Matlock Season 2, Episode 1, “The Before Times,” crashes into the action caused by the cliffhangers in the legal drama’s two-part season finale. This season premiere hits the ground running. Matlock aids that momentum by not losing any time between the seasons. This episode, written by Jennie Snyder Urman and Nicki Renna and directed by Gina Lamar, embeds anticipation into its core with a nervous energy about the inevitable. That approach works for most of the stories, particularly that between Matty and Olympia.
Alternatively, it works against Matlock’s case of the week. Even with its expected parallels to the characters’ lives, there are far more interesting things happening. Even so, the case becomes a relevant device in initially bringing Julian back to Jacobson Moore, where the characters spend most of their time. “The Before Times” adds an intriguing twist to his return. It also asks if the characters and their relationships can emerge from the before times unscathed.
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Complicated Fathers and Families
So much of “The Before Times” is about fathers and their kids, which locks into place with the arrival of Alfie’s biological father, Joey. The question of Alfie’s paternity gets a sharp 2-day timeline, and Matlock is better off using that timeline to open up conversations in the Kingston family. It’s particularly effective with Sam Anderson’s turn as Edwin, who fears that his place in Alfie’s life may change forever. Everything about this story is complicated and feels real, and Matlock handles the weight of all of that with care.
Consequently, it’s strange that the same isn’t always true with Billy’s story. It’s still refreshing when a TV show discusses abortion as a woman’s choice and positions the male character as someone who will support that decision. On the other hand, it’s wild that “The Before Times” doesn’t show that ultimate conversation between Billy and Claudia. Given how inconsistent the first season is with Billy’s (and Sarah’s) arc, this episode has the chance to take a step in the other direction. It may be that Matlock wants the viewer to be as surprised as Matty, Olympia, and Sarah when Billy shares the news with them.
Meanwhile, “The Before Times” sets Julian up for a subjective redemption arc as he, unbeknownst to his father, opposes Senior. Some of the episode’s best work is with Beau Bridges as Senior, making it even easier to look forward to what’s ahead. This episode posits Senior as a real (and common) antagonist – his comment about being above the law and Bridges’ delivery of it seals it all.
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What’s Next for Matty and Olympia Now?
That scene between Senior and Matty does more for Senior’s antagonistic profile than Olympia repeatedly saying as much – the show, don’t tell principle remains true. Even so, Matty and Olympia’s friendship remains Matlock’s greatest strength; it’s a load-bearing pillar. In turn, this episode has a nostalgic quality to it, a need to soak up the good times while there are some. Their friendship is never more fragile than in “The Before Times,” when Olympia and Matty are on the brink of everything changing. Skye P. Marshall is excellent at portraying the toll that it takes for Olympia to lie to Matty.
Their interpersonal conflict hits a particularly raw note when Matty tells Olympia about Ellie and the swimming story. The same is true in Matty wanting to try to limit the impact of all of this on Olympia and her kids. There’s an honest part of both women that wants to help each other, but Olympia wants to protect Julian, while Matty wants justice for Ellie. It’s so sticky and unfortunate.
“The Before Times” exasperates all of that by teasing what their dynamic could be like if Matty and Olympia were on the same side. How great is their team-up to get the flower shop? But that is fleeting; the episode’s title reveals where Matlock will go. With Matty sending the evidence to The New York Times, everything changes. It’s difficult to imagine the legal drama without Olympia and Matty’s friendship at the center. It’s easy to know that “The Before Times” opens Matlock up to plenty of stories.
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What did you think of Matlock Season 2, Episode 1, “The Before Times?” Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of Matlock continue on Thursday, October 16, 9/8c on CBS.
