Matlock Recap: What’s Behind Door Number 2523?

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Week after week, ever since the early episodes of this current season of Matlock, I’ve found myself watching the “previously on Matlock” montage at the start of each episode, which has essentially remained unchanged – much like an old television theme song that recaps the show’s premise. It goes something like, “Join us once more as we delve into a legal mystery/Unraveling cases handled by Jacobson-Moore Law Firm/Who have been instrumental in exposing fraud and corruption…” And so forth.

This week, however, the “previously” segment is longer and contains more details than just Matty seeking vengeance for her daughter Ellie’s death. It also brings back memories of Billy’s secret relationship with Simone, Sarah’s archenemy, and Olympia’s potential career-making lawsuit against the alcoholic energy drink Slamm’d. What’s surprising is a reference to a joke Matty made in the series premiere about buying butterscotch candies in bulk after turning 60. Lastly, it reminds us that Matty’s sister Bitsy appeared at the end of the previous episode.

It’s fascinating to note that the final two characters share a connection. As it happens, the character Madeline Matlock, which Madeline Kingston has been portraying since the first episode, was actually inspired by Bitsy. The butterscotch candies, the stories about Cindy Shapiro, even the unfaithful and financially troubled deceased ex-husband – all these elements seem to stem from Bitsy’s life.

In a different wording: Matty’s imitation is not considered flattery. When Edwin attempts to calm his wife’s annoyance at Bitsy’s visit by claiming it was for “research,” Matty retorts, “Matty Matlock has depth beyond the surface! My sister is a grown woman named Elizabeth, who prefers to be called ‘Itsy Bitsy.'” Madeline frequently finds her sister’s continuous chatter about trivial matters like gardening and baking irritating, and she still harbors ill feelings towards Bitsy for allowing Ellie to escape Matty after rehab.

In a more recent installments of the series Matlock, created by Jennie Snyder, it’s become evident that Matty sometimes displays an unyielding and misguided approach towards her family. She may have pushed Ellie too hard. She could be overly lenient with Alfie. Without a doubt, she’s dismissive of Edwin to a fault. Despite thinking Bitsy is simple-minded and naive, this episode reveals that Bitsy concealed something significant from Matty—namely, she abandoned college due to fear that their mother might relapse into alcoholism.

So while Matty considers herself to be an expert on addiction and Bitsy a sheltered neophyte, it’s Bitsy who notes that their mom became a food addict when she gave up booze, and it’s Bitsy who suggests that Matty herself is addicted to being righteous. After she discovers the Jacobson-Moore/Wellbrexa conspiracy board in the Kingstons’ home office, Bitsy asks her sister if she thinks about her mission every day and if she lies and sacrifices relationships to pursue it. If all these things are true — and they are — how can Matty say that she’s any different from Ellie?

I’m particularly fond of Julie Hagerty, who consistently brings a unique blend of humor and depth to her comic roles. The fact that Bitsy turns out to be wiser than Matty adds a touch of intrigue to the domestic scenes in this episode. As an outsider, Bitsy poses questions that Edwin might not dare to ask (perhaps due to not wanting to upset his wife). For instance, upon discovering Matty’s Jacobson-Moore deception, Bitsy expresses surprise at her sister’s deep involvement in the real cases she’s working on with Olympia. When Bitsy catches Matty still working late on Slamm’d, she queries, “Are you genuinely invested in this case? Or is it just another scheme?

Initially, I shared your curiosity about the plot development for approximately half of this episode. As I stated previously, Matty’s current melancholy, triggered by reminiscences of Ellie, has limited her participation in the courtroom scenes. This has been advantageous for Billy and Sarah, who were often benched during the early part of this season. However, it has diminished the intensity of the Olympia/Matty relationship, which, whether positively or negatively, is a crucial aspect of the series.

Initially, Matty appears rather passive and uncooperative in this week’s investigation. However, she gathers her strengths towards the end, contributing significantly to what becomes – from a legal drama perspective – one of Matlock’s more compelling episodes.

Our story introduces Tucker Hoff (Leonard Harmon), a charismatic former college football player who’s partially paralyzed and the main plaintiff in the Olympia Slamm’d case. Once under the influence of Slamm’d, Tucker jumped out of a moving vehicle. He’s currently doing well, but Olympia requires him to be relatable enough for the jury’s empathy, yet not overly cheerful to maintain the impression that he’s endured hardship.

The courtroom sequences are skillfully crafted and presented, as the initial arguments from both sides are cleverly interwoven to create a truly thought-provoking argument. Is Slamm’d merely a recreational item, appropriately marked with warnings of any potential risks? Or is this beverage, boasting five times more alcohol than comparable canned cocktails and an undisclosed quantity of caffeine that might mislead the body into ignoring the signs of inebriation, indifferently appealing to young, inexperienced individuals?

To bolster Tucker’s statement, Olympia intends to involve Kennedy, the college student from last week who unintentionally caused a sorority sister’s death. However, Kennedy is reluctant because she may face charges as the authorities believe it’s essential for Lydia Reed (Marley Shelton), the victim’s mother, to find someone accountable for her daughter’s demise. In a rare instance, Matty gets to utilize her “Matlock” abilities – wisdom rooted in Bitsy, empathy, and persuasive skills – to speak with Lydia, offering solace as two grieving mothers. Matty advises Lydia to channel her anger towards Slamm’d rather than Kennedy.

The situation requires Kennedy’s involvement as she can offer a personal testimony about how representatives of Slamm’d clandestinely distributed their drink at high school gatherings, prior to its retail availability. Her statement carries significant weight due to Olympia’s struggle with jury selection. Since Shae refuses to collaborate with Shae, Olympia hires an external jury consulting team: the contentious duo Alli Glenroy (portrayed by Kara Luiz) and Hayden Glenroy (played by Gabriel Bonilla). Shae carries out her routine evaluation and investigation despite this, unearthing that Juror 32 (Jim Hanna) wrote several libertarian-leaning blog posts under a pseudonym, expressing views on individual accountability. Shae suggests that Olympia should construct their case around the notion that youngsters like Kennedy and Tucker were attempting to make wise decisions but were deceived and misguided by Slamm’d’s unscrupulous operators.

Unfortunately, even though everyone worked hard, the situation with the case took an unexpected turn. When the defense team discovered an old video of Tucker from high school, seemingly agreeing with a teammate’s suggestion that they all get extremely drunk to the point of forgetting the next day, he opted to settle his case rather than proceed with the trial. Olympia was deeply upset as she had been providing pro-bono legal help for this class action against Slamm’d, hoping to use the compensation for her social justice work. With the case no longer ongoing, so too seems her ambition of becoming a partner. She discusses starting her own practice with Matty as her initial hire instead.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m reminded of all the cautions Edwin and Bitsy had given about Matty’s fixation, which can sometimes cloud her view of the broader context. In this particular episode, Matty, in her free moments, is meticulously tracking Julian’s whereabouts on the day the incriminating Wellbrexa documents landed at the Jacobson-Moore offices. She has concocted a whole narrative in her mind, one where Shae alerts Julian about the documents and he secretly deposits them in the shredding room. However, there’s a twist – Julian’s access card was also recorded entering a women’s restroom on the 25th floor and then Olympia’s old office, 2523. Gradually, a new picture emerges in Matty’s mind, one that paints Olympia as the antagonist.

It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone who’s been closely watching Matlock, or understands how melodramas typically unfold, that Olympia might have concealed the documents. Nonetheless, this revelation marks a significant turning point in the narrative. Will Matty pause, reevaluate her knowledge about Olympia, and reassess her mission? Or will she, once more, jeopardize the life of someone dear to her in pursuit of completion?

Hot Doggin’

Status update on romantic affairs: Sarah plans to explore an open relationship with Kira, but concerns remain whether this arrangement will last for her; meanwhile, Billy continues secretly seeing Simone despite his promise to end it with Sarah.

In this episode, the storylines involving Simone/Billy and Kira/Sarah created some suspense because they frequently sought refuge in unoccupied workspaces and storage rooms, which often brought them into contact with Matty while she was tracking Julian’s key card. I had a feeling that Matty would eventually be discovered by one of these characters; it wouldn’t shock me if it happens before the end of the season. If the “previously on” segment next week hints at Billy and Simone meeting in secret, get ready for an exciting turn of events.

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2025-03-07 07:58