Matlock Recap: Who the Hell Are You?

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Last week during my recap of Matlock, I highlighted what stood out most about the much-anticipated “Olympia meets Madeline Kingston” twist: it echoed back to this season’s initial episodes, where Olympia challenged Matty’s self-pitying act, asserting that a woman like her shouldn’t flaunt herself in front of a Black woman at a predominantly white law firm. That’s why I was quite excited for the season’s second-to-last episode, as Olympia didn’t let Matty get away with his mistakes so easily. She’s clearly furious. In fact, she turns into a real ice queen. And you know what? I admire her for that fiery spirit!

Despite some lingering unease about how this episode concludes, I’ll still proclaim it as the standout of the season thus far, promising a finale that could potentially revolutionize the series, given the trajectory of the narrative. The revelation of Matty’s deception, now exposed to Olympia, was an event I had been apprehensive about all year. However, experiencing it was somewhat like going through a tough conversation with a cherished one, which surprisingly turned out to be more invigorating and rejuvenating than harmful in the end.

The narrative doesn’t open with that scene. Instead, we find ourselves continuing from the previous episode, where Olympia confronts Matty by an alley housing the Kingstons’ concealed limousine. Subsequently, Olympia issues a string of frosty commands. She orders the driver to depart, instructs Matty to enter a taxi, ascend to Jacobson-Moore’s vacant office suite on the 25th floor, and surrender his luggage, mobile device, and passcode. She also asks him to take a notepad and jot down all falsehoods he has spoken. Lastly, she warns Matty not even to utter a word about his daughter.

In the initial scenes, Olympia’s anger is intense and intimidating. She leaves no room for Matty to deceive. From the outset, she warns him sternly, “Be extremely cautious before you lie to me again.” She makes it clear that she holds all the power, acting as both judge and jury. She doesn’t trust a word Matty says about his genuine background or the creation of his new persona. To her, it sounds like something a swindler would say. And it doesn’t help Matty’s case that she loses her rural accent when backed into a corner.

As a dedicated fan of Matlock, I’ve come to realize that this tense situation can’t go on indefinitely. Even though Matty seems to be in the wrong at times, I understand that the heart of this series revolves around her character and the writers want us to empathize with her. However, Matty’s predicament lies in discussing Ellie, a topic strictly off-limits according to Olympia. Each time Matty broaches the subject, Olympia visibly recoils, possibly fearing that she might be confronted with untruths about a deceased child.

The transformation starts when Matty receives some good news. Upon seeing that Matty’s phone has been receiving worried messages from her apartment building superintendent in Queens, Olympia understands this must be about Matty’s husband who is not dead. She instructs Matty to contact Edwin on speakerphone, so she can tell him she’s still working late. And surprisingly, Edwin praises Olympia and expresses how much Matty cares for her without realizing the boss was listening. The phrases “Now that you know she didn’t do it” prompt Olympia to allow Matty to begin explaining herself.

The peace remains fragile. While Matty is discussing with Olympia the missing Wellbrexa document, she simultaneously brings up Olympia’s past betrayal, such as when Matty secretly took her laptop that held the sole recording of a voicemail from her deceased father. And when Matty implicates Julian in taking the document, it causes Olympia to recall the spy-pen incident and the prolonged period she felt suspicious and resentful towards Julian for no justified reason. The harm inflicted on Olympia’s mental state is deep and may not be easily forgotten.

Indeed, Olympia becomes quite enraged and warns that she’ll disband this temporary courtroom and contact law enforcement. However, recall my previous mention of Matty’s fluctuating accent? We learned a while back that she mimics her sibling Bitsy to appear more amiable. But when she stops acting, she becomes tougher. In response to Olympia, Matty points out that police will discover she legally changed her name and passed the New York bar exam, making any claims of her being an imposter seem feeble. Furthermore, she promises to disclose all details about Jacobson-Moore’s Wellbrexa scandal to the media, which would bring embarrassment to Olympia’s entire family, including her children. To summarize, Matty is prepared to jeopardize Olympia’s children’s lives for the sake of her own daughter.

It’s worth noting that although Matty is held in an antiquated office on the 25th floor after dark, there’s a current case unfolding on the 24th floor. Initially, Billy and Sarah are primarily handling this weekly case, with Olympia occasionally checking in to monitor their progress. The case revolves around Amy Buckley (played by Eliza Bennett), a 26-year-old expecting mother who urgently seeks a divorce from her domineering husband, Grant (portrayed by Michael Antosy). In an attempt to compel Amy to undergo a C-section, Grant’s affluent family does business with Jacobson-Moore, the only firm Amy is familiar with.

It’s not too far-fetched to draw comparisons between this week’s case and the primary Matty/Olympia narrative. The circumstances surrounding Amy are highly critical of Jacobson-Moore’s senior management, who were involved in both aspects of the Buckleys’ prenuptial agreement. Unsurprisingly, management becomes irritated with Olympia for aiding Amy. Meanwhile, as Matty hints that Julian might have concealed evidence and accepted bribes, Olympia overhears a tale strikingly similar to how Amy’s supposedly kind spouse turned out to be a deceitful character.

From a narrative standpoint, what makes this scenario particularly engaging is its sense of immediacy. As Olympia interrogates Matty, barely allowing our protagonist time to ponder, she’s simultaneously hurrying to night court to submit motions. The team can’t secure an immediate divorce for Amy, instead focusing on a restraining order to keep Grant away from the baby – a child he did not sire. The judge expresses understanding, but the absence of concrete evidence of abuse poses a challenge.

As a film enthusiast, I step onto the scene as Matty, an ace in contract law. There’s something about Olympia that draws us together, perhaps it’s the elderly lady with a knack for winning over clients and witnesses, whether she’s genuine or not. So, I delve deep into the prenup while also rekindling my relationships with Billy and Sarah. In a clandestine move, they trail Olympia all the way to the 25th floor, only to find me there. (Of course, she spins a web of lies, claiming that Olympia secretly secured this exclusive office for her own use.)

In my perspective, the complexities surrounding this case were intensified when Amy went into labor. However, with Matty’s assistance, particularly her skillful persuasion that led Grant’s priest to extol the virtues of his parishioner’s deep-rooted Catholicism, we managed to secure an annulment. This technicality proved crucial because, as written in our prenuptial agreement, a divorce would have left Amy with no assets.

I’m adopting a watchful stance regarding this episode’s conclusion. Instead of Julian, Olympia seems to be employing the same “smiling at potential threats” tactic she used with Matty last week. However, it remains unclear if she has truly switched sides and joined Matty, as she later visits the Kingston estate in Westchester. But is that all there is? Prior to this, Olympia recalls the secret-recorder incident, feeling terrified and lonely, without even her father’s voicemail for solace. This memory should drive a wedge between her and Matty.

On the other hand, one TV drama trope I dislike immensely is “I can no longer trust you.” It often appears as a convenient device to create temporary conflicts among characters. For instance, Jennie Snyder Urman, who created Matlock, used this frequently in her earlier show, Jane the Virgin. Lately, it seems that Matlock is at its best when Matty and Olympia are united. In fact, even in this episode, Olympia continues to collaborate on Amy’s case despite her anger towards Matty. This just goes to show how much stronger the series becomes when these two characters work together.

Perhaps we’re rushing through the ups and downs of this friendship, making for a more engaging show experience. However, I hope Olympia maintains some resentment towards Matty. Now that she realizes he’s not as perfect as Billy and Sarah believe, if she remembers that, it will add depth to their relationship and make season two more interesting.

Hot Doggin’

Sarah finds herself uncertain about how to care for a pregnant woman (should she provide a resting spot or unusual treats?). However, since Amy is around the same age as Sarah, they manage to connect. Their discussion on challenging partners encourages Sarah to part ways with her girlfriend in an open relationship. Similarly, Billy chooses to end his relationship with Simone, which lessens Sarah’s heartache (Sarah: “I feel a bit of relief that she will be upset.”).

• Sarah, going against the established rules, independently handles a case and composes a cease-and-desist letter for a personal trainer seeking to end a business partnership. She’s also made her own letterhead for it. I have a feeling we’ll learn more about this in the coming week, and by the way…

I currently possess a screener for the extended finale of next week, but I haven’t had a chance to view it yet, so my speculation is purely based on assumption. My guess? The season finale will conclude with Olympia’s team departing from Jacobson-Moore, whether by choice or termination. This new practice could be funded by Kingston and potentially operate under Sarah’s banner. Their inaugural case might involve a significant lawsuit against Wellbrexa and Jacobson-Moore.

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2025-04-11 06:00