‘Matlock’ Season Finale Forces Characters into Major Decisions

In a recent exclusive interview, Kat Coiro, the director and executive producer of CBS’s “Matlock,” shared intriguing insights about the season one finale, hinting that each character faces pivotal choices that will shape their futures. “The finale positions our characters to confront significant decisions,” Coiro explained. “As the season unfolds, we gain deeper insight into our main characters, all playing crucial roles in advancing the storyline.”

The tension has been building, particularly highlighted in the latest episode that aired on November 14. In this episode, the central character Matty, portrayed by Kathy Bates, grapples with her desire to quit her job at Jacobson Moore. This comes amid her ongoing quest to find the attorney who concealed evidence that may have saved her daughter’s life. Her moment of potential resignation is interrupted when Julian, played by Jason Ritter, acknowledges her efforts by bringing her onto a new case involving Big Pharma.

Coiro elaborated on Matty’s emotional journey: “This moment is critical. After a health scare, Matty arrives at a point where she feels ready to give up. From the inception of the series, we explored how she anticipated challenges in her role, yet didn’t expect to form such profound connections with her colleagues, from Olympia to Billy and Sarah.”

The show’s narrative takes a compelling turn with Matty’s character experiencing exhaustion. “By the end of one episode, it feels like a message from the universe urging her to persist,” Coiro noted, adding that Matty’s emotional resilience could easily have led her to a different choice.

As viewers will recall, Matty, initially introduced as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, is not merely a callback to the classic 80s series. Far from the surface narrative that positions her as a struggling former lawyer seeking a prestigious law firm, the truth is revealed: she is actually the affluent Madeline Kingston, who has gone undercover to pursue the mystery surrounding her daughter’s tragic death.

Despite uncovering clues, there’s no rush to resolve all mysteries by season’s end, particularly since “Matlock” has already secured a renewal for a second season on CBS. Coiro expressed confidence in the show’s creator, Jennie Snyder Urman, saying, “Jennie possesses a remarkable ability to intertwine every element of the series, with the focus firmly on character development, steering clear of relying solely on dramatic plot twists.”

“Matlock” currently streams on Paramount+ with new episodes slated to resume on CBS starting January 30 at 9 p.m. ET. The excitement continues as fans eagerly anticipate how these character arcs will unfold, especially as decisions loom large for all involved.