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.
Both Matty and Olympia are lying to each other in the hopes of keeping their families protected. The narrative always wants to leave the audience unclear of their motivations until the very end. It's a formula the show utilized very well during its first season. At times, it was the expected plot development. Every episode had to end with some big reveal of how Matty was smarter than everyone else. That didn't always present her with any true adversity to overcome. Instead, the hurdles are much more institutional. She was targeting one of the most powerful firms in the city. She gathered evidence. She had yet to discover the smoking gun. Her true identity was found out before that occurred. Olympia currently possesses the Wellbrexa documents that were purposefully concealed. Julian did so following orders from his father. The premiere easily makes the case for Senior being the true villain of this story. He declares that the law can't touch him. For a moment, that appears to motivate Matty into pivoting her focus back onto him. That's where Olympia wants to concentrate their energy. She has no love for the man who has threatened her family with this coverup. However, the central story still follows Matty and Olympia as they desperately want to trust each other even when they have to prioritize their own families.
Matty is distraught over Alfie's father Joey suddenly appearing. She and Edwin talked about reaching out. They never knew who he was. They feared what influence he would have on Alfie's life. They had to protect him. They failed to keep Ellie safe. They didn't know all that was happening in her life. They also made her struggles more difficult. Matty created a story that allowed her to assign blame. Ellie was prescribed opiates to treat an injury. Instead, Ellie tried the pills at a party. That's what got her hooked. Matty twisted a story of victory into one of tragedy. It was a complete lie. She's been deceiving the world for a long time. She cared what others thought. She needed to rationalize it herself. That was ultimately the most devastating aspect. That removed all trust between her and her daughter. She acknowledges that now. She continues to grapple with the consequences. She orders Edwin and Alfie out of the house when Joey arrives. She needs to confirm the biological connection and his sobriety. Alfie sought his father out because Matty and Edwin worried about guardianship should anything happen to them. He wants this connection. Yet Matty knows that Joey may not be a source of support given he's not sober.
This family turmoil provides Olympia with the opportunity to deceive Matty. She even claims that they know each other so well at this point that they can tell when the other is lying. Olympia uses that dialogue to sell her deceit. She is keeping the documents in a newly installed safe at the brownstone. She takes ownership over them. Julian must do whatever she orders now in order to protect their family - including begging his father for a demotion. Matty doesn't know his involvement. Edwin wants to get out. All of the evidence they've gathered can be sent to the press. Investigative reporters can carry the case across the finish line. Of course, all that pressure Edwin is imposing is also a ruse. Matty constructs her own lie to make Olympia believe she is distracted. Instead, Matty notices the new security key. She gains access to Olympia's home and discovers the documents herself. That's damning evidence that Olympia can't be trusted. Her loyalties lie with her family. She can't afford any blowback that will harm them. Matty understands that impulse. She presents herself as reliable. Olympia leans on that at work. But the season opens with the two of them believing they are playing each other. Matty winds up ahead because she has more practice. It should be fascinating if that continues to be true as the season develops.
All of this happens while Olympia and the team present their latest case. It's another example of taking on work to appease an important client. Here, two teenage girls are charged with destroying their school's theater following a party. New evidence points to arson. The end result doesn't satisfy that charge. The case Olympia presents to the jury earns an acquittal for her client. It's suggested that the fire truly was accidental. It was better for one girl to fight the charges instead of taking a plea. That results in the other defendant having a misdemeanor charge on her record. The trespassing offense will follow her around. It's because she and her family panicked. They believed they had to agree to the plea to end up with the better deal. That was the wrong bet. The parallels are obvious to the themes of the show. People have to trust their instincts. They also need to know who to trust. Olympia pushes the Senior angle. She presents a viable lead worth pursuing. Matty must also verify everything Olympia tells her. That tries to keep them together. That's never a guarantee. Edwin knows this friendship will end at some point. That's inevitable given the stakes involved. Sometimes, Matty accepts that. At other times, she wants to preserve this new friendship that has been so rewarding to her professionally for as long as possible.
