Matlock Season 2 Episode 8 explained why Billy was absent and set up a tragic reason for his absence.
It also answered the lingering question of how Matlock would handle the end of Billy’s arc after David Del Rio’s termination following a sexual assault accusation.
The explanation was the right choice for Billy’s character, and it didn’t sensationalize the behind-the-scenes trauma, yet it was still uncomfortable — as it should have been.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
In Some Ways, It Was a Relief to Get to This Point
At the time that Del Rio left Matlock, he had already filmed several episodes, so I knew that Matlock Season 2 would include him.
That was hard.
I know that actors are not their characters, and Billy was always a likable guy, but it was nearly impossible for behind-the-scenes knowledge not to taint his appearances.
I like to escape into a fictional world when I watch TV, but some things can’t and shouldn’t be forgotten in the name of fiction.
When it happened, there were too many people debating whether Del Rio was guilty, and that was beside the point.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
The accusation was credible enough for HR involvement, and the event was traumatic for those in it, regardless of whether he is someday found guilty in a court of law.
And for that reason, I didn’t like having him on screen. It reminded me of the trauma behind the scenes and took me out of the story, even though I didn’t personally know anyone involved.
Thankfully, we’re past that point now, and Billy had an exit that made sense without sensationalizing the reasons Matlock had to write him out.
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Sarah Learned That Billy’s Fiancee Had a Miscarriage
The reveal — as well as the lead-up to it — was done tastefully.
(CBS/Michael Yarish)
Billy was already off-screen. Sarah left him several messages, aware he had taken a personal day. But she needed to reach out because of what was going on for her… only to decide to keep Olympia’s decision to take her off the team to herself, because of Billy’s news.
This tragedy and Sarah’s reaction to it fit the characters so perfectly that it seemed planned.
That was the perfect way to handle the situation, narratively speaking.
It didn’t draw undue attention to the fact that Billy was no longer on-screen, which was exactly what the situation needed here.
Too often, these situations end up centering on the accused, which is uncomfortable for everyone, especially the person who made the complaint.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
Billy’s Tragedy Was Heartbreaking, But It Felt Weird to Feel Bad for Him
Again, actors are not characters… but still.
If Billy had had this storyline without the behind-the-scenes reason for it, I would have been more enthusiastic about this twist, though I probably still would have had some problems with it.
How do you feel about the way Matlock wrote Billy out?
Sound off in the comments, and don’t forget to share this article with fellow fans so they can join the discussion.
Miscarriages are too often used for dramatic purposes and rarely explore all the feelings that this type of loss involves, and that’s made worse by the fact that Billy won’t be there to express his emotions (unless the character is recast).
And in this case, it’s harder to feel bad while being aware of why all this was necessary.
(Sonja Flemming/CBS)
What do you think about this?
Did Matlock handle Billy’s exit tastefully? Was it satisfying? And most importantly, were you able to enjoy it, or was it too uncomfortable for you because of the behind-the-scenes reason?
Sound off in the comments, and don’t forget to share this article with your friends so they can join the conversation.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our coverage of other CBS mystery series like Elsbeth and Watson.
Billy’s exit happened during the Matlock winter finale, which aired on CBS on December 11, 2025, and is available to stream on Paramount+. Matlock will return with new episodes on February 26, 2026.
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Matlock Season 2 Episode 8 wrote David Del Rio’s Billy out, giving the character the perfect ending… but it was still uncomfortable.
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Matlock Season 2 Episode 8 pulled th rug out from under us with a final twist… but was it really necessary, especially at Christmastime?
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Matlock Season 2 Episode 7’s case was ridiculous, but it wasn’t the point. Olympia’s story with her mom was. Our review!
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