Matlock Season-Finale Recap: A Matter of Trust(s)

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Towards the wrap-up of last week’s recap of Matlock , I shared my expectations for how I believed the show’s inaugural season would conclude. My speculation was that Olympia’s entire team would part ways with Jacobson-Moore, either by choice or due to termination, and instead join forces to launch a new business venture. Their initial case would involve a lawsuit against Wellbrexa.

Moreover, allow me to summarize the finale for you: In the end, Olympia secures a partnership at the law firm, and the series concludes with Matty and Edwin fearing that Olympia may prioritize safeguarding Julian’s reputation and career over helping them bring down Wellbrexa. Additionally, Alfie’s father unexpectedly knocks on the Kingstons’ door just as the credits begin to roll.

I must admit, I felt a tad let down by how this final episode unfolded, not because it didn’t meet my expectations, but rather because I wanted it to be more unpredictable. To be honest, I enjoy being caught off guard by TV shows instead of predicting their twists and turns. Even though the season ended with a lot of loose ends, that’s normal for a season finale of a show that has been renewed for another season. It’s all part of keeping viewers eagerly anticipating the next installment during the break. All good!

What disappointed me is that the final cliffhangers were underwhelming, especially since this series is known for its unexpected and thrilling episode endings. The dilemmas faced by Matty and Olympia in the finale seemed unclear, as did the significance of the conflicts. And Alfie’s father? That’s a storyline I hadn’t given much thought to for weeks, and one that wasn’t particularly compelling to me.

Before diving into the intriguing tale of Olympia and Matty this week, let me first tackle the case at hand. It revolves around my client, Dino, a personal trainer with a knack for fitness but a penchant for heated partnerships. You see, he had me draft a rather forceful cease-and-desist letter to his volatile business partner, Rob. The language in that document was as sharp and biting as a porcupine quill – “barbed,” “acerbic,” and “terrifying” are words that come to mind. Well, the recipient didn’t take it lightly; he stormed into their gym, swung punches at Dino, and in a tragic turn of events, died from a ruptured appendix after a counterattack. Now, as his lawyer, I find myself preparing to defend Dino against a manslaughter charge.

The final outcome of this situation can be easily foreseen. When Rob’s wife describes how Sarah’s letter made him so distressed he vomited, it’s a strong hint that his appendix problems were pre-existing. It later transpires that one of the factors leading to Dino’s decision to disband their partnership – due to Rob stealing funds to manage debts from his faltering nutritional supplement enterprise – also sheds light on Rob’s health troubles. The supplements themselves were toxic, as Sarah demonstrates in court and receives the same triumphant reception at Jacobson-Moore that Billy did after winning his inaugural case.

This week’s case is significant for several reasons:

1. It necessitates Olympia and Matty to collaborate in order to assist Sarah.
2. Initially, Olympia is furious with Sarah for handling a case independently, attempting to persuade the judge to assign it to a public defender instead. However, when the judge decides that Sarah must manage it, the team springs into action, collecting evidence and helping Sarah appear more favorable to a jury.
3. In a last-minute effort, Olympia even arranges an emergency dentist appointment for Sarah after she accidentally knocks out a tooth the day before the trial.

Incidentally, let me point out that among all the implausible legal maneuvers shown on Matlock this season, suggesting that Dino could transition from an arrest to a full jury trial in such a short timeframe feels rather disrespectful to our collective intelligence. However, these things do happen on TV.

As a devotee, I can’t help but reflect on the tale of Dino and Rob – two close companions who shared an unbreakable bond until their friendship crumbled. This narrative, in its own way, mirrors the journey of Olympia and Matty as they navigate the complexities of their relationship. Throughout this episode, Matty makes a valiant effort to steer clear of actions that might stir Olympia’s feelings of resentment and deception. However, it seems an insurmountable task.

Two incidents in particular set off a wave of pain for Olympia: when Sarah requests Matty to recount one of her Cindy Shapiro stories, and when she catches a glimpse of her own image on Matty’s extensive investigation board. The intensity of her emotional turmoil is palpable.

Previously, we found Olympia at Kingston’s estate, apparently starting reconciliation efforts with Matty. However, my assumption was incorrect. In fact, Olympia had gone to see Matty to examine the proof against Julian and Jacobson-Moore. Yet, even the large presentation board failed to convince her. As the story reaches its climax, they strike a bargain. If Olympia manages to show that Julian’s brownstone funds were from the Markston family trusts rather than a Wellbrexa bribe, Matty will postpone going public for a month. During this period, Matty can remain at the firm and continue gathering evidence, but she will no longer be part of Olympia’s team.

The predicament is that Olympia requires Matty’s cunning skills – her “underhand tactics” – to access those trusts. Despite trying to be harsh and indifferent towards Matty, even saying, “My thoughts are no longer your concern,” she still employs Matty’s insights on how to extract information from Julian, his mother, and the bank employee without them suspecting any wrongdoing. While they were planning, Olympia expressed her disgust, asking Matty bluntly, “How can you just manipulate people? As if they don’t matter?” However, she ultimately follows Matty’s advice and it proves effective.

For Olympia, it turns out that Julian did indeed receive the funds for the brownstone from the family trust – a positive development. However, she uncovers a troubling revelation when she finds Julian’s hidden safety-deposit box, which contains the long-lost Wellbrexa documents. In a surprising turn of events, as Olympia is examining the papers in astonishment inside the bank vault, Julian shows up.

And thus begins our suspenseful plot twists. One thread concludes at the bank, where Julian pleads with Olympia to disregard their recent events for the sake of their children. Jason Ritter brings a palpable emotion to Julian’s actions in this installment, making his decisions easier to comprehend, if not entirely pardonable. Julian argues that he was merely obeying Senior’s instructions. At the same time, Olympia has just been promoted to partner by Senior, tying her future prospects to Jacobson-Moore. Now she finds herself in a dilemma: what course of action should she take?

The alternate plotline concludes at the Kingston mansion, where Matty has given Olympia until 4 p.m. to disclose her findings from the bank. As the clock strikes past four, Edwin grows restless, suspecting that Olympia has deceived Matty. In truth, Edwin is tense throughout this installment as he discusses wrapping up this chapter of their lives and returning to San Francisco for traditional retirement activities. However, Matty relishes her role as a lawyer, something she’s always aspired to be. So, what should she decide to do?

To put it another way, the unexpected appearance of Alfie’s father (called by Alfie without his grandparents’ approval) serves as the final twist in this season’s cliffhanger. Admittedly, I’m not too invested in this side story, but I hope that focusing on this situation will keep the Kingstons preoccupied, delaying their plan to alert the media. This delay might give Olympia a chance to reveal her true intentions instead.

Regarding my anticipations for the upcoming season, to be honest, following last week’s complete failure, I’m stepping away from guessing games. However, I really wish Matty will reveal herself openly rather than keeping it a secret. The first season was most engaging when the writers pushed the Wellbrexa storyline forward, compelling Matty to make decisions with repercussions. Prolonging another season of her lurking in the background, deceiving, and controlling…? That’s not something I’d look forward to.

As a movie aficionado, I must admit that the writing and cast of Matlock are undeniably captivating. However, I have a hunch they’re capable of more than just sticking to the familiar. Remember, it was their unexpected twist in the first episode that really got people talking. Surprise is in the very essence of Matlock, after all.

Hot Doggin’

• A couple of subtle acting details: (1) At the start of the episode, Kathy Bates portrays Matty in a state of sheer exhaustion from pulling an all-nighter, barely able to complete a sentence. (2) Despite getting her teeth fixed before the opening day of the trial, Sarah seems to have a slightly slurred “s” sound when speaking to the jury. (3) Throughout the entire season, I’ve been captivated by Beau Bridges’ chilling performance as Senior, delivered in a hushed whisper.

In the world of television drama I’m engrossed in, the rollercoaster ride of Sarah and Billy’s love lives takes center stage this week. By the episode’s close, their romantic missteps set the stage for a couple of tantalizing cliffhangers. Sarah’s tale is straightforward: she split with Kira, and though she’s heartbroken, they had a post-breakup tryst – a casual fling that seemed to align with Kira’s initial desires. As for Billy, he confesses to having occasional encounters with his ex Claudia, and has chosen to step back from Simone. However, the plot thickens when Claudia appears at work to announce she’s pregnant. To add fuel to the fire, a vengeful Simone starts scrutinizing Sarah’s Dino case in search of dirt to potentially incriminate her old foe.

• One last issue: The frequent flashbacks to previous episodes gave the finale a feeling of a compilation show at moments. With the extended duration, there seemed to be opportunities for more engaging content instead. (The sole exception lies in when Olympia mentions Ellie’s name to win Matty’s trust, followed by the episode showing us how Matty taught Olympia to manipulate people based on their emotional vulnerabilities. This was cleverly ambiguous.)

Wrapping up season one of Matlock, even though the finale didn’t sit quite right with me, it’s been an enjoyable ride watching and dissecting the episodes. Can’t wait for its comeback!

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2025-04-18 08:05