Court is back in session.

The CBS reimagining of Matlock returns for a second season tonight, Oct. 12. Kathy Bates stars as the titular lawyer, Madeline “Matty” Matlock. On the surface, Matty seems to talk her way into a job at a top New York law firm, but her motive quickly becomes clear: she believes someone at the firm hid evidence that could have saved her daughter, who died in the opioid epidemic.

Season 1 left off on a cliffhanger, and if Season 2’s premiere synopsis is anything to go by, it seems we’ll pick up where we left off: “Matty questions the paternity of the man claiming to be Alfie’s father. Also, the team takes on an arson case while Olympia tries to protect Julian’s involvement in the Wellbrexa case.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Season 2 of Matlock.

Matlock Season 2 Release Date

Matlock Season 2 premieres tonight, Oct. 12, at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Next week, on Oct. 16, the series will shift to its regular time of Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

How to Watch Matlock For Free

The only way to watch Matlock live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. We recommend DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.

DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Plans start at $49.99/month.

You can also stream Matlock for free with Paramount+ Premium (one week free).

Matlock Cast Guide

• Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock / Madeline Kingston
• Skye P. Marshall as Olympia Lawrence
• Jason Ritter as Julian Markston
• David Del Rio as Billy Martinez*
• Leah Lewis as Sarah Franklin
• Eme Ikwuakor as Elijah
• Aaron Harris as Alfie Kingston
• Sam Anderson as Edwin Kingston
• Beau Bridges as Howard “Senior” Markston
• Patricia Belcher as Mrs. B
• Yael Grobglas as Shae Banfield
• Piper Curda as Kira
• Andrea Londo as Simone
• Justina Machado as Eva

*Del Rio was fired on Oct. 2 after being accused of sexual assault on set. As a result, he will be likely written out of the show in the second half of Season 2.

Matlock Season 3 Episode Guide and Release Schedule

While CBS has not confirmed the episode count for Season 3 of Matlock, Season 1 had 19 episodes, so it’s likely Season 2 will have around the same..

After its premiere, Matlock will shift to its regular time of Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET; here is when you can expect to see the first few episodes of the season.

• Episode 1: “The Before Times” – Sunday, Oct. 12
• Episode 2: “Another Matlock” – Thursday, Oct. 16
• Episode 3: “Tomorrow is Still Tomorrow” – Thursday, Oct. 23
• Episode 4: “Piece of My Heart” – Thursday, Oct. 30
• Episode 4: “Mousetrap” – Thursday, Nov. 6

Matlock Season 3 Trailer

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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Decider, the New York Post, and Page Six. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, how to watch your favorite sports teams and movies on each streaming service and the very best in tech, like soundbars, to enhance your viewing experience. Not only does Angela test and compare the services, devices and merch she writes about, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and the New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews. 

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