Matlock Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Tomorrow is Still Tomorrow

The fight for the Wellbrexa document reveal continues on Matlock Season 2 Episode 3, “Tomorrow is Still Tomorrow.” While Olympia and Matty verbally spar over who deserves the upper hand, the team has to toe the line with the executive council in-house.

In the end, someone has to go down for the leak, and neither option sits well with either Matty or Olympia. The journey to find a compromise perfectly mirrors the case they are fighting in court.

It’s a level of balance that is greatly appreciated as the Wellbrexa scandal stretches even longer. Eventually, the writers are going to need something new to create tension between characters, but for now, it remains interesting.

The Executive Council Brings Some Heat

It’s never fun to have your every move scrutinized and watched like a hawk. Therefore, when the executive council rolls into the Jacobson Moore New York office, it seems only fitting that Olympia is on edge.

Sure, her unease has nothing to do with the general vibe of the council’s presence and everything to do with being in the know about the missing Wellbrexa document. Despite that, her mood shift is affecting the whole team, and even Senior’s ex, Ev,a is noticing.

Adding the council as an entity that could work against them as they proceed with their plan to take down Senior could be the antagonist they need to keep this fresh. It definitely seems as though Eva isn’t going away any time soon, which is fun.

At first, it feels like maybe Eva thinks Olympia went to the press with the leak, but she soon dispels that thought with her implication of a coup. Sure, she’s not going to officially say it, but her intention is very clear — she wants Senior out as the head of Jacobson Moore NYC.

Justina Machado is the perfect pick to play the slick, manipulative Eva. She has an axe to grind, but she will make sure all her moves are perfectly above board in order to get the results she wants.

It’s clear she doesn’t care who takes the fall along the way as long as she comes out clean.

Olympia and Matty — Mommy and Mommy are Fighting

Olympia pulling the upper hand at the tail end of Matlock Season 2 Episode 2, “Another Matlock,” creates a palpable tension between her and Matty throughout this episode. It is so apparent that Sarah is freaking out, and Billy is having to be confrontational in order to keep the peace.

These two women have a desire for control that comes into conflict with each other when they don’t agree. And right now, they are definitely not on the same side. 

It’s to the point that even their client can tell there is some underlying tension going on. Matty is able to smooth it over by being a fierce ally in her fight against her brother.

However, the tension is there, and the quick cuts to Olympia and Matty heatedly discussing the council, the interviews, and who could take the fall are necessary to keep this episode flowing. It provides a nice shift in mood to keep the rest of the episode from getting too stale.

These verbal spars also give both Olympia and Matty the room to explore what compromises they are willing to give. In fact, it’s in a moment with Edwin that Matty really shows just how much this Wellbrexa stuff is affecting her.

Kathy Bates has always been a talented actress, but that scene in particular really shows how much she still has to give us. Matty’s breakdown reminds us that underneath all that confidence and strength is a mom who desperately regrets the mistakes she made with her daughter.

Matty just wants to preserve her daughter’s legacy, which is a commendable quest on its own. It’s just unfortunate that in order to do that, she has to manipulate and lie to people who don’t deserve it.

Emmalyn Belvin — A True Martyr for the Cause

Since Season 1, Matlock has made sure viewers remember Emmalyn Belvin as more than just a secretary of sorts at Jacobson Moore. No, this is a fully realized character with hopes, dreams, and desires. 

We know that she loves Barry Manilow and that her pet is her whole life. Then, during Matlock Season 2 Episode 2, “Another Matlock,” we learn that she wants all the pomp and circumstance when she finally retires.

Her friendship with Matty has always been a bit precarious because we know just how much Matty is manipulating her in order to keep the woman in the dark about Matty’s ulterior motive. That aside, their friendship is completely wholesome and worth the exploration and growth it has received.

I truly believe that Matty needed her connection with Emmalyn to remain grounded in what she is trying to do. That friendship reminds her of what is most important, despite her trust in Olympia. 

It’s just a shame that Emmalyn had to take all the heat for the leak when she was only a small part of it. However, she knows, and we know, that her actions allow the true justice to find its way to fruition eventually. 

The moment at the end when Emmalyn and Matty share a drink together and Barry Manilow plays is proof that Matty’s ill intentions always come from a good place.

Stray Thoughts:

• I kind of like the code language Edwin, Matty, and Alfie have created during this operation.
• I feel like Billy starting to focus more on his upcoming baby is the way they will write him off the show.
• Sarah indirectly admitting that she sees this team as a sort of family is still growth for her, and I am so proud.

 

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Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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