Matlock - The Before Times / Another Matlock

While last season's finale teased for a moment that Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) and Matty (Kathy Bates) would be on the same page, the late twist of Julian's (Jason Ritter) involvement in the Wellbrexa cover-up left Olympia with no good options. The first two episodes of Season Two have both Matty and Olympia attempting to protect their friendship while also maneuvering behind each other's backs as Matty pushes to reveal the evidence to the New York Times and Olympia keeps stalling trying to get Matty to go after Senior (Beau Bridges) who they both know was the one behind what happened.

Much of the first two episodes are also spent on the other twist in the arrival of Alfie's father (Niko Nicotera) whose identity will be confirmed (although his sobriety will not be). I thought the show might turn to Olympia using Joe as leverage to stop Matty, which would likely be unforgivable and not allow the pair to even consider a friendship moving forward. Instead, a simple recording provides Olympia with the means to keep Matty at bay suggesting her plan, and further investigation into Senior, will be much of the focus of the season.

As for the cases of the week, one involving a mobster's girlfriend and the other involving a student charged with arson, neither are all that memorable (or have much in the way of Matlock shenanigans), however the judge for one of the cases being a Matlock fan does provide a couple of fun moments. David Del Rio gets his own subplot of the two episodes concerning his impending fatherhood, although his impromptu firing from the show (folllowing sexual assault claims) suggests the writers may have their work cut out for them to explain the character's sudden disappearance from the show following the episodes already shot prior to his departure.

• Title: Matlock - The Before Times / Another Matlock
• IMDb: link