After keeping us wondering what would happen next for two weeks, Matlock finally returns with new episodes to dive into the aftermath of Shae's arrest. In the previous episode, Shae took desperate measure to ensure that she wouldn't be fired, and that entailed bribing the jury. She ended up being taken out of the firm in handcuffs and putting the team in a sticky situation.
Matlock season 2 episode 12, which is titled "The Cavalry Isn't Coming," finds Matty stepping up to the plate to represent Shae during her trial. It's going to be a tough one to defend one of their own, especially if Shae's guilty of the bribery she's been accused of using against the jury. There's no doubt that the team will have to rally on one of their toughest cases to date.
While Shae's arrest and trial becomes the focus for the team, we can't forget that Matty, Olympia, and Julian discovered that they were getting closer to uncovering another whistleblower in the Wellbrexa case. Olympia and Julian work to find the scientist who could be the key to bringing justice once and for all. But as always, it's never quite as easy as they think it's going to be.
Shae denies bribing the jury and claims she was framed
The episode begins with Shae behind bars in her holding cell complaining about her arrest to Olympia, who's trying to keep her calm from the other side of the bars. Shae denies any wrongdoing, and she's devastated that she will be held overnight. Ironically, Matty couldn't be more excited to celebrate her 50th anniversary with Edwin. They make plans to ring in the sentimental occasion.
Unfortunately, they can't find the Wellbrexa scientist Priva Kapoor online, but Alfie works his magic, finds her husband, and tracks down the person who was scrubbed from the internet. Back at the office, The Wolf drops by the office (James Lesure) to speak with Olympia about Shae's trial as Matty approaches Julian about joining her to Massachusetts to speak with Priva. They're set for a road trip.
During Shae's arraignment, Olympia moves to dismiss the charges against Shae, but the opposing counsel has a witness that will make Shae look bad. She claims to have never met him, but in a video presented in court, she's seen eating dinner at a bar when the man sits with her before following her to the bathroom and leaving with looks an awful lot like a payout to bribe the jury. Uh oh!
Matty sacrifices her 50th anniversary plans with Edwin
Shae's positive that she's being framed, but Hunter openly wonders why a private investigator would lie in court. She knows that because she frequents the restaurant, it's easy to set her up. Now the team needs to find a connection between the private investigator and the contractor in the case, who would benefit from the trial being tossed. After the meeting, Hunter still tries to win over Sarah.
Gwen's also a factor in the mess of Shae's trial, considering that an employee of the firm being on trial doesn't look good for the merger. Another blow? An associate can't take on this case. Olympia asks Matty to represent Shae, and she will take Matty's place tracking down Priva with Julian. When Matty breaks the news to Edwin that their anniversary plans will be postponed, he's very heartbroken.
Before leaving for work in the morning as Edwin still sleeps, she leaves him a romantic letter to find when he wakes up. Obviously, he's charme when he reads it over breakfast. Matty meets with Shae, who has toned down her usual look with Earth tones and minimal makeup. In court, Matty keeps Shae in line as a client, not a jury consultant, which is hard as the private investigator lies on stand.
Julian and Olympia learn that Priva has died
When Matty questions him, he claims they met three times, once being on his boat. She connects a story of Lasorta getting his license revoked after setting up a client's husband for doing something that he wasn't actually doing. Well, that tells us that he's willing to get a little messy to help someone set another person up and definitely makes Shae's case look all the better.
On the road, Julian learns via Olympia's texts being read out loud that she's dating Remy Hodges. Oddly, it's not awkward and he's even helping her with flirting. When they arrive at Priva's house, they learn that because of her research, she's dead. Hunter and Sarah speak with the contractor, and Hunter seems to have a suspicion about the woman who brings in a cup of coffee.
Olympia and Julian try to convince Priva's husband into opening his door and speak to them about Priva. However, his new wife comes outside to give them some information. Priva was getting calls and was driven off the road. Olympia and Julian receives Priva's research journals, which look especially incriminating for Senior. They just have to prove that Senior's who Priva wrote about.
New evidence makes Shae look bad on the stand
Julian worries that a car had been following them. His paranoia was working overtime after hearing about what happened to Priva, but when he turns, the car doesn't follow them. Back at the firm, Hunter made another discovery about the construction job's rec center job, learning that they are in financial danger. Sarah finally realizes that she can't keep pushing Hunter away.
Shae yells at Matty about eating lunch when she should be working, but Matty doesn't allow her to walking all over her. She stands up for herself and yells right back about what she's given up to work on her case. Shae apologizes it and really means it. She also opens up to Matty about the three times that she's had her heart broken and her fear about what could happen to her.
Court's back in session and Shae's on the stand this time. The other lawyer present evidence that her phone was pinging in locations opposite her usual routine, which reveals that she met with Lasorta. She denies that she took this route, certain that she's being set up even further. Shae knows that the jury doesn't believe her and wonders if she can get a plea deal, but Matty insists they can win.
Matty proves Shae's innocence and gets her charges dropped
Shae asks Matty why she's fighting so hard for her, and Matty admits that she sees a bit of herself in her. Shae admits that Matty's a really good person. Clearly, she hasn't been able to see through Matty's facade or she wouldn't be thinking this. Sarah apologizes to Hunter about pushing him away and being jealous of his closeness with Matty and Olympia and his privilege as a white man.
The Wolf asks Matty to withdraw from the case as the firm seeks to separate itself from Shae. It's not a circumstance that Matty can convince the firm to walk back on. It's happening whether she likes it or not. In Edwin's response letter, he admits that he felt hurt when he woke up alone and even after he read her letter. He went out with his friends instead of waiting for Matty.
Before the withdrawal announcement, Olympia and Matty make a last-minute discovery, which leads Matty to go rogue in court. She withdraws the withdrawal and calls her next witness to the stand. It's electric watching her connect the dots against the man who inspect various buildings and sites. Matty gets Shae's charges drop as she proves her innocence. Matty also smooths things over with Edwin.
Before the episode ends, Olympia meets Remy's cousin Langston and sparks fly. The next morning, Matty faces off against The Wolf. She got away with it this time, but what he said about warnings reminds Olympia of something she read in Priva's journals. They now discover that The Wolf was the one who visited Priva with threats. All they have to do is get The Wolf to turn on Senior. Easy!
Matlock airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS, also streaming on Paramount+ next day.