‘Matlock’ Isn’t Back Until December — What’s Airing Instead?

Matlock Season 2 is going on a break until December. The Thursday, November 13, episode, “Harm Reduction,” was not its midseason finale, but rather the last episode before a pre-planned break, with the midseason finale to come later in December. We’re breaking down the Matlock Season 2 release schedule below and what CBS is putting in its timeslot during the break.

Matlock is back in the saddle with Season 2, and the drama between Matty (Kathy Bates) and Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) has been so intense in the first episodes, fans are concerned that their rivalry is going to continue all season long. But Season 2 Episode 6, “Harm Reduction,” showed more reconciliation between Matty and Olympia over the course of a few weeks, while the women worked together on a tricky case with nuns.

Justina Machado returned as Eva, Senior’s (Beau Bridges) fourth ex-wife, and she recruited Olympia and Matty’s help in staging a coup to remove Senior as the managing partner of Jacobson Moore. Olympia, Matty, and Eva worked to gather the board votes they needed to unseat him, and they were close to succeeding by the episode’s end. Meanwhile, Senior pressured Sarah (Leah Lewis) to take a picture of the injured Julian’s (Jason Ritter) date book to see if his son was trying to poach clients before potentially getting a new job at another firm.

The Matlock Season 2 premiere revealed the identity of Alfie’s (Aaron D. Harris) father. Joey (Niko Nicotera), the mysterious man from the Season 1 finale cliffhanger, is Alfie’s biological dad. He’s been in rehab since Matty and Edwin discovered he was still struggling with substance abuse. When Matlock returns in December, Joey will be back, as will Eva. And Olympia’s mother, Celeste, will be introduced. She’s played by The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum Vernee Watson.

Here’s the Matlock Season 2 release schedule, with details about what’s airing in its place during the brief break.

When do new episodes of Matlock air?

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Matlock airs on Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS. The first episode of Season 2 came out on a special night and time, but the show is back in its regular time slot for the rest of the season. Here’s the release schedule that’s available so far:

• Matlock Season 2 Episode 1, “The Before Times,” Sunday, October 12, 8:30/7:30c
• Matlock Season 2 Episode 2, “Another Matlock,” Thursday, October 16, 9/8c
• Matlock Season 2 Episode 3, “Tomorrow Is Still Tomorrow,” Thursday, October 23, 9/8c
• Matlock Season 2 Episode 4, “Piece of My Heart,” Thursday, October 30, 9/8c
• Matlock Season 2 Episode 5, “Mouse Trap,” Thursday, November 6, 9/8c
• Matlock Season 2 Episode 6, “Harm Reduction,” Thursday, November 13, 9/8c
• Matlock Season 2 Episode 7, “Prior Bad Acts,” Thursday, December 4, 9/8c

In “Prior Bad Acts,” Olympia works to repair her relationship with her family after she takes on a case involving her mother’s new husband. Also, Matty and Olympia receive a shocking piece of information.

Why isn’t Matlock new this week?

Matlock is going on a pre-planned break starting on November 14. The show returns with a new episode on December 4. This break aligns with production’s completion of filming the first seven episodes of the season. It went on a brief filming break during that time. Following his firing for an alleged sexual assault against Lewis, David Del Rio will soon be written out of the show.

Elsbeth is moving up an hour to take Matlock‘s place on Thursday, November 20. After its new episode (Season 3 Episode 7, “And Then There Were Nuns”) at 9/8c, there will be a rerun of Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 1, “Yes, And…” at 10/9c. This was the episode with Stephen Colbert.

On Thursday, November 27, NCAA Men’s Basketball will take Matlock‘s place. The Duke vs. Arkansas game airs from 8-10 p.m. ET, followed by another rerun of Elsbeth (Season 3 Episode 2, “Doll Day Afternoon”), back in its regular 10/9c time slot.

What happens in Matlock Season 2?

Robert Voets / CBS

Matlock Season 2 Episode 2, “Another Matlock,” aired on Thursday, October 16, at 9/8c. The logline says, “While the team is tasked with protecting a witness, Matty and Olympia square off over the Wellbrexa document. Also, Matty and Edwin contemplate whether or not to help Alfie’s father.”

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“Tomorrow Is Still Tomorrow” is next. Matlock Season 2 Episode 3 aired on Thursday, October 23, at 9/8c. It guest-starred Yvette Nicole Brown as Nadine and Machado as Eva, Senior’s ex-wife, who runs the Jacobson Moore branch in Miami.

Matlock Season 2 Episode 4, titled “Piece of My Heart,” aired on Thursday, October 30, at 9/8c. Matty dug deeper into Senior’s personal life in the episode. “As Olympia and the team take on a wrongful death case, Matty meets with a mysterious woman from Senior’s past,” the logline said. “Also, Matty reflects on her relationship with her daughter.” That mysterious woman was Senior’s former lover, Debra Palmer, played by Melanie Lynskey (Ritter’s wife) in a surprise appearance.

Matlock Season 2 Episode 5, titled “Mouse Trap,” came out on Thursday, November 6, and showed Matty and Olympia racing to protect each other from Julian’s suspicions as they also worked on the resentencing case of a teenager sentenced as an adult to life.

Matlock, Returns Thursday, December 4, 9/8c, CBS

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