You probably thought you knew exactly what a Matlock reboot was going to look like. Older lawyer, cozy courtroom, maybe some folksy charm. Then Kathy Bates showed up and basically set the entire concept on fire.
The first season was a massive bait-and-switch. We were told we were getting a lighthearted remake; instead, we got a high-stakes revenge thriller wrapped in a grandmotherly cardigan. Honestly, that final montage set to Fleetwood Mac’s "Landslide" felt more like a series finale than a season cliffhanger. But here we are. Matlock season 2 is currently in full swing on CBS, and it is messy, complicated, and surprisingly dark.
If you’re just catching up or wondering why your social media feed is suddenly obsessed with Madeline Kingston, you’ve come to the right place. This isn't your parents' legal procedural.
The Midseason Shakeup Nobody Expected
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. If you’ve been watching the latest episodes of Matlock season 2, you noticed a massive void in the associate pool.
David Del Rio, who played the eager-to-please Billy Martinez, is officially gone. This wasn't some planned creative exit; the actor was dismissed following an investigation into an alleged incident on set. It’s rare to see a network show handle a departure this abruptly mid-season, but the writers had to pivot fast.
In episode 8, which aired recently, they explained Billy’s absence through a phone call. We find out his partner, Claudia, suffered a miscarriage, and he’s taking time away to grieve. It’s a heavy, somber way to write out a character who was often the show’s comic relief.
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Enter the "Bro"
To fill that vacuum, showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman (who gave us the equally twisty Jane the Virgin) is bringing in fresh blood. We're getting two new faces at Jacobson Moore:
- Gwen (Sarah Wright Olsen): An efficiency expert who is probably going to make everyone’s lives miserable.
- Hunter (Henry Haber): Described by Urman as a total "bro."
Think about the dynamic of this firm. You have Matty (the mastermind), Olympia (the powerhouse), and Sarah (the overachiever). Dropping a "bro" associate who "spreads a little bit and shoots a basketball when he wants ideas to flow" into that mix? It’s going to be chaos. The show returns from its midseason break on February 26, 2026, and that's when we'll see if these new additions can survive Olympia's glare.
That Season 1 Ending Still Haunts Us
We have to go back to that safety deposit box.
For the entire first season, Matty was hunting for the person who hid the Wellbrexa documents—the evidence that could have stopped the opioid epidemic and saved her daughter’s life. Most of us had our money on Senior (Beau Bridges). He’s the classic "big bad" archetype, right?
Wrong. It was Julian (Jason Ritter).
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Seeing Julian—who had just quit the firm to find his soul—standing in that bank vault while Olympia held the proof of his guilt was a gut punch. He wasn't some mastermind; he was just a son trying to impress a distant father. But that doesn't make him innocent.
In Matlock season 2, this discovery has completely fractured the "love story" of the show, which isn't a romance—it’s the friendship between Matty and Olympia. Olympia is now the one keeping a massive secret. She’s shielding the father of her children from prosecution. Matty knows Julian is the culprit, but she’s watching Olympia struggle with the same moral grey areas that Matty has lived in all year.
The Alfie Problem
As if the legal drama wasn't enough, Matty’s home life is a wreck.
Alfie, Matty’s genius grandson, did the one thing he was told never to do: he went looking for his biological father. And he found him. Niko Nicotera (who starred with Bates in Richard Jewell) showed up at the front door in the finale, and his presence is a ticking time bomb.
Matty and Edwin (Sam Anderson) have built this protective bubble around Alfie, fueled by their shared grief and a very specific plan for the future. Now, this stranger is threatening to pop it. It’s a classic Matlock move—just when you think you’ve won the case, the personal stakes double.
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Why This Show Actually Works
A lot of reboots feel like cheap nostalgia grabs. They're dusty. They're safe. Matlock is neither.
Kathy Bates is doing some of the best work of her career here. She plays "Matty" as a performance within a performance. When she's at the firm, she’s the "needy widow" who uses her age as a cloak of invisibility. No one sees her coming because they don’t think an older woman can be a threat.
Then she goes home, takes off the wig, and becomes Madeline Kingston—a woman who is cold, calculating, and fueled by a white-hot rage.
The E-E-A-T Factor: Real Legal Stakes
The show doesn't just play with law; it tackles the real-world impact of corporate greed. By centering the plot on the opioid crisis, it anchors the fictional drama in a tragedy that has affected millions. It’s this blend of high-concept mystery and visceral, human emotion that earned the second season a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
What’s Coming Next?
If you're looking for where the show goes from here, keep an eye on these threads:
- The Merger: There are rumors of a looming merger at Jacobson Moore. This could be the perfect cover for Matty to dig deeper into the firm's history—or it could be the thing that finally exposes her.
- The Elsbeth Crossover: Yes, it’s happening. Both shows are set in New York and share a certain "quirky but brilliant" DNA. Seeing Bates' Matty face off against Carrie Preston's Elsbeth Tascioni is the TV event of the year.
- Julian’s Redemption (or Fall): Jason Ritter is confirmed to remain a huge part of the season, even though his character "quit." The question is whether he'll turn on his father, Senior, to save his own conscience.
The biggest takeaway for fans of Matlock season 2 is that the "good guys" and "bad guys" don't really exist in this world. Everyone is lying to someone they love.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Mark the Calendar: The show returns to its regular Thursday night slot on February 26, 2026, at 9/8c on CBS.
- Watch for the Crossover: Keep an eye on CBS promos for the Elsbeth crossover date, which is expected to air during the spring sweep.
- Catch Up on Paramount+: If you missed the first half of season 2 (episodes 1-7), they are currently streaming. You'll need to see Billy's final episodes to understand the shift in the firm's dynamic when the show returns.
- Listen to the Music: The show’s use of music (like that Fleetwood Mac moment) is often a clue to Matty’s emotional state. Pay attention to the soundtrack in the second half of the season—it’s usually telling you something the characters aren’t.