It's a new era in Matlock season 2, but just for one reason. In last week's episode, Matty and Olympia jumped through hoops as Julian threatened to tear down their whole operation when Senior wakes up from his coma. But in an effort to cool him down and keep their side of the street clean, they offer him collateral, which leads to Matty revealing her entire truth to Julian.
Now that he knows everything — her true identity, her motivation for bringing down his dad for the Wellbrexa case, her behind-the-scenes moves so far — she and Olympia are working out a fresh dynamic with Julian. Can they really trust him? Is he really on their side now? That's the question to ask going into Matlock season 2 episode 10, titled "The Greater Good."
As he joins Matty on a surveillance mission pertaining to the Wellbrexa case, the series also starts a new era for Olympia's team at the firm. Henry Haber joins the cast as Hunter Langley, a new recurring character and a member of the firm's floater pool who steps in to assist with a case. This week's episode also welcomes back Yael Grobglas as Shae Banfield.
Wondering what will happen next in Matlock season 2 episode 10? Let's dive into the episode with a recap! Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Matlock explains Billy's departure and Hunter takes his place
Picking up right where we left off, Matty continues to explain the truth about Ellie and the Wellbrexa study to Julian. Olympia surprises Julian by walking in and backing up Matty. The tables have turned and they have Julian's back against the wall, asking him about who helped his dad scrub the study. Julian's willing to help, and Matty will move forward so long as he apologizes to her family. He's not immediately open to giving her grace, but Olympia promises to cool him down.
Before heading to the office the next morning, Matty and Julian are separately venting their frustrations about each other. News arrives before heading into the office: Billy accepts the severance package, and he won't be returning to the team. Sarah's understanding of his decision, but his departure opens the door for Hunter to come on board. He's very tall and smiley and got everyone coffee. Sarah runs to Julian to gossip about how bro-y Hunter is and how he'll drive Olympia crazy.
However, as happy-go-lucky as he might seem, he knows his stuff and is dedicated to case. Matty and Olympia actually seem charmed by him. Shae drops by to assist as a jury consultant, and she's really the one they're not thrilled to work with. But she's straightforward and helps give tips to their client, who they're trying to clear as responsible for involuntary manslaughter. After their first day in court, the jury's siding with the prosecution, but Shae's certain their witness was lying.
Matty and Julian partner up, but still work on trust
Matty and Olympia work with Hunter on the case, and while he has his quirks, he's once again proving himself as a key member of the team. He and Matty meet with the witness Hunter managed to wrangle up, and his charms are on fire but he also knows when to get serious and ask tough questions. During the meeting, they learn that the deceased's sister had a prescription containing aspirin, which was in the drug that killed him. More good news: Julian got the names.
Keith and Dixie Carlson were with Senior, and Julian has dug up more information on them. He and Matty initially fight over who will make contact with them before Matty suggests going together. Partnering up together is a big test of their trust in each other, though the bicker the entire way into the addicts' meeting. But when they enter the room, Dixie Carlson walks up to Julian, claiming to recognize him and know why he's attending. But does she really?
Well, she does recognize him as a lawyer from Jacobson-Moore and assumes her ex-husband sent him to spy on her. But Julian quickly launches into a fake story about his addictions and how he wasn't involved with her husband's case. When they leave the meeting, Matty's cold. She asks where he got the story, and he says it was inspired by an old friend with a cocaine addiction. Matty vents to Edwin about how frustrating it is that Julian understands addiction but won't take accountability.
The toxicology report comes back and points to wintergreen oil, which makes the team realize that Louise, who used the ingredient in a homemade balm on Ray, just might have actually been responsible for Ray's death after all. But the team has their defense: That she would have no idea the balm would react negatively with a patient on blood thinners. They coach Louise on not expressing remorse until after the trial concludes. She shows the right amount of emotion on the stand.
Olympia wins the case, and Julian and Matty discover Milton
Meanwhile, Sarah and Hunter are still getting used to each other sharing an office, and Matty attends another meeting to speak with Dixie. They have coffee together, and Matty presses for information. Julian's worried that Matty's cutting him out, and Shae comes to him with her own concerns of being cut out at the firm. (Personally, she should join the team and cast full-time!) After their kids stress about death, Olympia pleads to Julian to show some shred of guilt or remorse for Matty.
He agrees to apologize, not because he feels like he wants to but because he feels like he should. When he arrives at Matty's house, Alfie answers the door and greets Julian with contempt, which impacts him enough to make him breakdown in tears. Matty sits with him at the bottom of the stairs, but she doesn't comfort him as he cries. But when he apologizes, it at least sounds sincere now. She doesn't respond yet.
The jury finds Louise not guilty for Ray's death, and it's a big win. Olympia and Matty ask Hunter to continue on with the team for their next case, and they don't even get the ick when he walks them through a handshake. But Sarah feels left out and jealous, being replaced by Hunter and losing Billy, among other things stacking up in her life. Julian offers to listen and get to know her. He then talks with Shae before meeting with Matty and Olympia.
But Matty caught onto him when he was crying and ignored a call from Shae. She caught onto the fact that they used to have a sexual relationship and if he can use that to their advantage. Matty used a similar tactic with Dixie to get the name Milton. When Julian arrives, he reveals what he learned about Shae while working at Wellbrexa, which is "LV109." They realize that Milton isn't a person, but a place in Massachusetts and leads them to their next lead on a whistleblower.
Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS, also streaming on Paramount+.