The CBS legal drama Matlock is on a break, and fans are waiting to find out what happens after a surprising midseason finale. The show’s second season paused on a major cliffhanger in December 2025 and will not return with new episodes until early 2026. Here is everything you need to know about the release of Episode 9, including the exact date, where to watch, and what might happen next.
When Does Matlock Season 2 Return with Episode 9?
Matlock Season 2 Episode 9 will premiere on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The episode will air on CBS at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) in its usual time slot.
For viewers who stream the show, the episode will be available on Paramount+ the day after it airs on CBS, on Friday, February 27, 2026.
This new episode marks the show’s return from a two-month midseason break. The previous episode, which was the midseason finale, aired on December 11, 2025.
Here is the release schedule broken down by time zone for the CBS broadcast:
- Pacific Time (PT): 6:00 PM, Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Central Time (CT): 8:00 PM, Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Eastern Time (ET): 9:00 PM, Thursday, February 26, 2026
What Happened in the Matlock Season 2 Midseason Finale?
Episode 8, titled “Call It a Christmas Gift,” ended with several storylines up in the air, setting the stage for the show’s return.
The main investigation into the pharmaceutical scandal known as the Wellbrexa case hit a wall. While paralegal Alfie found a photo connecting the powerful Senior to the case, the documents he was holding were later found to be forgeries. This fake evidence was part of a scheme by Julian, who has been playing a double game against his ex-partner Olympia and Matty.
In the final moments of the episode, Julian secretly placed his AirPods on Olympia’s bag to eavesdrop on her and Matty’s conversations. This confirmed he is actively working against them, though his reasons are still unknown.
Other key events from the finale include:
- Senior, the head of the law firm, suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, with Julian by his side.
- Sarah confessed to Olympia that she had been spying on Julian for Senior. An angry Olympia removed Sarah from her legal team.
- The episode also featured guest stars, including Mario Lopez’s son, Nico, and Sean Carrigan from The Young and the Restless.
What to Expect When Matlock Season 2 Returns
Episode 9 will need to address the major cliffhangers left by Julian’s actions. The central question is why he is sabotaging the investigation. Is he trying to protect himself, or is he somehow protecting his father, Senior?.
The episode will also likely show if Matty and Olympia discover they are being bugged by Julian. Their partnership, which had just been repaired after a rocky start to the season, is now in serious danger.
Other storylines to watch include:
- Sarah’s next move after being kicked off Olympia’s team.
- The health and future plans of Senior following his stroke.
- New legal cases for the firm to take on, as the show typically blends serialized stories with standalone cases.
Who is in the Cast of Matlock Season 2?
The main cast for the second season of the modern Matlock reboot includes:
- Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock
- Skye P. Marshall as Olympia
- Jason Ritter as Julian
- Leah Lewis as Sarah
- Sam Anderson as Edwin
- Beau Bridges as Senior
- Aaron Harris as Alfie
The season has also featured guest stars like Justina Machado as Eva and Vernee Watson as Olympia’s mother, Celeste.
Before the season began, actor David Del Rio, who played Billy Martinez, was fired from the show following an internal investigation by CBS. Reports state his character will be written out of the series.
Where to Watch Matlock and Catch Up on Season 2
To watch new episodes of Matlock as they air, tune into CBS on Thursday nights at 9:00 PM ET.
For viewers who prefer streaming or need to catch up on the first eight episodes of Season 2, the show is available on Paramount+. The platform adds new episodes the day after they broadcast on CBS.
All episodes from Season 1 of the rebooted Matlock are also available to stream on Paramount+ for subscribers.
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