Spoilers ahead for “Sixteen Steps,” Season 1, Episode 6 of Matlock. The episode pairs a retrial over an infant’s death from contaminated baby formula with a flashback to Matty and Olympia’s first meeting. The courtroom win brings the mothers millions in punitive damages, but Matty’s advice also leaves her confronting the personal cost of the case.
What is the official title of Matlock Episode 6?
CBS lists Season 1, Episode 6 as “Sixteen Steps.” It aired November 14, 2024, runs 43 minutes, and is rated TV-14. CBS’s synopsis frames it as a second chance for Olympia and Julian on a contaminated-formula death case, with the case’s history exposing parts of the story behind their divorce. CBS season guide and CBS episode listing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Matlock (2024): Season One [DVD] | $28.45 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Matlock: Season 4 | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Matlock: The Ninth and Final Season | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Matlock: The Complete Series | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Matlock: Season 6 | $23.00 | Buy on Amazon |
What happens in the formula retrial?
In the present-day storyline, Jacobson Moore retries the case brought by Vanessa and Anna after their infant son died from contaminated baby formula. Olympia had previously promised not to cross-examine either mother about her parenting. That choice helped cost the plaintiffs the first case, leaving Olympia to reconsider how to present the loss to a jury.
Anna is pregnant and has a blood-pressure concern, so Vanessa takes the stand. Matty urges Olympia to let Vanessa speak directly about her son and what happened, even though doing so will be painful. Evidence tied to factory safety officer Teddy’s cast and the formula pipes helps Olympia explain the contamination timeline. The jury awards the mothers millions in punitive damages; the recap does not state an exact amount. Filmibee’s November 15, 2024 recap.
#1 Best Overall
How does the flashback explain Matty and Olympia’s connection?
A timeline two years earlier shows Matty arriving at Jacobson Moore and spilling coffee on Olympia, who reacts sharply. Their first encounter falls during a difficult stretch for Olympia: she and Julian had just lost the formula case, and she had asked Julian for a divorce. The episode links this earlier meeting to Matty’s eventual decision to investigate Wellbrexa from inside the firm.
Why does Matty turn Stanley away?
Stanley, who knew Matty’s late daughter Ellie, comes to her for help when his son disappears during a drug binge. Matty initially engages with him, then abruptly tells him not to contact her again. The recap describes the response as unusually harsh, but that is the recapper’s interpretation rather than an established explanation for Matty’s behavior.
Rank #2
- Factory sealed DVD
What happens to Matty after the trial?
Matty talks with Olympia about her daughter and encourages her to let Vanessa testify. After the testimony, Matty feels the emotional weight of urging a grieving mother to revisit her loss and has a panic attack. Edwin tells her to quit the firm.
Matty arrives ready to resign, but Olympia and Julian instead offer her a place on Julian’s Wellbrexa case. She takes the assignment as a reason to stay. The episode closes with Olympia and Julian reunited, bringing them into closer alignment at work as Matty continues her investigation. The Wellbrexa case remains an ongoing series storyline, not a mystery resolved in this episode.
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Who appears in “Sixteen Steps”?
The secondary recap identifies Kathy Bates as Matty, Skye P. Marshall as Olympia, Jason Ritter as Julian, Aaron Harris as Alfie, Sam Anderson as Edwin, Ayesha Harris as Vanessa, Veronica Diaz Carranza as Anna, and Jernard Burks as Teddy. These are recap attributions; CBS’s listings are the primary source for the episode’s official title and broadcast details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you watch Episode 6?
CBS’s video listing states that viewing in the United States requires a Paramount+ subscription. Availability outside the U.S. is not established by that listing. CBS episode listing.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Factory sealed DVD
Rank #4
- Genre: TV Crime
- Number of Discs: 52
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Rating: NR
- Number of Movies: 0
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