The latest episode of Matlock delivers an emotional story that uncovers hidden struggles and painful memories. Matty (Kathy Bates) does not get the answers she hoped for in the Wellbrexa investigation. However, a child custody case at the law firm brings back difficult memories of her past.
Matty and her husband Edwin (Sam Anderson) once fought for custody of their grandson, Alfie (Aaron Harris), and the experience left deep scars.
This case also affects Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) and Julian (Jason Ritter). Their messy divorce has been full of conflicts, and this situation makes them realize the damage they are causing their own children. Meanwhile, Billy (David Del Rio) distances himself from Sarah (Leah Lewis), which makes her feel uneasy and paranoid.
This episode focuses on people coming together, but it also reveals major cracks in key relationships. Matty and Edwin, who have always been a team, face one of the most challenging moments in their marriage.
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A Custody Battle Brings Up Painful Memories
The case at the center of this episode creates tension between many characters. Olympia and Julian are competing to win as many cases as possible before the upcoming partner vote. This pushes them to take opposing sides in a difficult custody dispute.
Olympia represents Paloma (Greta Quispe), a mother who is suing her wealthy husband, Bruno (Mauricio Mendoza), for increased child support. Julian represents Bruno and feels personally attacked because Olympia continues to push for an investigation into his finances.
The situation becomes more intense when Paloma tries to take her son, Tenoch (Enzo Fabiani), to Mexico to visit her dying father. Bruno had hired a neighbor to watch Paloma, so he finds out about her plan. Because of this, Paloma and Tenoch are stopped at the airport for violating their custody agreement.
Desperate and heartbroken, Paloma barricades herself and Tenoch inside the Jacobson Moore law office. If she does not handle the situation properly, she could lose custody of her son completely. Matty, who understands this pain from her own experience, steps in to help. She convinces Paloma to face the situation in court rather than making a mistake that could take her child away forever.
When Matty and Paloma arrive at the courthouse, they find chaos. Olympia and Julian have been arrested for contempt of court because they turned the case into a personal argument. Their fight becomes an opportunity for self-reflection. They realize that their constant battles are harming their children, and they do not want to end up like Paloma and Bruno.
Julian remains unaware that Olympia believes he bugged her office. However, she decides to let go of her investigation into his finances under one condition—they must be honest with each other from now on.
This agreement helps them work together to create a fair settlement for Paloma and Bruno. The final decision ensures that Tenoch receives the child support he needs while also allowing both parents to share custody.
Olympia and Julian do not reconcile, but they reach a civil agreement. This may not be a romantic reunion, but it is a significant step toward a healthier future for their family.
Sarah and Billy Try to Fix Their Friendship
This episode also brings changes in the relationship between Billy and Sarah. At the beginning, Billy tells Sarah that he is willing to be professional, but he does not want to be friends with her anymore. He is still upset because Sarah insulted him, and he does not trust her.
Sarah reacts by trying to impress Olympia, hoping to prove herself as the best mentee. However, she takes things too far, crossing boundaries and acting in ways that would normally get someone fired. Although these moments are played for humor, her behavior is excessive.
Sarah’s stress increases when her law school rival, Simone (Andrea Londo), is hired as Julian’s junior associate. She immediately believes that Simone is there to sabotage her. Simone does not help the situation, making passive-aggressive comments about Sarah’s breath and even stealing her mints to make her more anxious.
Sarah tries to get Billy to believe her theory about Simone, but he refuses to entertain the idea. He tells Sarah that she is toxic for focusing on personal vendettas instead of her actual job.
Billy’s opinion changes when he has an unexpected encounter with Simone. While in the elevator, he notices Sarah’s mints in Simone’s purse. This confirms that Sarah was right about at least one of her suspicions. When Sarah also uncovers Bruno’s secret surveillance of Paloma through a nosy neighbor, Billy is impressed by her skills.
As a result, Billy lowers his walls, and he and Sarah regain some of their former friendship. However, a new challenge appears—Billy still agrees to go out for drinks with Simone. This raises an important question: Can Billy and Sarah’s renewed friendship survive if he starts dating her rival? Sarah has shown growth, but this test will determine if she has truly learned from her past mistakes.
Matty and Edwin Face Their Toughest Argument
While things improve at the office, Matty faces a serious conflict at home. This episode reveals that she and Edwin once sued their daughter, Ellie (Marnee Carpenter), for custody of Alfie when he was just 18 months old.
Ellie had struggled with addiction, and one day, Alfie burned himself on the stove. This incident made Matty believe that Ellie was not capable of raising her child.
Edwin was not fully convinced that taking Alfie away was the right decision, but Matty refused to consider any other option. Ellie begged them for another chance, but Matty pushed forward with the custody case.
Losing the custody battle was the final breaking point for Ellie. She relapsed and overdosed, which added another layer of guilt to Matty’s actions. While working on Paloma’s case, Matty is forced to relive these painful memories.
Edwin also struggles with the past because he has been secretly investigating a man he suspects to be Alfie’s biological father. He tries to keep this information from Matty, but his guilty behavior makes her suspicious. When she searches through his things, she finds an email about the situation.
This leads to a major confrontation. Matty is furious that Edwin lied to her, but the argument quickly shifts to their past custody battle. Edwin finally admits that he sometimes blames Matty for Ellie’s overdose.
This confession deeply hurts Matty, even though she already feels responsible for what happened. This moment also clarifies why the Wellbrexa case matters so much to her. She believes that if she can hold corporate drug manufacturers accountable, she can make up for the pain she caused her daughter.
However, this raises a difficult question—can she succeed if Edwin does not fully support her? Throughout this entire journey, Edwin has been Matty’s strongest ally. If he stops believing in her, will she be able to continue?
Final Thoughts
This episode of Matlock highlights emotional struggles, personal growth, and difficult truths. The custody case forces Matty to relive a painful experience and puts her marriage at risk. Olympia and Julian realize the impact of their divorce and take steps toward healthier co-parenting. Billy and Sarah rebuild their friendship, but new challenges arise.
Matty has always fought for justice, but now she must also fight for the people she loves. If she and Edwin cannot find common ground, her biggest battle might not be in the courtroom—it might be in her own home.
Matlock airs Thursdays at 9 PM on CBS. Episodes are available the next day on Paramount+.
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