‘Matlock’ Star Promises Answers “We’ve All Been Waiting For” in Explosive Season 2 Finale

In Episode 12 of Season 2 of the CBS series Matlock, Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) is told to step down from the jury misconduct case that Shae (Yael Grobglas) is caught up in and hands the trial over to Matty (Kathy Bates). Being in the courtroom to defend one of Jacobson Moore’s own means that Madeline Kingston is unable to be present at her own 50^th wedding anniversary, which Edwin (Sam Anderson) makes it known he’s not happy about. Meanwhile, Olympia and Julian (Jason Ritter) work together to track down a scientist from the Wellbrexa lab and realize that they’re at the friend stage of their relationship now.

Collider recently got the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Marshall about the remaining episodes of Season 2 and the upcoming two-hour finale. During the interview, she discussed what it’s like to be a woman at Jacobson Moore and why it’s important to build alliances, finding the new team vibe, having cat energy, finding a more playful dynamic between Olympia and Julian, the evolution of her friendship with Matty, why Langston (Edwin Hodge) catches Olympia’s attention, what it was like working with her husband, and what’s in store for fans with the Season 2 finale.

Collider: What was it like to shoot the scenes between Olympia and Shae, with Shae actually allowing herself to be vulnerable, especially in the jail holding cell? When you’re playing moments like that between characters that have the history that they do, what’s it like to see everything stripped away from her and to see her so off-balance?

SKYE P. MARSHALL: Yael [Grobglas] gave such an incredible performance. She was fantastic. I couldn’t wait for her to have the opportunity to drive the episode’s case, and she delivered. Kathy [Bates] and I were blown away by what she was able to bring to the set every day. The character Shae has such thick armor, but I believe that’s what she and Olympia have in common, and Madeline. Not so much Matlock, but Madeline Kingston. The three of us have a castle wall wrapped around us, and we’re clever enough to find the cracks in the castle wall and get on the inside because we have a deep, deep need from that other person. I have always needed Shae to help me win my case when it comes to jury consulting. Shae needs to be on my good side because there are not a lot of women in these power positions at Jacobson Moore, and you witness how disposable she is to Jacobson Moore.

And so, as women, we find each other and we build alliances, whether we like each other or not. When we’re bathed in that corporate environment of powerful men who will replace you without enough evidentiary support to even back up why you have to go, whether it’s your age or whether it’s the fact that you’re a mom and you have to keep leaving for kids’ doctor’s appointments, or whatever it is. We have to protect each other. And I believe that Olympia knew that was the assignment. Shae clearly did not bribe a juror. Olympia knew it was her opposing counsel. This is just some more trickery, and they have to find a way to get her out.

I think it was black and white. Olympia was not thinking about what Shae did with Julian years ago. There wasn’t any of that involved. She had a job to do. When Jacobson Moore cut her by the legs and said she could not be involved, that didn’t mean she abandoned her. She just passed her over to the next best thing, and that was Matlock. It was so exciting to see Kathy go into that courtroom. It’s a privilege when she walks into the courtroom because we all have permission to watch her perform. It’s the one space that everyone is allowed to observe Kathy Bates do what she does best, and she crushes it every time.

Newest ‘Matlock’ Addition Henry Haber Is Skye P. Marshall’s “Emotional Support Actor”

“He has strong golden retriever energy.”

You’ve spent a large portion of your time on this show with Matty and Sarah as part of Olivia’s team, only to have that switched up with Hunter now. I find Hunter fascinating as a character because he doesn’t seem like someone that Olympia would choose to have in her orbit, and he also doesn’t seem like someone that Matty would relate to at all. But then, he’ll have these moments where he’ll surprise someone with some genius idea. What’s it been like to add him to the mix, to change up the vibe of the team in that way, and to find that new rhythm together?

MARSHALL: Henry Haber is exactly what the breakdown of the character was, which was like a golden retriever. He has strong golden retriever energy. That’s just who he is. He’s such a bright light, and he brings that aura to the set. It’s a completely different aura from any other cast member. We all have our own special Care Bear stare. He fit right in. He’s so compatible with all of us. Kathy was turned into sand the moment she met him. After his audition, where he had a chemistry read with Leah Lewis, Leah immediately texted me and was like, “This Henry Haber is amazing.” And that was his first audition. And then, they whisked him over to set to say hi to us. He was like, “Is this normal?” And I was like, “No, it’s not normal. You’re special. I don’t know who you’re talking to and what you’re praying for and what’s on your vision board, but you are a magical human being because you arrived, and you’re on a hit show fresh out of school.” He is very empathetic. He understands that it’s a privilege and an honor to be on a show like Matlock. He’ll be here tomorrow, curled up on my couch, watching the episode. He is my emotional support actor.

When he first popped up, I didn’t know how his energy would work with everything else, but it’s super endearing and charming.

MARSHALL: You should see us in real life. It’s the same thing, where I’m like, “Henry, remember we talked about this. You don’t cut me off while I’m talking, right?” He’s like, “Yes. Sorry, Skye. You’re right, you’re right.” What you see on camera is him. I love the line when Matty tells Hunter, “Sarah is a cat. You are a dog. You have to wait for her to come to you.” It’s very true. We have strong cat energy, the women on the show, and he just comes in there like a puppy and shakes things up. It’s a thrill to have him.

Skye P. Marshall Loves Seeing Olympia and Julian as Friends in Season 2 of ‘Matlock’

“Any time he lets the clown creep out of the castle, it’s a treat for all of us.”

You have a scene in the car with Jason Ritter, where Olympia and Julian are talking about dating other people and him giving her advice about not being too eager. After everything they’ve been through in their relationship, is it fun to get them to a place of actually being friends?

MARSHALL: Oh, my God, I’m so excited because I haven’t had the opportunity to just be friends with Julian, where there’s nothing lingering over our heads, whether it’s a divorce or the Wellbrexa study or Matlock or him needing to take accountability for his involvement in hiding the document. It’s finally a new chapter. It’s such a treat, any time Jason lets his funny out. Any time he lets the clown creep out of the castle, it’s a treat for all of us. With that car scene, I remember him improvising some things in there, which allowed me to sneak in some of my own comedic choices. They kept it in the edit, and you never know if it will make the cut or not. That day, both Jason and I had so much confidence that we could continue to trust and play with each other in that comedic space. We’ve already established that we’re great together with drama, but I was intimidated by him comedically. That was a scene that felt so fun and loose. That was also the day that we found out that we got picked up for Season 3, so we were just buzzing.

I love a good car scene because it limits you physically, but then other things can happen.

MARSHALL: I love a good car scene until I’m the one having a fake drive. I’ll take my eyes off the road for minutes, and they’re like, “Skye, you can’t do that.” And I’m like, “Oh, I keep forgetting.” That’s a tricky one.

I also love that Matty and Olympia are in a place now where they can tease each other and talk about Olympia going on a date with Remy. Do you think Olympia is surprised at how much she actually likes Matty, now that she knows the truth?

MARSHALL: That’s a great question. I don’t think she’s surprised that their friendship is the way it is, because I am not surprised by the friendship that I get to have with Kathy Bates. Our relationship has gone through so many beautiful stages. I was highly intimidated and scared of not being capable of going toe-to-toe with an icon, at first. And then, she immediately humanized herself and started asking me for advice. I was like, “That was clever.” She is a true Matlock. She has a very sophisticated way of making everyone feel welcomed and equal to her and not feel any kind of distance, just because of her accolades. Once I did feel worthy to share scenes with her, it then became, “Okay, how can I scene steal from her? I’m going to really actively listen.” Now, we both do it to each other and I’m like, “Yep, she just stole the scene because of her facial expressions.” And then, we laugh, and we hit each other, and we curse at each other.

It’s a direct reflection of the relationship that our writers see Kathy and I have because they watch everything like spies, and then they incorporate it into scenes where they allow us to talk the way that they hear us talk. And when I say, “hear us talk,” I mean Skye from Chicago and Kathy from Memphis. They’ll hear how we have a different chemistry that is nowhere near Olympia and Matty, and they started to intertwine it towards the end of this season in a really beautiful way that you’ll definitely see in the finale. It’s just so comforting. I’m still frightened that Season 3 will bring some more obstacles because that’s the name of the game. When you love someone, you hurt someone sometimes.

You see that happen with Madeline Kingston and Edwin Kingston, where she chose Shae over their 50th anniversary. And Olympia is playing with the idea of dating and feeling what it feels like to crush on someone again. There’s a quiet choreography to it, where you are building a life where your ambition doesn’t compete with your love but evolves alongside it. Some days, one can lead, of course, and some days, the other does. The real power is in just knowing that neither role defines you entirely, but both shape you profoundly. That is what Madeline has been going through with Edwin Kingston. How can I love you and love my life, and love being a grandmother and also love being a lawyer? How can I do this? That is one of Olympia’s deepest fears, post-divorce.

Skye P. Marshall Can Relate to Her ‘Matlock’ Character When It Comes to Her Feelings About Dating

“Having a crush is fun. But what about the scary bits when you have to put in that emotional labor?”

We see Olympia ready to go out on a date with Remy, and then she meets his cousin, Langston.

MARSHALL: Right. But even still, she’s like, “Oh, it’s nothing. It’s not a big deal. It’s just a dinner.” She downplays it in every way, shape, form, and fashion, just to self-sabotage with the cousin. What is this woman doing? Is she looking for an out? Is she actually looking for an in and just didn’t feel that weak in the knees with Remy? It has to be a chemical reaction for Olympia. You can’t just be tall, dark, and handsome. That’s not enough. It damn sure wasn’t enough for me, as Skye Marshall, until I met Edwin Hodge. I did not honestly think I was going to get married. I didn’t need to be married. I don’t want kids. I never wanted kids. I didn’t think that marriage was necessary for me. There was a big part of me pursuing acting in my 30s, where I was single for six years, and I was okay with that. So, I can relate to Olympia when it comes to flirting. Having a crush is fun. But what about the scary bits when you have to put in that emotional labor?

Was there nervousness in having your husband do the show? Obviously, Edwin Hodge is also a great actor, but having a personal history with your scene partner doesn’t always translate on screen. Sometimes it’s more fun to play antagonists than to have a romantic relationship. Were you nervous at all about having him come on the show?

MARSHALL: Great question. At the beginning, I was. I was definitely overstepping. I went to his fitting at the costume department, and I was not invited. No one invited me. I just knew what time his fitting was, and then I was there. While they were all like, “Oh, my God, thank God you’re here, we would love your opinion,” I knew that I was overstepping. I was like, “I need to fall back. He has to create this character all on his own.” All I ask is for him to surprise and delight me. When he came around that corner at the end of [Episode] 212, I was like, “Oh, this is what they meant by my knees buckling,” because I didn’t know how to act with my knees shaking. He came around the corner, and I felt myself literally lean onto one hip, just to hold my frame. I was like, “Oh, my God, I actually do this.” It wasn’t scary. It was actually reminiscent of those first dates when you first meet someone.

We’ve been together for four years, so that’s not crazy long. I remember what that felt like. We still go on date nights. But there’s nothing like the first encounter. While he already had the cheat code on who Olympia Lawrence is because he watches the show and is a fan of Matlock, I had no idea what he was going to do with Langston. He delivered because he had all the women giggling. Even Kathy Bates was like, “Whoa, he is a smokeshow.” And I was like, “Okay, pipe down, lady.” He really impressed all of them because he was so open.

It is easier for us, but it was also embarrassing at the same time. It was weird. It was embarrassing if I fumbled a line in front of him, which was strange. I was like, “Why do I care about how he sees me do the process?” He doesn’t get to see that. That is just my own thing when I build a bear, if you will. And same with him. We had to get over this need to perform great in front of each other and just drop into being the characters and staying true to the mission at hand, which was that case that we had to solve, and not think about the fact that we were performing in front of each other. It was very revealing.

The Season 2 Finale of ‘Matlock’ Will Reveal the Answers Fans Have Been Waiting For

“You are going to find out who is responsible.”

What can you say to tease what we can expect from the Season 2 finale?

MARSHALL: With the Season 1 finale, I was actually surprised that they revealed the document being in Julian’s safety deposit box. I thought they were just going to have me lift up the box and cut on a crazy cliffhanger. I love that about (show creator) Jennie [Snyder Urman]. And she’s going to serve up that same dish at the end of Season 2. You are going to find out who is responsible – everyone. It’s exciting. It’s thrilling. It’s an obstacle course. Me, Julian, and Matty’s head is on a constant swivel. Right when we think we have a lead, it goes dead. Right when we think we have an alliance, it goes soft. It’s one of those rabbit holes, but when you’re falling down that type of rabbit hole, not by yourself, and you have two others that are extremely smart, you get entertained really well. The trifecta that we have, the three of us are so different, but we play together so well. The chemistry that Jason, Kathy, and I have is extraordinary. We’re all just very lucky to be able to finally give the audience the gift of revealing what we’ve all been waiting for. That happens in the finale. That’s why you guys need two hours of us.

Matlock airs on CBS and is available to stream on Paramount+.