“Matlock” deviates from its usual formula this week, opting to start with a flashback—something that’s always a mixed bag for me. I’ve long suspected that I dislike time-based narrative tricks in TV shows, and this episode only confirmed that.
While there are exceptions, the back-and-forth between time periods often leads to confusing storylines. More often than not, it just doesn’t justify the effort. In this episode, we see a rather disappointing flashback-heavy narrative, and I’m sad to report that “Sixteen Steps” didn’t pass my personal test.
Two Years Ago: Matty’s First Day at Jacobson Moore
The episode begins by taking us two years back, to the first time Matty (Kathy Bates) enters the Jacobson Moore law firm. In a seemingly innocuous moment, Matty runs into Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) in the lobby, causing her to spill coffee all over her white pantsuit.
Olympia, wearing an obviously bad wig, is uncharacteristically rude, telling Matty to watch where she’s going. This encounter, however, turns out to be significant—it’s the moment that sparks Matty’s decision to pursue the Wellbrexa investigation.
This scene also introduces the acronym MWBSP, which stands for “Mom Would Be So Proud,” coined by Matty and her grandson, Alfie (Aaron Harris).
While the acronym itself is heartwarming, the flashback of how it came about doesn’t provide new context or emotional weight to the story. It’s a sweet moment, but it doesn’t add anything fresh to the narrative at this point, as Matty had already explained its meaning earlier in the series.
Back to the Present Day: Matty Faces Her Past and Present Dilemmas
Fast-forward to the present day, where Matty is still grappling with the fallout from Alfie’s accidental creation of her dating profile. Although Alfie assures Matty that he’s deleted everything, Stanley—who had contacted her through the app—tracks her down.
He lives nearby and wants to take her out to lunch. Matty responds, explaining that the profile was a prank orchestrated by Alfie and that she’s still married. She politely declines, but Stanley doesn’t take the hint.
Still from Matlock (Credit: CBS)
As the situation escalates, Olympia overhears Matty’s panicked conversation with Edwin (Sam Anderson) and becomes suspicious. Matty, forced to lie to cover for her embarrassing situation, spins a story about being harassed by creditors. Olympia buys it, and the two return to preparing for the case at hand.
The Trial: A Deadly Formula and the Strain of Parenthood
The case at the center of this episode involves two grieving mothers, Vanessa (Ayesha Harris) and Anna (Veronica Diaz Carranza), who lost their baby after he ingested tainted formula. They are suing the manufacturer for the fatal mistake.
Olympia offers Matty the option to sit this case out, given that it involves the tragic death of a child. However, Matty is eager for the chance to work closely with Julian (Jason Ritter) on the case, especially since he’s involved in an upcoming pharmaceutical investigation.
Meanwhile, the emotional complexity of the case becomes evident. The mothers’ pain is evident, but there’s an added layer of difficulty: Anna is pregnant again, and the stress of testifying is putting her unborn child at risk. For one of the mothers to testify, it must be Vanessa, as Anna’s health cannot withstand the strain.
Olympia is faced with the challenge of coaxing Vanessa into opening up on the stand about her son’s death, all in the name of securing a hefty payout. This manipulation of pain, though morally questionable, is seen as necessary for the case’s success.
Matty’s Guilt: Struggling with Her Role in the Case
As Olympia works on the case, Matty’s role becomes more complicated. While Matty initially believes that putting Vanessa on the stand is the right decision, she starts to feel guilty as she witnesses the emotional toll it takes on Vanessa.
Matty’s internal conflict grows, and she begins to question whether the ends justify the means. She pushes Olympia to go ahead with Vanessa’s testimony, even though she knows it will be painful for the mother.
At the same time, Matty continues to be confronted by Stanley. He tracks her down yet again, asking for her help to find his missing son, who has gone on a drug binge. Matty, who had already formed a connection with Stanley due to their shared grief over their children, is initially sympathetic.
When Stanley shows Matty a picture of Ellie, it serves as a painful reminder of her own loss. Yet, when Matty tries to help him, she suddenly becomes distant and harsh. She tells him to never contact her again, an unusually callous response from someone who’s typically empathetic. It’s confusing, especially since Matty has been compassionate with similar situations in the past.
Olympia’s Struggle and Matty’s Role in the Trial
After the tense encounter with Stanley, Matty and Olympia have another moment of connection. Olympia, seeing how emotional Matty becomes when talking about her daughter, encourages Matty to use her experience to guide Vanessa through the testimony.
Matty pushes Olympia to convince Vanessa to testify, reasoning that the mothers need this opportunity to “parent their child” one last time, even if it involves pain and manipulation.
The trial takes a turn when Matty uncovers new evidence. She figures out that the contamination in the formula came from a safety officer named Teddy (Jernard Burks), whose cast exposed the formula to toxic substances. Olympia presents this new evidence, and Matty’s encouragement helps Olympia get Vanessa to testify.
Initially, Vanessa is unable to express her grief, but a simple nod from Matty prompts Olympia to ask about the child. As Vanessa finally breaks down on the stand, the jury is moved, and Anna and Vanessa win the case, securing millions of dollars in damages.
While this feels like a major victory, it’s a bittersweet moment for Matty. Olympia is pleased with the outcome, but Matty is left questioning whether it was worth putting Vanessa through such emotional turmoil. She is left feeling conflicted about whether the emotional manipulation of a grieving mother was truly justified by the case’s result.
A Personal Reckoning: Matty’s Panic and Edwin’s Plea
Matty’s guilt over her role in the case and her interaction with Stanley catches up with her. On her way home, she has a panic attack, overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the trial. Edwin, concerned for her well-being, insists that she take time to rest.
He suggests that Matty quit her job at the firm and focus on raising Alfie instead. Edwin believes that their daughter Ellie’s memory should be honored through healing, not by continuing the stressful and emotionally taxing investigation into Wellbrexa.
Matty, torn between her family and her career, goes into work the next day with the intention of quitting. However, before she can make that decision, Olympia and Julian meet her at the elevator with surprising news: they’ve noticed Matty’s hard work, and as a reward, Julian is bringing her onto his new Wellbrexa case.
This new development throws Matty’s plans into disarray, making her question whether she should leave the firm or embrace this new opportunity.
The Unified Front: Matty Faces New Challenges
This new case presents a challenge for Matty, as she realizes that Olympia and Julian have reconciled. The two are now working together as a team, which complicates Matty’s ability to manipulate their relationship for personal gain. In the past, Matty could play them against each other, especially during their divorce.
Now that they are united, it remains to be seen whether Matty can continue her investigation into Wellbrexa without creating the same rifts she once exploited.
As Matty embarks on this new case, she faces a difficult decision: Can she face this new partnership between Olympia and Julian, or will she be forced to confront her own emotional baggage that has been holding her back?
With her purpose reaffirmed by her role in the case, Matty now has to figure out how to balance her professional goals with the emotional toll it continues to take on her.
Conclusion: The Future of Matty’s Investigation
In “Sixteen Steps,” Matlock continues to highlight the emotional and moral challenges faced by its protagonist, Matty. The episode’s focus on the impact of trauma, guilt, and personal sacrifice presents a complex portrayal of Matty’s internal struggles as she juggles the demands of her career with the weight of her past.
The trial at the heart of the episode, while a major victory for Olympia, exposes Matty’s growing discomfort with using others’ pain to further their legal goals.
Still from Matlock (Credit: Paramount+)
The emotional toll this case takes on her, combined with her unresolved feelings about Stanley and her own family, forces Matty to confront difficult questions about her motivations and her future.
The episode also highlights the shifting dynamics between Matty, Olympia, and Julian, especially with their reconciled relationship. Matty must now faces her professional life in a new show where her old tactics might not work.
In the end, Matty’s decision to embrace the opportunity with Julian and Olympia represents a turning point. She finds herself at a crossroads, forced to reconcile her professional ambitions with the emotional burdens that continue to define her journey. As Matlock moves forward, the balance between personal healing and professional growth will continue to shape Matty’s path.
At the start of this week’s episode of Fire Country, things between Bode (Max Thieriot) and Gabriela (Stephanie Arcila) have escalated to a full-blown mess. Their heat-wave-induced hook-up has turned into a risky friends-with-benefits situation.
The two have been meeting up in Vince’s (Billy Burke) Airstream, and it’s clear that this isn’t a casual fling. In fact, Bode and Gabs have been hooking up three times in the past week, showing no signs of stopping, despite both being possibly late for work.
Gabs is upfront about her feelings: this is all physical for her. She’s still reeling from the collapse of her wedding, which she would have ruined herself if a helicopter hadn’t blown it up first.
To top it off, she’s not speaking to her dad, and she’s secretly living in an Airstream. In her eyes, now isn’t the time to reignite any sort of romance with Bode, especially considering their messy past.
When you look at it from her perspective, it’s hard to argue with her. But Bode doesn’t see it that way. He’s clear about what he wants: a real relationship. He wants to call her his girlfriend, take her to dinner, and even put a ring on her finger.
He compares Gabs ending things with Diego (Rafael de la Fuente) at the altar to his own past actions, like robbing a liquor store. He’s completely oblivious to the fact that Gabs is emotionally unavailable and isn’t looking for anything serious.
He’s delusional, and the way he justifies their situation is almost laughable. Despite all of this, Gabs isn’t ready to give up the physical relief she gets from Bode. While she knows this can’t end well, she still holds on to the stress relief that comes with their secret meetings.
As this messy situation continues to unfold, it’s clear that things are about to get more complicated, especially with the new developments in the episode.
New Captain in Town
This episode introduces a new character who’s going to shake things up at the firehouse. It’s Smokey’s re-opening day, and to mark the occasion, we meet Cam Casey (played by Jared Padalecki), who steps into the scene like a storm.
He arrives in a Dodgers jersey, cargo shorts, and flip-flops, giving off the vibe of a laid-back guy, but don’t let his outfit fool you—he means business. Cam quickly makes an impression on the locals, putting Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” on the jukebox. But he doesn’t stop there.
The first time we really see him in action is when he steps in during an argument between Bode and some of Diego’s old co-workers at Smokey’s. These co-workers have come to confront Bode about being a “bro-code-violating homewrecker.”
While they’re right to call him out, they go a little overboard by destroying Sharon’s (Diane Farr) flyers for Smokey’s reopening in the process. Cam immediately intervenes by throwing his flip-flop at one of the guys involved in the altercation.
If you’re a fan of Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester from Supernatural, this scene will have you laughing. For those who aren’t fans of feet, however, this moment is just plain bizarre. But either way, Cam’s action works—he takes down the guys and puts an end to the confrontation.
Once the fight is over, Cam introduces himself to Bode in a rather unconventional way. He’s revealed to be the new Stage 3 cadet coach for Ladder 42, meaning he’s Bode’s new boss. This is a big deal because it sets the tone for what Bode’s next phase of training will look like under Cam’s leadership. And judging by the way Cam handles himself, things are about to get a lot more intense for Bode.
Cam’s Leadership Style
The episode doesn’t waste time showing us what kind of boss Cam is. Just moments after meeting Bode, Vince (Billy Burke) brings news of a plane making an emergency landing in Edgewater.
Still from Fire Country (Credit: CBS)
Edgewater, a small town with no airport, has had its fair share of accidents in recent episodes, and this plane crash is no exception. The plane lands, but it’s burning out of control when Bode and the rest of Ladder 42 arrive on the scene.
Cam quickly takes charge, ordering Bode and Audrey (Leven Rambin) to work together on putting out the fire in the engine and cockpit and rescuing the passengers trapped at the front of the plane. They need another exit to evacuate the passengers, or they risk losing them to smoke inhalation.
Despite Bode being a cadet, Cam sends him straight to the top of the plane to tackle the fire in the cockpit. Jake (Jordan Calloway), who’s more cautious about procedure, watches in disbelief. But Cam, who values action over rules, is unbothered. He trusts Bode to do what needs to be done.
Despite the risk, Bode successfully puts out the fire in the cockpit and opens the front door of the plane, allowing the passengers to escape safely. This quick thinking turns Bode into a hero, and soon, his actions are all over the internet. As wild as Bode’s behavior can be, it’s clear that when he’s given the right direction, he’s capable of extraordinary things.
In one of the most memorable lines of the episode, Cam tells Bode, “You have a wolf inside you, and you got to feed it. Don’t ever put it in a cage.”
He even tells Jake later that he’ll take care of Bode, ensuring that Bode will be free to run into danger without worrying about the consequences. Cam’s unorthodox style might seem reckless, but it’s clear that he believes in Bode’s potential.
Gabs’ Airstream Drama
While Bode’s training takes center stage, Gabriela’s life is equally chaotic. After her emotional breakdown earlier in the season, Gabriela is now staying in an Airstream outside the firehouse. She’s not ready to talk to her dad about it, though, as he doesn’t know she’s living in the Airstream.
Gabs is staying there temporarily to save up money to pay back Diego’s parents for the wedding that never happened. However, it seems like Gabriela is still struggling emotionally.
This all comes to a head when she finds a strange guy smoking pot in her Airstream. He’s one of the plane passengers, and after accidentally setting some rare film on fire, he ends up crashing in the Airstream.
Gabs, who has been trying to find solace in her secret meetings with Bode, is understandably frustrated. She just wants to relax and unwind, but this unwanted surprise has her screaming. Her outburst alerts the others, and soon everyone learns that Gabs has been living in the Airstream.
This revelation doesn’t sit well with her father, Manny (Kevin Alejandro). He confronts Bode, telling him that while he loves him, he believes Bode is bad for Gabriela. Manny sees Bode as part of Gabriela’s spiral, and he makes it clear that Bode can’t help her until he realizes that. It’s a tough conversation, but one that Gabriela may not be ready to hear.
Later, Manny finds Gabriela and tries to reach her. He urges her to let someone help her, even if it isn’t him. He recognizes that Gabriela is isolating herself, and he doesn’t want her to fall into the same pattern of self-sabotage that he’s been stuck in. It’s a difficult moment, as Gabriela knows he’s right but isn’t ready to open up to anyone just yet.
Smokey’s Re-Opening and Audrey’s Singing Talent
After the intense events of the day, Smokey’s finally reopens, and it’s time for a little celebration. Vince takes the stage for a grumpy serenade, but the real surprise comes when Audrey James (Leven Rambin) steps up to the mic and starts singing.
Bode, who’s already dealing with his complicated emotions toward Gabriela, is immediately transfixed by Audrey’s performance. It’s clear that Bode is drawn to her, and this marks the beginning of a new emotional twist in his already messy love life.
Gabriela, feeling isolated and rejected, retreats to the Airstream. Meanwhile, Bode is increasingly interested in Audrey, despite knowing she has a boyfriend. This love triangle could lead to even more drama in future episodes.
Eve’s Family Drama
While Bode and Gabs deal with their complicated relationship, Eve (Jules Latimer) is facing her own family struggles. After a rocky start, she finally reaches out to her brother Elijah (Jeff Pierre).
They meet for drinks at Smokey’s, and it’s clear that there’s still unresolved tension between them. Eve wants to make things right, but Elijah isn’t as open to reconciliation. He’s still hurt by the past, and Eve is unsure of how to fix things.
This storyline adds depth to Eve’s character as she faces the difficult terrain of family conflict. It seems like she’s finally starting to realize that the firehouse may be the only place where she truly belongs.
Sharon’s Health Scare
The episode ends with Sharon struggling with a health issue that could affect her role at Smokey’s. Sharon has been dealing with health concerns for a while, but this episode pushes her to confront them head-on.
Still from Fire Country (Credit: CBS)
She’s afraid of what it might mean for her future, but she doesn’t want to burden anyone with the news. The support of the firehouse crew is crucial as they rally around Sharon during her moment of uncertainty.
Fire Country continues to keep things interesting with its tangled relationships and intense action. As Bode and Gabriela struggle with their feelings, Cam challenges Bode’s training, and the rest of the characters face their personal lives, this season promises even more drama, heart, and challenges ahead.
