Shae’s case becomes a vehicle for examining the characters’ work-life balances in Matlock Season 2, Episode 12, “The Calvary Isn’t Coming.” This episode, written by Tommy Cook & Jeffrey Lieber and directed by Jennifer Lynch, is a particularly rewarding watch for the legal drama’s familiar and new dynamics. Some experience more nudges than strides, but that is expected as Matlock continues to introduce Hunter. He is one of many great additions this season.
Relatedly, it’s fantastic to watch Gwen and Lester, aka “The Wolf,” in the same scene because they couldn’t be more different. The strength of their characters’ distinctions supports the show’s ability to define even its tertiary characters, making their voices clear in a few episodes. Therefore, the twist reveal of Lester’s involvement with Wellbrexa doesn’t fall flat. Matlock usually uses its time wisely. “The Calvary Isn’t Coming” reflects that as the show’s dominant serialized story gets to breathe, making room for character investment.
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Shae and Embracing Your Light
This episode finds Shae in a compelling place. She’s on her back foot and admitting to being scared; all of which is rare. The case chips away at her in really believable and, at the same time, humorous ways. For instance, her physical appearance changes throughout the episode. She loses the barrier of her clothes and make-up and buries her light under a blanket of oatmeal. There’s a vulnerability that comes from that alone, and it complements her fear of everything she worked for coming into question.
Therefore, “The Calvary Isn’t Coming” gets to know Shae Banfield beyond “the human lie detector” that dominates most of her other appearances on Matlock. In a trust-building scene with Matty, Shae shares the times she’s felt heartbroken but never folded on knowing that children aren’t something she wants. That’s real and refreshing to hear from a career-driven woman on TV. It’s not that she doesn’t think she can’t have a job and kids; it’s that she knows that path isn’t for her. It is for Matty and Olympia, not Shae.
Likewise, it’s nice that Matty doesn’t try to convince Shae otherwise but tells her that she will find someone who complements her layers. “The Calvary Isn’t Coming” does such a beautiful job of showing that between Matty and Edwin. The episode takes a familiar conflict for them – Matty choosing work over something in her personal life – and develops it. Their cards become the perfect device to represent that grace and understanding. They accept their reality. They don’t ask the other to shrink to fit a different version of their relationship.
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Learning to Give and Receive Grace
“The Calvary Isn’t Coming” also shows a more underrated part of Olympia and Julian’s dynamic. There’s a lightness between them now that everything about Wellbrexa is no longer a secret. Seeing them banter about dating – Julian saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you” – is like a breath of fresh air. Their relationship is entirely platonic now, but there’s still so much care and respect there, especially in Jason Ritter and Skye P. Marshall’s performances.
It also creates such a natural juxtaposition to Olympia’s dynamic with Remy. That relationship doesn’t stand a chance with the introduction of his cousin, Langston, played by Marshall’s real-life husband, Edwin Hodge. The romance in Olympia’s knees wobbling – it’s reminiscent of Mia’s foot-popping kiss in The Princess Diaries. From that buzz-worthy meet-cute, it’s exciting to imagine where that relationship will go. Is there a slow-burn romance in Matlock’s future?
The same is true of Sarah and Hunter’s dynamic. Sarah’s distance from Hunter can only go so far. So, it’s good that “The Calvary Isn’t Coming” takes a scene to diffuse that tension with an explanation. The world bends to Hunter and his privilege as a white man, and he doesn’t refute that. He only adds that it hasn’t in every aspect of his life. That exposition about his mother completely transforms the “therapy dog” bit into an effective deep-cut. Matlock continues to turn over new stones with its ensemble that maintains the season’s momentum.
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