If anyone could reinvent one of television’s most beloved characters, it’s Kathy Bates. After all, the legendary actor still has us quoting “Dirty bird” from her chilling role in Misery and dreaming of revenge parking a la Fried Green Tomatoes. These days, of course, she’s rekindled our interest in the law thanks to her Emmy-nominated gig in CBS’s Matlock.
And Bates isn’t the only reason to tune in to CBS’s legal drama. The first season included plenty of twisty stories and high-stakes situations, along with a strong supporting cast. Considering that Season 1 ended with all kinds of secrets, like the Wellbrexa coverup, Matty’s true identity at risk of coming out, and a jaw-dropping claim about her grandson’s identity, we have plenty of questions heading into Season 2.
So when does the show return, who’s back in action, and what new drama awaits the employees of Jacobson Moore? Here’s everything we know about Matlock Season 2.
Everything you need for fall TV:
Matlock Season 2 release date
Matlock Season 2 premieres Sunday, Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT on CBS — blame NFL football for those odd times, and be prepared for the timing to change just in case — before settling into its regular Thursday 9/8c timeslot on Oct. 16. That means we get two new episodes in the first week. The episodes will also be available to stream the next day on Paramount+.
Season 1 ran for 19 episodes, and while CBS hasn’t revealed the exact episode count for Season 2, fans can expect a similar full-season order.
Is there a trailer for Matlock Season 2?
A trailer dropped for the new season in mid-September. Check it out below
Where did Matlock leave off?
In Season 1, we learned that Matty is working undercover at Jacobson Moore in an attempt to expose the firm and Wellbrexa’s part in her daughter’s death by opioids. Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) discovered the truth, however, and confronted Matty. Now, Olympia has to decide between her friend and her ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), who was responsible for the Wellbrexa cover-up. Meanwhile, Julian’s father, Senior (Beau Bridges), left the firm vulnerable due to his health and reputation struggles, associates Billy (David Del Rio) and Sarah (Leah Lewis) continued to find their footing at the firm, and personal drama was afoot for Matty when her grandson Alfie’s (Aaron Harris) paternity came under question.
Matlock Season 2 cast
On Oct. 9, Deadline reported that regular cast member David Del Rio, who played Billy, one of the firm’s younger associates, had been fired after an investigation into sexual assault allegations. Del Rio’s exit comes after the first half of Season 2 has been filmed; per Deadline, scripts for the second half of Season 2 will be reworked to write his character off the series.
Here’s who you can expect back in the courtroom in Season 2:
New this season is Justina Machado as Eva, Senior’s fourth ex-wife and head of the firm’s Miami office. She’s coming in to stir things up even more in Season 2, as if the Jacobson Moore crew doesn’t already have enough on their plates.
When CBS renewed Matlock for a second season in October 2024, Jennie Snyder Urman was confirmed to return as the showrunner for the new batch of episodes as well. Knowing how deftly the writer handled soapy storylines in Jane the Virgin and the twists in Matlock‘s first season, we can’t wait to see what kind of fun she has in store.
What happens in the Season 2 premiere?
The Season 2 opener, “The Before Times,“ picks up directly after the Season 1 finale cliffhanger surrounding Matty’s grandson. As Matty questions whether the man claiming to be Alfie’s father really is who he says he is, Olympia works to protect Julian from his involvement in the Wellbrexa case. As for the rest of the team? They’re busy handling a tricky arson case.
“I could burn this courthouse to the ground and still have ’em eating butterscotch out of my hand,” Matty says in a preview. So yes, we’re coming in hot, people.
What storylines can we expect in Season 2?
When we last saw Matty and Olympia, their friendship had been severely tested. This season will prove whether they can repair their bond or be forced to shift loyalties, particularly as things grow more complicated with the cases they’re handling. Meanwhile, Olympia will have her hands full with the Wellbrexa fallout and Julian’s part in it. His decisions will come back to haunt everyone at the firm, and you can bet that Matty isn’t about to forget it.
Of course, this is Matlock, so we can expect lots of standalone courtroom battles to thrust the action forward each week. So, as Matty contends with paternal problems at home and her double identity at work, she’ll continue navigating complex cases alongside her coworkers. Oh, and don’t forget that Eva will shake things up with new alliances and power struggles that are sure to follow her arrival.
Our burning questions heading into Matlock Season 2
Where can I stream Matlock?
CBS’s Matlock streams on Paramount+. You can stream all nine seasons of the original Matlock series on Pluto.
