Matlock Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Claws

The deeper we get into Madeline Kingston’s deception as Matty Matlock, the more we start to understand her motivations. Matlock Season 1 Episode 5, “Claws,” reminds us that her focus is and always will be on her daughter’s addiction story.

For the first time, Matty’s real life almost breaks through her work facade, compromising her undercover work. It’s the closest we’ve come to her being truly vulnerable.

Instead of detracting from the show’s charm and successful formula, it draws us in even more. Over time, the double life gaffs can get repetitive and exhausting, but this case, centering on a woman with addiction, puts a new light on Matty’s mission.

Billy and Sarah Deserve All the Accolades

Before we dive into what works so well about the emotional toll of this case on Matty, we need to look at her colleagues. Up til now, Billy and Sarah have been on two different sides of the spectrum when it comes to coworker relationships.

Almost immediately, Billy chose to take Matty in and trust her process while Sarah looked at the older woman as competition. Now, Katya’s relapse compromises Matty’s spatial awareness, harming her positive relationship with Billy.

Billy’s choice in this episode to stand up and say that he deserves better from Matty, considering he’s always been in her corner, is monumental. It shows just how much he’s grown from his experience with not just the job but Matty’s presence in it.

What is so great about this moment is that the Matlock writers don’t let it get in the way of his naturally charming and friendly nature. He can be upset at Matty for taking advantage of him and still want to focus his romantic nature on getting Sarah and Matty dates.

The drama is short-lived, as it should be, to allow Billy and Sarah to step up and use their talents to get justice for the women in their case. It’s true that Olympia does need to start seeing them as individuals, much like she does with Matty, but at the same time, Billy and Sarah don’t do much to separate themselves.

All this to say, Billy’s assertion when Matty messes up, and Olympia finally gives them the recognition they deserve is controlled drama that shows the need to balance out Matty’s endeavors. It’s a great move from the show to establish that there are many moving parts that make this whole operation work without coming across as too much.

Matty Is Walking a Thin Line

This whole time, Matlock has made sure we never forget that Matty is on a mission to get justice for her daughter. The reminders have never been heavy-handed, which makes this show so successful.

Matlock Season 1 Episode 5, “Claws,” could’ve easily fallen into the trap of beating a dead horse, but it doesn’t. I think that’s because the show never makes the addiction storyline completely about Matty’s daughter. 

Sure, Matty and Edwin both have moments when the emotions of their recent trauma hit them a little too hard, but we are the only ones who see that. It doesn’t lead to a slip-up that compromises Matty’s mission.

If anything, this private, emotional moment between them strengthens Matty’s likability and sympathy. We do come close when Olympia questions how Matty knows so much about people’s addictions, but she quickly smoothes it over with a truth that could be a coverup lie but actually isn’t. 

Sure, it’s not the whole truth, but it establishes that Matty needs to be able to bring bits of her real persona into her undercover operation in order to avoid failing completely. It’s a nice balance that we’ve not really been allowed to appreciate in full until this particular case.

That’s not to say Matty isn’t teetering toward disaster the longer she keeps up her facade. After all, there is only so long a person can lead a double life before someone recognizes something and the truth comes spilling out.

I just hope, for Matty’s sake, that it doesn’t happen until she’s made further headway on the case of the missing documents. She’s so close, and at this point, we are all rooting for her to take down whoever it was that potentially caused her daughter’s death.

Who is The Real Villian?

Every time we seem to make headway on who could’ve hidden the documents that caused the domino effect that ended in Matty’s daughter’s death, another wrench gets thrown in, and we don’t know where we are. Such is the case with this episode.

From the start, the writing has heavily implied that Senior is this big bad guy with no heart, despite pretending otherwise. However, part of me wonders if Julian isn’t as kind-hearted as he’s been portrayed up to this point.

Not to mention, allowing Jason Ritter to play a villain-type character could be so much fun for the show. Especially considering his already-established jovial demeanor with everyone. 

There just has to be some level of ruthlessness under the surface considering how successful he is as a lawyer. Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain Olympia’s perceived villainy is a red herring. 

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Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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