Matlock’s backstory about Ellie’s death is my favorite part of the series.
It’s tragic, raw, and real, and because I also lost someone to addiction, I understand why Matty hasn’t been able to let go of her need to get justice and vengeance all these years later.
Matlock Season 2 Episode 4 had a strong case and lots of movement in Matty and Olympia’s uncomfortable alliance, but the flashbacks to Ellie’s attempt at sobriety while pregnant are what made this one stand out.
Matty Wanted To Protect Alfie From Learning the Hard Lessons She Did
The flashbacks weren’t triggered by the case as much as they were by Alfie’s youthful insistence that his dad being in rehab meant that drug use was behind him.
Ellie had claimed that being pregnant with Alfie gave her a reason to stay sober, just like Joey was telling Alfie now.
The masterful thing about these flashbacks wasn’t so much that it demonstrated the hold Ellie’s addiction and death will have on Matty forever — we knew that already — but that it illustrated ways addiction is destructive that aren’t talked about as much.
Addiction can breed distrust and fear of relapse, both for the addicted person and the people who love them.
Most TV shows gloss over that, instead focusing on the lies someone tells to keep their addiction secret or the way temptation sneaks up on them.
But addiction is so much more complicated than that, and Matlock Season 2 Episode 4 did a great job of demonstrating what really gets lost when someone develops a substance abuse problem.
Lack of Trust Destroyed Matty’s Relationship With Ellie Before Ellie Died
Ellie took her sobriety seriously while she was pregnant and put forth a strong effort to stay away from drugs and alcohol for the baby’s sake, but it wasn’t enough.
Matty and Edwin had spent nine years worrying constantly about what their daughter would do and whether they would get a call that she was in jail or dead, and that was impossible to let go of.
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Matty fell into a trap that many family members fall into: she tried to control Ellie’s potential relapse by micromanaging her.
Of course, she couldn’t control her daughter’s behavior, and Ellie might have felt that she might as well use because her mother expected it of her anyway.
Matty can’t ask Ellie why she returned to drug use, so she has to live with unanswered questions, and one of them is whether she pushed her back toward drugs by being so hard on her while she was committed to sobriety.
That adds to the tragedy of Ellie’s death, and it also reinforces what I’ve always thought about Matty’s mission.
Although she says she wants justice, and I’m sure that’s part of why she’s willing to go to such extreme lengths to get Jacobson Moore for hiding the Wellbrexa documents, I have always believed that what she really wants is redemption.
For a person with a drug problem, every slip is risky. You never know when you’ll get a bad batch of drugs or simply take too much, ending your life prematurely.
And when it happens, the people left behind are left with a ton of guilt, even though the reality is that they couldn’t have done anything to stop the person from using.
The morning of my friend’s death, he told me that he had gotten some money unexpectedly, and I almost told him not to spend it on drugs. I decided not to because I knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything, but that didn’t stop me from wondering if I could have saved his life when he overdosed that night.
Matty feels something similar. If only she hadn’t accused Ellie of using, maybe three weeks later, Ellie wouldn’t have started again.
No matter how much we understand intellectually that the person addicted to drugs is responsible for their own choices and that we can’t control what they do, there are always those “What ifs” lingering in the back of the mind, even years after an arrest or overdose.
So for Matty, if she succeeds in proving that Jacobson Moore hid information that could have saved Ellie’s life, she can forgive herself for not preventing her daughter’s death, or so she thinks.
I watch Matlock because I identify with Matty’s pain. Why do you watch?
Let me know in the comments, and share this article with your friends so they can join the conversation.
I doubt it would really make her feel any better. Ellie is still dead, no matter what.
But trying to get justice feels like doing something to help Ellie, even if it’s far too late, and stops Matty from feeling helpless or overwhelmed with guilt.
Olympia Wasn’t Wrong When She Suggested Matty Seek Therapy
Trauma-informed care helps.
Drug addiction changes your life even if you’re not the one who uses, and it’s hard to move forward without processing the person’s death and all the things they did while they were alive that traumatized you.
Matty wasn’t interested, which I hope will change, but either way, I’m glad that her friendship with Olympia is getting back on track.
The women claim they have no trust left (a situation that eerily mirrors Matty’s problem with Ellie toward the end of Ellie’s life), but they also laughed together about Debra’s comments, gave each other advice, and acted like friends again.
Hopefully, they’re on their way toward reconciliation, even if Julian’s latest discovery complicates everything.
Olympia and Matty couldn’t keep their real mission secret forever. That much was a given in an office where everyone is paranoid.
So now, Olympia has a choice to make, and deciding not to throw Matty under the bus will go a long way toward redeeming her.
The Case Was Slightly Confusing, But I Appreciated The Emphasis on Not Erasing Gloria’s Voice
Gloria was suing for wrongful death on her late husband’s behalf, but I felt like the trial strategy kept changing, and it was hard for me to keep up with what they were doing.
I especially didn’t understand why proving Frank could lift 50 pounds despite the boss’ claim otherwise bolstered the wrongful death case.
If you were less confused than I, please enlighten me in the comments! This plot point stopped the episode from being a perfect 5.
Despite this flaw in the story, it was enjoyable. I especially liked that Matty and Olympia didn’t want to erase Gloria’s voice, and in the end, it was Frank’s own words that made the case for them.
I’m all about uplifting others’ voices and insisting they be taken seriously, so the reasons Matty and Olympia took the case resonated with me, even if their legal strategy didn’t make total sense.
Speaking of listening to everyone’s voice, I’d love it if you shared your thoughts about this episode in the comments.
Without you, I’d just be talking to myself about Matlock Season 2 Episode 4, and that wouldn’t be any fun at all.
So go for it. Tell me what’s on your mind about this episode, and share the review with your friends so they can join the conversation.
Vote in our poll below to rank the episode.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our coverage of Elsbeth and Watson. These are CBS’ other flagship mystery series, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on them.
Matlock airs on CBS on Thursdays at 9/8c and streams on Paramount+ on Fridays.
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