Sixteen Steps

Ep 6 takes on a heavy case (a retrial soaked in grief and corporate fallout) but stumbles in execution.

The flashback structure adds intrigue, yet the pacing falters midway, and several narrative threads feel underdeveloped.

Kathy Bates delivers a quietly powerful turn as Matty, anchoring scenes with a mix of professional control and emotional weight. Skye P. Marshall adds depth as Olympia, carrying the fallout of past decisions with genuine complexity. Jason Ritter gets more meat this week, subtly shifting the office dynamic.

While the final act finds its footing, thanks to emotionally charged testimony and sharper courtroom rhythm, the episode as a whole feels less cohesive than it should. The intention is strong, but the storytelling needs tightening.

Still, there's some progress. The characters are deepening, and the show seems more willing to wade into morally grey territory. It's not a standout, but it moves the series forward in tone, if not in structure.

An awkward structure detracts from the effectiveness of this Matlock segment. Throughout the hour, there are many flashbacks showing a civil case's first trial contrasting with the team's readying for a new trial. Matty's in danger because an old friend has surfaced, and he could easily blow her cover.

With Beau Bridges again absent from the screen, the married other two suspects Olympia and Julian dominate the show, but there's no advancement or even hint as to which one of them might be responsible for Matty's daughter's death. Bates is excellent as always bringing her character to life, but otherwise the case and the episode is not very involving, until the still-grieving mom on the witness stand breaks down talking about her child who died (from contaminated baby formula). A surprise plot twist returning the focus of the show to Bates.