Matlock Season 1, Episode 2, “Rome, in a Day,” plays with double meanings and trust exercises to strengthen Matty’s fight for justice. The best thing about this episode is that it knows that as much as Matty has to gain the trust of Olympia, she also has to gain the trust of everyone else at Jacobson Moore. Any loose end, i.e., any unexplored dynamic, could come back to unravel her plan to avenge her daughter’s death. Smartly, “Rome, in a Day,” written by Jennie Snyder Urman and directed by Kat Coiro, takes the time to get to know the ensemble of characters through the lens of another engaging case.
“Team You Three” Gets Better and Better
It’s understandable that Matlock Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot,” spends most of its time getting to know Madeline “Matty” Matlock. After all, the twist that has had people talking since the show’s debut in September wouldn’t work without the investment in that titular character. That said, Matlock has the foresight to know that for the plot – and the show in general – to succeed, there must also be an overall interest. In fairness, the legal drama’s pilot episode also gives standout attention to Olympia, but that’s also necessary, as the character comes across as the opposite side of the coin on which Matty resides.
The linchpin of Jacobson Moore’s scenes thus far is the working relationship between Matty and Olympia. However, those two characters aren’t the only ones walking those halls – “Rome, in a Day” takes a closer look at the others. Most notably, this episode makes strides with “Team You Three.”
Billy quickly cements himself as the glue of the trio, telling Matty he will fill her in and giving Sarah a script to follow when apologizing. David Del Rio’s endearing performance encourages a greater interest in the character than the show has supported thus far. Instead, “Rome, in a Day” focuses more on Sarah and her dynamic with Matty, and understandably so because there is more depth there. Sarah keeps Matty at arm’s length from the beginning. The competitive nature of their work, let alone their being women in a still male-dominated workforce, contextualizes that tension.
It’s refreshing to watch Matlock take the time to deconstruct that competition, even if there’s an undercurrent of Matty using that opportunity to her long-game advantage. That narrative throughline makes every sequence more complex, strengthening yet fragilizing the growing camaraderie between Matty and Sarah. After the pilot, “Team You Three” may not seem like the most alluring facet of Matlock, but “Rome, in a Day” challenges that perspective.
Madeline Settles in the Matty Matlock Role
“Rome, in a Day” also pushes back against the presumption that Matty has all of this – working from inside the place that hid documents about opioids being addictive to learn the truth – figured out. The pilot ends on such a confident, choreographed note that it’s nice that Matlock takes a beat to show that’s not the case. Instead, Matty lives with anxiety after her daughter’s death and constantly wonders if she makes mistakes while she navigates the role of “Matty” at Jacobson Moore.
The legendary Kathy Bates plays the balancing act with such ease that watching Matty feels like watching an actual person, not a character in a legal drama. That depth is incredibly recognizable in Bates’s scenes opposite Sam Anderson as Madeline’s husband, Edwin. Though their only extensive scenes with one another come in “Rome, in a Day,” Matty and Edwin’s relationship shines as an absolute rock for both of them. Those quiet scenes before and after the “really hard” days at the law firm are the best entry points to understanding the complexity of this character.
Otherwise, “Rome, in a Day” finds other ways to let the act fall – only briefly – when Madeline is settling into the role of “Matty Matlock,” like the old TV show. For instance, the facade falters when Tara accuses Matty of not paying enough attention to her daughter. The camera pushes in to feel Matty’s discomfort and heartbreak before it pulls back to show how alone she is in that room and in this fight in the walls of Jacobson Moore. It’s excellent visual storytelling that supports what’s on the page.
Family Drama vs. Legal Drama
Matlock’s production is fantastic at building those emotions and creating kinetic energy among and within its scenes – two of those sequences that stand out feature Beau Bridges’s Senior. Though the character is still sparingly used in Matlock, he always leaves an impression. For example, his relationship with Julian quickly becomes one of Matlock‘s more intriguing moving parts. There’s authentic friction there that Bridges and Jason Ritter play with such subtlety – that dynamic already feels lived in.
The reaction Ritter delivers as Julian after Senior says, “And most kids haven’t done what you’ve done,” in response to why Senior favors Olympia is brilliant. It says so much by saying nothing at all. Of course, that comment raises questions about whether Julian is the one who hid the documents. Thankfully, Matlock pushes off the answer to that question. It still feels far too early to be getting definitive clues like that – the reveal of how Matty and Alfie get Olympia’s phone’s passcode is much better.
Instead, “Rome, in a Day” delves deeper into Olympia and Julian’s divorce – beyond Senior’s opinion. It spends time with Julian and Olympia together, giving them the space to discuss how this affects them and their parenting. It’s relevant to know that Senior’s multiple divorces impact Julian, Julian’s marriage, and his relationship with his father. Ultimately, for Matlock, the family drama is legal drama, and the legal drama is family drama, and that’s what makes the show so compelling – only two episodes into its run.
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What did you think of Matlock Season 1, Episode 2, “Rome, in a Day?” Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of Matlock air on Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.
