Spoiler alert for Matlock Season 2 finale. This article contains details about the ending.
The two-part Matlock Season 2 finale aired on CBS on April 23, 2026, bringing the Wellbrexa storyline to a close. The episode titled “Who Are You?” and “Matty Matlock” saw Kathy Bates lead an talented cast as the team finally exposed Senior’s role in the opioid cover-up. Here is your complete guide to the actors who brought the characters to life in the season finale.
The finale centered on Matty Matlock (Kathy Bates), Olympia Lawrence (Skye P. Marshall), and Julian Markston (Jason Ritter) working together to take down Howard “Senior” Markston (Beau Bridges). The actor portrayed Senior as a manipulative firm leader who pretended to have dementia while staying ahead of the investigation. The two-hour event also featured Gina Rodriguez as Lida Guitierrez, an agent with the Department of Justice, who played a key role in the final arrests.
Kathy Bates Returns as Matty Matlock for the Season 2 Finale
Kathy Bates continued her award-worthy performance as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a retired lawyer who adopted a fake identity to infiltrate the Jacobson Moore law firm. Her character’s mission throughout the series was to find who helped the drug company WellBrexa keep dangerous opioids on the market after her daughter died from an overdose.
In the season 2 finale, Matty feared being caught and even had a nightmare about her face appearing on news reports. She managed to trick Senior by placing a hidden microphone on him when he let his guard down. By the end of the episode, Matty realized her friendship with Olympia mattered more than getting revenge. Bates is widely known for her Oscar-winning role in Misery and her work on American Horror Story.
Skye P. Marshall and Jason Ritter Lead the Supporting Cast
Skye P. Marshall played Olympia Lawrence, Matty’s closest friend at the law firm and a powerful lawyer in her own right. Olympia discovered Eva’s involvement in the cover-up by noticing a specific drink order on a receipt. She showed strong loyalty to Matty and was willing to risk her career to do what was right. Marshall previously starred in Good Sam and Coup!.
Jason Ritter portrayed Julian Markston, Senior’s son and Olympia’s ex-husband. Julian found himself in a difficult position throughout the finale. He wanted to help Matty and Olympia but knew doing so might cost him his law license or lead to jail time. He agreed to wear a hidden microphone to talk with his father and told the others to call the FBI, accepting that he would also face arrest. Ritter is recognized for his voice work on Gravity Falls and his role on Parenthood.
Beau Bridges and Justina Machado Play Key Antagonists
Beau Bridges played Howard “Senior” Markston, the head of Jacobson Moore who ran the firm with an iron fist. Everyone believed Senior had dementia, but the finale revealed he had been pretending the entire time to stay ahead of everyone investigating him. Bridges showed Senior as a highly manipulative character who believed he was untouchable until Matty and the team outsmarted him at the merger party. Bridges is known for The Fabulous Baker Boys and Stargate SG-1.
Justina Machado appeared as Eva Muñoz, Senior’s ex-wife and a senior partner at the firm. Eva initially seemed friendly but turned out to be helping Senior cover up the Wellbrexa crimes. She tried to blackmail Olympia into staying quiet so she could take over the firm after the merger. However, she was arrested along with the others in the finale. Machado is best known for One Day at a Time and The Horror of Dolores Roach.
Supporting Cast Members in the Matlock Season 2 Finale
Leah Lewis played Sarah Franklin, a younger lawyer at Jacobson Moore who looked up to Matty and Olympia. The finale revealed Sarah found out she was actually 30 years old due to an error made when she was adopted. She felt betrayed after realizing Matty and Olympia kept secrets from her. Lewis starred in The Half of It and Nancy Drew.
Sam Anderson returned as Edwin Kingston, Matty’s husband who supported her mission but grew tired of being “dead” to the rest of the world because of Matty’s secret identity. In the finale, he expressed his desire to live a normal life without hiding anymore. Anderson is remembered for Perfect Strangers and Growing Pains.
Gina Rodriguez joined the cast as Lida Guitierrez, who worked for the Department of Justice. Matty asked Lida for help to legally take down Senior. Rodriguez led the FBI into the building to arrest everyone in the final moments of the episode. Rodriguez is famous for her lead role in Jane the Virgin and Someone Great.
Aaron Harris played Alfie, Matty and Edwin’s grandson. In the finale, Alfie worried about what would happen to him if his grandparents got arrested for their secret mission. Harris also appears on Universal Basic Guys.
Patricia Belcher as Mrs. Belvin and Henry Haber as Hunter, a younger associate who joined the floater pool, also appeared. Sarah Wright Olsen joined Season 2 as Gwen, an efficiency expert analyzing the firm.
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How to Watch the Matlock Season 2 Finale
The Matlock Season 2 finale aired on CBS on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 9/8c. The two-episode event ran for two hours. Viewers can stream the episode live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium subscribers. Paramount+ Essential subscribers can watch the day after airing.
The finale wrapped up the Wellbrexa storyline completely. Skye P. Marshall confirmed before the episode aired that the Wellbrexa battle would receive a final answer, telling TV Insider, “There will be an answer. One-hundred percent.” Jason Ritter shared with Parade that watching Kathy Bates perform throughout the season was “really lovely,” adding that “everybody is a full person who has strengths, weaknesses and foibles.”
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