Here's how Matlock wrote out David Del Rio in the season 2 fall finale

Hours before the Matlock season 2 fall finale, showrunner and creator Jennie Snyder Urman revealed that David Del Rio wouldn’t appear. His final episode was the Thursday, Dec. 4, and the series hadn’t written him out be that point. It meant that part of the fall finale had to include why Billy Martinez was no longer at the first.

With the rumors of a merger happening during Matlock season 2 episode 7, there was an easy way to write out the character. However, it had nothing to do with work and everything to do with Billy’s personal time.

“Crash Helmets On” – Matty and Sarah pose as grandmother and granddaughter in order to gather information at a senior living facility facing a wrongful death suit, on MATLOCK, Thursday, Feb. 6 (9:01-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): David Del Rio as “Billy Martinez” and Leah Lewis as “Sarah

Billy is suddenly absent on the Matlock season 2 fall finale

The fall finale ended up with Billy just not there, and Sarah left him a voicemail to find out why. She didn’t exactly want to pry, but it was unusual for him to be suddenly absent from work.

Well, by the end of the episode, we got the details, but the show only gave us Sarah’s side of the conversation. It turned out that Claudia has suffered a miscarriage, and Billy decided that he needed to take some time off work to be with his family.

This could lead to some updates when Matlock returns in 2026. After all, Billy would presumably end up returning, so it’s possible that the rumors of the merger end up leading to his permanent dismissal from the company.

“No, No Monsters” – YouThree help Olympia defend a defamed nanny at her children’s school. Also, Matty is on a stressful hunt for an important document on the Wellbrexa case, on MATLOCK, Thursday, Dec. 12 (9:01-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured (L-R): Skye P. Marshall as “Olympia Lawrence”, David Del

Why was David Del Rio suddenly fired from Matlock?

The departure comes off the back of an earlier report that David Del Rio had been fired from Matlock. Leah Lewis, who plays Sarah on the series, accused Del Rio of sexual assault. There was an investigation done within the series, and Del Rio was ultimately fired. While he denies the allegations, Snyder Urman and the team decided it was best to let him go.

This led to some scripts being rewritten, as Billy was never initially meant to leave the firm. This is potentially why there was a break after the Thursday, Nov. 13 episode of the series, despite the other Thursday night dramas getting an episode the week before Thanksgiving — all shows were off on Thanksgiving for obvious reasons.

While the actor was fired, the character still plays an important part in the world. It’s essential that the writers handle this exit with the care needed, while also being sensitive to the nature of the firing. The Matlock season 2 fall finale certainly offered that.

Matlock will return on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 9/8c on CBS.

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