Matlock: Unpacking Season 1 Big Reveal
Bloggers: Callie W. & Maggie M.
Image from Matlock CBS Instagram Official Account
Callie’s cup of critique
Brilliant. Cunning. Underestimated. Three words that perfectly describe both Kathy Bates and her character Matilda "Matty" Matlock in CBS's new standout drama. As someone who approached this reboot with healthy skepticism, I found myself completely won over by the end of the pilot. This show has definitely had twists and turns that kept me guessing who destroyed those documents in the Wellbrexa case. Let me be honest, I really thought that Olympia, played by Skye P. Marshall, was the one who destroyed those documents and hid it in order to keep Julian's, played by Jason Ritter, career going. Did anyone else think the same thing as well?
Matlocks Mission
I would first like to start off about Matty's mission to find justice for her daughter, Ellie. I mean, I completely feel for her and Edwin's, played by Sam Anderson, loss of a child. She was their only child who ended up becoming addicted to drugs. Wellbrexa is a pharmaceutical company that was involved in the opioid epidemic. All unprescribed drugs, used to gain pleasure in a bad way, are very dangerous and none should be involved with them. They ruin people, friendships, relationships, and families. So stay away from drugs.
Back to my cup of tea, I believe that Ellie was actually getting better, but because Wellbrexa hid documents that could possibly take opioids off the market, Ellie went back to doing drugs and passed away. I get that Ellie made her own choices and she should have made better choices for her son, but we can't help someone who doesn't want help. But this rising plot just makes Matty's mission way better to get the documents and expose the company and law firm for who they really are.
What makes her mission even more intriguing is the complicated friendships she makes along the way. She becomes close to her boss and teammates, but she is trying to keep herself in disguise. At first I kept talking to her through the TV saying "Don't do it, Don't do it!" But then over time I slowly started liking their friendships that came about. Olympia and Matty become closer and closer, little does Olympia know that Matty is using her to destroy her career. I did feel a bit sad about their friendship though because at the end of the day Matty's mission is to find information and expose the company, and whatever she does with her information could destroy Olympia's career.
Who Did You Think was the Culprit?
Just when I thought I had Olympia's character steeped to perfection, the show added unexpected flavors to her personality. My suspicion arose when she first came into the law firm, took on her first case, and showed her ambition to become a partner. She seems like the type of person who would do anything to get to the top. But at the same time, she seems like a sweet person who took on Pro Bono cases. She really was determined to become a partner in the firm and was in fierce competition. And watching her compete with her ex-husband illustrated to me that she would go to great lengths to prove herself, even if it meant crossing some ethical lines. But in the end, Olympia wasn't the culprit after all, which made for a great twist.
A Complicated Blend: Matty & Olympia's Friendship
Olympia finding out who Matty really is was a total shock. I did not expect for Matty to get off the bus and see Olympia waiting for her at her apartment. It was a total heist situation; she took Matty's personal belongings, drove her back to the firm and locked her in an office, forcing her to write down all the lies she told. Looking back at it now, when Matty figured out Olympia was not the culprit, she could not tell her about Julian being involved. She didn't want to hurt Olympia's feelings because she was his ex-wife and had two of his kids. It would also hurt Olympia's professional career as a partner of the firm. Although the thought of telling Olympia her mission did cross her mind, I believe it was smart to not tell her and to save her pain for later, and to not get her off track of her mission of helping others.
I also believed that when Matty told her why she was on this mission, Olympia was very stubborn and insensitive towards her. With all that Matty has been through, she could have been more caring about the situation. Matty lost a daughter, Alfie lost his mother, and Matty lost a piece of her husband due to the death of Ellie. Olympia kept up all of this animosity toward Matty when she was telling her the truth about everything after being exposed.
Fresh Pot Brewing: Season 2 Predictions
After considering all the episodes in season one and getting to know the characters, I predict that in season two Olympia is going to play Julian about shredding the paperwork. Although their friendship after the divorce rekindled, this big piece of news could definitely turn Olympia's thoughts about her future with her family. She wants this one big happy family with no drama, but at the same time she has lost trust in him.
What may also happen is Sarah getting fired. I believe once Simone finds more evidence about Sarah stealing the case, she will tell the higher authorities, causing Sarah to be fired.
Billy's ex-girlfriend coming into the picture out of the blue shocked me. He has been using their breakup as an excuse with Sarah to cover up for the fact that he does not want to lose Sarah as a partner. But now that his ex-girlfriend is actually back PREGNANT, I think the baby will not be his and maybe somebody else's.
Lastly, I believe that Olympia will work with Matty on the situation about Wellbrexa, but I think it is possible that she may betray Matty and throw out all evidence, which could cause Matty to lose her partnership. Now that Olympia knows Matty's tricks and tips, she may use it against her in this next season. But Matty may figure out Olympia's plan to destroy all evidence before it's too late.
Matlock captivates with its perfect blend of legal drama and personal stakes. Kathy Bates masterfully portrays Matty with both warmth and cunning, making viewers root for her despite her deceptions. The show's unpredictable twists keep audiences guessing about everyone's motives. I'm eagerly awaiting season two to see how the story unfolds. If you haven't watched it yet, prepare to be immediately hooked! Would you pursue justice for a loved one even if it meant betraying new friendships?
Brewed thoughts with Maggie
Image from Matlock CBS via Vulture.com
On the other hand, I did not think Olympia was responsible for destroying those Wellbraxa documents. From early in the season, the show plants subtle clues suggesting that Olympia was not responsible for destroying the Wellbraxa documents. She would only take cases of clients that needed her help or Pro Bono cases, like in episode 6 where the firm goes back to look at a case involving contaminated baby formula that led to a child’s death. Another episode is 12, where Olympia and her team take on a case where a mother fights for custody of her son from her wealthy ex-husband who turns out to be Julien’s client. Yes, you could argue, that she took those cases to make up for the guilt she felt for destroying the documents. Olympia’s consistent adherence to ethical conduct—and her career-long fight for justice—make it implausible that she would risk everything for a cover-up.
Another reason I did not think the guilty party was Olympia was the friendship and respect that developed between her and Matty throughout the season. Yes, in the beginning, Olympia was skeptical of Matty’s ability to be helpful on cases. Over the season, you can see a mutual respect build between the two. You can really see how close they have gotten in episode 9 “Friends” Matty and Olympia go to a bar. This is the first time we see them not at the office and not working. Olympia starts to lean on Matty more and more for professional and personal things, like asking for advice on cases and her relationship with Julien.
There is also the genuine sadness you can see and feel from Matty when it looks like Olympia is the culprit, especially when Olympia meets Matty off the bus after finding out who she truly is. You can see how affected they both are when they feel betrayed by the other. When evidence started to point to Olympia as the document destroyer, you can see a shift in Matty’s demeanor toward Olympia; she is cold and distant and tries not to interact with Olympia. When Olympia finds out Matty’s real identity, she holds her hostage and wants answers and when they have to work on a case, Olympia keeps her distance and gives Matty the cold shoulder throughout the episode.
Overall, this show is so addictive. It kept me and fellow blogger Callie on our toes every week, guessing who was the Wellbrexa document destroyer. I can not wait to see the direction they take for season two.
The Tea has been spilled: Whose theory did you agree with?
With the season finale now behind us and the real culprit exposed, let's reflect on our initial suspicions. Who were you aligned with before the big reveal? Are you team Callie, who initially suspected Olympia's ambition might have led her to destroy the Wellbrexa documents to protect Julian's career? Or are you with Maggie, who believed in Olympia's ethical foundation and saw her consistent pursuit of justice as evidence of her innocence? What clues did you pick up on throughout the season that pointed to the real culprit? And looking ahead, what do you think is the next move for season 2? Will Olympia confront Julian about his betrayal? Will Matty and Olympia join forces to take down Wellbrexa? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this captivating legal drama!
