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Everything We Know About ‘Matlock’ Season 2

Matlock Season 2, Episode 1, "The Before Times" - Kathy Bates as “Madeline Matlock”

CBS’s Matlock returns with its second season next month. In anticipation, we’ve gathered everything we know about Season 2. The Kathy Bates-led legal drama scored Bates an Emmy nomination for her performance in the show’s debut season. Matlock follows Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, who works at the prestigious law firm Jacobson Moore, where she tries to uncover the truth in a quest for justice. It premiered with Matlock Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot,” in September 2024 and wrapped up with a two-episode finale in April.

CBS shared that the series “received an average of 17 million viewers across broadcast and streaming on Paramount+, making it the #1 new broadcast series and #2 broadcast series overall in multiplatform viewing (according to Nielsen – Live+35 Linear + Streaming via SCR).” The network renewed Matlock for a second season after only two episodes. When the legal drama returns in October, it will see Matty go toe-to-toe with her (former?) friend, Olympia.

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Matlock Season 1, Episode 18, "Tricks of the Trade – Part One" - athy Bates as “Madeline Matlock”, David Del Rio as “Billy Martinez”, Leah Lewis as “Sarah Franklin”, and Skye P. Marshall as “Olympia Lawrence” — “Tricks of the Trade – Part One” and “Tricks of the Trade – Part Two” – When Sarah’s client is arrested after his business partner is found murdered, Billy attempts to help her handle the case while Matty and Olympia contend with a pressing confidential matter, on a special two-hour first season finale of the CBS Original Series MATLOCK, Thursday, April 17 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): Kathy Bates as “Madeline Matlock”, David Del Rio as “Billy Martinez”, Leah Lewis as “Sarah Franklin”, and Skye P. Marshall as “Olympia Lawrence”. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Who Stars in Matlock’s Second Season?

First and foremost, it’s confirmed that Matlock’s entire main cast will return for the sophomore season. Alongside Bates, the series stars Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence, Jason Ritter as Julian Markston, David Del Rio as Billy Martinez, Leah Lewis as Sarah Franklin, Sam Anderson as Edwin Kingston, and Aaron Harris as Alfie Kingston.

As of October 9, David Del Rio has been fired from Matlock after an investigation into an accusation of sexual assault on the Paramount property. The alleged incident reportedly occurred on September 26 and was reported on October 2. Del Rio was fired and escorted from the Paramount lot the same day of the report. Matlock has already wrapped the first half of its second season, and the production has gone on hiatus until after Thanksgiving. Del Rio’s character, associate Billy Martinez, is expected to be written off immediately.

In December, showrunner and executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman confirmed that Del Rio’s last on-screen appearance is Matlock Season 2, Episode 7, “Prior Bad Acts.” Billy’s storyline will conclude off-camera.

Matlock Season 2, Episode 7, "Prior Bad Acts" - Justina Machado as “Eva” and Beau Bridges as Howard "Senior" Markston" — “Prior Bad Acts” – Pictured (L-R): Justina Machado as “Eva” and Beau Bridges as Howard “Senior” Markston. Photo credit: Michael Yarish/2025 CBS Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Who Is Joining the Matlock Cast?

As for new cast members, Deadline exclusively reported that One Day at a Time’s Justina Machado will appear in a major recurring role. Machado will play Eva, “a formidable, smart, and ambitious attorney and Jacobson Moore managing partner Howard “Senior” Markston’s 4th ex-wife. The one who made him swear off marriage. Eva runs Jacobson Moore’s Miami office, and she arrives in New York for an emergency meeting… which she uses to her advantage.”

Machado joining Matlock marks yet another Jane the Virgin reunion. Yael Grobglas is the first, as she recurs on the former as Shae Banfield, a jury consultant, and starred on the latter as Petra Solano. Machado appeared on The CW series as Darci Factor. Executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman created both series that come from CBS Studios. Alongside Synder Urman, Matlock’s executive producers include Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, Amanda Tudesco, Nicki Renna, Jeffrey Lieber, Kat Coiro, and Kathy Bates.

Matlock Season 2 has also added two new recurring characters. Sarah Wright Olsen will portray Gwen, “an efficiency expert analyzing the firm,” and Henry Haber joins the series as “a younger associate from the floater pool who is a total bro.” Meanwhile, Edwin Hodge joins in a guest-starring role, and Jane the Virgin‘s Gina Rodriguez will guest star in the Season 2 finale. There are no available details about her character, but Hodge will play Langston, a potential love interest for Skye P. Marshall’s Olympia.

MORE: Interview: Aaron Harris Discusses Working with Kathy Bates and Alfie’s Future on Matlock

Matlock Season 2, Episode 1, "The Before Times" - Skye P. Marshall as “Olympia Lawrence” — “The Before Times” – Pictured (L-R): Skye P. Marshall as “Olympia Lawrence”. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What Is Matlock Season 2 About?

It’s important to remember where the first season leaves things. Matty discovers that Julian is the one who hid the missing documents from the Wellbrexa case that proved the company (and Jacobson Moore) knew they were fueling the opioid epidemic. Upon her own fast-paced investigation, Olympia confirms that her ex-husband is the one who covered up the truth. Along with the cliffhanger of Alfie’s biological father showing up on Matty’s doorstep, the season finale leaves everyone wondering what Olympia’s next steps will be.

The new Matlock trailer shows that Julian is eager to shred the documents, but Olympia knows that only spells more issues for both of them, including potential jail time. But, according to Olympia, she isn’t going to let that happen. As for what that means for Matty, Olympia plans to delay going public. At one point, Olympia tells Matty, “I’m not going to implicate the father of my children.” Meanwhile, Matty has “a terrific plan. It’s highly detailed, mastermind caliber.”

Even so, Matty’s husband, Edwin, warns Matty that Olympia is manipulating her. He says, “When we send our research to the [New York] Times, you know your friendship is over, right?” Given the importance that Matty and Olympia’s friendship holds in Matlock Season 1, it’s great to see it represented in the first look at the new season. That strong connection between the women will make this tense back and forth more impactful to watch across the season.

MORE: Matlock Season 1, Episode 17 Review: ‘I Was That, Too’

When Does Matlock Season 2 Premiere?

It’s best to keep in mind that Matlock Season 2 will premiere at a special time before moving to its regular timeslot. Matlock Season 2, Episode 1, “The Before Times,” will air as a “sneak peek” during the CBS Premiere Week on Sunday, October 12, at 8:30 pm. The season premiere was written by Jennie Snyder Urman & Nicki Renna and directed by Gina Lamar. The legal drama will return with an original episode during its usual time on Thursday, October 16, at 9:00 pm.

The description for “The Before Times” reads as follows:

Matty questions the paternity of the man claiming to be Alfie’s father. Also, the team takes on an arson case while Olympia tries to protect Julian’s involvement in the Wellbrexa case.

Matlock‘s sophomore season will conclude with a super-sized, two-hour finale on Thursday, April 23, beginning at 9/8c on CBS. So, mark your TV-watching calendars accordingly!

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