How Did ‘Matlock’ Explain David Del Rio’s Exit in Midseason Finale?
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Matlock Season 2 Episode 8, “Call It a Christmas Gift.”]
Hours before the Matlock midseason finale aired on CBS on December 11, creator Jennie Snyder Urman revealed that David Del Rio‘s final episode as Billy Martinez had already aired. Del Rio was fired from the series in October after CBS investigated a report of an alleged sexual assault. It reportedly involved his costar, Leah Lewis, who plays Sarah. Del Rio denies the allegations. Snyder Urman said that Billy’s absence would be explained in future episodes. How was it addressed in the midseason finale, Episode 8?
When was David Del Rio’s final episode of Matlock?
Snyder Urman said that Del Rio’s final Matlock was Season 2 Episode 7, which aired on December 4.
“I’m not going to discuss details, but what I can talk about is in terms of the show,” Snyder Urman told Deadline. “The last episode you see him is in 7, and then you find out how Billy’s story ends, which is in a very organic way that has to do with our whole office and how things are being shaped in this merger.”
How did Matlock write out David Del Rio’s Billy?
Michael Yarish/CBS
There was a possible merger looming in Matlock Season 2. In Episode 7, Billy and Sarah discussed rumors of the merger. Early in Episode 8, Sarah called Billy and left him a voicemail saying she didn’t want to pry or push, implying that he was suddenly absent from work, but it wasn’t clear why. Near the end of the episode, Billy called Sarah back.
“It was so weird not knowing what was happening with you,” she said on the phone.
Viewers only heard Sarah on the call, but it was revealed that Billy’s pregnant partner, Claudia (Bella Ortiz), had a miscarriage. It seems that Billy is going to take some time to be with his family, with potential updates on the character to come in later episodes.
Is Senior dead in Matlock?
Elsewhere in the holiday episode, Sarah was hoping to talk to Billy about feeling guilty for spying on Julian (Jason Ritter) at the order of Senior (Beau Bridges). A couple of scenes later, Senior had a stroke and ended up in the hospital in a medically induced coma.
Before his stroke, Senior arranged a big holiday bonus for Sarah. Julian got information that helped Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) and Matty’s (Kathy Bates) growing case against Senior, but they wondered how they’d be able to get justice in the Wellbrexa investigation if Senior dies.
Earlier, they had accessed thousands of photos from Senior’s trip to Australia with Debra Palmer (Melanie Lynskey), the trip that’s key to their Wellbrexa investigation. Julian found a number saved as “Australia” in his dad’s phone. He felt guilty for searching while Senior was unconscious. Later on, Julian spoke to his unconscious father in a moving scene reflecting on their complicated relationship.
“I want to move on from the resentments, so I’m letting go of mine, because you’re my dad,” Julian said through tears.
Michael Yarish/CBS
Olympia brought the Wellbrexa study to Matty and Edwin’s (Sam Anderson) home. They tried to keep the document for themselves, but eventually let Olympia leave with it. The Kingstons warned that if Senior dies, they may go back to their plan to hold Julian accountable. Snyder Urman told Deadline that the Welbrexa study storyline will conclude in Season 2.
The case of the week led to Matty giving an impassioned statement to a jury, in which she said there’s always a cost to telling the truth. It hit hard for everyone in the room, especially Olympia and Sarah, and even more so when they lost their case. This made Sarah come clean to Olympia about taking pictures of Julian’s date book. Olympia moved her off her team in response.
“Trust is important, and you lost mine,” she said.
The episode ended with Olympia giving Matty the Wellbrexa study in a sign of trust, saying that Matty deserved justice, even if it meant Julian getting in trouble. At the same time, she hoped Julian would stay safe.
The camera panned back to reveal that Julian was outside of Olympia’s house. The closing flashbacks revealed that Julian was spying on them the entire episode. Now he knows that Olympia and Matty have the Wellbrexa study. Fans will have to wait until late February for this latest Matlock cliffhanger to be addressed.
Matlock, Returns Thursday, February 26, 9/8c, CBS
If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network‘s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.
Conversation17 Comments
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J
I was disappointed in this episode. Firstly, because Matty & Olympia lost their court case-- no last-minute, magical piece of information to help their client get some sort of settlement. I thought maybe at least the jury might award him something. Also, I was a big sad that Jacobson Moore cancelled their holiday party. I know why they did it, of course, but still, the show must go on.
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L
Matlock leaves you wanting more like the addiction of Weblaxen drug it is addicting, “Wow I’m an addict”! To now make the wait to February 26, 2026 to see episode 9 is crazy!!!! 2 more episodes to then end season 2 and wait for season 3 maybe in come back fall 2026 this is wild! How to survive No Matlock???? Wow!!!!!
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M
So happy Julian is no longer in the dark— his character was almost spineless. Where does Sarah go, are they writing her out; her story lines were mostly with Billy. Julian appears to have some deviousness in him also—-I did enjoy him tonight.
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P
Why do people think they're writing her out?
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V
I liked this episode a lot, it finally feels like the series is on track. The storyline explored the issue of morality in both Olympia and Sarah and had appropriate gravitas for a show dealing with hiding evidence in the opioid crisis. And it was very fitting that they lost the case - justice and the law, sadly, are often two different things. When individuals try to go up against the juggernaut, it frequently happens that they lose, and the episode acknowledges that. Julian mentioned how his father stood up for him against the school principal even though he knew Julian had cheated - this invites us to think that perhaps Julian will panic and throw his lot in with his dad again once he recovers, without knowing that Olympia has actually been working to save him. Whatever else happens in the show, I hope that at some point Alfie gets to confront Senior and Julian, in whatever form that might take.
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M
Glad it's ending soon, getting bored with the storyline. Hopefully it will return to solving cases rather than dragging out the same old thing.
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T
I certainly hope Sarah is not written out. Leah Lewis (along with Skye P Marshall) are the two biggest reasons to watch this show. Yes, Kathy Bates is terrific (as she is in everything she does) but Leah and Skye really make this series stand apart from others.
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P
what makes you think they're writing her out?
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S
I think that firing a person on the word of another person is totally disgusting. We’re not being given any details about what really happened between the two people involved. How easy it is to take one person‘s word over the other with absolutely no evidence. In my opinion, this leaves a very bad taste in the mouth about the people who run this series. Maybe he did do something wrong. But we don’t know.
We also don’t know what the woman might’ve had to do with it.
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I
They did an investigation before firing him. They didn't "just take her word." Just because they didn't release the details of the investigation does not mean there was no evidence. What do you mean the woman might have had something to do with it?
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R
An investigation was done. Just because we don't know all the facts of what happened Doesn't mean there wasn't a good reason for firing him We'll just have to wait and see. He'll get his day in court.
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G
Tired of the vindictiveness of Matty and her husband, they especially Matty share blame for the daughter’s addiction. Nobody forced pills down her throat!!! If she had an addictive personality she would have turned to alcohol or other drugs if the wellbrexa drug wasn’t available. Also why no other victims?
In addition I hope the actor clears his name and the actress is written out
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P
Seriously? The company knew the dangers of the drug, sold it anyway, and covered it up. Of course they're vindictive! I can't answer to "no other victims," but I suspect probably because none of the others knew about the study. Just a guess.
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J
In one sentence you say Matty & her husband "share blame" for the daughter's addition. Yet in the VERY NEXT SENTENCE you say "nobody forced pills down her throat." As for the rest of your comments, I'm not sure what you're talking about.
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J
Why don't you write yourself out?
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T
I am really disappointed. I was enjoying the show with all the cast members. Even though Lead can't act. I don't feel like they should have fired David, until a full investigation was done and completed. Lets not forget there is 3 sides to every story the man, the women, and the real truth. I have not watched since they fired him. Firing someone because someone says something is truly not right.
Then fire her too. It's not the same.
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I
They did a complete investigation and then fired him. And no, there are not always three sides to every story. Why should she be fired?
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