The fresh riff on the Andy Griffith classic was a huge hit for CBS. Here's what the series has in store. Everything to know about Matlock season 2: Release date, cast, and Kathy Bates' return The fresh riff on the Andy Griffith classic was a huge hit for CBS. Here's what the series has in store. By Randall Colburn :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RandallColburnauthorphotoe7e8b48d9f8645588439077e721a5f48.jpg) Randall Colburn Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at . His work has previously appeared on The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer, and many other publications.

The fresh riff on the Andy Griffith classic was a huge hit for CBS. Here's what the series has in store.

Everything to know about Matlock season 2: Release date, cast, and Kathy Bates' return

The fresh riff on the Andy Griffith classic was a huge hit for CBS. Here's what the series has in store.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on *The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer*, and many other publications.

EW's editorial guidelines

on December 3, 2025 3:53 p.m. ET

Kathy Bates as Maddy in 'Matlock' season 2. Credit:

Sonja Flemming/CBS

Kathy Bates is enjoying a late-career resurgence due to the success of CBS's *Matlock*, the first season of which nabbed the Oscar winner her 15th Emmy nomination.

But don't let the name fool you — this *Matlock* isn't a straight remake of the '80s legal drama starring Andy Griffith.** **Kathy Bates' brassy attorney might go by the moniker Madeline Matlock, but it's just an alias born from the character's love of the show. Matty's character is a creation all her own.

The new *Matlock* was created by *Jane the Virgin* alum Jennie Snyder Urman, whose project captures the essence of Griffith's *Matlock* while giving it a freshness in tone and subject matter. Bates' Matty begins the series as a lawyer who comes out of retirement to take a job at a high-powered New York City firm, Jacobson Moore. Her reasons, we come to learn, have less to do with money than they do with a mission of justice.

Bates previously spoke with ** about how the series differs from its predecessor.

"Andy Griffith's iconic show from the '80s — it is an episodic. Our show does have a case every week, but there's also a serial aspect to it — a thread that goes through all of the episodes," Bates explained. "When I saw that it was about something really current and important to talk about and to see, that appealed to me."

Season 1 proved to be a huge hit for CBS, so you're not the only one wondering if there will be a season 2 of *Matlock*. Read on for everything we know about *Matlock* season 2, including its release date, cast, plot, and more.**

Will there be a second season of Matlock?

Leah Lewis, Skye P. Marshall, and Kathy Bates in 'Matlock' season 2.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

Yes, there will be a *Matlock* season 2. A good thing considering all of the cliffhangers in the season 1 finale.

This comes as little surprise, as Paramount reports that an average of 17 million viewers watched the series' first season across broadcast and streaming. According to Nielsen and other sources, *Matlock* was the number one new broadcast series in multi-platform viewing (and the number two broadcast series overall).**

What happened at the end of Matlock season 1?

Jason Ritter as Julian on 'Matlock'.

Throughout *Matlock*'s debut season, Bates' Matty took it upon herself to (quietly) investigate her fellow attorneys at Jacobson Moore to uncover the snake who conspired with drug company WellBrexa to keep opioids on the market. This was a particularly meaningful case for Matty, given that her daughter died from an overdose.

The villain, we learned, was an unlikely one: Jason Ritter's Julian Markston. (Who could ever suspect a Ritter?) This led to a tearful confrontation between Julian and Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), his soon-to-be-ex-wife. During that fight, the lawyer revealed he was only trying to please his father, managing partner Howard "Senior" (Beau Bridges).

Another curious twist involved Matty's grandson, tech whiz Alfie (Aaron Harris), who she's been caring for since the death of her daughter. In the finale, a knock at the door introduces us to a stranger played by Niko Nicotera, who claims to be Alfie's father.

It also left audiences with a handful of cliffhangers that set the stage for *Matlock*'s second season. We'll unpack those below.**

What is Matlock season 2 about?

Kathy Bates and Beau Bridges in 'Matlock' season 2.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

The season 2 premiere, titled "The Before Times," will pick up right where season 1 left off. Per a synopsis, it will find Matty questioning "the paternity of the man claiming to be Alfie's father" and Olympia trying "to protect Julian's involvement in the Wellbrexa case."

Marshall addressed the latter storyline in a May 2025 chat on EW's *Awardist* podcast. "[Olympia and Matty are] aligned on solving this mystery. Julian is just the string of the sweater, and I believe that together they may attempt to unravel it," she said. "But the longer I sit with it, I'm just like, there's no way that I'm going to let the father of my children take full responsibility for this. Who's the dictator, and then who dictated him or her? That's where my brain goes immediately. There's no way I'm letting this all fall on him."******

'Matlock' showrunner and the WellBrexa collaborator break down finale cliffhangers, tease season 2

'Matlock' showrunner discusses Barry Manilow and that whistleblower twist

As for the story regarding Alfie's parentage, showrunner Urman discussed the importance of the plot with EW following the season 1 finale. Nicotera, who plays the man claiming to be Alfie's father, will play a key role. "I'm really excited to get into their story and what he brings to the show and how he complicates Matty's most sacred place, which is her home," she said.**

Is there a Matlock season 2 trailer?

Yes, and it highlights the tension brewing between Matty and Olympia.

Does Matty reveal the truth about Julian's crimes, destroying Olympia's marriage and home life? Or does she work with Olympia to chase a bigger fish in Bridges' corrupt Senior?**

As the trailer demonstrates, Olympia's knowledge of Matty's own deceptions gives her ample leverage. But we imagine Matty has a few tricks of her own up her sleeve.

Who's in the Matlock season 2 cast?

David Del Rio, Leah Lewis, and Kathy Bates in 'Matlock' season 2.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

Bates and Marshall will continue to anchor the *Matlock* season 2 cast.

"We get to continue to explore this epic love story between Olympia and Matty, and any epic love story is going to have twists and turns: will they or won't they, and can they find their way back to each other?" Urman told EW. "But the friendship that they built in this first season, despite the lie at the center of it, was real and deep and rare and meaningful and life-affirming for both of them."

She continued, "They're separated again, and I think in all epic love stories, you're going to want them to find their way back to each other, and I'm excited to keep writing toward that."**

Ritter's Julian, too, will remain a key figure — and Ritter is hoping you can forgive his character. "As Julian's actor, I'm like his little lawyer," Ritter told EW. "So I get to figure out how to make this guy who did this horrible thing sympathetic, how we can still see his humanity through this completely awful act that he did."

And then there's Nicotera's no-longer-absent father. Urman revealed to EW that it was Bates herself who recommended the actor.

"She had worked with Niko on *Richard Jewell*, and just believed in him as an actor and knew how great he was," she said. "She told me about him early on — I think at the pilot stage — and I'm definitely going to take casting advice from Kathy Bates — pretty good taste!"**

How will David Del Rio's firing impact Matlock season 2?

David Del Rio as Billy on 'Matlock'.

Steve Wilkie/CBS

In October, * *learned that David Del Rio, who costarred as lawyer Billy Martinez, was fired from *Matlock* after being investigated by CBS following an allegation of sexual assault.

At the time, PEOPLE reported that Lewis was the victim of Del Rio's alleged assault. CBS declined to comment on the incident, while representatives for Del Rio and Lewis didn't respond to EW's requests for comment.

Season 2 had already begun filming when the allegation was made, which is why Del Rio appears in the early episodes of season 2. The plan is for the character to be written out of future episodes.

On Monday, Dec. 1, Lewis shared an Instagram post from the set. "[*Matlock*] ❤️And we back up and running," she wrote in the caption.**

Is there a Matlock season 2 release date?

Skye P. Marshall and Kathy Bates in 'Matlock' season 2.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

*Matlock* season 2 debuted on Oct. 12, 2025. After a brief hiatus in November, the series will return on Thursday, Dec. 4.

Paramount+ Premium subscribers can stream the show live. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will be able to stream episodes the day after they air.

Where can I watch Matlock?

Kathy Bates as Matty on 'Matlock'.

Michael Yarish/CBS

*Matlock* airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+, where you can also stream season 1 and all nine seasons of Andy Griffith's OG *Matlock*.

***Sign up for **'s free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.*****

- TV Development

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW TV"

Read More

---

Source: TV

Published: December 05, 2025 at 12:38PM on Source: ANDY MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle