Jason Ritter Unpacks ‘Matlock’ Season 2 (and Trying to Get ‘Yellowjackets’ Secrets from Melanie Lynskey)

Actor Jason Ritter discussed his character Julian Markston's recent revelation about Madeline Kingston's true identity and the conspiracy against him in an interview with IndieWire on February 27, 2026, following the dramatic developments in the latest episode of the CBS legal drama 'Matlock.' In Season 2, Episode 9, 'Collateral,' Julian discovers that Madeline Kingston (Kathy Bates) is actually Matty Matlock, the mother of a girl lost to the opioid epidemic whose death Julian and his father helped cover up. The actor described his character as 'gullible' and explained how Julian has been 'blissfully unaware' but now must 'reckon with the consequences' after learning that his ex-wife Olympia Lawrence (Skye P. Marshall) has been conspiring with Madeline to expose his role in their law firm's unethical practices. Ritter shared a surreal experience of walking onto set to find his character literally mapped out on a conspiracy board, noting how this placed Julian 'right in the middle of the mystery' and under investigation. The actor also delved into the psychological complexity of Julian's relationship with his father (Beau Bridges), describing how Julian grapples between seeking parental approval while resenting his father's ability to escape consequences for his actions, a dynamic Ritter connects to broader issues of wealth and privilege. 'It's one of my favorite things in literature and plays and stories and movies,' Ritter explained, referring to the 'tough combination of the idolization between sons and fathers, and then seeing their deep, real faults.' He noted that Julian sees his father as a brilliant lawyer who has never faced consequences, which drives Julian crazy but also fuels his desire for approval, especially as his father's health declines. Additionally, Ritter touched on his personal life, mentioning that he and his wife Melanie Lynskey, who appears on 'Matlock' and stars in 'Yellowjackets,' maintain a policy of not sharing spoilers about their respective shows. 'It's so funny. We'll talk to each other about our characters and things like that after we've watched the final product, but it does feel kind of like we're working on our own little secrets,' Ritter shared, adding that his wife 'will not tell me anything' about 'Yellowjackets' despite his deep fandom for the show.