At the conclusion of last week's Matlock recap, I dared to predict the direction the show's inaugural season would take. My conjecture was that Olympia's entire team would either depart Jacobson-Moore voluntarily or be terminated, and together they'd embark on a venture with a lawsuit against Wellbrexa as their inaugural case. But alas, I was far off the mark. Instead, here's a brief rundown of how the finale played out: Olympia ascends to the position of partner at the firm, and the season ends with Matty and Edwin pondering Olympia's potential decision to shield Julian's reputation and career rather than assisting them in their pursuit of Wellbrexa. Oh, and Alfie's father makes an unexpected appearance on the Kingstons' doorstep just before the credits roll, which... well, okay.
While I confess to being slightly disheartened by this finale's trajectory, it wasn't because it didn't align with my forecast. Truth be told, I prefer being surprised by TV shows rather than outsmarting them. And I didn't mind that the season ended with so many unanswered questions; it's par for the course for a season finale of a show that has already been renewed. It's a tactic used to keep viewers engaged during the hiatus. Totally understandable.
What disappointed me was the underwhelming nature of the closing cliffhangers, given that this series has consistently delivered shocking episode endings. The choices faced by Matty and Olympia at the finale's conclusion seemed poorly defined, as did the stakes. And Alfie's father? That subplot had been on the backburner for weeks and wasn't one I eagerly anticipated returning to.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Before delving into the Olympia and Matty dynamics of this episode, let's address the case of the week, which... is... adequate. It revolves around Sarah's secret client, Dino, a personal trainer who had her draft a scathing cease and desist letter to his erratic business partner, Rob. That letter was so biting—described as "barbed," "acerbic," and "terrifying"—that Rob stormed into the partners' gym, threw punches at Dino, and ultimately died from a burst appendix after Dino hit him in the stomach. Since Sarah is Dino's lawyer, she must defend him against a manslaughter charge.
The case's resolution is easy to predict. When Rob's wife mentions how Sarah's letter had upset him so much that he threw up, it's a clear indication that his appendix issue was preexisting. It turns out that one of the reasons Dino wanted to dissolve their partnership—because Rob was embezzling money to cover debts from his struggling nutritional supplements business—also explains Rob's health issues. Those supplements were poisoning him. Sarah proves it in court and receives the same heroic welcome back at Jacobson-Moore that Billy received when he won his first case.
The case of the week is relevant for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it forces Olympia and Matty to work together in support of Sarah. Initially, Olympia is so infuriated at Sarah for taking on a case on her own that she tries to get the judge to transfer it to a public defender. But once the judge rules that Sarah must handle it, the team goes into action, gathering evidence and helping Sarah present herself in a more likable light to a jury. Olympia even arranges an emergency appointment with her dentist after Sarah accidentally knocks out a tooth the day before the trial. (By the way, this is as good a time as any to note that among all the legal-drama leaps Matlock has taken this season, the idea that Dino could go from an arrest to a full jury trial in a matter of days is... well, somewhat insulting to the audience's intelligence. But such is life.)
