Matlock Season 2 Episode 9 Review: Collateral

When you have a show like Matlock there is one thing you have to be able to maintain, a touch of mystery. Thankfully, about halfway into Season 2, Matlock Season 2 Episode 9, “Collateral,” proves these writers know exactly how to do that.

Since the beginning this show has been all about pulling back layers, a little bit at a time. In fact, when other elements of the show didn’t measure up, this quality always has.

You’d think after Matty reveals her truth to Olympia and then Julian gets roped in there wouldn’t be any other layers to uncover. However, “Collateral” proves that Julian knowing only adds to the intrigue.

Jason Ritter Showing His Star Power

The true hero of this episode is Jason Ritter. I’ve been singing his praises since the show’s beginning as being the person to look out for. And they are finally, FINALLY, giving him something worth writing home about.

Ritter is an actor who can either meld into the background, or make viewers forget anyone else exists. We’ve seen him shining in the background this whole time. And now, he gets to take center stage.

Sure, the dialogue is mostly Olympia and Matty conversing about their shared secret and plans to outsmart Julian. However, for every step forward they achieve, Julian proves he’s actually one step ahead.

For Julian to manage this quiet persona, gathering evidence while going undetected, he needs to be played by an actor who understands that subtlety. Ritter nails it time and time again. We’ve been seeing him consistently show up when we least expect it in very big ways this season.

Now, with Matlock Season 2 Episode 9, “Collateral,” we are seeing him lay all his cards on the table and show the audience why no one else can pull off such a nuanced slimeball.

Because that’s just it, Julian plays the kind, soft, innocent routine so well only a select number of people know just how dangerous he can be. It’s spellbinding how Ritter can be kind and considerate in the scene with Leah Lewis one minute and threatening Marshall’s and Bates’s Olympia and Matty the next. 

As we dive even deeper into the truth of what Matty knows and how it can be used against Julian, we are only going to be seeing more and more from Ritter. This is an actor who has spent years in the business, delivering consistent performances, and is now getting his moment.

He can stand up against the caliber star power of Beau Bridges and Kathy Bates, making each scene his own, pulling our focus to him and no one else.

Matty Needs to Wake Up

One of my biggest gripes about Matty as a character has always been that she is way too comfortable with lying. It’s not a ding against the show, more against her as a character. 

Matlock Season 2 Episode 9, “Collateral,” does a great job of highlighting that issue. We see not only Matty being prompted to speak the truth in multiple conversations but also the damaging effects of spinning a web of lies you can’t escape from.

It’s one of those instances of the show taking the case of the week and making sure it coincides with what a character is dealing with. Jack Alverez knew the truth about his citizenship and lied, spinning more and more lies the longer he lived in it, thinking he would never be found out.

In fact, one of the strongest moments of the episode is when Olympia wisely advises Matty to stop focusing on what could go wrong and instead focus on what could go write. It’s a moment that really shifts Matty’s perspective and gives her the strength to stand up to Julian.

In fact, the only time this episode I would say Kathy Bates outshines Jason Ritter is when she shows him her investigation wall. She looks him dead in the eyes and utters a chilling statement that perfectly ends the episode on a high note.

Matty: I am the reason for everything because the study you hid could’ve saved my daughter’s life.

It’s a beautiful flip from her previous anxiety about clinging to what she knows is working currently. She puts everything on the line letting another person know who she really is, but she knows that the rewards far outweigh the risks.

Olympia is Brave as Hell

Honestly, the only other thing I have to say about this episode is that Olympia Lawrence, the woman that you are. She’s spent her whole career being undermined by men. Then, she married one who blames everyone else for his inability to have a backbone.

It’s about damn time she play the room like a fiddle. Watching Olympia conspire with Matty to further their Wellbrexa agenda while also convincing Julian she is to be trusted is beautiful.

Skye P. Marshall delivers each line with an ease that allows us to forget she’s an actress. We truly believe we are Olympia Lawrence’s friend and confidante as we watch her adjust herself to each new threat.

When she smiles at Senior to disarm his distrust in her or uses her intelligence to outwit Julian we know we picked the right character to root for. Olympia isn’t perfect, but she is strong and knows her worth, which is much more important anyways.

There are moments throughout Matlock where we think she is going to fold and yet she never does. Each time she picks herself up and finds a new solution.

We should never count her out, that would be the biggest mistake of our lives.

In the end, her confessing to Senior that she started the coup might look like career suicide, but it’s actually a stroke of genius. She’s confessing to something Senior already suspected of her.

Confessing takes away his power. It shows him she’s not afraid of him and she won’t stay silent.

Stray Thoughts:

• The efficiency expert “joking” about scratching Billy as an employee since his coworkers can easily cover for him is the best way the writers could’ve written David Del Rio off the show.
• Poor Sarah, she made one mistake and it looks like it might cost her the career she’s always wanted. Sure, Julian saved her by signing the paper, but is he really going to give her the motivation and drive she needs?
• Alfie gaining more family as Joey sobers up, gets a job, and heals his relationship with his brother is so heartwarming to see. I just hope it doesn’t blow up in his face.

 

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Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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