Countdown to Matlock Season 2 Episode 14: Release Date, Exact Time, and Where to Watch

Let’s talk about the new 'Matlock': it’s not often you get an 80s courtroom staple resurrected, let alone with Kathy Bates leading the charge. But here we are, well into Season 2 of CBS’s reboot, and Episode 14 is about to drop. Here’s what you need to know—no law degree required.

When’s the Next Episode?

If you’re keeping track, Matlock Season 2, Episode 14 (they’re calling it 'Day One') is hitting CBS on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The big premiere window is at 6:00 p.m. PT (so West Coasters can watch with dinner) and 9:00 p.m. ET for everyone over on the East Coast. No weird time zone trickery—it drops at those exact times.

So What’s Going On in 'Day One'?

The plot this week turns up the pressure: the Matlock team’s still untangling Senior’s money mess, which, just for the record, only seems to get messier. There’s a big-deal meeting with a key accomplice that could break the whole thing open. Meanwhile, because there’s no rest for legal eagles, they've grabbed a completely new case involving a criminal justice student—nice thematic touch there.

Casting Call (And, Yes, It’s Kathy Bates Time)

• Kathy Bates stars as Madeline 'Matty' Matlock—a legal prodigy turned tough, older lawyer who’s back at work and still sharper than anyone in the room.
• Backing her up: Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, Leah Lewis, and Sam Anderson. If you’ve seen any TV in the past five years, at least one of those names should sound familiar.

So, Is It Anything Like Old-School 'Matlock'?

Well, yes and no. CBS’s official synopsis has a bit of fun with it:

'After achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock rejoins the workforce at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within. Inspired by the classic television series of the same name.'

Translation: the reboot keeps the formula—clever lawyer, fish-out-of-water moments, surprising wins in the courtroom—but has no problem shifting focus to modern topics and leaning on Kathy Bates’s generally killer screen presence.

Where Can You Watch?

'Matlock' streams and airs on CBS. If you’re already watching CBS for stuff like 'Tracker', 'Fire Country', the 101st incarnation of 'NCIS', or even soap staples like 'The Young and the Restless', just stick around. Or catch up online if broadcast TV isn’t your thing—CBS keeps most episodes available via their site and streaming platforms.

All told: if you’re into legal dramas with a familiar face, or just want a procedural that isn’t about serial killers for once, 'Matlock' is quietly one of the more interesting revivals. Episode 14 is out April 16—mark your calendars, or at least remember to check your streaming queue.