Matlock Recap: Read ‘Em and Weep

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Over the past several weeks, I’ve been eagerly watching Matlock, hoping that Matty might reconsider her entire approach to the Jacobson-Moore case, shifting her focus from identifying who concealed incriminating Wellbrexa documents to exposing the overall corrupt nature of big pharma. It’s possible she may change course eventually, but for now, it seems unlikely as we move into this week’s episode.

Upon discovering in last week’s installment that Olympia likely destroyed the documents, Matty has become resolute on bringing down her superior and friend. Given that Matty has been deceiving Olympia about her true identity, and realizing now that Olympia isn’t as morally upright as Matty believed, it appears they have no particular obligations towards each other … at least not in Matty’s eyes.

It’s been troubling to me that Matty seems unable to consider the broader picture concerning Olympia’s potential guilt. After all, circumstances can be complex and people do change! However, the storyline that Jennie Snyder Urman has been developing since around mid-season suggests that Matty can be doggedly obstinate when it comes to her causes. We’re supposed to grasp that she may have unfairly judged Ellie in the past, but this newfound understanding hasn’t affected how she’s handling her covert operation at all.

Two particularly heartfelt scenes in this episode revolve around Matty’s flaws. The first instance occurs during Matty’s cross-examination of a witness in the Slamm’d class action case, where she acknowledges forgetting an essential piece of evidence at home. In an attempt to rebuild the jury’s trust with her endearing “I’m just a little clumsy” routine, her sister surprisingly enters the courtroom, unveiling that Matty has been mimicking her for several months. A later scene at home shows Matty apologizing on bended knee, admitting that the imitation was not intended as a joke but rather an adaptation of Bitsy’s life story and persona for the character of Matty Matlock. The truth is, Matty confesses, the genuine Matty isn’t as appealing; she’s more like a grumpy old turtle.

It’s truly disheartening to see Matty feeling this way, especially given how plausible it is within the context of the show’s recent developments. As I’ve repeatedly pointed out in my previous reviews, while it makes sense for Matty to feel detached and irritated towards Olympia, it’s far from enjoyable. It’s disappointing that Matty can’t share in Olympia’s triumph as she nears the finish line with her Slamm’d case. It’s downright unfortunate when Matty becomes so enraged by the suspicion that Slamm’d concealed documents, a move that leaves Olympia seemingly unfazed – to the point where his negativity leads to him being excluded from the office.

regretfully, even though I feel the Slamm’d case might have been too straightforward for three entire episodes, it concluded quite well this week, boasting some solid legal work – along with the customary dose of fortunate breaks that often favor Olympia’s team.

A significant part of enjoying a courtroom series lies in observing the back-and-forth of complex disputes, evaluating the worth of each side’s perspective – despite your personal inclination towards the characters’ stance. In this particular episode, we witness intense discussion between the accuser and the accused regarding whether Slamm’d should be held accountable for a successful advertising campaign promoting a caffeinated alcoholic drink as exciting and trendy. This marketing strategy attracted younger consumers who might not fully grasp the potential risks involved. Initially, neither argument seems overwhelmingly compelling. For instance, Slamm’d used a cartoon tiger as their mascot; however, Charmin uses cartoon bears, and no one would claim they’re exclusively targeting minors with their toilet paper advertisements.

The pivotal moment occurs when Billy and Sarah locate DJ Flex Master (Adam J. Jefferis), who had hosted an unauthorized Slamm’d party in Connecticut, targeting teenagers as part of a trial run for the product. In his possession, they discover a box of Slamm’d merchandise, including an earlier design of the drink can featuring a more aggressive tiger mascot. Delving into piles of documents (with Shae stepping in for absent Matty), they uncover that Hyperfuel, the company behind Slamm’d, had tested a friendlier version of the tiger mascot on children during taste testing sessions for a sports drink aimed at kids. This information was kept hidden from Jacobson-Moore.

Despite Senior’s intervention and the agreement that allowed our firm to merely cover costs without affecting Slamm’d, Olympia persists in her pursuit following the discovery of these new documents. Eventually, she secures a $40 million verdict, far surpassing what Senior had initially proposed.

This episode marks a significant moment for the semi-titular character of our show, Madeline “Matty Matlock” Kingston. However, from the get-go, as I lay in bed, gazing at the alarm clock from an off-kilter viewpoint, my perspective seems tainted. I find myself reacting defensively when Olympia states, “Winning is all that truly matters.” I retort sharply after being asked to persuade a deceased child’s mother to testify against Slamm’d. When Olympia expresses worry over my recent detachment, I hesitantly promise my unwavering loyalty. (“Naturally, always,” I respond, though my words lack conviction.)

To Bitsy, Matty admits that she’s found it tough to make friends as an adult, which is why her bond with Olympia has held such significance for her. Meanwhile, Bitsy ponders if her sister is merely enamored with being a lawyer once more. In any case, wrapping up the Jacobson-Moore saga won’t be straightforward.

However, it’s clear that the situation requires resolution, and it appears Matty may have uncovered a means of escape. Delving into the digital past of Redditor “reademandweep31,” who initially exposed Jacobson-Moore’s involvement in concealing Wellbrexa’s opioid data to the Kingstons, Matty, Edwin, Bitsy, and Alfie uncovered two crucial pieces of information. They found out that the shredded documents most likely concerned a study conducted by Wellbrexa on the risks of crushing their opioid tablets. This is something they had previously warned about in an early version of their label, but later omitted. According to Matty, the original label would have served as a guide for achieving extreme intoxication.

In addition, it’s discovered that reademandweep31 remains employed at J-M. But who is this confidential informant? It turns out to be none other than Mrs. Belvin! The story concludes as Matty prepares to encounter the consistently ill-tempered dog enthusiast and Barry Manilow devotee in the park, finally revealing her secret within the firm for the first time. Will this encounter provide Matty with the clarity he needs on the Wellbrexa situation? Could it be that Mrs. B is about to supply Matty with the fuel needed to set Jacobson-Moore ablaze?

Hot Doggin’

Alfie appears happier lately since he’s the new student at school. He’s formed a bond, perhaps friendship or romance, with a classmate named Molly. To spend more time together, he’s enrolled in an after-school magic course and is receiving dance lessons from his Great Aunt Itsy Bitsy. Additionally, he’s planning to ask Molly out using a cupcake. It’s quite endearing, and it seems Edwin was right when he suggested Alfie should handle things independently instead of interfering as Matty had wanted. This situation once again shows Matty’s stubbornness – and potentially incorrect assumptions.

Julian and Olympia celebrate the finalization of their divorce, with Julian remarking that their marriage outlasted all of his father’s marriages combined (a total of 12 years). However, the friendly nature between the former spouses may not persist indefinitely, as tensions continue to flare up due to their ongoing business rivalry. Moreover, recent developments indicate that Julian has secured a lucrative deal with an AI start-up, potentially fueling further competition between them.

Sarah can’t help but feel a pang of envy as she supposes that Julian’s AI client likely has a retainer larger than what Olympia earns in an entire year. However, it’s worth noting that Olympia has been scoring some significant, high-value triumphs lately, right? I understand Senior tends to be wary of social justice cases, but the suddenness of the Slamm’d lawsuit being a matter of life or death is still surprising.

• Matlock is taking a brief break as CBS shifts its attention to college basketball courts instead. We’ll meet again on April 3rd. There are just three episodes remaining this season! Will Matlock wrap up her investigation before the finale, or will her secrets be uncovered? With time running out, it seems we’re hurtling towards a suspenseful season finale cliffhanger.

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2025-03-14 05:57