Matlock Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?

Warning: Matlock season 1 spoilers ahead!

Matlock is back on the case.

The CBS legal drama — an adaptation of Andy Griffith’s hit ’80s series of the same name — was renewed for a second season in October 2024. Season 1 premiered weeks earlier and followed widowed former attorney Madeline “Matty” Matlock (Kathy Bates), who talked her way into a job at a prestigious New York law firm.

But she wasn’t just a grieving woman looking to busy herself with work. Matlock was really there because she believed someone at the firm hid evidence that could have saved her daughter, who died in the opioid epidemic.

By the end of the debut season, the audience had found out the person responsible: Julian (Jason Ritter), Olympia (Skye P. Marshall)’s ex-husband.

“It’s just as bad as it gets,” executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman told PEOPLE in April 2025. “Because you felt like the hope of a friendship could come for Olympia and Matty, and then Olympia gets this information.”

She added, “In some ways it makes their friendship more possible, because she knows Matty was right, but to have that happen would be at the expense of her family and it’s a terrible, but delicious dilemma for season 2.”

The second season of Matlock will premiere on Oct. 12. Here’s everything to know about the drama’s episode release schedule and when new episodes will air.

When does Matlock season 2 premiere?

The second season of Matlock will premiere on Sunday, Oct. 12. Though CBS will air a “sneak peek” episode of the legal drama to kick off its season, Matlock will return to its regular Thursday slot for episode 2.

It looks like the show will dive right into the season 1 cliffhanger, with the official logline for episode 1 reading: “Matty questions the paternity of the man claiming to be Alfie’s father. Also, the team takes on an arson case while Olympia tries to protect Julian’s involvement in the Wellbrexa case.”

How many episodes are in season 2 of Matlock?

CBS hasn’t released the number of episodes fans will get in season 2 of Matlock. So far, only the first two episodes have been confirmed. Season 1 ran for 19 episodes, with the finale broken down into two parts.

Though she hadn’t yet read the scripts for season 2, Marshall teased to PEOPLE in May 2025 that she believed her character was going to “bring hell in Jacobson Moore” in the upcoming season.

“I think that Olympia is for the people,” the actress said. “And I think that — I believe that — Olympia is going to do what’s right.”

What is Matlock’s release schedule?

On Sunday, Oct. 12, CBS will release the first episode of Matlock season 2. After that special premiere, the series will return to its regular Thursday night slot for the next episode.

The network is likely to continue its previous release schedule for Matlock, airing new episodes every Thursday, barring breaks for holidays.

The release schedule for the first two episodes has been confirmed:

• Oct. 12: “The Before Times”
• Oct. 16: “Another Matlock”

What time do new episodes of Matlock come out?

Episode 1 of Matlock‘s second season will air at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+ Premium. The episode will be available to stream on Paramount+ the next day for non-premium accounts.

The second episode will premiere at 9 p.m. ET/PT and follow a similar schedule for Paramount+ streamers.

Urman told PEOPLE that fans can continue to expect surprises about “who gets read into the truth and when” regarding Matlock’s identity. “I just want to thank people for giving us the chance and going on this road with us,” she said, regarding the show’s future.

Though she hoped the season 1 ending was “satisfying” for viewers, she added that she also wanted people to realize “how much more story” there is to tell in season 2.

Where can I watch Matlock?

The first season of Matlock is available to stream on Paramount+.