-Moore office.

A significant issue in Paloma’s case, however, appears to be the lack of apparent hostility shown by Tenoch towards his father. In times of high emotion, he copes by organizing his soccer cards, and when a social worker inquires about who provides him with a sense of tranquility, Tenoch is unable to select one. He merely wishes for them to stop arguing, expressing sorrowfully, “If it’s my fault, I’ll make a change.

Regarding Julian, he never experiences the “What have I turned into?” predicament when defending Bruno. Instead, it’s Olympia who feels embarrassed after a grumpy judge, following their squabbling exes being charged with contempt and detained in custody, expresses frustration by asking, “What on earth are we doing here?”

Olympia then reconsiders her aggressive approach to the divorce, which Matty had suggested (for his own deceitful motives), and tells Julian she no longer desires a thorough examination of his financial records. Consequently, they negotiate a deal for Bruno and Paloma that allows both parties equal time with Tenoch, thereby preventing any situation that could appear as a “victory” for either side. Summarizing their approach, Olympia recalls advice from her father: “One can be right or one can be content.

So, you might wonder what Matty’s role is amidst all the commotion? Essentially, she’s more of an observer than a participant, offering fewer suggestions or insights than typical. This is due to the fact that the Paloma/Bruno/Tenoch case reminds her of when she and Edwin were in a California courtroom, advocating for their daughter Ellie (played by Marnee Carpenter) to be released from custody regarding Alfie. The same courtroom where Ellie was present with them.

I found myself deeply affected by these scenes, primarily because Ellie appears wronged in so many ways. Matty’s demeanor is chilling and unyielding, as she and her lawyer meticulously magnify each of Ellie’s mistakes, portraying them as heinous acts of criminal negligence. Although it’s undeniable that Matty is correct in many of her accusations – such as her persistent belief that Ellie had lied about being sober when little Alfie got burned – the harsh treatment she metes out, honestly, is hard to stomach.

In other words, Paloma’s predicament deeply troubles Matty, leading her to express this sentiment to their client as they ponder the idea of leaving the country with Tenoch: “There’s one decision I wish I could undo every single day.” She is alluding to a choice she was unable to retract: taking Alfie away from Ellie, which might have precipitated her overdose.

In this scenario, it’s clear that Matty carries a heavy burden of regret. What doesn’t ease her pain is the fact that Edwin, who stood by her during the entire Ellie incident, secretly questioned her choices. During one of the court hearings, Ellie pleaded with Edwin to halt Matty’s actions. The narrative unfolds with a distressing dream sequence reminiscent of those in Matlock, where Edwin fears the consequences if Matty learns about his fabricated email from Alfie’s potential father. By the end of the episode, Matty uncovers the deception, and in a poignant moment, accuses Edwin of blaming her for Elle’s demise.

His pained but honest answer? “Sometimes.” Even to her own husband, Matty isn’t always the hero.

Hot Doggin’

Sarah experiences a successful week with resilience, converting adversities into triumphs. She unearths crucial proof against Bruno when she finds out that Paloma’s neighbor has a surveillance system hidden in her flower bushes. However, she manages to annoy this very neighbor by launching into a tirade about the discriminatory past of Neighborhood Watch groups before this discovery. (The neighbor: “Are you here to provide me with a copy of ‘White Fragility’? I already have it.”)

As a budding protégé under Olympia’s guidance, I found myself initially at a loss in the beginning. Unlike Matty, I was not well-versed in her personal life details, and when she compared her upcoming legal battle with Julian to “Kramer vs. Kramer,” it went over my head (I had to ask if it was an old case she worked on). However, Olympia’s advice to “take a beat and think” proved instrumental in my pursuit of the hidden camera, which ultimately earned me her praise for a job well done that day. The question of whether good lawyering entails finding a concealed camera is certainly a thought-provoking topic for another discussion.

Eventually, Sarah manages to get Billy to forgive her deeply apologetic stance and later refers to him as her “teacher in kindness.” Prior to this, Billy subtly mocks Sarah by flirting with her rival, Simone Delgado, a colleague from law school who had clerked at the Supreme Court and now works alongside Julian. Initially, Billy becomes unsettled when he realizes that Simone manipulated Sarah by taking her mints (after suggesting, “confidentially,” that she had a slight breath issue). However, as the episode concludes, it appears he is keen on exploring this budding romance. “She seems pleasant,” he deceives himself.

As a movie buff, I’m eagerly following the twists and turns in the “Matty Investigates Jacobson-Moore” case. This week, she made a bold move by snatching Julian’s key card. This key isn’t just any ordinary item; it records all his office comings and goings. She’s banking on this evidence to show that he was in the documents room when the missing Wellbrexa file mysteriously appeared.

I believe there are only six episodes remaining this season. If you’re curious as to when Matty will transition from undercover agent to aggressor, be sure to pay close attention to the titles of the upcoming episodes: “Pregame,” “Game Day” and “Game Face.” I’ll see you again next week!

There are only six episodes left this season, so if you’re eagerly waiting for Matty to make his switch from undercover agent to aggressor, keep an eye out for the titles of the upcoming shows: “Pregame,” “Game Day” and “Game Face.” I’ll catch up with you next week!

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2025-02-21 08:54