The Rabbit And The Hawk – As the episode opens, Madeline “Matty” Matlock/Madeline Kingston (Kathy Bates) and Edwin Kingston (Sam Anderson) find Alfie Kingston (Aaron D. Harris) missing and not answering his phone. Relieved, Matty announces he is asleep in her office and recalls Ellie going missing on multiple occasions. Once awake, Alfie shows her four redacted documents from the Wellbrexa Pharma case file. While Alfie is getting dressed for school, Edwin voices concern about how he is consumed by the case. Matty assures him that Alfie only wants to find the person responsible for his mother’s death and promises to involve him less. She tries to prove to Alfie that she is tech-savvy but fails miserably. At Jacobson Moore, Matty becomes suspicious of Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) when she approaches her with small talk. As Olympia starts to explain what she wants, Sarah (Leah Lewis) interrupts and tells her about Sandy Walton hiring the firm to represent her before she died of Legionella. Olympia says Sandy’s husband, Robert Walton (John Billingsley) is overly anxious and she would like Matty to comfort him. Matty agrees and goes into a spill about her doctor insisting she spends less time on the computer because of her presbyopia. Receiving an urgent meeting request from Elijah (Eme Ikwuakor), Olympia quickly authorizes Matty’s access to the documents room. Sarah asks Matty how to make Olympia like her. Matty suggests finding ways to balance her tension.

En route to Senior’s (Beau Bridges) office, Elijah warns Olympia that she must drop the Walton case. Senior informs her of their client, Foundate Financials, acquiring the building that Robert Walton resides in. It would be a conflict of interest for Olympia to represent Robert. Olympia argues that Sandy died because the building was neglected. Julian (Jason Ritter) says it would send the wrong message to their smaller clients. In the hallway, Sarah, Matty, and Billy (David Del Rio) eavesdrop on the meeting. Matty recommends a firewall that would allow the firm to represent both clients. Seconds later, Olympia pitches the idea to Senior. With Matty gone, Sarah refutes her tension balance. Billy claims to balance his work, family, and girlfriend. She had no idea he was dating. He accuses her of never listening to anyone. Riku (Abhinav Gopisetty) informs Matty that the documents room is accessible by appointment only. She tries to convince him to bypass the regulation but he refuses. She blurts out that Olympia outranks Mrs. Belvin (Patricia Belcher) and turns to find herself face-to-face with Mrs. B who disagrees. Matty sends the text request. When Mrs. B receives it, she says someone canceled but Matty must wait 20 minutes. With Foundate accepting the firewall, Olympia decides to pay Robert a visit. Matty is forced to cancel her meeting with Mrs. B. Later, Olympia learns that someone from the firm tried to proposition Robert to settle the case for $100k. She assures him that it will be all right because they are working on a firewall that would allow the firm to represent both parties. Matty works her magic and Robert agrees to retain Olympia as his attorney.

Elijah admits to offering Robert a $100k-settlement. When she tries to argue her position, he gets short with her and walks away. She thanks Julian for having her back earlier. He warns her that Senior will stab her in the back, regardless of how much he loves her. Matty asks how to get on Mrs. B’s good side. Sarah says she doesn’t have one but Billy disagrees. Insisting his girlfriend and sister look alike, she snatches up his family photo and asks for Robert’s opinion. With Billy’s tip in mind, Matty makes her way to the records department. Mrs. B says she will have to wait until next week. When Matty mentions her dog, Mrs. B escorts her to the documents room. While Mrs. B deals with a stack of old files, Matty locates the Wellbrexa case files to find some are missing. She calls Alfie at school to ask for his help in locating the documents when she receives an urgent text from Olympia. Matty assures her that Robert is prepared for the mediation. Olympia asks Matty to keep an eye on Elijah because she needs to know if he acting work or personally weird. As the mediation begins, Senior boasts they will win. Olympia presents her evidence to the mediator, Karl Burton (Martin Garcia). Elijah presents evidence that reveals the apartment building’s air vents had a dangerous amount of resin toxins, ruling out legionella attributed to Sandy’s respiratory failure. Robert admits his art utilizes resin and questions if they believe he is responsible for Sandy’s death.

Mediation continues. Olympia tells Senior and Elijah that Robert claims to have proof that his art resins are safe. Elijah sets a four-hour deadline for her to provide proof. Later, Robert searches for the document while Matty reads a text from Alfie saying the file contains 324 pages. Robert explains how he came up with rabbit art 20 years ago. At the firm, Olympia accuses Elijah of taking it out on Robert for what happened between them. He denies the accusation. Elsewhere, Matty and Robert discover mold in his apartment. Cora (Chrisanne Eastwood) confirms it is black mold and the cause is banned water pipes. Olympia suggests all the other 72 buildings in the trust are in the same condition. Later, Olympia tells Senior that black mold was detected in Sandy’s bloodstream. He promises to have a more reasonable offer by tomorrow morning.

Edwin confronts Matty about contacting Alfie at school. Alfie left school early with a headache. She promises to not involve Alfie any further. The next morning, Matty barely speaks to Edwin before leaving for work. She plays their argument over and over in her mind. Inhaling fresh-cut onions, Matty puts on a front for Mrs. B. She claims her dog, Cookie died. Olympia approaches and asks if she is okay. Mrs. B tells her about Cookie and is surprised Olympia doesn’t know about Cookie. Matty reminds her that she said they were colleagues, not friends. Olympia apologizes. Mrs. B asks her to give her “dear friend,” Matty some space to grieve. Matty pretends to weep. A short time later, Karl tells Robert that Foundate is offering Robert $6m to settle the case. Anyone afflicted by the black mold will receive $300k for treatment. Robert accepts the offer. Olympia orders her team to reach out to the occupants. Matty is copying the Wellbrexa files when Henry (Matthew Gilmore) requests copies for Foundate’s new corporate filing with Judge Cellidon. A short time later, she, Billy, and Sarah learn that Foundate pulled a Texas two-step. Robert’s settlement offer is worthless. Robert feels he let Sandy down. He gives Matty a rabbit from his art collection and invites her out to dinner which she declines.

Olympia accuses Elijah of gas-lighting her because she broke off their affair. Matty distracts Julian to give them time to talk. Elijah tells Olympia that he is finding it hard to not be with her and has decided to start working out of the Dallas office. Matty enters after Elijah leaves. Olympia complains about Jacobson Moore not doing right by Robert and Sandy. She apologizes for not knowing about Cookie. Matty suggests they be allies in the Viper’s nest and promises she can trust her. Billy and Sarah have it out in the elevator. She claims to refer to him as a friend to her therapist when they encounter Claudia (Bella Ortiz). Julian and Olympia play golf with Senior’s trophies. Matty congratulates Senior and reminds him that she is interested in corporate law. While he isn’t looking, she snaps a photo of his signature. Upon returning home, Matty finds an apologetic Edwin waiting for her. She admits it is harder than she anticipated before telling him about Robert. He assures her that they will make them pay. She shows him the unknown signature on the Wellbrexa files. She compared it to Senior’s signature and got a match.

 

Matlock Review

Edwin grows concerned about the amount of time Alfie is investing in the Wellbrexa case and his lying to get out of school. Matty promises to use him less often but quickly learns she can’t manage on her own. She contacts him at school to find out how many documents are in the original Wellbrexa case file. Edwin is irate when he finds out. They have a spat and she promises to remove Alfie completely. Edwin soon realizes he is wrong and promises to be more involved from here on out.

Matty weasels her way around Mrs. B who is a big softie for dogs. She compares the signature of the person who signed the file out of the documents room Senior and it is a match.

After Olympia breaks off her affair, Elijah partners with Senior in a wrongful death suit. He makes things difficult for her at every turn. She wins the case but Senior goes behind her back and splits the company to protect its assets. Elijah apologizes and decides to work out of the Dallas office.

 

The story nudges forward but makes little progress. While I’m not keen on side stories, Sandy’s wrongful death case was worthy. It was well done and showed Matty and Olympia’s soft sides. The episode deserves a 5.7 out of 10.

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