Matlock Recap: Turnabout!

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This week, Matlock resumed its broadcast after a short interlude centered around basketball, delivering an installment in the updated Matlock format that I particularly appreciate. The episode showcased three elements of this series that I find most appealing: (1) A complex case that aligns with Matty’s overarching mission or personal struggles; (2) Matty employing her unique abilities to solve the case by spotting details overlooked by others and using her endearing humility to extract vital information; (3) an unexpected twist at the climax.

I can’t wait to explore that final scene further. However, it’s effective because of how this episode’s narrative unfolds. So let’s systematically review each item on our list, one at a time.

The situation we’ll delve into initially is due to Amina Sloane, Olympia’s former law school friend and current public defender (Azie Tesfai). Impressed by Olympia’s renewed dedication to social justice, and more significantly, the miraculous victories her team has been achieving, Amina ponders if some of that success could be shared with Isabel Sanchez (Blanca Araceli), who is grappling with a challenging predicament. Isabel harbors deep remorse for the past 21 years because she believes she sent an innocent man to prison when she served on a jury for a murder case.

Eugene Molina (Del Zamora), a previous doorman, was once a man. Although he was found guilty of murdering a difficult tenant named Linda Gallo, the evidence against him was questionable. He lacked a clear motive for the crime, didn’t leave any DNA at the victim’s residence, and the primary witness’s description of the perpetrator didn’t align with Gene. Still, the police insisted he committed the act, and in the end, the foreman on Isabel’s jury pressured her so much that she reluctantly agreed to a guilty verdict.

Matty’s initial response to Isabel’s story is to point fingers at the individual juror instead of the jury as a whole. She finds it hard to comprehend how someone would willingly become complicit in an act of injustice. She holds no mercy for that person, who remained silent for more than two decades, expecting appeals to rectify the situation. This is just another instance where we see Matty’s uncompromising stance, as she rarely makes exceptions. No leniency will be given.

However, Isabel has a valid reason for her actions. In a later scene, when Matty and Isabel are privately conversing, the juror shares her experience as a woman of color and an immigrant, struggling to be heard amidst an arrogant white man’s loud opinions. This revelation brings understanding to Matty. The realization alters Matty’s perspective on Isabel, even softening her resentment towards Emmalyn Belvin, the Jacobson-Moore/Wellbrexa whistleblower, whom Matty previously believed should have acted sooner. (I’ll touch upon Mrs. B, her adorable dog Barry Manilow, and Matty’s mistreatment of both later in the narrative.)

Moving on, we’ll discuss another essential aspect of a great “Matlock” episode: Matty’s involvement. In my recent reviews, I’ve often expressed my displeasure with Matty’s growing detachment from Olympia. It was disappointing to watch her struggle in the three-episode Slamm’d storyline. However, it’s a relief that her role is more significant in this instance.

Initially, I gently coax Gene out of his shell, as he’s grown accustomed to his life behind bars in the prison library, showing little interest in helping our cause. I empathize with his sense of despair, just enough to pique his curiosity and prompt him to respond to a few queries. With the information he shares, we piece together a trail that points to an unlikely suspect, whom I eventually manage to deceive into providing a DNA sample. Unfortunately, this sample doesn’t match the crime scene evidence, but re-examining those old samples does lead us to a significant discovery: a previously convicted felon who had once worked as a caterer in the victim’s apartment and who later passed away in prison. With that revelation, our case is finally closed.

Increasingly, I’ve found myself questioning the legal skills displayed by the characters in the show Matlock. To be honest, it’s challenging to determine their proficiency in lawyering with this particular case. Olympia devises an uncommon strategy to circumvent the issue of Gene having used up his appeals. She encourages Isabel to file a lawsuit against the jury foreman, Dale Foster (Bruce Robert Cole), for causing emotional distress. Later, she waits for the foreman’s legal representative to argue that Isabel was unreasonably persistent 21 years ago, given the defendant’s apparent guilt – an argument that offers Olympia a chance to suggest reopening the case, since it’s the only way to validate this claim.

Is it legally sound that this can occur? It strikes me as rather weak reasoning. However, the flaws in the case against Gene are so glaring that it’s astonishing none of his past attempts at appeal succeeded. Indirectly, this case-of-the-week mirrors broader themes within the series, and the writers cleverly hint at upcoming surprises while also artfully diverting our attention from them.

The main theme of this tale revolves around the tendency for the justice system to lean towards those in positions of power – such as the police who failed to conduct a proper investigation, or the foreman who blindly trusted the police, among others. Olympia cleverly exploits this pattern to persuade her ADA adversary, Andrew Park, to examine her DNA evidence despite opposition from his superiors. She is aware that Andrew has also experienced neglect in his career, and she taps into his dormant frustration.

To repay Andrew for his bravery, Olympia holds a press conference with him once their case concludes favorably. This move earns them positive media attention that could make it challenging for their superiors to dismiss them. This timely victory is particularly significant for Olympia since her achievements in the Slamm’d case had been met with disapproval from Jacobson-Moore’s partner board, considering the firm’s primary income comes from assisting corporations in questionable activities. It is Olympia’s defiance against that opposition that Matty previously admired in her, before Matty began believing that the younger Olympia had compromised her principles for Wellbrexa.

In this particular episode, Matty rekindles his friendly relationship with Olympia for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Isabel’s narrative plays a part. Secondly, Edwin discovers proof that Olympia was in court during the time when the Wellbrexa documents vanished, implying she wasn’t responsible for their disappearance. Matty feels relieved, but then…

Indeed, the conclusion is quite striking. Let me elaborate on that unexpected twist. The last scene of the episode has an impactful moment when Matty steps off the bus as normal, only to encounter Olympia there, posing a question: “Who in the world are you, Madeline Matlock?

This unexpected development unfolds in a series of flashbacks reminiscent of a Matlock episode, revealing how Olympia uncovered Matty’s deceit over several episodes. The climactic clue – the chauffeured car – was provided to her by Amina, who had the Kingstons’ license plate traced and passed on the information under the alias “The Johnson Case.

Though the climactic scene left me with a sinking feeling, I must admit that it also echoed an earlier montage in the episode where Olympia and Matty reminisced about their friendship’s origin. It seems that even at that time, Olympia harbored suspicions towards Matty. Looking back now, her glowing words about Matlock feel tinged with accusation instead of admiration.

In this situation, I’m drawn back to the initial seasons of ‘Matlock’, where Matty charmed Olympia by advocating for her individuality, yet annoyed her by assuming an older, less powerful woman should be treated with deference. This entire season has delved into the issue of who deserves to be heard. From the outset, Matty has presented herself as a silent underdog, but considering her history of bullying family and colleagues, Matty seldom acknowledges her privilege. I have a feeling Olympia is about to make her do so.

Hot Doggin’

In the penultimate episode before the break, Matty was on the verge of meeting Emmalyn Belvin. However, the cliffhanger fell flat as instead of appearing, Matty spoke to Mrs. B over a phone with a voice modulator, initiating an entire episode filled with a cat-and-mouse chase. This included Matty menacing Barry Manilow, which was not acceptable. Despite this, Matty’s view of Mrs. B improved slightly after chatting with Isabel. However, this entire side story seems excessively harsh, considering it primarily served to convey one crucial detail: that Jacobson-Moore had a fire drill the day the Wellbrexa documents vanished, making the keycard tracking inaccurate.

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2025-04-04 06:59