Reviewer Rating: 5/5.0
5
It’s safe to say that the only characters in Matlock who get to enjoy their holidays are Sarah and Shae. Then again, that last moment at the end of the episode had a smile on Marty’s face.
As far as holiday episodes go, In the Belly of the Beast hits every note. Many shows choose themes of pure happiness or tragedy, but this one chooses both.
I have to imagine so many Matlock viewers were dehydrated from Kathy Bates making them cry, but she was so damn good. Kathy is bringing HBO-caliber acting to broadcast.
However, despite the excellence of the cast, the role hit a much-anticipated fork in the road. The lines between Madeleine Matlock and Madeleine Kingston begin to blur.
Madeleine Kingston is slowly but surely learning what it means to be Matlock
Ever since the first season of Matlock premiered, I’ve asked questions about one particular episode of Matlock: How will Marty maintain her good nature while trying to destroy an elite law firm?
We always knew she had to change her morals a little bit in order to do what needed to be done. However, Matlock Season 1 Episode 7 shows that the damage is not a decision but cumulative.
Little by little, each case robs Marty of a piece of his heart. This is most evident in “The Sixteen Steps,” when Marty sees that seeking justice for her client’s deceased child does nothing to ease the mother’s pain.
When the bracelet Marty’s daughter made for her breaks while pretending to have a conversation with the pharmaceutical brothers, it’s like hearing a heartbreak.
Then another character steps on the beads and the crunch sounds like a knife. Could it be that the levee has burst? Was that the moment Marty had to make an internal decision about moving forward?
At the end of the episode, we see her cracking Senior’s email as planned. So, if she did make a decision, it would be to complete her plan.
To be fair, this is not a great case for either party to the lawsuit.
It’s hard to say who the bad guys in this case are.
This is a hard case to choose a side on. For one thing, they tainted Jesse in that one drug trial. However, unlike Matlock Season 1 Episode 4, the victims are not so easy to root for.
In “The Rabbit and the Eagle,” a client wants justice for his late wife and improved conditions in the building he lives in for all residents.
While Jacobson-Moore also exploited another last-minute hole, it wasn’t a mean one this time. If anything, I would say Jesse and her attorney are despicable people.
Hear me out; I completely agree that Jesse deserves justice for her life going off the rails, but that doesn’t justify sending all her followers after Jacobson Moore.
How can adversarial law firms bring real justice? Do they really think bullying elite law firms will do them any good? I’m all for seeking change in the justice system, but smarter.
Poor Jesse would be lucky to get $10,000 from Wellbrexa. As I said, this is not a very good case. Honestly, the only one who came out clean at the end was Julian. Well, about this case, it’s pretty clean.
“Remove the rot”
Of course, Julian (Jason Ritter) wants things to be done by the book when it comes to the case. Now, when it comes to his marriage, it leaves something to be desired.
So, what is the statute of limitations for extramarital affairs? After the incident, Julian and Olympia broke up, although Olympia was unaware of the incident. Is this something that should bother her?
Technically, Julian doesn’t have to confess. Although he was motivated to do this in order to differentiate his own traits from those of his father, Julian still wanted to restart Olympia’s career in the right way.
The two got back together after reconnecting so many times. Nothing is over until everything starts again. Additionally, Julian has taken the brownstone off the market.
Seriously, what do you think? Should Olympia let something like this go? This happened before they separated and Julian was apparently no longer with the woman.
What constitutes an affair? Is this a one time thing? Purely physical? Or, more likely, did Julian find comfort in the arms of another woman?
There’s a lot to unpack about this situation, but I’m praying these two crazy kids can work it out.
Has anyone noticed that Olympia (played by Skye P. Marshall) has become friendlier since she sorted things out with Julian? Jacobson Moore needs as much positivity as possible going forward.
Julian and Olympia aren’t the only couple who have seen better days. If you’re like this TV fanatic, you haven’t gotten over Billy’s devastating split from Claudia.
The happiest, saddest, happiest, loneliest time of the year
Move over Casey Bates because David Del Rio is bringing talent with his amazing skills. Granted, it’s a heartbreaking scene, but the actors absolutely kill it.
And don’t think we’re already crying about it. You know Marty will bring a bucket of wisdom and comfort to the most lovable person in Jacobson Moore.
I don’t know about you, but I’m sure Claudia will say yes. That’s ugly. However, the breakup leaves some room for possible changes in Billy’s character.
Don’t get me wrong, I love how sweet and genuine Billy is, but I wouldn’t be mad if he suddenly had a little edge on him. Hopefully no character will suggest he “go back there”.
That said, it’s not all sadness in “Belly of the Beast.” Over the holidays, Sarah and Kira shared their first kiss under the stars. In retrospect, it helps balance out the heavy moments of the episode.
Best of all, Shae returns in all her glory. I’ve said since Matlock Season 1 Episode 3 that Shae is a crazy old guy, but in a funny way, I was right.
A tough-as-nails, brilliant jury consultant who loves a cappella enough to blackmail people into attending? This woman is my spirit animal besides her singing.
CBS’s Matlock is expected to take a break after the next episode, so start bracing yourself. The next installment will likely get viewers into the New Year spirit.
There will be tears, laughter, and maybe even revenge. Now that Marty shows up in Senior’s email, she’s probably ready to deck the halls with a slew of subpoenas.
What do you think of Julian’s confession to Olympia?
Do you think Billy will change after losing Claudia?
Let me know in the comments below, and join me again as I review another episode of Matlock!
Be aware of Matlock spoilers released ahead of each new episode.
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