Matlock Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Mousetrap

The Wellbrexa scandal picks up and adds some new twists with Matlock Season 2 Episode 5, “Mousetrap.” Now that Julian has revealed to Olympia that he knows Matty has connections to Belvin, the ladies have to rethink their approach.

The added third wheel to this already complicated operation adds a level of anxiety that keeps us locked in. This show is anxiety-inducing enough without the Julian of it all. However, it keeps things interesting.

This week, the case feels especially important not just because it’s fascinating but because it brings Julian completely into the fold. The transition is made that much more natural by centering it on a court case that Julian can be asked to help on.

Daniel’s Innocence

Before we dive into the Wellbrexa side of things, lets look at why Daniel’s resentencing case is so important. Sure, it’s helping a young boy get his life back, but there is more to it than that.

Daniel’s case gives the viewers more time to observe Julian and how he generally operates. Since Matlock Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” Julian has been a second-fiddle character. This episode brings him to the forefront.

Ritter does a great job of showing just how thirsty Julian is to prove himself. If it’s not for his father than it is for Olympia and his kids. This is a man who can’t just exist in the shadows.

That makes him interesting to put in scenes with Matty. Much like during Season 1’s situation with Shae, Matty is being watched like a hawk by him making it that much more imperative that her lies feel believable.

Throughout the case, Julian uses investigative and court moments to dig deeper into his suspicions of Matty. Unfortunately, as smart and skilled as he is he’s up against a master manipulator.

One of the things that Ritter is so adept at during Daniel’s case is the slow unraveling of Julian’s composure. He starts the case confident and a steel-trap but by the end he’s shaken and Olympia holds more control.

Julian and Matty

From the beginning we have marveled at how easy it is for Matty to take on the persona that she has at Jacobson-Moore. Even more so when she’s able to hold onto it during moments of high distress.

If we are going to call Matlock Season 2 Episode 5, “Mousetrap,” anything it would definitely be a long stream of high distress moments. Especially for a person like Matty who is already on edge due to her tension with Olympia. 

Pitting her against Julian every step of the way is actually genius. It’s a great test of her true strength as a manipulator but also in sticking to the plan. 

Julian forces Matty to be even quicker on her feet and constantly aware so that she can stay one step ahead of his logic. His thirst to prove himself and stay out of the hot seat is dangerous for anyone that crosses his path, but especially for Matty.

At least with Olympia she has the vague protection of being his ex-wife and the mother to his children. Julian wouldn’t completely destroy her, but with Matty he doesn’t have that personal connection so the gloves are off.

Is What Olympia and Matty Did Actually Good?

As always, Matlock uses this episode to remind us that no matter what, 98% of what Matty Matlock does is unethical in some manner. It has only increased in severity the longer this Wellbrexa case goes on.

At the end of the day, Julian’s hunches aren’t wrong. Therefore, he’s villainized for it because it comes in conflict of our support for Matty’s cause.

It’s heartbreaking to watch him have a gut instinct that is spot on, communicate that instinct, and then be gaslit by his ex-wife to the point he doubts himself. Julian is no saint by any means, but this episode feels especially cruel to him.

In fact, Matty goes so far as to justify her actions by saying that she may lie, but Julian has no integrity. The Wellbrexa file aside, can we really say that about him?

Sure, he’s the epitome of a nepo baby, but does that automatically mean that everything he does is without integrity? Honestly, it’s hard to say because we’ve not been given the opportunity to observe him outside of Wellbrexa dealings.

Senior is no picnic and Julian has a hard time standing up to him as his son. So, it could be easy to imply that Julian is a less confident version of his father who definitely can’t be trusted.

Either way, does what he’s done constitute the level of gaslighting Olympia and Matty inflict on him? He’s left completely in shambles and it doesn’t feel completely fair.

Stray Thoughts

• It’s getting harder and harder to figure out where Olympia and Matty stand. One minute they feel like friends and the next Olympia is upset and telling Matty she’ll never trust her again.
• Sarah is really going through it between having to adjust to Billy becoming a dad and finding out her mom cheated on her dad with her current boyfriend, Gary.
• I love Matty but this episode definitely calls into question that love by showing just how much Matty lies and how hard that makes it for people to trust her. 

 

 

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Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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