Matlock Season 1, Episode 18, “Tricks of the Trade – Part One” and Season 1, Episode 19, “Tricks of the Trade – Part Two,” create a supersized season finale that maximizes the legal procedural’s strengths. The episodes – the first written by Michelle Leibel & Nicki Renna, the second written by Nicki Renna, and both directed by Kat Coiro – answer major and minor season-long questions.
Their more straightforward approach calls for closer examination to catch any and every twist and turn. Mostly, the season finale becomes the perfectly imperfect backdrop for internal and external confrontations. Everything gets put on the table in Matlock’s two-part event. The crux quickly becomes how the characters wade through it and what they do on the other side of it all.
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Sarah’s First Case Ties Everything Together
To maintain its procedural structure, “Tricks of the Trade – Part One” introduces Sarah’s first case that carries the ensemble through “Tricks of the Trade – Part Two.” That case also becomes the vehicle for some great guest appearances, like Felisha Terrell, Cheyenne Jackson, and Patty Guggenheim. Moreover, its themes of friendship tug on Matlock’s central line with Matty and Olympia. Admittedly, the case loses a bit of resonance when it comes to Simone.
While “Tricks of the Trade – Part One” provides a reason for Simone’s anger, it doesn’t quite land. Matlock inconsistently represents Billy and Simone’s relationship, so it’s a bit jarring to watch it take such a sharp turn by “Tricks of the Trade – Part Two.” Likewise, it’s unfortunate that the milestone of Sarah expressing what she wants from her relationship with Kira happens off-screen.
However, where Matlock misses the mark, it is made up for by Billy and Sarah’s friendship. The season finale also regains its footing in Sarah jumping the shark by taking on a client. That choice is a realistic representation of the domino effect of Matty’s actions and impacts on the other characters beyond Olympia.
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Julian Becomes the Main Suspect
As for Olympia, there is a similar disconnect in the two-part season finale as a result of what Matlock has not prioritized this season. There’s never a doubt that anyone other than Olympia will win the partner race. The show closely follows the work she does to get ahead, but it doesn’t offer the same to Julian. Matlock mentions that Julian brings Simone onto his team to help with a larger workload, but the show never follows up on that development.
Unfortunately, those missed opportunities with Julian’s work undercut his efforts to gain Senior’s approval. Luckily, Jason Ritter’s performance makes up for it in some of the episodes’ best scenes. That final scene between Ritter and Skye P. Marshall is beyond nuanced and extremely well-performed. It’s fascinating from a character standpoint to see Julian finally put his foot down with Senior, only for that same foot to get stuck in quicksand because Julian didn’t do it sooner.
“Tricks of the Trade – Part Two” provides reasons for Julian’s actions. Still, it never pretends they excuse or justify making a choice that contributed to people, including Matty’s daughter, Ellie, dying. The season finale is better for sitting with all of that complexity and nuance, rather than throwing in a twist. It’s more intriguing to see Olympia and Julian grapple with what all of this means.
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Matty, Olympia, and One More Secret
As it often does, Matlock could throw in a twist no one sees coming that spins this story in a new direction. Instead, it goes exactly where it signals. Therefore, it’s far more interesting to spend most of the season finale with Olympia as she does her research, clinging to the hope that she can build a case against Senior instead of Julian. “Tricks of the Trade – Part Two” becomes less about the reveal and more about how the characters, particularly Olympia, get there.
The already-renewed second season will hopefully be about holding Julian, Senior, and Jacobson Moore accountable. For now, though, Matlock is more concerned with how this news sits with Olympia. “Tricks of the Trade” leans into every nuanced facet of this all unraveling before her. It does so without ever losing sight of Olympia and Matty’s friendship. This series is totally and unabashedly dedicated to that relationship’s complexity.
Therefore, every push and pull between Olympia and Matty successfully lands like a gut punch. It’s great TV that revolves around a female friendship, which shouldn’t feel as rare as it does. “Tricks of the Trade – Part One” and “Tricks of the Trade – Part Two” reflect caring for yet deceiving someone – the season finale’s thesis. It answers questions but doesn’t jump to conclusions because this journey isn’t over yet. The season finale picks up a seemingly lost thread in revealing Alfie’s biological father on Matty and Edwin’s doorstep. Even with those storytelling strengths, Olympia and Matty’s friendship still emerges from Matlock’s debut season as something special on TV.
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What did you think of Matlock‘s Season 1 finale? Let us know in the comments below!
All episodes of Matlock Season 1 are streaming on Paramount+.
Overall, it was a good episode.
However, as a season finale, it was terrible.
Seventeen episodes waiting to see if Matty will find the bad guy, only to leave it open-ended was a giant FU to the audience