Matlock Season 1 Episode 12 Review: This Is That Moment

Olympia and Julian’s marital problems take center stage once more as they end up on opposing sides of a messy divorce case. All while, Matty is struggling to keep her objectivity due to this case hitting home for her on Matlock Season 1 Episode 12, “This Is That Moment.”

As the season starts to hit the back third, everything has intensified in the search for Wellbrexa answers. Fortunately for Julian and Olympia, but probably not for Matty, their bitter divorce seems to have hit a cooling off period.

On top of all that you have the discord Sarah is experiencing with both Olympia and Billy. From start to finish this episode pushes each of the characters to their limits, in splendid fashion.

Olympia and Julian End Up in the Slammer

Who would’ve thought that Olympia and Julian’s petty fighting would result in them getting arrested in court? Not me that’s for sure.

However, it was bound to happen eventually, considering how heated Olympia has been toward Julian because she thinks he was spying on her. While I adore Matty and Olympia’s friendship we are starting to see how her little nuggets of “wisdom” are creating unnecessary strain.

After all, at the end of the day, Julian and Olympia decide to bury the hatchet as much as they can. This includes retracting her request for a financial audit.

Could these two be headed back in the direction of a reconciliation? Or is this just a momentary pause to their bitterness and discord?

Whatever happens, it has been interesting to see how this case forced their hand and made them look past their fighting and actually communicate properly. While they probably would be better off divorced, especially considering Olympia has shown to still have feelings for Elijah, I could also see the benefits of delaying it further.

After all, they have two beautiful children to think about and a partner race to focus on. On top of that, I’m still not convinced Julian is as hapless and innocent as he’s been presented so far. 

There is a ruthless side to him that I get the feeling we are only scratching the surface of. After all, the way he commandeered the case and hired an assistant to be one step ahead of Sarah and Billy at all times doesn’t fit with the go-lucky guy we’ve seen so far.

Their very public blowup in court is a moment for the ages, and has us on the edge of our seats in anticipation of what might be coming soon.

Matty’s Past Continues to Haunt Her

Since Matlock Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” I have been saying that the longer Matty lives this ruse the harder it will be for her to maintain it. After all, she’s built up so many lies to sell herself as distinctly different than who she really is that something’s bound to crack eventually.

Moreso than any other episode, Matlock Season 1 Episode 12, “This Is That Moment,” shows just how close Matty is to losing her grip on her two personas. It’s a bit of her backstory that we’ve been waiting for all season, the death of her daughter and her custody of Alfie.

It makes complete sense that her mind would be constantly flashing back to her own custody battle as she tries to reason with a very scared Paloma and Tenoch. Knowing just how hard Matty went to get custody of Alfie against her daughter only for her daughter to die a few days later is heartbreaking and finally shows her why.

Sure, a mother’s anger over her child’s untimely death is reason enough, but to create a whole new persona in order to find out information goes deeper than that. With this episode, we see that Matty has extreme guilt about how she handled the custody situation and the drug situation with her daughter.

You can love your child unconditionally and also be upset with them. Both can be true, and Matty proves that in droves. Even more so when she is sobbing as she yells at Edwin to be honest with her.

This couple has been to hell and back thanks to Ellie’s addiction but they’ve never fully talked about the aftermath. Edwin finally coming forward and telling Matty that he sometimes blames her is more heartbreaking than I ever imagined.

Here’s hoping that now that is out in the open these two can move forward together and properly heal.

Sarah Discovers She Might Be The Problem

Ever since Matty removed Sarah from a case during Matlock Season 1 Episode 10, “Crash Helmets On,” Sarah has been spiraling — hard. She’s jumped from blaming Matty to blaming Billy, to now putting Simone in the hot seat. 

For the first half of the episode we find ourselves yelling at Billy to just come clean and call her out. But, Sarah’s tutelage to strengthen his backbone has made it that much easier on Billy to let her stew in her own irrational anger and paranoia.

Being united on this case thanks to Olympia giving Sarah the suggestion that she should wait 5 seconds and then speak, manages to break down a few of Billy’s new walls. This friendship has been a roller coaster ride from the beginning, and this episode proves their still on the ride.

Sure, Billy has every right to shut Sarah out over what she’s said to him the whole time they’ve worked together. However, realizing Simone is a backstabbing nemesis helps Billy see reason.

Also, it doesn’t hurt that after calling her the toxic problem, Sarah comes back and apologizes while owning up to her behavior. Billy is still Billy after all and all he wants is validation that his feelings and frustrations are being seen and heard.

Their hug at the end is so heartwarming it balances out all the heartbreak happening with the custody case and Olympia’s messy battle with Julian.

Now that Sarah is more aware of her behavior being a hindrance, I wonder if she’ll slowly make some moves forward in her career.

 

What did you think of this episode of Matlock? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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