Matlock is back!
In Matlock Season 1, Episode 9, titled "Friends," we see the unraveling of several complex personal dynamics, both professionally and privately. The episode kicks off with Madeline Matlock (Kathy Bates) at a bar, engaging in some light flirting with Irv Lambert (Ron Roggé). Across from Irv sits Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), who is there to represent her client, Sam Prince (Allyson Brown), a woman who was wrongfully fired from her job at Stead Track, a delivery company, while pregnant. As Sam is about to give birth in six weeks, Olympia is determined to fight for her right to return to work, setting the stage for an emotional and high-stakes battle.
As the episode progresses, we see Matlock juggle her personal life and her professional duties. She talks to Edwin (Sam Anderson) about how they have to take a less traditional route in handling the case because potential witnesses are too scared to come forward. But Edwin remains skeptical, especially about Matlock’s growing connection with Olympia. It’s clear that there’s some unresolved tension between the two, especially given Olympia’s past involvement in withholding crucial evidence in another case. As much as Matlock tries to brush this off, it’s hard to ignore the tension—and I couldn't help but wonder how this would impact the case in the long run. Matlock has a trusting nature, but when it comes to Olympia, I couldn't shake the feeling that there’s more beneath the surface.
At home, Matlock’s relationship with Edwin is tested once again, this time over how to handle their son Alfie (Aaron Harris), who’s being bullied at school. Matlock wants to intervene by calling the principal, but Edwin insists Alfie should handle it on his own. The parenting divide between them really hit me in this episode. I totally understood Matlock's instinct to protect her son, especially after everything he’s been through, but I also saw Edwin’s point about not coddling him. As a parent, it’s difficult to know when to step in and when to let go. It made me reflect on my own parenting struggles—how much is too much when it comes to shielding our children from the harshness of the world?
Meanwhile, Billy (David Del Rio) is dealing with his own problems, as he’s now living with his mother after refusing to kick his ex-girlfriend Claudia out of his apartment. Sarah (Leah Lewis) doesn't hold back in teasing him about his situation, which I found both funny and a bit heartbreaking. Billy is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I couldn’t help but feel for him. It’s easy to make judgments, but relationships can be messy, and sometimes the decisions we make aren’t as black and white as we’d like them to be.
As the case against Sam intensifies, it’s revealed that she’s been arrested for grand larceny, accused of stealing $50,000 worth of property from a stolen delivery truck. The company insists Sam was involved in the theft, but Olympia maintains that the charges are fabricated retaliation for her lawsuit. I was on the edge of my seat as the team uncovered more and more strange details surrounding the case, like the mysterious packing slip found in Sam’s locker. The whole situation felt like a web of lies and manipulation, and I couldn’t help but admire Olympia’s determination to fight for Sam’s innocence, even when it seemed like everything was stacked against them.
But it was the janitor, Portia (Jill Johnson), who became the key to cracking the case wide open. When Portia reveals that Ahmed Hassan (Sriram Emani), a manager at Stead Track, had been oddly supervising her while she cleaned Sam’s locker, it added a whole new layer of mystery. This felt like a turning point in the case—one of those "ah-ha!" moments where the truth started to emerge. I could feel Olympia’s frustration mounting as she realized just how deep the conspiracy went.
On the witness stand, the truth about Irv’s involvement in framing Sam is finally revealed. Irv admits to planting evidence against her, all while pretending to be a union buster for Stead Track. This revelation was a game-changer, and I found myself feeling both vindicated and disturbed by the lengths Irv went to in order to sabotage Sam. It was a reminder of how people can hide behind facades, pretending to be something they’re not, all for personal gain.
On a more personal note, Olympia’s emotional turmoil started to hit home for me. As she confides in Matlock about her past, particularly her relationship with Julian (Jason Ritter) and the affair he had with Shae (Yael Grobglas), I saw a woman grappling with the weight of her choices. The past isn’t something we can easily outrun, and Olympia’s decision to confront the people in her life about her unresolved feelings felt like a pivotal moment in her character’s development. I found myself torn between sympathizing with Olympia’s pain and questioning her motivations.
As the episode draws to a close, Matlock and Olympia’s friendship is tested further. Matlock is beginning to trust Olympia more, even as Edwin remains skeptical. I appreciated Matlock’s instinct to give Olympia the benefit of the doubt, but I could also understand Edwin’s concerns. It’s a delicate balance—how much should we trust others when we know their past actions might not align with their current intentions? It was clear that Matlock was willing to give Olympia a chance, but I couldn’t help but feel there were more layers to Olympia’s story that we weren’t seeing yet.
In the end, this episode left me with a lot to think about—not just in terms of the case, but in terms of the emotional stakes. How do we balance loyalty and trust in our relationships? How far are we willing to go for the people we care about? As always, Matlock keeps us on our toes, and this episode was no exception. I’m left eagerly awaiting what’s next, wondering if Olympia’s secrets will ultimately come to light and what consequences that might have for everyone involved.
All episodes of Matlock are available to stream on Paramount+.
Rating: ★★★★☆
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