SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from the Season 1 finale of CBS’ Matlock.
Season 1 of CBS’ hit freshman series Matlock has officially concluded, leaving fans with plenty of action-packed moments and huge reveals that answered most questions while positing new ones.
Deadline spoke to series showrunner and executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman about the key reveals in the finale, including who the mysterious person was who hid evidence that could’ve saved Matty’s (Kathy Bates) daughter’s life, and how the events that unfolded set up Season 2.
DEADLINE: Jennie, you and the writers on Matlock did an excellent job of keeping us guessing until the very last moments—and some even after the reveal—about who hid the Wellbrexa files. Did you always know it would be Julian (Jason Ritter), or did you consider others along the way?
JENNIE SNYDER URMAN: We were sort of in between, a little bit at the beginning, considering between Senior [Beau Bridges] and Julian. We knew it wouldn’t be Olympia, but it would seem to be her at some crucial moments for Maddie, right before she got unmasked. Then the more we thought about it, we realized it had to be someone who would be really painful for us to discover had done this. Senior would have been the more obvious choice. As Olympia says, ‘He’s in charge of everything,’ but it felt like [Julian] put the most people in the most painful situation, which is always good for drama. And you know, Julian, even though he makes these mistakes, he’s still so endearing, because Jason imbues him with so much heart, kindness, and sensitivity. You see where he tries, and even though he doesn’t always succeed, you’re rooting for him because he’s trying. It just felt like it would be painful to have him be the person, and how that would put Olympia in a really difficult position in Season 2.
DEADLINE: Some people questioned if it could be Olympia because she and Matty would be on more even footing, knowing a big secret about one another. Was that ever considered?
JSU: We definitely explored the route, but I don’t see that character who is so committed to justice, who has such a spine and a sense of where she wants to be morally in the universe—I couldn’t see her doing it. If I can’t imagine the character doing it, or get to an honest place where all the pieces would justify that decision, then I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to do it just for dramatic effect. We’re always going to stay true to the character.
DEADLINE: Will the fact that Julian is remorseful help his case with Olympia in Season 2?
\JSU: He’s begging, and he’s remorseful. He kept the documents all these years to punish himself. It’s his Tell-Tale Heart. It’s the thing he knows that he’s done, and that’s why he’s kept it. He says, ‘Don’t let me be defined by that, and please don’t think this is who I am. Think about all the other things I am to you and our family.’ That’s what makes it so difficult and makes us not know what decision Olympia will make at the end of the finale.
DEADLINE: So, because she’s so devoted to justice, it’s plausible that she will turn him in, right?
JSU: Yes, but he’s also the father of her children. Does she want him to go to jail? Does she think he was the person who was ultimately the mastermind? That’s something that she’s going to be thinking about. It’s going to leave everybody in a really difficult position.
