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Spoiler Alert for Matlock season 1, episode 8, "No, No Monsters"In Matlock episode 8, Kathy Bates delivers a heartfelt mid-season finale, setting the stage for the CBS show's highly-anticipated comeback in 2025. As the series rounds out the first handful of episodes of its successful freshman run, things are getting complicated for Madeline Matlock. Madeline works her first Wellbrexa case in the preceding episode, but the holiday cheer runs thin despite the Jacobson Moore holiday party. Now, Matty must navigate Plan B while managing her role in Olympia and Julian's relationship conflict.
Matlock episode 7 takes a devastating turn when Julian (Jason Ritter) comes clean to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) about having an affair before their separation. While Julian's revelation is an effort to distinguish himself from Senior (Beau Bridges) and start anew, Olympia doesn't take the news well. In episode 8, the couple navigates the fallout of their rift, and Madeline Kingston finds herself directly at the center. Working together benefited Matlock's game-changing twist, allowing Madeline Matlock to hone in on Wellbrexa.
8 Olympia’s Nadira Freeman Case Pulls Madeline From Julian’s Wellbrexa Action
Olympia And Julian Are At Odds In Episode 8
While Madeline prepares to assist Julian on another Wellbrexa action, episode 8 delivers an unfortunate twist to her secret plan. Despite conversing with her grandson Alfie (Aaron D. Harris) when she drops him off at school that morning that things are going well for the septuagenarian, noting, "It's all happening," Olympia and Julian's relationship conflict blocks Madeline from progressing in. episode 8 When she gets to work that morning, Olympia reroutes Madeline's plan for the day, roping her into her case.
An unexpected case falls in Olympia's lap, causing the lawyer to pull Madeline from the Wellbrexa action.
Olympia also drops her kids off that morning, causing an expected case to fall into her lap and prompting the lawyer to pull Madeline from the Wellbrexa action. After a nanny at Olympia's children's school tells the lawyer that an anonymous social media post resulted in the nanny losing her job, Olympia agrees to help Nadira get justice. Julian cautions Olympia against putting herself in the middle of a school conflict, and the lawyer notes discretion is her reasoning for Madeline arguing the case in court in her stead.
7 Olympia Confesses Julian Cheated & Madeline Is Caught In The Middle
Olympia Opens Up To Madeline
Going up against Defense Counsel Veronica Cabrera (Natalie Ceballos) in a debate about free speech, Madeline winds up in court arguing their cease and desist motion in front of the honorable Judge Francesca Caggiano. When Matlock's ploy to get Judge Caggiano on her side fails, Madeline checks in with Olympia, who expresses frustration about having to reach out to Julian to move their case forward. Unsure of what's happening between her superiors, Madeline tells Olympia she doesn't want to be involved.
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Matlock Walks Back On Its Biggest Madeline Revenge Plan Breakthrough With A Heartbreaking Reveal
Kathy Bates’ character rounds a corner in her heartfelt revenge plan, but Matlock episode 7 walks back on it, compromising Madeline’s progress.
The moment causes Olympia to pause, realizing she needs to come clean to her Jacobson Moore ally. Olympia tells Madeline that Julian confessed to having an affair before they separated, which devastates the mother of two. Madeline tells Olympia that she understands and lends her support. Olympia is grateful to have Madeline to lean on as she navigates various legal matters that border her personal life, and opening up to Madeline bolsters their alliance, which Matlock episode 8 continues to strengthen.
6 Madeline Misses Alfie’s Mock Trial Over A Printing Mishap With Senior's Email Attachment
Alfie Tries Mock Trial To Distract From Bullies At School
The opening of Matlock episode 8 establishes that Alfie has a mock trial that day, and Madeline has taken off work to attend. Madeline says she made a doctor's appointment, which she explains later in the episode is how she learned to make excuses for showing up for Ellie when her daughter was growing up. However, a printing mishap causes Madeline to change course, tagging along with Olympia as she investigates at her children's school to intercept documents from the printer Olympia's assistant accidentally swiped.
With extensive research, Madeline honed in on Julian, Senior, or Olympia as the person who hid sensitive Wellbrexa documents within Jacobson Moore.
The mishap causes Madeline Matlock to feel tense, even after she slips into Senior's office and prints documents from his computer unscathed. Madeline prints an attachment she believes is the missing document someone at Jacobson Moore covered up. However, when she finally gets a hold of the printed attachment after ditching Alfie's mock trial to get access to Olympia's briefcase, Madeline learns the attachment is just a picture of Senior with a woman while he is on vacation, which means he has an alibi for the day the documents went missing.
5 Sarah’s Friend Kira Provides A Technical Assist With Olympia’s Case
Kira Wu's Technical Skills Add To The Team
In Matlock episode 8, Kira Wu (Piper Curda) applies her technical skills to assist Olympia's team. Kira is a new friend to Sarah (Leah Lewis), who she met after Madeline called in a favor from Jacobson Moore's IT person in episode 5. However, Sarah and Kira have a date in Matlock episode 7, and they end their holiday party outing with a kiss. Their proximity in the following installment has Kira helping out her friend, operating in a gray area to uncover the email address connected to the anonymous post about Nadira Freeman.
Sarah notes that Billy is a broken man in episode 8, scrutinizing her friend for listening to Adele.
It's been an eventful couple of episodes for YouTwo, as Sarah navigates an exciting new connection and Billy (David Del Rio) wanes in the fallout of his failed proposal. Billy proposed to his girlfriend after Madeline put some wind beneath his wings, but his long-time partner turned him down. Sarah notes that Billy is a broken man in episode 8, scrutinizing her friend for listening to Adele and encouraging him to keep it together to uphold his long-time earning potential. The harsh advice proves Sarah cares in her own way.
4 Julian Asks Madeline To Keep An Eye On Olympia As She Tackles Her Tricky Case
Julian Gives Madeline A Quid Pro Quo
As Madeline navigates the crosshairs of Julian and Olympia's relationship fallout, Ritter's character calls in a favor from Madeline Matlock. Julian catches Madeline on the stairs, keying her in, saying that he wants her help containing Olympia's case. Matty tries to blow the whole thing off, telling Julian he can't charm her to do him any favors. However, Julian uses his leverage with Wellbrexa to coerce the septuagenarian, implying she should smooth things out if they want to work together again.
Kathy Bates | Madeline Kingston |
Skye P. Marshall | Olympia Lawrence |
David Del Rio | Billy |
Leah Lewis | Sarah |
Jason Ritter | Julian Markston |
Beau Bridges | Senior |
Eme Ikwuakor | Elijah Walker |
Madeline calls Julian out for the Quid Pro Quo, but he is unbothered by her accusation. The moment continues to muddle Julian's moral compass in Matlock, as the lawyer has a mixture of good and bad moments to back up his reputation. Julian has caused Olympia a lot of pain due to conflict in their marriage, and we see Julian's uglier side when he tries to manipulate Matty. It's uncomfortable for Madeline since she's growing closer to Olympia, and Julian's request momentarily compromises their alliance.
3 Olympia Wins The Case Thanks To Madeline's Help
Olympia Breaks Her Case With The Hotel Boucher Matchbook
As usual, Olympia wins her weekly case with Madeline's help. Madeline helps Olympia uncover the Mullberry Prep school's visitor sign-in sheet, which puts Olympia's friend Lacy at the school the day the anonymous posting went up. Olympia knows the pictures were posted from a computer at her kids' school since she returned to argue a Jane Doe case for Nadira in front of Judge Caggiano. However, Olympia's break in the case comes when Lacy's son attends a play date with her kids.
You can stream Matlock season 1 on Paramount+.
When Olympia's nanny confiscates a matchbook from Lacy's son, Olympia digs into the hotel they came from. The hotel is near to where Tessa Winter's husband works, and Olympia's nanny alleges he was having an affair. The matchbook gives Olympia the lead she needs to encourage Lacy to come clean, and Lacy confesses that she made the post to Olympia, who gets the confession on camera. The case marks another win for Madeline and Olympia, whose team-up is becoming an iconic duo.
Madeline Cons Julian And Bugs His Office
Once the case is closed, Madeline enters Julian's office to address his Quid Pro Quo comments. She tells Julian that while she successfully kept Olympia's head calm throughout the day, it wasn't her intention, and she was acting to support her colleague. Madeline tells Julian that when she works with him on his next Wellbrexa case, Julian will have the same dedication and loyalty. Madeline successfully ducks Julian's request with the comment while continuing their work relationship.
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Matlock Needs To Justify Madeline's Secret Revenge Plan Because The Stakes Are Too High
The stakes are too high for Kathy Bates' character to continue her scheme in Matlock without further justifying Madeline Kingston's need for revenge.
However, Madeline's reconciliation in Julian's office also serves as a con. When Madeline begins to make her speech, she knocks a container of pens off his desk. As Julian cleans up Madeline's mess, she wedges a recording device disguised as a pen in the fold on Julian's couch. The microphone gives Madeline ears inside Julian's office, which the lawyer intends to use to nail down who hid the documents. However, Madeline catches a fight between Olympia and Julian when she, Alfie, and Edwin (Sam Anderson) tune in.
1 How Matlock Episode 8 Sets Up The Latter Half Of The Season
Matlock Season 1 Returns January 30, 2025
With key moments heading into the mid-season break, Matlock episode 8 sets up an exciting latter half of the season. When Matlock resumes, we can expect some answers about the couple's romance and co-parenting conflict since the episode ends with Olympia confronting Julian and demanding an explanation about who he slept with. The conflict will doubtlessly complicate Madeline's plan, as will her evolving relationships with her co-workers. Madeline continues deepening her connection to Olympia, making lying harder.
Matlock season 1, episode 1, "Pilot" | September 22, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 2, "Rome, in a Day" | October 17, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 3, "A Guy Named Greg" | October 24, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 4, "The Rabbit and the Hawk" | October 31, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 5, "Claws" | November 7, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 6, "Sixteen Steps" | November 14, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 7, "Belly of the Beast" | December 5, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 8, "No, No Monsters" | December 12, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 9, "Friends" | January 30, 2024 |
Matlock season 1, episode 10, "Crash Helmets On" | February 6, 2025 |
The most considerable development when Matlock returns is Madeline finally getting answers about who hid the documents at Jacobson Moore. In an interview with Collider about her hit TV series, Jennie Snyder Urman confirmed that viewers will figure out precisely what happened this season. Thus, Matlock season 1 will solve Madeline's mystery and give its audience long-awaited answers upon its return. We can expect Madeline to continue progressing in her case, with tensions rising as she hones in on her target.
Source: Collider
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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.
Release Date September 22, 2024
Character(s) Madeline Matlock , Julián , Olympia , Billy , Sarah , Alfie Kingston , Elijah Walker , Senior Partner , Kathryn Lawrence-Markston , Courtney (Court) Lawrence-Markston
Seasons 1
Writers Jennie Snyder Urman
Directors Kat Coiro
English (US) ·