Matlock Delivered A Tragic Twist To Send Off David Del Rio’s Billy, And Leah Lewis Crushed It In The Fall Finale

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Be warned: this article contains spoilers for the recent holiday episode of Matlock, titled “Call It a Christmas Gift.” You can watch the episode now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Wow, the first part of Matlock on CBS for 2025 just finished, and it left me reeling! There were so many surprises to keep us hooked until Season 2 arrives in 2026. I can’t believe Julian is actually starting to take charge, even though Matty and Olympia still see him as someone they can control. The biggest shock, though, was Senior having a stroke – he still hasn’t woken up! On top of that, Matty managed to get some important files from Olympia, the team suffered a defeat in court, and poor Sarah received some really upsetting news from her boss. It was a lot to take in!

It wasn’t surprising to learn that Matlock orchestrated David Del Rio’s departure from the show after he was fired due to allegations last fall. However, Leah Lewis really elevated the storyline with her fantastic performance as Sarah, making it much more compelling.

How Matlock Wrote Out Billy

I was really sad to hear from Jennie Snyder Urman, the showrunner, that David Del Rio won’t be returning as Billy. She told Deadline before the new movie came out that his appearance in the last episode was his final one, which is tough to accept as a fan.

I won’t get into specifics, but I can talk about how it plays out in the show. You last see Billy in episode 7, and his story concludes naturally as a result of the ongoing merger and its impact on everyone in the office.

It’s no surprise that his story concluded so naturally in Episode 8 with a focus on his relationship with Sarah – Leah Lewis and David Del Rio shared the most scenes together. Lewis essentially carried that entire storyline on her own, and she did a fantastic job.

Sarah knew right away Billy wasn’t at work – he’d taken a personal day. She felt terrible about betraying Olympia by secretly photographing Julian’s calendar for Senior, and that guilt was weighing on her.

Sarah initially confided in his voicemail, but eventually reached him later in the show. This happened right after she told Olympia the truth, which led to her being kicked off the team for breaking her confidence. We then heard Sarah’s side of the phone call.

Hi Billy, there’s a lot going on, but I wanted to check in first – how was your day? I was really worried not knowing what was happening with you. I was so upset to hear about the miscarriage, and I’m truly sorry. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be. Please give her my love, to both of you. As for me, my day was okay, nothing much happened. I’m just really saddened by everything.

Sarah began to cry during her part of the phone call, but she controlled her voice so Billy wouldn’t realize she was upset. For actress Leah Lewis, this meant acting as if she were having a conversation with someone who wasn’t actually there, and potentially responding to lines that hadn’t even been written for the other character.

The actress had a complex task: wrapping up her character’s story, and Billy’s, in a very short amount of time before the show’s break. She handled it beautifully. Considering Leah Lewis may have also been facing personal difficulties while filming, she really stood out as the best performer in this episode.

Why David Del Rio Was Fired

I understand it was really tough for Leah Lewis to film those final scenes with Billy. It turns out David Del Rio was let go from Matlock after his co-star accused him of sexual assault. They acted quickly – the news came out in October. I heard production kept going, and producers, including Eric Christian Olsen from NCIS: LA, actually escorted him off set.

Shortly after the news broke, Leah Lewis assured fans she was being well taken care of. The second season of the show premiered with Billy still involved, as filming had already started and he hadn’t been fired yet when the allegations were looked into. Now, the show Matlock has used up all the episodes that included his character, and this mention of Billy may be the last time he’s referenced.

What’s Next For Sarah?

When Sarah admitted to spying on Julian for Senior, Olympia didn’t get angry, but she immediately removed Sarah from the team. She simply told Sarah that trust was broken, and the decision was final.

Sarah still has a job at Jacobson Moore, but her boss removed her from the team she really enjoyed. Currently, that team only includes Olympia and Matty. I suspect her new role is a temporary one, and she’ll likely rejoin Olympia and Matty soon. Leah Lewis is a key part of the show, and it’s hard to believe they’d keep her from having a significant role.

It’s possible she could remain well-known even if Olympia doesn’t rehire her, especially if she joins another prominent team, but there aren’t many good options available. Her father was still recovering from a stroke when everything concluded, and it’s unclear what Julian will do with the new information he’s learned about his former wife and Matty.

The show Matlock is adding two new faces for the second half of its second season: Sarah Wright Olsen, known from Parks and Recreation, and Henry Haber. This role could be a significant opportunity for Haber, marking his first appearance on a major network television series. Olsen will portray an efficiency expert tasked with evaluating Jacobson Moore, and Haber will play a colleague from a temporary employee pool, described by creator Jennie Snyder Urman as “a real bro.”

Okay, fellow TV fans, get ready! I’m excited to share that Matlock is coming back to CBS on Thursday, February 26th at 9 p.m. Eastern! It’ll be a nice little treat before Elsbeth returns. And if you’re like me and need a Matlock fix before the new episodes, you can stream the whole series right now on Paramount+.

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2025-12-12 07:40