Spoiler Alert for Matlock season 1, episode 6, "Sixteen Steps"
This article discusses addiction.
Things are heating up in Matlock episode 6, with developments for Kathy Bates' Madeline Matlock and her secret revenge plan. Madeline Kingston is working under an alias to infiltrate Jacobson Moore, connecting her to whoever hid documents that could have saved her daughter's life. By episode 6, Madeline has made significant progress. She is close to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) after officially winning over her trust, helping her win cases, and she is racking up points with her counterparts, Billy (David Del Rio) and Sarah (Leah Lewis). Her alliance with the Matlock characters helps Madeline navigate office politics.
Her alliances with her team are getting her closer to Julian (Jason Ritter), who Madeline wants to work with on pharmaceutical cases. Madeline hasn't had much proximity to Julian, Olympia's ex-husband, because although he works at Jacobson Moore, he and Olympia have been at odds. In Matlock episode 5, however, personal matters brought the co-parents together again as they planned their family's next move. That leads to "Sixteen Steps," where Olympia and Julian's connection strengthens into something more and officially gets Madeline's foot in the door.
9 Matlock Season 1, Episode 6, Reveals How Madeline's Revenge Plan Started
Matlock Flashes Back To Two Years Earlier
Matlock season 1, episode 6, "Sixteen Steps," flashes back two years, revealing the origins of Madeline Kingston's secret revenge plan and the first time she crosses paths with Olympia. Madeline is in New York scouting out Jacobson Moore with a cup of coffee in her hand when she physically runs into Olympia, splashing her coffee all over the lawyer's white suit. The Jacobson Moore employee chides Madeline and keeps moving, and the septuagenarian takes it as a sign.
The Matlock episode 6 flashback provided insight into just how long Madeline's plan has been in the works, spanning at least two years.
Madeline sits down with Alfie (Aaron D. Harris) a moment later to reveal that she has officially decided to act on her plan to hold the lawyer who hid documents at Jacobson Moore accountable. The Matlock episode 6 flashback provided insight into just how long Madeline's plan has been in the works, spanning at least two years. It also provides a glimpse into Olympia and Julian's marriage before they divorced, highlighting a case that pressured their already tense marriage.
8 Olympia & Julian Are Retrying A Case From Two Years Ago Before Their Marriage Broke Down
Much Has Changed In Two Years
Episode 6 focuses on the past, including a case that Olympia and Julian were trying at the time Madeline bumped into Olympia at Jacobson Moore. In the present, the lawyers have a chance to retry the case, which they previously lost because they didn't put the parents, suing for pain and suffering after the death of their child due to contaminated baby formula, on the stand. They are all hesitant to revisit the case, but Olympia is determined to win.
The mood contrasts flashbacks to the case the first time Olympia and Julian took it on. Scenes from two years ago show the couple at odds with each other, fighting about their different approaches to the case and struggling to communicate, let alone work together successfully. During flashbacks, Olympia tells Julian she wants a divorce. Therefore, episode 6 reveals the origins of pivotal events in Matlock's story.
7 Madeline's Plan Encounters A Snag With Edwin's Fingerprint
Madeline's Husband Edwin Is Helping With Her Plan
In episode 6, Madeline encounters a significant snag in her plan. Madeline previously got a fingerprint from Jacobson Moore's IT person, who has access to the server that holds all their files. Madeline wants to gain access to the room so that she can look at files from Wellbrexa, the pharmaceutical company that she holds accountable for her daughter's death. Edwin (Sam Anderson) tells Madeline he can make a wax finger with the fingerprint embedded, but he experiences some setbacks.
Edwin is a retired art history professor, so he initially believes in his ability to craft a faux finger. However, when Madeline checks in with Edwin partway through the episode, he tells her he isn't even close to completing a finger model. At the end of "Sixteen Steps," after Madeline experiences a significant internal conflict, Edwin laments his struggle, visibly frustrated by his shortcomings. He includes his failure in his list of reasons for hesitating to proceed with their plan.
6 Olympia & Julian Pack Their Apartment After Deciding To Sell Their Brownstone
Olympia And Julian Are Officially Moving
Matlock episode 6 shows Olympia and Julian discussing the case while they pack items into boxes in their apartment. The development confirms that the co-parents have decided to sell the brownstone home they once shared as a family. While it would typically be safe to assume that the event would be sad, Julian and Olympia are upbeat while packing despite the stress of revisiting the baby formula contamination case.
The former couple has a cheerful, playful attitude when deciding who will take what and what they will part with. The mood contrasts with the adversarial tone of their relationship in the Matlock series premiere. Since then, things have changed. Olympia and Elijah's breakup in Matlock episode 3 and Julian's support in critical moments of Matlock episode 4 have softened their divorce, and others are noticing.
5 Madeline Gets An Email From Stanley & He Finds Her At Jacobson Moore
Madeline's Senior Sweeties Profile Is Coming Back To Bite
In Matlock episode 5, Billy and Madeline help each other with their respective love lives. Madeline asks Billy why he hasn't proposed to his girlfriend of eight years, encouraging him to take the next step. Billy makes Madeline a dating profile on a website/app called Senior Sweeties. However, the app exposed Madeline after someone recognized her.
Stanley tells Madeline that his son, Thomas, is missing. Madeline and Stanley share the struggle of parenting a child experiencing addiction.
Despite Madeline deleting the app, Stanley, someone from her past, emails her and finds her at Jacobson Moore. After Madeline politely declines the opportunity to meet via email, Stanley arrives at Jacobson Moore with a picture of Ellie. Madeline breaks her persona and talks with her old friend outside the building until Olympia rushes outside. Madeline tells Stanley to leave her alone to protect her disguise, but it's unclear if the situation is resolved.
4 Olympia Leans On Madeline When She Struggles Ethically About The Case
Madeline And Olympia Are Allies In A Viper's Nest
Olympia and Julian lost the case on their first try because they failed to elicit sympathy from their jury for the parents. Olympia promised Anna and Vanessa Sampson they wouldn't have to testify. Trying the case the second time, Olympia wants to put one of the parents on the stand, and Anna willingly agrees. She's pregnant with their second child and wears her heart on her sleeve, making her an effective spokesperson for the couple.
However, due to Anna's health, Vanessa, who is more reserved, is forced to testify, putting Olympia in uncomfortable territory. The skilled lawyer realizes that she has to take Vanessa back to a painful place to make her testimony effective. Olympia seeks out Madeline as she questions if the behavior is ethical, and Madeline encourages Olympia to press on. Madeline tells Olympia that when the parents get justice, they will be thankful, informed by her own experience.
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Matlock Episode 5's Case Justifies Madeline's Morally Questionable Revenge Plan
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It's an intimate moment for Madeline and Olympia, and it shows that the team leader is beginning to lean more on the newly minted associate. While initially hesitant about her background, Olympia values Madeline's positioning and experience and is starting to lean on her more. Madeline may not work as closely with Olympia due to the episode's final development, but their alliance will probably continue since Olympia seeks Madeline's advice throughout "Sixteen Steps."
3 Olympia Puts Vanessa & Teddy On The Stand To Testify & They Win 8 Million Dollars
Olympia Succeeds With Madeline's Help
Reversing the case's conclusion the first time, Olympia wins the baby formula lawsuit, garnering 8 million dollars. Olympia triumphs due to two key witnesses: Teddy and Vanessa. While Teddy took the stand the first time, his testimony shifted significantly. Thanks to Madeline's realization, Olympia questions Teddy about how he exposed germs to the environment with his cast, which could have contaminated the baby formula.
Vanessa also takes the stand, and with Madeline's encouragement, Olympia takes the plaintiff back to the most intimate moments with Dante. Vanessa remembers watching Dante at night for Anna's work. Vanessa recounts counting the steps to cross Dante's room, hence episode 6's title, "Sixteen Steps." Vanessa's emotional testimony secures the parents 5 million dollars for pain and suffering. Still, when Madeline congratulates their plaintiff, Vanessa gives her a cold look.
2 Madeline’s Stress About The Case Causes Her To Have A Panic Attack
Madeline Claims She's Having A Heart Attack
Reflecting on Vanessa's sad response to her congratulations, Madeline panics in the car on the way home. When she makes it home and sees Edwin, she tells him that she thinks she's having a heart attack. While it turns out that Madeline merely has a panic attack, it's a remarkable development for Bates' character, who has kept her cool despite sometimes being reminded of Ellie.
Edwin tells Madeline that, while it wasn't a heart attack, her panic attack was a sign. He notes that Madeline is experiencing grave stress due to her covert plan, and he encourages her to give it up. Edwin has been teetering between helping with Madeline's plan and poking holes in it, but he wants her to call it off entirely after her panic attack. When his wife insists that she owes it to Ellie to continue, Edwin insists that what she owes her daughter is parenting Ellie's child, Alfie.
1 Olympia & Julian Get Back Together & Invite Madeline To Work With Julian On Pharma
Plans Shift Again Thanks To Julian And Olympia's Reformed Alliance
After the case is behind them, Julian and Olympia pack up their brownstone again. She finds a white suit that she wore while working on the case the first time around and remarks how different she feels now. Olympia is referring to the case, but it also seems like she is referring to her relationship. When Olympia tells her former lover that he can leave, Julian remarks that he never should have left his wife, prompting them to rekindle their love affair.
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The conclusion of episode 6 shows the couple discussing how they plan to keep their relationship covert at work. When they arrive at the law firm's floor, they run into Madeline and tell her they want her to work on a pharmaceutical case for Julian. It's a massive revelation for Madeline, who was planning to quit her job but accepts the promotion because it's what she's been waiting for in Matlock.
Matlock is a modern reboot of the classic series created for CBS that sees the titular role taken up by Kathy Bates. After years retired from her career, Madeline Matlock rejoins the legal world in a powerful new firm where she uses her seasoned skills to win cases and expose the underlying corruption within the legal system.
Character(s) Madeline Matlock , Julián , Olympia , Billy , Sarah , Alfie Kingston , Elijah Walker , Senior Partner , Kathryn Lawrence-Markston , Courtney (Court) Lawrence-Markston
Release Date September 22, 2024
Seasons 1
Writers Jennie Snyder Urman
Directors Kat Coiro
English (US) ·