Matlock Recap: Watch What You Say

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I’m not a legal professional – I don’t have a law degree and haven’t even played one in a TV show! However, I do have some background in the legal world. I studied important media law cases in college, worked as a copy editor for a legal publisher after graduation, and I’m a big fan of legal dramas and the commercials law firms produce.

I always find it amusing when legal jargon I’ve learned over the years appears in TV shows. Words like “collateral estoppel” – it’s a beautiful-sounding phrase, even if it’s confusing to most people. But for those in the know, it’s a powerful tool. It’s phrases like these that help me understand why lawyers are so passionate about their profession; they essentially get to use language as a kind of magic.

This week’s episode of *Matlock* explores several ideas, but the main one is Madeline Kingston’s skill with legal arguments – she’s excellent at it, and her firm wants her to continue using that talent. More broadly, the show itself relies on Matlock being in the courtroom; without that central element, it’s hard to see what the show would even be about.

I still worry that *Matlock* won’t be able to keep up its current style for a full season without becoming unbelievable. However, this week’s episode proved the writers can still deliver. Aside from a few small issues with the behind-the-scenes plot, it was another enjoyable and surprising episode of *Matlock*, and more suspenseful than most shows on television today.

The episode is titled “Another Matlock,” and that title has a double meaning. First, it’s a playful reference to the judge presiding over the current case. This judge is a big fan of the original *Matlock* series and playfully quizzes Matty about it, testing her knowledge of details like whether she likes hot dogs and if she remembers specific episodes. The judge even references a season one storyline and tests if Matty recognizes it when ruling on a legal motion. Ultimately, the title also asks a broader question: what’s it like to *be* Matlock?

Let’s be honest, Olympia is the one truly acting like Matlock, employing the same manipulative tactics Matlock herself would use against an opponent.

The episode starts with Matty believing it’s her last day at Jacobson-Moore. She and Edwin have already submitted their findings to *The New York Times*, and once the newspaper responds, she’s prepared to leave the firm. However, Olympia, aware of the Kingstons’ scheme, pretends to be sick. This forces Matty to continue as the lead lawyer on their current case, as she risks being held in contempt of court if she tries to leave now.

Things get more complicated when Matty realizes the legal term “collateral estoppel” won’t automatically resolve the case. Their client, Dasha (Kayla Carlson), is a former associate of the Russian mob who testified against her dangerous ex-boyfriend, Alexei (Brian Gilleece), but was allowed to stay away from court for her safety. Now, Dasha is being sued by Rocco (Justin Paul), a former colleague of Alexei’s, who she implicated in a beating ordered by Alexei. Matty thought the court would automatically protect Dasha in this new lawsuit, but that’s not happening. The legal team now needs to re-prove that Alexei poses a serious threat to Dasha, and that she shouldn’t be held responsible for his actions or forced to testify in public.

During the trial, Matty uses a couple of clever strategies with the jury. She calls a witness from the neighborhood controlled by Alexei’s gang, but lets him refuse to answer questions – protecting him from trouble while also showing the jury how intimidated he is. Then, she brings Alexei into the courtroom and deliberately provokes him until he loses his temper on the stand. This successfully protects Dasha, allowing her to remain hidden, and the jury decides she isn’t responsible for what happened to Rocco, who was also a former mobster and had previously covered up crimes committed by Alexei’s gang.

Like most episodes of *Matlock*, the legal case mirrors the personal struggles of Matty and Olympia. Matty wants Olympia to believe Julian is responsible for covering up the damaging Wellbrexa study, as he’s had chances to reveal the truth over the years. Olympia defends Julian, believing he was forced to act that way by his father. Matty compares Julian to the ruthless Rocco, while Olympia sees him as someone more like the manipulative Dasha.

Olympia confronts Edwin, understanding he’s the most eager to move past Julian and expose Matty’s deception. After discovering Matty stole the Wellbrexa documents from her safe, Olympia claims they’re forgeries and reveals the genuine study is hidden in a Connecticut safety deposit box. Matty forces Olympia to bring Edwin along when she goes to retrieve them. During the trip, Olympia appeals to Edwin’s humanity, reminding him that she and Julian have children and that Matty manipulated her for a year, causing her to doubt the father of those children.

Like with the first episode of the season, I quickly jumped to conclusions about what would happen. I figured Olympia would charm Edwin, everyone would decide to postpone that meeting with the *Times*, and Matty would finally get on board with taking down Senior, with Julian assisting. I honestly thought it would be a pretty straightforward plotline!

Matlock isn’t a show that relies on simple solutions, especially when it comes to the main storyline. It’s revealed that Olympia is manipulating Matty by hiding documents and provoking her into an outburst, which Olympia secretly records. When a furious Matty declares she could even destroy the courthouse and still be favored, she essentially seals her fate. As we saw in the first season, Matty’s temper sometimes causes her to make poor choices, and Olympia has clearly taken notice of this weakness.

After the first two episodes of season two, the story has arrived at a critical point: Olympia will force Matty to continue working for her, hoping to buy Julian more time. However, I don’t think this arrangement will last. Both Olympia and Matty have pushed things too far, and their usual methods won’t work anymore, especially since they clearly dislike each other. Olympia’s intense disdain – visible in her expression while relaxing in a robe and sipping wine – was particularly striking.

Despite everything else, I believe Matty genuinely wants to keep her job. It’s odd to think of forcing someone to continue doing something they’re passionate about as a form of punishment.

The Fine Print

It’s going to be difficult to enjoy this season of *Matlock* until Billy’s character is no longer on the show. I won’t be able to really comment on his storylines until then, unless he’s central to the plot. (Thankfully, that’s not an issue this week.) The recent news about the situation between David Del Rio and Leah Lewis is really upsetting, and it makes any scenes with Billy and Sarah hard to watch.

This week’s storyline involving Simone (Andrea Londo) wrapped up quickly. Her attempt to blackmail Sarah about Sarah doing legal work outside the firm led to Simone being transferred to Omaha.

This week’s main storyline focuses on Alfie, who’s upset that his grandparents won’t help his father get treatment for his addiction. Ultimately, Edwin decides Alfie needs to understand how challenging it is to care for someone struggling with addiction, so he provides the funds and a clinic recommendation for Joey’s rehab. While it’s unclear if this story was necessary, it has piqued my interest in what happens next.

Remember this moment: When Alexei is escorted out of court after his outburst, he shouts that he never forgets a face. It seems like Matty might run into more problems with the Russian mafia before the season is over.

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2025-10-17 05:57