Matlock Season 2 Release Date Announced: Kathy Bates Returns With More Cases

Last Updated on August 6, 2026

The beloved courtroom drama Matlock, a staple of 1980s television, returned last year with a fresh face and a new twist.

This time around, Madeline “Matty” Matlock, played by Kathy Bates, and now in her 70s, jumped back into the law game, but she was hiding a big secret!.

For fans of cozy crime series, this reboot was a significant event, merging nostalgia with the excitement of seeing a celebrated actor take on a classic role.

The first episode aired on CBS on September 22nd, 2024, and with 19 in total, we were treated weekly to the wily Mrs M and her clever mind as she unravelled case after case.

Season 2 Renewal and Release Date

CBS wasted no time renewing Matlock for a second season. After just two episodes had aired, the network gave it the green light, a testament to its instant popularity.

And now we have a release date!! Season 2 will premiere on Sunday, October 12th, 2025, but this is not a permanent schedule change.

The series will revert to its regular Thursday night slot starting with episode 2 on October 16, 2025.

Expect all your favorites to return, including Kathy Bates, who is hoping the show will run for five more years!

Olympia, Julian, Senior, Billy, Sarah, Edwin, and Alfie will also be returning, along with Niko Nicotera as Alfie’s mysterious “father”.

We’re also getting a new arrival with Justina Machado playing Eva, a formidable attorney and the fourth ex-wife of managing partner Senior Markston, influencing firm politics and bringing new intrigue!

Matlock Season 2 promises to shake things up. Now that Matty’s secret is out, her dynamic with Olympia will be front and center.

The two are united in wanting to bring down the real villains at Jacobson Moore, but their motivations and methods couldn’t be more different.

Olympia’s promotion gives her new power, but also new conflicts, especially as she considers going after Senior (Beau Bridges), the firm’s head and her ex-father-in-law.

Julian’s role is set to expand, with questions swirling about whether he’ll help Matty and Olympia or protect his own interests.

Meanwhile, the mystery of Alfie’s paternity, introduced in the finale’s final seconds, will add another layer of intrigue (and possibly more family drama than a Thanksgiving dinner gone wrong).

While the overarching plot will focus on the fallout from the Wellbrexa case and the power struggle at Jacobson Moore, we expect the show to keep its “case of the week” format.

That means more clever legal battles, more guest stars, and more opportunities for Matty to outwit her adversaries with a smile and a well-timed quip.

A Fresh Take with Kathy Bates

The decision to reboot Matlock with Kathy Bates in the lead role was both bold and exciting. After all, how many 77-year-old women do you see leading prime-time TV shows?

But the show was always in good hands with Bates, an accomplished actress with a decades-long career, who brought a different kind of gravitas to the character.

Known for her roles in Misery, for which she won an Academy Award, and more recently in the hit series American Horror Story, Bates is no stranger to complex and compelling characters.

She was also nominated for an Emmy Award as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Matty, making history as the oldest nominee ever in the category at age 77.

Sadly, she didn’t win (Britt Lower did for Severance), but her powerful performance and award nod solidify her legacy as one of television’s most decorated actors, now with 15 career Emmy nominations and two previous wins.

She walked the red carpet with confidence, looking fabulous, and is an inspiration to us all.

A Smash Hit Out of the Gate

Matlock’s premiere was a ratings juggernaut, pulling in 7.73 million viewers, making it CBS’s most-watched non-Super Bowl premiere in over five years.

The show didn’t just ride on nostalgia; it scored a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating and quickly became the most-watched new series of the season.

Viewership by the Numbers

• Average episodic viewership: 17 million (across CBS and Paramount+ in Live+35 ratings).
• Season finale: 5.6 million live viewers, topping the night’s primetime broadcasts.
• Broadcast-only average: 9.67 million viewers (Live+7).
• 53% improvement in its time slot compared to the previous year’s show

I love the reboot’s smart writing, Kathy Bates’ magnetic performance, and the way the show tackles themes like justice, power, and ageism.

The gender-flipped lead and the serialized revenge plot give the classic procedural formula a much-needed jolt and I’m here for it!

First Season Summary

If you haven’t already watched Matlock, or weren’t sure if you would like it, here’s everything you need to know about the first season.

Forget everything you remember about Andy Griffith’s Ben Matlock. Here, Kathy Bates steps into the role of Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a septuagenarian legal eagle with a folksy charm and a secret agenda.

She’s not just back in the courtroom for the thrill of the chase; she’s out for justice after losing her daughter, Ellie, to an opioid overdose.

The twist? Matty isn’t some down-on-her-luck widow as she claims. She’s actually Madeline Kingston, a wealthy, happily married woman on a mission to infiltrate the high-powered law firm of Jacobson Moore, which she suspects helped bury evidence that could have saved her daughter’s life.

Matty’s entry into the firm is pure TV magic. She spins a tale of woe at a coffee shop, eavesdrops on a cocky lawyer, and uses what she learns to snag a junior associate position at Jacobson Moore.

It’s a stretch, sure, but Bates’ performance and the show’s witty writing make it work.

From episode one, viewers are in on Matty’s real identity and her undercover mission. She’s not just solving cases; she’s quietly investigating her colleagues, trying to uncover who at the firm covered up the Wellbrexa opioid scandal.

Her prime suspects? Senior partner Howard “Senior” Markston (Beau Bridges), his son Julian (Jason Ritter), and junior partner Olympia Lawrence (Skye P. Marshall).

Matty’s investigation into the Wellbrexa cover-up keeps the tension high. She follows the trail of missing documents, uncovers forged signatures, and slowly narrows down her list of suspects.

Just when she thinks she’s found her villain, new evidence points the finger elsewhere, keeping viewers guessing right up to the finale!

Case of the Week, With a Side of Revenge

Each episode delivers a new legal case, but the real drama bubbles beneath the surface.

Matty works with Olympia, who is juggling her own messy divorce from Julian and is gunning for a senior partner role.

Alongside them are first-year associates Billy (David Del Rio) and Sarah (Leah Lewis), who bring youthful energy and comic relief to the high-stakes world of Manhattan law.

One of the show’s most compelling threads is the evolving friendship between Matty and Olympia.

What starts as a wary mentorship grows into genuine affection, until, of course, the truth threatens to blow everything up.

Olympia is blindsided when she learns Matty’s real identity and her true motives, setting the stage for a heart-wrenching confrontation.

The two-hour season finale, Tricks of the Trade, delivered all the drama fans could hope for. Matty’s secret is exposed to Olympia, shattering their bond.

Meanwhile, the true culprit behind the Wellbrexa cover-up is revealed, but not before a fresh mystery is teased: Olympia, newly promoted to partner, receives a cryptic file that hints at deeper corruption within the firm.

The final moments leave Matty and Olympia’s relationship in tatters and set up a new alliance – maybe.

The last shot? Olympia confronts Matty, demanding answers, while another bombshell drops about the paternity of Matty’s grandson, Alfie.

The Creators

The showrunners including Jennie Snyder Urman (Jane the Virgin) promised to keep the tone cozy and engaging, and on that front, they definitely delivered.

I LOVED the original and, though I’m really showing my age here, looked forward to Matlock every single week. Thankfully, it’s the same with the reboot!

In terms of what’s in store for Matlock season 2, Urman has promised that season two will answer the burning questions left by the finale while introducing new mysteries.

She’s especially excited about exploring the evolving friendship (or rivalry?) between Matty and Olympia, and how the firm’s secrets will ripple out to affect everyone in their orbit.

Cast of Matlock TV Series

The new CBS series Matlock stars Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a sharp and determined septuagenarian lawyer who reenters the legal world under intriguing circumstances.

Bates leads a talented ensemble cast that includes:

• Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence, a senior attorney with a strong sense of justice
• Jason Ritter as Julian, Olympia’s ex-husband and the son of the firm’s managing partner
• David Del Rio as Billy Martinez, a charismatic young associate
• Leah Lewis as Sarah Yang, an ambitious junior lawyer
• Aaron D. Harris as Alfie Kingston, Maddie’s grandson
• Sam Anderson as Edwin Kingston, Maddie’s husband
• Beau Bridges as Julian Sr, the firm’s boss

The Legacy of the Original Matlock

Matlock first aired in 1986 and quickly became a hit with audiences, running for nine seasons until 1995.

Created by Dean Hargrove, the show starred Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock, a sharp-witted and folksy defence attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Matlock was known for his uncanny ability to solve complex cases, often using his down-to-earth demeanour to outsmart his opponents in the courtroom.

The show was a mix of legal drama and mystery, with each episode typically revolving around a murder case. Matlock’s charm, combined with his keen intellect, made him a fan favourite, and the show consistently drew high ratings.

At its peak, Matlock attracted over 30 million viewers per episode, a testament to its widespread appeal.

It became synonymous with the genre of cozy crime, and the focus of solving the mystery in a more lighthearted, approachable manner.

Matlock wasn’t just a TV character; he was a cultural icon. Andy Griffith’s portrayal was so beloved that even after the show ended, it continued to air in syndication, gaining new fans over the years.

Why Matlock Still Matters

The decision to bring back Matlock now is not just about nostalgia; it’s about meeting a demand in the television landscape.

Cozy crime series continue to be popular, with shows like Death in Paradise, Poker Face, and Father Brown syndicated all over the world.

If you love smart, twisty legal dramas with heart (and a dash of revenge), Matlock is your new obsession.

Kathy Bates’ Matty is the kind of character you root for, laugh with, and maybe want to have as your own personal lawyer.

The show balances serious themes with sharp humor and plenty of surprises, making it as bingeable as a box of courtroom donuts.

So, whether you’re a fan of the original or just looking for your next TV addiction, Matlock has something for everyone.

And with season two on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to catch up, pick a side, and join the fun. Court is back in session – don’t miss it.