WARNING: This text accommodates spoilers from episode 16 of Matlock.
It might be tough to imagine however that Matlock cliffhanger was not the season finale. Nevertheless it was, undoubtedly, a game-changer.
As Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) received her case and set an harmless man free, she obtained a mysterious file from the D.A.’s workplace she known as “the Johnson case.” Sarah (Leah Lewis), Billy (David Del Rio) and Matty Matlock (Kathy Bates) had been a bit confused: So far as they knew, there was no such case on Olympia’s docket.
However within the last moments of the episode, “the Johnson case” cracked broad open — and was revealed to be the code identify for Olympia’s investigation of Matty.
As Matty acquired off the bus able to step into her city automobile and head again to West Chester the place she secretly lives, Olympia was ready — and she or he has some questions on who Matty Matlock actually is.
ipromiseyoumedia, too, has some questions on what this implies for Matty and Olympia’s friendship in addition to the way forward for the collection. Fortunately, Marshall, 43, was recreation to do the answering this time.
ipromiseyoumedia: I truthfully cannot imagine that cliffhanger wasn’t the season finale. What did you assume whenever you first learn that Olympia would confront Matty at this juncture?
SKYE P. MARSHALL: That is how I felt too! I used to be like, “Guys, I believe they by chance despatched us the finale script.” They usually’re like, “No, that is the start of a three-act rollercoaster journey that’s about to flip the script on our viewers.” And that’s what 16, 17 and 18 really feel like for me. I really like how [showrunner] Jennie Snyder Urman and her writing group dropped such a dynamic bomb on the finish of 16, as a result of the viewers has been so dedicated and constant to Madeline Matlock discovering who hid the Wellbrexa docs and rooting for her to perform this large objective, and infrequently seeing the sacrifice that she and her husband, Edwin and her son Alfie, have given to get this justice.
The viewers has fully forgotten that they are supporting a con artist, that Madeline Matlock is a liar, and she or he is creating destruction in pursuit of this try to alleviate her of her guilt and disgrace. And he or she’s been doing it with blinders, simply laser-focused and never understanding that to ensure that her to acquire this objective, there’s going to be some collateral harm.
When do you know that Olympia was secretly investigating Matty?
I am so grateful that the writing group didn’t inform me something till days earlier than we filmed episode 16. Numerous the flashbacks that you simply get to see on the finish of 16, once I filmed these, I had no concept why I used to be filming them. I had no concept — from discovering Alfie’s pockets, to seeing Bitsy leaving the courtroom, and me ending off that dialog with Julian. Jason [Ritter] and I shot that full lengthy scene once we acquired contained.
It was attention-grabbing once I noticed the minimize of it [in an earlier episode] and I keep in mind pondering, “Wait, that dialog was longer than that.” And it is simply so sensible that Jennie held off the again finish of that dialog to tie in. After I first learn the script of 116, oh my gosh, I simply couldn’t include my pleasure.
The evolution of Matty and Olympia’s relationship has been so fascinating. Simply as Matty had a renewed confidence in her, Olympia dropped this reality bomb. And now even I am questioning what’s actual or not actual of their friendship.
I believe we have all felt it earlier than — I positively have — and I’ve positively felt it again to again like Olympia, however that feeling of betrayal. As you bought to witness all through season 1, whether or not it was the betrayal of Julian, along with his affair, or Senior doing the Texas two-step on my shopper, or Elijah punishing my shopper to get again at me due to our relationship ending, or the betrayal of Shae.
I do know what it appears like to hold that weight of feeling, this discomfort of figuring out you want somebody, so it’s a must to get on the opposite aspect of the betrayal, and with a view to do this, you’ve two decisions: you’ll be able to both decide, or you’ll be able to search to grasp.
And this large betrayal that Olympia is now confronting Matlock with, that is the query she’s going to should ask herself. Does she decide her instantly? Con artist, name the cops, let’s get her out of right here. Or does she search to grasp why Madeline Matlock has finished what she has finished, not simply to her, however all the agency?
Talking of Shae…
I liked how eloquently Olympia was written to deal with the Shae betrayal. As a result of her precedence is all the time the shopper. I had some challenges with that as a result of, me personally, I had a lot rage round one thing like that ever taking place, however I needed to serve the character. It isn’t Skye, it is Olympia.
So what’s subsequent for Matty and Olympia?
Olympia’s very strategic, however very intentional. Needing somebody is uncommon [for her], however needing Matlock, not simply due to her expertise and her experience, Matlock’s additionally discovered the crack within the fort wall, and that was Olympia’s armor, and she or he was in a position to be weak along with her. And that is not a simple feat for Olympia. As you see, she works in a glass field. She is aware of that she’s all the time being watched whereas in pursuit of breaking the glass ceiling. And Matlock is available in and she will be able to empathize along with her due to the time when Matlock was that age. And so, that type of bond and that type of secure area that you simply discover at work, as you understand, is extraordinarily laborious to return by.
And so you’re going to get to see one other aspect of Olympia. You are going to see the aspect who was raised by a Marine, and who values rules, but additionally can not actually course of the ache.
Do you assume that Matty is accountable in any means for Olympia and Julian’s divorce going ahead?
I do not assume that Matlock was accountable as a result of as quickly as Julian and Olympia began to reconnect emotionally after which bodily, that is the place Julian’s father, Beau Bridges, needed to remind him that he wanted to get the skeletons out of his closet first earlier than he tried to start out anew. And with Julian then sharing the affair, that was an enormous setback. And I do not assume that Olympia handles betrayal properly. It stems again from one thing a lot deeper that will likely be revealed down the street.
Matlock airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.
