It was abundantly clear previously that Olympia's case against Slamm'd carried personal parallels to Matty's own pursuit of justice. That's why it was disappointing in the prior episode when the focus shifted to one individual case. Olympia views this as the case that will secure her partner position. She has talked it up for years. It's a righteous cause. She assembled the evidence. She had a compelling named plaintiff. She was confident. She wanted to take down this company for marketing an alcoholic drink to minors and covering up the dangers. Personal history influences how the case plays out in a courtroom. Olympia can't work with Shae. And so, she has to present her entire case to appeal to one juror. Without him, everything will be ruined. The testimony has to be specifically driven to his beliefs. No one can blame Tucker for being irresponsible. The blame has to reside entirely with Slamm'd. They need to be stopped before more people are harmed. Everyone is so passionate. Matty operates the same way. She has Olympia's back completely. She is ready to strategize and comfort her every step of the way. No matter how much she cares about the work though, it's all tainted by her true mission.
Matty can't keep her sister Bitsy away from the evidence board in her office. It's also obvious Matty based her Matlock persona on her younger sister. She lifted so much of the Southern charm from her. She claims that Matlock actually has depth underneath the ditzy exterior. She doesn't have the same opinion of her sister. She's annoying. Matty can't deal with her during this stressful time. She doesn't want to spend time with her or her interests. Obviously, she still carries a ton of pain. She hates how Bitsy acted during Ellie's recovery too. Matty wants to be in control. She was worried when her daughter went missing for a week. Bitsy tried to give Ellie the support she needed. Her intentions were pure. Mistakes were still made. The family is capable of owning up to them now. Nothing they can do will bring Ellie back. They miss her every day. She suffered from an addiction. And now, Matty is engaging in the same behavior. She needs to prove someone at Jacobson Moore was responsible for allowing the opioid epidemic to worsen over years. Ellie's life may not have been saved. However, countless others could have. Matty is fighting for all of them too. It just carries more personal significance because of the loss she felt.
All of this may only result in disappointment for Matty. She's driven by what was suggested on Reddit. Three people at the firm were identified as possible suspects. Matty's opinion has been shaped by her interactions with Olympia, Senior and Julian. She has made judgments about whether they could have destroyed documents a decade ago. She relishes in the thought of Julian and Shae working together covertly for selfish reasons. It's a fantastical premise. One driven by spy thrillers. It's just as likely that Olympia was the culprit. Matty wanted to remove her as a suspect. The new evidence points directly at her. It's clear Olympia used Julian's key card throughout the building during the day in question. It appears as the only possibility. Matty is stunned by the realization. She was certain in her previous assessment. She didn't base it on fact. She may still find a way to rationalize Olympia's actions. Her boss finally has the chance to prove herself to the firm. She has been doing cases that mattered. She has climbed the ladder for this opportunity. The horrors of the past lurk. Matty is blinded by them. Olympia sees comfort in her old office too. Right now though, it's all about figuring out the layout of the firm years ago. That sets up the devastation Matty feels.
It was all obviously heading in this direction too. That's the purpose behind the sudden contest for Olympia's old office. Sarah wants it to symbolize the bond between mentor and mentee. Billy also has his own angle to exploit. The two often are positioned as tangential concerns to the overall narrative. Their growth has had very little to do with the underlying journey. They may be making mistakes with their current relationships. They acknowledge that and still need their friend to support them. That's a moment of honesty. This show is great when delivering those moments of reflection and drama. Matty feels the pressure to hold a person responsible. She needs that pursuit of justice. It's her addiction. And so, the narrative carefully crafts a way to result in that big reveal. Olympia had big aspirations. They were confronted by a brutal reality. She doesn't get a victory. A settlement is accepted. That's what she accomplished. It's meaningful. It's not enough. She wants more. Matty does too. They are built the same. They have a more significant relationship. Sure, Matty has had key interactions with Julian and Senior. They still just pale in comparison to what has been built over the season with Olympia. That was the obvious positioning from the very beginning. It hasn't fundamentally changed. Matty has to get back to basics. It's difficult because she has been blinded by knowing these people as humans and not the criminals she desperately wants them to be.
