Matty works on a case with Julian in which a young woman sues after experiencing severe symptoms from a clinical trial. At the company holiday party, Olympia learns a secret about Julian's past.
The viewer can never get too comfortable. Matty is always juggling a couple of plans at once. She is on a mission. She has finally earned the opportunity to work a case for Wellbrexa. She suddenly experiences a different side of Jacobson Moore. She too has grown comfortable in her working dynamic with Olympia, Billy and Sarah. They rely on her as well. Everyone sees and respects her skills. She has always talked about the money that comes from these pharma cases. This move was inevitable. It also highlights just how difficult this undercover work truly is. With Olympia, Matty was fighting for justice. She was doing good work. With Julian, she represents the interests of the pharmaceutical industry. That means crushing a young woman who is suing over a reaction to a drug in a clinical trial. That's the mindset needed to prevail in this side of the profession. It's absolutely ruthless. One innocent mistake is all it takes to get her fired for good. That's how important this client is to the firm. Senior carefully manages the relationship with the CEO. He oversees everything. Julian is never given the chance to command the team with his vision. It's always how his father wants things to be done. He does the work and praises the solution Matty finds. He also has no problem with any of the tactics needed to succeed.
Matty is all alone during the holidays too. Edwin and Alfie are on vacation. They can be reached by phone. That provides assistance to Matty when she needs it. However, the show doesn't provide the moment where Matty had to tell them she would be continuing with the mission. Her health was jeopardized by the stress of this work. She is taking things more seriously now. However, she still explodes over the hate she must deliver to prove herself. She has to become someone else's monster. She is motivated out of grief for her daughter. She advocates for Ellie in death. She aims to hold people accountable for their actions. She isn't unique in that way. So many loved ones want these corporate overlords to suffer consequences for the harm inflicted on their communities. Matty's tactics are novel. She has infiltrated Jacobson Moore. She has become a lawyer on these cases. She represents evil. She is on the receiving end of questions about how she can live with herself. She has to believe it's all for the greater good. She just has to suffer through the pain and embarrassment right now. That's a struggle. She finds the loophole that wins Wellbrexa the case. That leaves an innocent victim with nothing after all of this. Matty made that happen. She will forever be the face of this decision. She has to live with that. She was forced into this position by the client. She delivered the punishing blow. She had to come to that decision by herself.
Relationships are deepening throughout the firm. Matty's absence is noted. Billy and Sarah suddenly feel as if they can't do this job correctly. They don't need Matty. They are just as capable as she is. They need confidence. Billy is a people pleaser. Sarah is learning personal skills. They learn from one another. It's not a tortured dynamic either. It's the two of them encouraging each other in ways that actually highlight growth. It's devastating for Billy when Claudia rejects his proposal. They have spent eight years together. He was ready to take this step. She felt stuck. It was the wrong time for her to make that declaration. It needed to happen. This relationship was nothing more than a simple comfort. They deserve more than that. It couldn't become anything else. Meanwhile, things with Sarah and Kira advance. Their dates have all taken place at the firm. It's convenient because they both work there and are committed to their jobs. Sarah is anxious about Kira seeing her interests and walking away. Ultimately, Kira is charmed by Sarah's singing. It's a sweet moment. These dynamics work because they are genuine. They are exactly as they are presented. Big twists still occur. However, the audience doesn't need to look closer to see some ulterior motive. That defines Matty's entire life. It's a constant struggle for her. Others have plenty going on too. Matty is operating at a different level. The facade is convincing. The audience knows to look deeper.
Meanwhile, Olympia and Julian don't keep their rekindled relationship a secret for very long. Matty can tell simply by sharing an elevator with them. She wants advice for how to handle Wellbrexa's in-house counsel. He's a pompous jerk who says whatever he wants. They just have to go along with it and sometimes punch back. That works a little bit. It still offers no redemption. It's just how Trent operates. Olympia and Julian have that insight. Matty sees things too. The couple believes things will be better now because they know how to communicate and advocate for their needs. Julian refuses to believe he is anything like his father. Senior notes how alike they are. That can't be denied. Julian wants to look past it. He wants to enjoy the blissful ignorance. That only causes more pain later on. Julian has to be honest about everything he did in the past. It hurts Olympia all over again. He confesses to having an affair. Olympia walks out immediately. Everything suddenly changes again. Julian wants to prove that this time will be different. He wants to improve the foundation so the relationship can actually last. It remains a turbulent journey. One where the two obviously have a lot of affection for one another. They cause each other pain too. Olympia knows she needs to comfort Julian after he is fired from the case. That's more important that checking in with Matty. Everything is easy to understand. That doesn't make the pain disappear. It only shows the brutal nature of every aspect of life for these characters all the time. It could be exhausting. The show does a solid job in layering it all in nicely. Emotions bubble up to the surface frequently. That outrage doesn't overpower all the other moments of growth. It's all a careful balance adding up to so much more as the season develops.
