Matty Matlock’s foray into the cutthroat world of Big Pharma gets a personal twist in “Belly of the Beast.” This week, Matlock (Kathy Bates) and Julian (Jason Ritter) take on a case representing a young woman experiencing debilitating side effects from a clinical trial, a storyline seemingly ripped from countless pharmaceutical lawsuits. Will Matty’s folksy charm work against high-powered lawyers and mountains of fine print? Given her track record, it’s unwise to bet against her. But this time, there’s more than courtroom drama brewing.
While Matty tackles corporate greed, a festive holiday party at the firm becomes the backdrop for another kind of revelation. Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), always one step ahead, stumbles upon a secret from Julian’s past, a skeleton he’d clearly preferred to keep locked away. This discovery adds a complicated new dimension to their already interesting dynamic. How will this impact their working relationship, and will Matty get dragged into the fallout? .
“Belly of the Beast” appears set to deliver a double dose of drama – legal maneuvering in the courtroom and simmering tension within the firm. The pharmaceutical case itself provides fertile ground for exploring corporate responsibility (or lack thereof), while the surfacing of Julian’s secret hints at deeper character development and potential interpersonal conflicts. It’ll be interesting to see which plotline takes center stage, or if the writers manage to weave them together into a satisfying whole. One thing’s for sure, with Matlock, there’s always more than meets the eye, and we definitely wouldn’t underestimate Matty’s nose for trouble, both inside and outside the courtroom.
“Belly of the Beast” airs Thursday, December 5, at 9:01 PM ET/PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
“Belly of the Beast” is written by Hennah Sekander and directed by Tessa Blake. The cast also includes Leah Lewis as Sarah and David Del Rio as Billy.
