Warning! Spoilers ahead for Matlock episode 16, "The Johnson Case."

Matlock "reboot" was initially met with skepticism for a couple of reasons. Andy Griffith's original version was beloved, and since no one from that project was coming over to the new iteration, there was an argument that there was really no need for its reinvention. The response to 2024 Matlock changed, however, when the pilot revealed its true story.

As it turned out, instead of a new version of the lovable senior lawyer, CBS' Matlock features Bates' Madeline Kingston who mined inspiration from Griffith's show to infiltrate Jacobson Moore. Her goal — to expose the organization from hiding documents that could have taken opioids from the market before her very own daughter ended up dying because of an overdose. As great as Bates is, the Matlock cast is a great ensemble, with Skye P. Marshall's Olympia developing a sweet relationship with Madeline. Their friendship is now threatened after Olympia finds the truth about her latest recruit.

Matlock Episode 16 Reveals That Olympia Has Always Known About Madeline's True Identity

Olympia Catches Madeline

Matlock episode 16, "The Johnson Case," sees Olympia and her team take on a case about a man who was supposedly imprisoned incorrectly after the jury's verdict was forced upon her. Though the matter seems hopeless, Billy, Sarah, and the rest work tirelessly to get to the bottom of the truth, which they eventually do. At the end of Matlock episode 16, Madeline gets off at the usual bus stop where she is greeted by her butler. However, she is cornered by Olympia, who finally confronts her about her real identity. The episode ends without Madeline's response.

This is undoubtedly the biggest twist in Matlock since the show revealed Madeline's true motives in the premiere episode.

Apparently, Olympia has known for a while that her friend and confidante has been lying about herself, although she hasn't figured out who she really is and why she has targeted Jacobson Moore. This is undoubtedly the biggest twist in Matlock since the show revealed Madeline's true motives in the premiere episode. The revelation will likely change the course of the show moving forward.

It May Not Seem Like It, But Olympia Catching Madeline Is Great For Kathy Bates' Character

Madeline May Have Found Her Biggest Ally

ittedly, being caught isn't exactly a good thing for Madeline. She has made tremendous progress in the last several weeks trying to pin down who actually hid the Wellbrexa documents that she has been looking for. There were some major setbacks, not to mention a few conflicts with Edwin, but this is the closest she's ever been to figuring out the real culprit. Olympia finding out about her lie could totally derail her plans. That being said, Matlock has also reiterated Olympia's strong principles, which could ultimately lead to her to help Madeline.

...considering Olympia's strong sense of justice and ability to empathize, it's safe to say that she will eventually realize that Madeline is motivated by grief.

Obviously, Bates' character would have to properly explain her whole plan to her boss, and for a while, their relationship will likely be strained. However, considering Olympia's strong sense of justice and ability to empathize, it's safe to say that she will eventually realize that Madeline is motivated by grief. Assuming that Olympia eventually agrees to help her, she could be the key to solving this whole storyline, considering her position in the company. From there, their partnership could continue in Matlock season 2.