Matlock season 2 returns with a special Sunday premiere on October 12, 2025, airing at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS. After the one‑night launch, the series moves to its regular Thursday slot at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning October 16. The modern take on Andy Griffith’s classic stars Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock and dives back into the season 1 cliffhanger that entangled Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), Julian (Jason Ritter), the Wellbrexa opioid case cover‑up, and questions around Alfie’s paternity.
Release date, time, and where to watch
The season 2 premiere, titled “The Before Times”, airs on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS. It streams the same night for Paramount+ Premium subscribers, with next‑day streaming for standard Paramount+ users. Episode 2, “Another Matlock”, debuts on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT; thereafter, new episodes are slated weekly on Thursdays. CBS has not announced a total episode count for season 2; season 1 ran for 19 episodes, ending with a two‑part finale.
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What season 2 tackles after the season 1 cliffhanger
Season 1 ended with the reveal that Julian—the ex‑husband of Olympia—was behind evidence tampering tied to Wellbrexa. Season 2 picks up immediately: Matty “questions the paternity of the man claiming to be Alfie’s father,” while the team pursues “an arson case,” and Olympia works to protect Julian’s involvement in the Wellbrexa matter. Executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman called the fallout “just as bad as it gets,” adding that the twist creates a “delicious dilemma.” She also teased continuing surprises about “who gets read into the truth and when.”
Confirmed schedule (first two episodes)
- Oct. 12 — “The Before Times” (special Sunday premiere), approximately 8:30–9:30 p.m. ET on CBS; same‑night streaming on Paramount+ Premium; next‑day streaming on Paramount+ (standard).
- Oct. 16 — “Another Matlock,” 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS; next‑day streaming on Paramount+ (standard).
Cast & characters returning (and one notable exit)
Kathy Bates leads as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a “brilliant septuagenarian” who embeds at New York firm Jacobson Moore while pursuing the truth behind her daughter’s death. Skye P. Marshall is back as Olympia. Jason Ritter returns as Julian. A premiere‑week image credits Sonja Flemming/CBS, and Beau Bridges appears in “The Before Times.” Ahead of premiere night, a cast shakeup surfaced: one star was fired. Episodes already completed will still air, the character will be written out going forward, and production continues as the show shifts to Thursdays starting Oct. 16.
What the creatives and cast are saying
Showrunner/executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman reflected on the season 1 ending and its impact on Matty and Olympia: “Because you felt like the hope of a friendship could come for Olympia and Matty, and then Olympia gets this information.” She also thanked viewers and hinted at more reveals: she wants fans to notice “how much more story” season 2 has while watching who learns the truth, and when.
Skye P. Marshall previewed her character’s approach in the new episodes. She believed Olympia would “bring hell in Jacobson Moore,” explaining, “I think that Olympia is for the people… and I think that — I believe that — Olympia is going to do what’s right.”
Context for new and returning viewers
The rebooted Matlock is an adaptation of the 1980s series created by and starring Andy Griffith. In this version, Kathy Bates plays Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a widowed former attorney who talked her way into a job at Jacobson Moore. Beneath the unassuming exterior, she suspected someone at the firm hid evidence that could have saved her daughter during the opioid crisis. That suspicion drove much of season 1 and culminated with Julian’s exposure.
What’s next after the premiere
After the Sunday launch, Matlock resumes weekly Thursday airings at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Expect the usual holiday breaks and sports preemptions later this fall. As of October 12, 2025, the network has only confirmed the first two episode titles and times; additional dates will be announced as the season progresses.
The takeaway
Matlock season 2 premieres on CBS on October 12 with a one‑time Sunday slot at 8:30 p.m. ET, then moves to Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT starting October 16. Fans can stream the premiere the same night on Paramount+ Premium or watch the next day on standard Paramount+. The opening pair—“The Before Times” and “Another Matlock”—hooks directly into the Wellbrexa fallout while setting up new cases at Jacobson Moore.
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